Norwegian-Russian cooperation in the border area

Participants Short history Expert groups Terrestrial ecosystems Research Publications Links

Environmental pollution and protection in the Norwegian-Russian border area are the main themes of research cooperation between the Soil Science Faculty of Moscow State University (MSU) and the Norwegian Forest Research Institute (NISK). This cooperation was supported by the NATO Networking Infrastructure grant (NIG 950469) and was continued within the frames of the NATO Linkage Grant (ENVIR.LG 960348). The bilateral scientific cooperation between Norway and Russia was established in 1988, based on joint governmental agreement on environmental problems. In contact with the Expert Group on terrestrial ecosystems several research institutes of both countries take part in the all-round investigations in the border area since 1991.

Participants from the Norwegian side:

• State Pollution Control Authority
• Directorate for Nature Management
• The Norwegian Forest Research Institute
• Foundation for Applied Research, University of Tromso

Research cooperation includes regular meetings of Expert Group, a joint field excursions in the Pechenga-Pasvik region in 1991 and 1993, promoted exchange of scientists between Norway and Russia in 1993-1995, several studies in the border area, two joint symposiums in 1992 and 1994 and joint publications both in Proceedings from that meetings and international journals.

The joint research covers the severely damaged forest ecosystems on the northern borders of their natural distribution allocated over the north-western part of the Kola Peninsula (Russia) and north-eastern part of Norway. For more than 50 years this area has been subjected to the influence of the industrial emissions of non-ferrous metallurgical enterprise "Pechenganikel", Russia. Sulphur dioxide and heavy metal aerosols are the major components of the emissions of this enterprise - the 4th emitter of sulphur dioxide in Europe. Different stages of ecosystems damage are observed over some thousands of square kilometers of the area adjacent to the smelter. Signs of its impact on the environment can be identified at a distance of more than 50 km far from emission sources. The area can be considered as one of the most ecologically unfavorable in the northernmost Europe.

Earlier work in the border area has focussed on questions like how pollutants are affecting the terrestrial ecosystems: what are the most sensitive elements in the ecosystems; how far from emission sources are negative effects detectable; what areas are affected; how fast do changes occur.

During last years the efforts were concentrated on the following items:

• - Determine critical levels/loads for terrestrial ecosystems

• - Assess the effect of ambient environment stresses upon terrestrial ecosystems

• - Develop measures to counteract negative effects

Elaboration of the research aimed at improvement of ecosystems resistance and at biological diversity restoration form the basis for the nature conserving strategies of the future development of the Barents region.

Links:

The Norwegian Government, the State Pollution Control Authority of Norway, the European Environmental Research Organization and the Norwegian Forest Research Institute are acknowledged for their financial support during this study. Data and information are exchanged by use of the novel established computer network sponsored by a NATO Networking Infrastructure Grant.

Address of this page: http://soil.msu.ru/projects/norway/