Green economy
How WWF works within the «Green Economy» program
We are joining the efforts of public organizations and "green companies" to revise the energy strategy in favor of renewable energy sources. We encourage the largest companies in the fuel and energy and mining complex to have their own internal policies in the field of renewable energy, which have received public assurance.
We strive to ensure that the largest companies in three industries: oil and gas, mining and power generation have progressive policies (corresponding to the recommendations of NGOs) on renewable energy and roadmaps for the growth of renewable energy generation.
For the main operating industrial companies, we put forward appropriate requirements for the conservation of biodiversity to minimize the impact on key species in priority ecoregions and assist in the development and adoption of environmental programs.
We participate in the development of "climate policy" and projects of companies that reduce the carbon footprint and environmental impact, while we recommend provinces to introduce carbon emission quotas for energy companies. We believe that the largest exporting companies can voluntarily reduce carbon emissions and/or participate in climate projects in order to remain competitive in the market.
We are working to ensure that the planned major infrastructure projects:
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were implemented outside the priority ecoregions allocated by WWF, and project operators followed our recommendations when working in them;
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were carried out in strict accordance with the environmental legislation of the Russian Federation (if it is applied on the territory of Russia) and underwent an independent evaluation procedure taking into account all opinions, including public organizations and the local population;
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carried out in accordance with Russian and international standards (IRIIS).
Today it is necessary to revise the existing system of nature management at a new level in order not only to preserve biodiversity and improve the living conditions of the local population, but also to develop the competitiveness and social responsibility of business in the Far East.
Infrastructure and industrial facilities of the AHEC
Specialists of the Amur branch of WWF Russia have prepared a project to visualize a database of infrastructure and industrial projects in the Amur-Heilong Ecoregional Complex (AHEC). This database was created for the purpose of further spatial analysis and identification of the degree of threat to various natural values (protected areas, pristine or high conservation value forests, etc.), the database includes the main international transport corridors, as well as significant regional projects and it is constantly updated.
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Environmental information openness ratings
Oil and gas, mining and metallurgical industries are among the most problematic from the point of view of negative impact on the environment, but at the same time these industries are the basis of the country's economies, which means that efforts of the whole society are needed to "greenize" them.
To do this, along with achieving impressive economic indicators, it is necessary to demonstrate a high level of environmental responsibility of companies, readiness to apply the most effective measures to minimize the negative impact of production activities on the environment, implement resource conservation and energy conservation, implement programs for the conservation of biological diversity. One of the effective ways to achieve a high level of environmental responsibility of business, along with the optimization of state regulation, is the improvement of corporate policies, standards and practices.
The company's Environmental Information Openness Rating is a project that allows interested parties to obtain objective and comparable information about the level of openness of companies in the oil and gas and mining sectors and the extent of the impact of their activities on the environment.
We expect that such ratings will contribute to improving the quality of environmental risk management. In addition, we hope that the ratings will become a significant incentive to increase the level of environmental responsibility of companies, develop interaction with stakeholders and ensure openness when discussing future projects.
Mining of alluvial gold
The extraction of alluvial gold by unscrupulous nature users violates the natural riverbeds, leads to a serious negative transformation of the slopes of river valleys, causes significant erosion of floodplain lands, destroys valuable riparian forests, pollutes rivers. Mud plumes stretch for dozens and sometimes hundreds of kilometers downstream from gold mining sites. Because of this, the natural chemical composition of the water is disrupted, its temperature rises, transparency and oxygen content fall, spawning grounds, especially salmon fish, is being severely damaged by siltation. As a result, valuable fish leave such rivers, the river ecosystem degrades, and in many cases irreversibly. Thousands of hectares of highly productive, economically and ecologically valuable riverine forests are turning into decimated, treeless wastelands.
The public chamber of the Russian Federation has made recommendations to reduce the impact of placer gold mining on the environment
The proposals were developed by the Coordinating Council at the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation on Environmental Well-being following the results of the round table "Environmental aspects of placer gold mining", which took place on February 1, 2022.
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Empty spawning grounds of the Amur River: it's time to change priorities and put salmon stocks recovery in the first place
WWF Russia, together with the Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North of Khabarovsky province and partners, claim to organize public discussions on the Pacific Salmon Fishery Strategy in Khabarovsky province in 2022 and consider the results of an independent spawning grounds survey in order to determine the recommended catch volume for autumn chum salmon in the Amur River.
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Changes in the law will help people avoid destructive impacts from floods
The Russian State Duma Committee on Ecology, Natural Resources and Environment Protection is preparing amendments to the Water Code, which will prohibit development of new settlements within the boundaries of flood-risk areas. WWF-Russia supports this initiative and is ready to help the authorities of five provinces in the Amur basin to identify the high flood risk territories.
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WWF RESEARCH: NEW RECORDS OF GOLD MINERS IN SIBERIA AND THE FAR EAST FOR RIVER POLLUTION
According to WWF satellite monitoring, in 2021, compared to 2020, the number of cases of river pollution in Siberia and the Far East increased by 44; the length of contaminated sites, by 2,197 kilometers; and the number of polluted rivers, by 24
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WWF Russia and VOOP have sent an open letter to the government authorities on threats from new project of Polymetal company
Polymetal company has launched the development of the Kutynskoye gold deposit without taking into account public recommendations to improve the environmental safety of the project. Protecting the interests of people and nature, the Khabarovsky branch of the All-Russian Society for Nature Conservation (VOOP) and WWF Russia sent an open letter to the company management, as well as to the Khabarovsky province authorities and to Rosprirodnadzor.
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WWF’s Tour guide school successfully completed in the Bikin national park
In total, 62 employees from the Bikin and Udege Legend National Parks and Krasny Yar’s villagers successfully passed training at the Tour Guide School organized by WWF Russia with the support of HSBC Bank and Discovery in cooperation with the Bikin National Park.
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The governors of 5 federal subjects of the Amur basin signed a memorandum on implementation of measures to preserve the Amur river ecosystem
The Memorandum was signed on August 31 in Khabarovsk at the 1st Interregional Forum “Amur - the River of Life” in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Victoria Abramchenko. WWF-Russia welcomes this decision of the governors and considers it a great follow-up of close interaction between the authorities and the public that started in the beginning of 21st century.
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Magnificent Mother Nature saved from mining
Rangers said, “It's a beautiful place with rich wildlife and rare plants, and beautiful in nature. If gold mining had started here, this beautiful place would have been destroyed and the wild animals would have fled. It's a great achievement to be able to stop mining activities in such a magnificent place. ”
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Conservationists of the Amur ecoregion learn to solve conflict situations
A training workshop for non-governmental organizations was held in Vladivostok under People for Nature project, which WWF Russia is implementing with the support of the European Union, to improve competencies in resolving conflict situations and to maintain a constructive dialogue with business and other stakeholders in the implementation of environmental activities.
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Satellite monitoring of river pollution during placer gold mining: Amurskaya province in the Russian Far East is again in the “leaders”, but the situation is changing
The results of the first month of satellite monitoring of river pollution caused by placer gold mining showed again the absolute “anti-leadership” of Amurskaya province with identified 21 cases of water pollution out of 31 in the entire Amur River basin, and with 687 kilometers of contaminated river sites on the province’s territory out of 926 kilometers revealed in all provinces of the Amur basin. This year the monitoring was launched on May 15 as part of “People for Nature” project carried out with the support of WWF Russia.
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Analysis of timber exports from the Russian Far East in 2015
This work offers an analysis of timber and wood product exports from the Russian Far East for the year 2015. It examines the basic parameters of timber exports, export destinations, major export patterns, and target markets. The analysis also includes ranking the leading wood product importers in the Far East, investigates the export structure and quality of timber processing and considers the possibility of expanding product variety. Particular attention is given to the Chinese market, the largest market for timber from the Russian Far East.
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The Belt and Road Initiative
In 2013, China launched an ambitious foreign policy initiative to revive and strengthen its trade links between China and the rest of the world, with an initial focus on Asia and Europe – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). At WWF, we recognise that this unprecedented initiative presents both enormous development opportunities but also some challenges, and that it will have substantial impacts on biodiversity and natural resources.
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Working with Indigenous and Local Knowledge Systems for the Conservation
WWF’s projects, fieldwork, reports, and studies are based on experience and evidence from diverse knowledge systems, as indigenous and local knowledge and traditional practices offer valuable contributions to biodiversity conservation and the sustainable use of ecosystems. The WWF case studies assembled in this publication illustrate how indigenous and local knowledge is applied in biodiversity monitoring and management of protected areas all over the world, testifying to the potential of their inclusion in building synergies among diverse knowledge systems.
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Timber export from the Russian Far East in 2004-2014
The report offers an analysis of timber export from the Russian Far East (Khabarovsky, Primorsky, Amurskaya, and Evreyskaya Provinces) from 2004 until 2014 based on the following parameters: main importing markets, the type of timber (pinewood, softwood and valuable species) and the depth of processing (roundwood, sawn wood, and plywood/veneer/OSB).
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Serial report on Belt and Road Initiative and Green Finance
Since the “Belt and Road” Initiative put forward by the Chinese government in 2013, China has conducted a series of pragmatic cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road. As countries along the Belt and Road have their own resource advantages, and their economies are mutually complementary, there is a great potential and space for cooperation. Focused on the major goals of policy coordination, facilities connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bonds, the Belt and Road Initiative would create numerous opportunities for industrial production cooperation and investment and financing.
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