KarRC RAS Director General, RAS Corr. Academician Olga Bakhmet gave a talk at the Strategizing Session "Civilizational and National Dimensions of Environmental Development and Cooperation" on October 27. She presented the expertise of the Karelian Research Centre RAS in Arctic research. Some 40% of the territory of Karelia – six of its municipalities – are now part of the Russian Arctic Zone. The organization’s leader reminded that scientists of KarRC RAS contributed to substantiating the inclusion.
Karelian scientists conduct integrated monitoring of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, detect and explore unique natural areas and features, monitor biodiversity in northern regions. This includes monitoring the condition of natural ecosystems around major industrial facilities. Importantly, scientists are not just documenting ongoing changes but also propose solutions to mitigate the environmental impact of economic activities. They come up with environment-friendly solutions for the tourism industry, paying special attention to protected areas.
Karelian Research Centre RAS participates in projects of the Russian Climate Monitoring System (Key Innovative Projects of National Importance, known as VIP GZ) designed to create a unified national system for monitoring climate-active substances.
One of the scientists’ key tasks is development of green commercial fish farming technologies
Experts do regular assessments of the nutrient load in aquatic ecosystems with growing fish farming.
A major research object for Karelian scientists is the White Sea, including its natural environment and the socio-economic characteristics of its catchment area. A new cognitive model has been constructed, which examines the dynamic system comprising a combination of demographic, ecological, and social changes taking place in the White Sea region. A numerical model of the White Sea waters, ice, and ecosystems has also been created, enabling the assessment of various scenarios of change in the ice regime in response to climate change.
Speaking of efficient use of natural resources, Olga Bakhmet mentioned the exploration of mineral deposits and assessment of mineral reserves conducted by scientists in the Arctic zone of Karelia.
Another matter of high relevance for the republic is expertise in agricultural and aquacultural technology. In the modern world, governments and businesses need high-productivity and environment-friendly technologies to develop the agricultural sector. To meet the demand, KarRC RAS conducts selective breeding and genetic research to develop crops resilient to northern conditions and to ensure the quality of region-specific seed stock, designs green technologies for commercial fish farming, and develops innovative biotechnologies for manufacturing productivity-boosting feeds and bioactive substances.
Speaking of the use of wild aquatic resources, Institute of Biology KarRC RAS is actively studying mesopelagic fishes as a potential source of bioactive substances and lipidic supplements beneficial for human health. It is also investigated whether and how extracts of brown algae from the White Sea can be used as nematicidal biostimulants.
Among the technologies for reproduction of biological resources, KarRC RAS leader pointed out the collection of in vitro genotypes of the curly birch. Karelian scientists practice its cloning. Another technology designed at the Karelian Research Centre RAS and performing well in practice is artificial reproduction of Atlantic salmon. The fry yield when using this technology is 70% – twice as much as in the natural spawning process.
A special research focus is biomedical and social problems faced by residents of northern regions
Special attention is given to the investigation of the biomedical and social problems faced by population of northern regions. The project “Child sleep in the Arctic” has been underway since 2018. Proof has been gathered that exposure to blue light spectrum before going to sleep raises the level of the stress hormone cortisol and increases the risk of obesity by disrupting circadian rhythms. Research on the aftermath of the COVID-19 infection continues.
Scientists also address the development of ecotourism in the Arctic. Specifically, economists have developed a framework approach for benchmarking the development level of tourism systems in Arctic regions, taking into account recreational opportunities for local residents, as well as for domestic and international inbound tourism. Based on this analysis, recommendations have been formulated for regional and municipal authorities and the tourism industry. Locally, employees of KarRC RAS institutes provide scientific expertise for popular tourist destinations, such as the Ruskeala Mining Park, Girvas paleovolcano, and others.
In conclusion, KarRC RAS Director General outlined the future prospects for Arctic environmental research. These include finding the most efficient technologies for mineral resource use, continuing monitoring of the impacts of climate change, providing scientific expertise for the use of biological resources, and setting up a center for applied engineering and design research.
