On March 29-30 the III International Forum Ecology, dedicated to the protection and conservation of water resources, took place in St. Petersburg. Representatives of relevant federal and regional legislative and executive authorities, leading Russian and international environmental organizations, including the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal attended the Forum.

At the plenary session Priorities in the field of water resources: integration and innovation Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal and Vice-Chairman of State Duma Committee on Natural Resources, Environment and Ecology Mikhail Slipenchuk addressed to the participants of the Forum with a welcome speech. “The protection of Russian water resources from pollution is becoming a priority policy of our state. After all, the preservation and improvement of habitats, which include water resources – a prerequisite of development of life quality, Russian citizens and the country as a whole. Water - one of our main wealth, the basis for sustainable economic development of the Russian Federation” – said Mr. Slipenchuk.

Among the most pressing topics of the Forum there were evaluation and elimination of accumulated environmental damage in close cooperation between state and business, the harmonization of the regulatory framework, economic incentives in environmental management in the aspect of international trends.

In the framework of the III International Forum Ecology the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal organized a photo exhibition, dedicated to Lake Baikal. The exhibition purpose is to attract public attention to the problem of study and preservation of the world’s natural heritage.