Currently, Karelia harbors quite a few federal-level protected areas (state nature reserves, national parks, etc.) and 146 regional-level PAs.
Olga Bakhmet, Director General of the Karelian Research Center RAS and Deputy Chairperson of the Environmental Council, informed that scientists at KarRC RAS have extensive experience in preparing substantiation papers for protected areas, have long been assisting in the conservation of natural heritage, handling administrative issues in PA operation, and popularizing the results of scientific research in PAs. For example, in the Kivach Nature Reserve, the Center's staff organized a number of test sites for the national climate monitoring system. The goal of this project is to study carbon pools and fluxes in forest, wetland and aquatic ecosystems as part of the creation of a unified greenhouse gas monitoring system.
At the same time, Olga Bakhmet added, the conservation and study of these natural areas should be aligned with economic development and involvement of PAs in the tourism infrastructure.
“Eco-tourism is now one of the most promising development paths in this sphere,” - said the Head of Karelia in his opening speech, adding that the tasks of involving natural destinations in the tourist infrastructure are set out in the new national project “Ecological Wellbeing” and in the regional program for ecological development of Karelia.
“PAs are to be streamlined with the region's economy, and Karelia can become a model area for the federal program for PA network development, including due to its tourist attractiveness and proximity to major metropolitan areas. The Karelian Research Center has concrete proposals for creating a network of tourist routes incorporating the region's PAs”, - said Olga Bakhmet to the members of the Council, suggesting to discuss this initiative in more detail at the next meeting of the Environmental Council on KarRC RAS grounds.
Photo: Respublika Information Agency/Oksana Kudryashova
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May 14, 2025
KarRC RAS Director General Olga Bakhmet took part in a meeting of the Environmental Council under the Government of Karelia
The fourth meeting of the Environmental Council with the participation of the Head of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov took place today in Petrozavodsk. The topic of the meeting was the development of protected areas (PAs) in Karelia.
The fourth meeting of the Environmental Council with the participation of the Head of Karelia Artur Parfenchikov took place today in Petrozavodsk. The topic of the meeting was the development of protected areas (PAs) in Karelia.
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July 7, 2025
A successful introduction: the zander has settled down in Lake Sundozero and continues to spread
Scientists of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS have published the results of long-term observations over the population of the zander (or pikeperch) introduced to Lake Sundozero more than a half-century ago. They confirm the species has become naturalized. Maintaining the population requires regulation of harvesting, protection during spawning, and tending of spawning grounds.
Scientists of the Institute of Biology KarRC RAS have published the results of long-term observations over the population of the zander (or pikeperch) introduced to Lake Sundozero more than a half-century ago. They confirm the species has become naturalized. Maintaining the population requires regulation of harvesting, protection during spawning, and tending of spawning grounds.
June 26, 2025
Ice-related phenomena on rivers emptying into the White Sea now last three weeks less than 60 years before
Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
Ice on northern rivers now forms later while ice-off occurs earlier. Karelian scientists confirmed this having analyzed 64 years of marine and meteorological data from the estuaries of rivers draining into the White Sea along its western coast. Climate change has bit three weeks off the ice-covered period on these rivers. The reductions have been the most significant in the last 30 years, aligning with global warming trends in Arctic water bodies.
June 23, 2025
Citizen science and web technologies help researchers study insects of Karelia
More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.
More than 30 insect species not encountered in Karelia previously have been revealed by entomologists from KarRC RAS during their expeditions and using data communicated by active participants of the iNaturalist portal – an open platform for collecting biodiversity data.