Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan

2 December 2013, Monday

Burning problems in the field of environment protection are discussed today at the All-Russian Convention in Moscow. More than 2 thousand people from 83 regions of Russia, whereof 52 are delegates of the Republic of Tatarstan participated in the IV All-Russian Convention for Environment Protection. The Minister for Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Tatarstan Artem Sidorov told about the aspects of ecological policy in the Republic of Tatarstan during the conference “Ecological aspects of regional policy”. In his report, he noted that the Year for Environment Protection in the Russian Federation added a new momentum to the development of ecological component of economy. In the context of growth of the real sector of economy, powerful chemical, petroleum, engineering industry, intensive industrial and agricultural development of natural resources, Tatarstan steadily supports the trend of stable development. The rate of production of Gross Regional Product set by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan in the amount of 2 trillion rubles planned for 2016 is accompanied with the relevant ecological events, whereon total expenses exceed 15 billion rubles/year.

The Concept of Environmental Safety of the Republic of Tatarstan was adopted in 2007 and will be implemented until 2015.

The system of specially protected natural areas is actively expanding along with establishment and protection of viable natural and biospheric resources. The work carried out in this field is being highly appraised by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Today, preparation work for the Global Congress on Ecosystem Management is being carried out with the support of the federal ministry together with the International Union, and it is planned to hold it in Kazan in 2015.

Forest resources fulfilling barrier functions, water protection functions and sanitation functions are the most important part of the well-being of Tatar environment.

The strategy for development of the forestry of the Republic of Tatarstan until 2018 envisages gradual increase in the ramp-up of active means of forest recovery with area less than 3 thousand hectares annually.

In order to accelerate artificial forest recovery, the largest in Europe Forest selective seed center for 12 million of containerized plants per year was put into operation with substantial federal support.

With support of the Federal agency of water resources, the matters regarding arranging of hydraulic engineering installations are successfully addressed.

Special attention is paid to decrease in negative impact of surface waters on the coastal zone; a regional target program is implemented and provided with federal support.

The project on forestation of the water area of the Kuybyshev reservoir that gained international support was elaborated in the Republic of Tatarstan. This November our project was approved at the 45th session of the Council of the Global Environment Fund held in Washington, and it is envisaged to allocate means for its implementation starting in 2014.

Special attention is paid to protection of air basin.

In large cities of the Republic there is a problem of increase in release of pollutants from motor transport into the air. The amount of cars in the Republic of Tatarstan is increasing, and today it already exceeds 1 million of units, and the connecting traffic of motor transport is increasing along with the amount of gas filing stations.

All in all, the amount of emissions from motor transport, in general, approaches 60%, while in large cities it exceeds 70%.

In order to improve the situation, the work is carried out in two directions.

First of all, it concerns transfer of motor transport to compressed natural gas. This year, the state program of the Republic of Tatarstan “Development of the market of gas-engine fuel for 2013-2023” was approved of, and the agreement with the federal center on its co-financing was signed. Implementation of the Program will allow to improve the ecological state in cities and settlements of the Republic, and emissions of pollutants into the air will reduce by 13.0 thousand tons per year.

The second trend implies implementation of the program of equipping gas filling stations of the Republic with gas vapor recuperation systems. We set the task to equip all the gas filling stations of the Republic with such systems by 2020.

The World Forum of Student Sport held in Kazan and setting the stage for the Olympiad in Sochi was testing professionalism of all the ecological specialists of the Republic. The Universiade left great material heritage to Kazan – sport and cultural facilities, developed transport infrastructure, landscaped green areas, as well as non-material heritage – a new level of the attitude of citizens and the young generation to the matters regarding preservation and improvement of the environment. The “Green Record” campaign is one of the examples - it started last year and until present it has been successfully implemented in Kazan. In November, a 100th tree was planted in the city in the framework of the campaign.

Moreover, Artem Sidorov reminded of the projects regarding creation of a new municipal space for the development of business, educational, scientific and research activity. It includes Innopolis and Smart City — satellite cities of Kazan. The projects consider the latest achievements in field of urban planning and engineering infrastructure, the international practice of the use of “green standards” in construction work and development of the territories of “smart” cities establishing main requirements with regard to green construction based on the systems of the international certification LEED and BREEAM.

The Convention will be held for three days from December 2 until December 4, 2013. Delegates of the Convention will participate in more than twenty round tables, discussions and presentation sessions.

The start of the All-Russian campaign “Russian avenue” will be officially announced during the Convention, at the end of which an avenue will be planted consisting of 83 plants chosen by means of the open voting as the symbols of 83 constituent entities of the Russian Federation.

Press Service of the Ministry

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Artem Sidorov: “The Year for protection of Environment in the Russian Federation added a new momentum to the development of ecological component of economy”