On April 24, 2012 the International Conference Baikal - the world treasure, organized by the Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO and the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal (the FPLB) with the support of Government of the Republic of Buryatia, Russian Geographical Society, the Oceanographic Museum of Monaco, Foundation of Prince of Monaco Albert II, took place at UNESCO Headquarters.
More than 150 people (scientists, politicians, representatives of UNESCO, journalists) from Russia, France, Belgium, Serbia took part in the conference. The Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal was represented by the Hero of Russia Anatoly Sagalevich and Evgeny Сhernyaev.
Before the start of the conference messages from the President-elect of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin, the President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiyn Elbegdorj, President of the Republic of Buryatia Vyacheslav Nagovitsyn, the President of the FPLB, Hero of the Soviet Union Arthur Сhilingarov were announced. In the speech of Vladimir Putin there has been stressed the particular role of the special environmental initiatives of the FPLB in study and protection of the unique basin. “I am convinced that, in collaboration with the Russian Geographical Society, the FPLB will continue to participate actively in solving major national problems”- noted V.Putin in his welcome speech.
Other participants of the conference were Dr. Gretchen Kalonji, Assistant Director General of UNESCO for the Sector Natural Sciences; Thierry Mariani, Minister to the French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Develop and Housing for Transport. Those present have particularly noted the contribution of Russia to preserve the ecosystem of Lake Baikal - World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
It is necessary to mention that almost all the reporters prepared their presentations on the basis of the results of the expedition Mirs at Baikal. This is not by chance.Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the FPLB Mikhail Slipenchuk said: “In terms of organization and scientific and practical results this expedition has no analogues in the world and makes a major contribution to solving world environmental problems, research, development and conservation of water resources of the planet”.
The reports were presented by:
Mikhail Slipenchuk - Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, State Duma Deputy of the Russian Federation, Doctor of Economics (report: “The role of the expedition Mirs at Lake Baikal in the development of the national and world fundamental science”)
Anatoly Sagalevich - Chairman of the Technical Board of the Fund for Protection of Lake Baikal, Hero of Russia, Doctor of Geographical Sciences (report: “25 years of Deep Submergence Vehicle Mirs”)
Arnold Tulokhonov – Head of the Baikal Institute and exploitation of natural resources of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of Russia, Corresponding Member of Russian Academy of Sciences (report: “Space, Ocean, Lake Baikal: results of assimilation and reflections”)
Gayane Petrosyan - author of experimental Corporation Roscosmos at Baikal (report: “Unique experience in cooperation with Roscosmos Corporation referred to study the depths of Lake Baikal from the space”)
Guy Debonnet - Head of Special Projects Unit of the World Heritage Centre (report: “Baikal - the world natural heritage”)
Svetlana Yurmanova - Director of Department, Russian Ministry of Natural Resources (report: “Measures of state support for the conservation of Lake Baikal”)
Nikolay Kassimov - Dean of the MSU Geography Faculty, Academic of RAS (report: “The material flow in the geosystem Selenga-Baikal”)
Ulrich Lemmin (Switzerland) - Professor at the Federal polytechnic school of Lausanne (report: “The results of the expeditions on Lake Baikal and Lake Geneva with the devices of living deep diving" Mirs”)
Alexander Egorov - Research worker of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Academy of Sciences of Russia (report: “The discovery and study of gas hydrates at the bottom of Lake Baikal during the expedition Mirs at Lake Baikal in 2008-2010”)
Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa - Program Specialist (Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO) (report: “Cooperation between UNESCO and UNDP in the field of water resources under the GEF Regional Project (Russia and Mongolia). Integrated management of natural resources of transboundary ecosystems of the Baikal Basin”)
Marc De Batist (Belgium) - Professor at the University of Ghent (report: “A completely new perspective on an ancient lake: the new multibeam bathymetric map of Lake Baikal”)
Viktor Plyusnin - Director of the Institute of Geography V. Sotchava of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of Russia, Doctor of Geographical Sciences (report: “Lake Baikal. Landscape Planning of the Baikal natural territory”)
Milan Radovanovic (Serbia) - Director of the Geographical Institute of the Serbian Academy of Science (report: “Astrophysical hypothesis of forest fires with special regards on Baikal Lake region”)
Zhamsranzhav Tsogtbaatar (Mongolia) - Director of the Institute of Geo-ecology, Mongolian Academy of Sciences (report: “Lake Baikal and Lake Khövsgöl: unity and particularity of ecosystems”)
The reports of the research workers of Institute of Limnology of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences of Russia Oleg Khlystov “Geological studies of Lake Baikal with Deep Submergence Vehicles” and Anna Lomakina “The biodiversity of the deep zone of Lake Baikal (the results of the expedition Mirs at Lake Baikal in 2008-2010)” were presented to the audience.
Presentations on environmental activities in the Baikal region were made by the head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources of the Irkutsk region Konstantin Gurnovich and the Minister of Natural Resources of the Republic of Buryatia Bair Angaev.
The official opening of the exhibition Wonderful world of Baikal took place within the framework of the conference. Francesco Bandarin, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Culture, Eleonora Mitrofanova, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Russia to UNESCO, President of the World Heritage Committee, Mikhail Slipenchuk, Chairman of the Guardianship Board of the FPLB, State Duma Deputy of the Russian Federation inaugurated the exhibition.
In addition, the premiere of the documentary To the depths of Lake Baikal, dedicated to the expedition Mirs at Baikal and its results, was presented for the French audience. This film has already been successfully demonstrated in Russia, Mongolia, Monaco and other countries.
Mikhail Slipenchuk , Eleonora Mitrofanova, Nikolay Kassimov
Report of Mikhail Slipenchuk
Gayane Petrosyan
Mikhail Slipenchuk at the official opening of the exhibition Wonderful world of Baikal
Eleonora Mitrofanova, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of Russia to UNESCO, President of the World Heritage Committee
Thierry Mariani, Minister to the French Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Develop and Housing for Transport
Alexander Egorov, Researcher worker of the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology of the Academy of Sciences of Russia
