On April 17 a meeting at the Mariinsky Palace gathered leaders and representatives of the parliaments of Karelia, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, as well as State Duma member Valentina Pivnenko and General Director of the Karelian Research Center RAS Olga Bakhmet.

In her scientific presentation, KarRC RAS leader declared the importance of designing a federal project to conserve and prevent the pollution of Lakes Onego and Ladoga.

Onego and Ladoga are the largest lakes of Europe. They are sources of potable and industrial water supply, major water transport routes, valuable for the fish industry and recreation. Scientists at the Northern Water Problems Institute and Institute of Biology KarRC RAS have been conducting long-term studies of the state of the lakes and their biological resources. The results from recent years show that actions are needed to improve the ecological situation.

According to Olga Bakhmet, it is necessary to build and upgrade wastewater treatment facilities, reduce discharges, regulate fish farming and create a monitoring system for the aquatic ecosystems.

– Karelian Research Center RAS has for many years been studying the water resources of Lakes Onego and Ladoga. The Northern Water Problems Institute has built a tremendous background in this field, and this resource must be exploited. Rather than start research from scratch, we should use the results we already have. I do hope we were heard and our possibilities and competences will be used when developing the federal program, – was the message taken from this meeting by Olga Bakhmet to KarRC RAS Learned Council session.

Photo: Legislative Assembly of the Republic of Karelia