DOCSLIB.ORG

Sustainability Report 2020

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Sustainability Report 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 ALROSA STRATEGY AND CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OCCUPATIONAL CLIMATE RISK REGIONAL APPENDICES II GROUP SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 1 DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS CAPITAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS PROTECTION SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 ALROSA STRATEGY AND CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OCCUPATIONAL CLIMATE RISK REGIONAL APPENDICES 2 GROUP SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 3 DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS CAPITAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS PROTECTION TABLE OF CONTENTS A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY 74 OFFICER – CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT Management approach to occupational health and safety 77 BOARD 4 Training and developing a culture of safety 81 Prevention of occupational injuries and accidents 83 OUR PERFORMANCE IN 2020 7 Employees’ health and prevention of occupational diseases 86 Prevention of emergencies 87 Our performance in 2020 7 Plans for 2021 and the medium term 87 Key ESG Ratings and Sustainability Awards 8 Key milestones of building sustainability system 10 CLIMATE RISK MANAGEMENT ALROSA GROUP 12 AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 88 About Company 14 Approach to climate risk management 91 Mission and strategy 15 Strategy 92 Business model 16 Risk management 95 Geography of assets 18 Management approach to environmental protection 97 Engagement in international organizations and initiatives 20 Energy consumption and efficiency 103 Response to COVID-19 22 Air emissions 105 Use of water resources 108 STRATEGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 24 Waste management 112 Sustainability approach 26 Management of tailings dams 114 Contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals 28 Land reclamation 115 International industry cooperation 34 Biodiversity conservation 116 Stakeholder engagement 36 Plans for 2021 and the medium term 117 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT 118 AND BUSINESS ETHICS 38 Management approach 121 Corporate governance 41 Contribution to the development of regional economies 122 Sustainability risk management 45 Contribution to the development of regional infrastructure 128 Responsible supply chain 49 Charity and sponsorship projects 130 Requirements for suppliers and contractors 51 Support for indigenous peoples 132 Business ethics and anti-corruption 52 Plans for 2021 and the medium term 135 Human rights 54 Appendices 136 DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CAPITAL 56 About this Report 138 Management approach 59 Independent Auditors’ Report 142 Headcount and personnel structure 60 GRI Content Index 145 Employee recruitment and onboarding 63 UN Global Compact and WEF ESG Metrics compliance tables 153 Creation of jobs in regions 64 Glossary 156 Remuneration and appraisal 66 Contact information 160 Motivation and engagement 67 Training and development 67 Social support 69 Activity of the trade union 72 Plans for 2021 and the medium term 73 | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 ALROSA STRATEGY AND CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OCCUPATIONAL CLIMATE RISK REGIONAL APPENDICES 4 GROUP SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 5 DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS CAPITAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS PROTECTION A MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – CHAIRMAN OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD GRI 102-14 Dear shareholders, partners and colleagues, I am pleased to present to you ALROSA Group's Comprehensive approach to sustainability Sustainability Report 2020. The events of the past year proved our confidence that Last year, the world faced a new coronavirus (COVID-19) a strategic approach to sustainability is a core of successful pandemic. High rates of spread of COVID-19 cause business helping to overcome crisis situations with minimal a number of restrictions in most countries – closing losses. We focus on continuous improvement of work of borders and lockdowns have become unprecedented in this area and enhancing its effectiveness. In order measures in the fight against the pandemic. This, in turn, to create a resource center at the top management level led to dire consequences for the global economy, in 2020, the functions of the Strategic Planning Committee and the diamond industry was no exception. controlled by ALROSA Supervisory Board were expanded to include sustainability issues1. Our response to COVID-19 To address the sustainability issues, the Company From the very beginning of the pandemic, ALROSA created a specialized Working Group at the operational has been responsibly complying with all instructions level, started the development of strategic of Rospotrebnadzor to prevent the spread of coronavirus. objectives and performance indicators on significant We took active participation in anti-epidemiological sustainability aspects. We have identified five strategic activities in Yakutia and other regions of presence. priorities that we will focus on in the coming years: The company invested over 1 billion rubles in various the development of human capital, occupational health measures to fight COVID-19, support hospitals and safety, environmental protection, development and healthcare workers. We paid great attention of the regions of presence, as well as the improvement to protecting and supporting employees as out main Development of international cooperation Development of human capital of the management system and compliance with business resource: we shifted the majority of our office personnel and compliance with leading international standards ethics principles. ALROSA seeks to create a corporate culture to develop to remote working, made observation facilities to prevent ALROSA participates in various industry initiatives the professional potential of employees and ensures equal the spread of COVID-19 in remote areas, purchased PPEs ALROSA intends to further improve the sustainable aimed at developing responsible business practices opportunities for all. We have one of the best indicators and disinfectants and monitored health of our personnel. development management system and increase in the diamond industry, and actively develops international of gender equality in the industry, the share of women participation in international initiatives. In 2021, we We also took a number of anti-crisis measures to maintain cooperation to build responsible supply chains in the structure of the Company's personnel exceeds 30%. took a big step in this direction: the Company joined the Company's leading position and support the global and increase market transparency. The Company is an We create decent working conditions for our employees: the largest international sustainable development initiative rough and polished diamonds market. In April 2020, active participant of the Kimberley Process (KP) as part the average salary in ALROSA Group is more than 2 times – the UN Global Compact, proving its commitment to 10 ALROSA offered flexible terms for the purchase of its membership in the World Diamond Council (WDC) higher than the average salary in Russia. In addition, we fundamental principles and the intention to address global of diamonds to its long-term customers, adhering and is one of the founders of the Natural Diamond Council provide a high level of social guarantees to our employees challenges by contributing to the achievement of the UN to the "price-over-volume" strategy to prevent a sharp (NDC). In the reporting year, we completed a successful and implement corporate social programs in various areas. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) until 2030. We plan drop in prices and overstocking in the diamond cutting recertification for compliance with the requirements The personnel management system was highly praised by to disclose our progress in the annual sustainability reports. industry. We streamlined operational activities, restructured of the updated Code of Practices 2019 of the Responsible independent experts – ALROSA was ranked 2nd in the top the procurement process and strengthened the operational Jewellery Council (RJC). Since 2020, ALROSA has regularly 50 best employers of the Russian Federation according efficiency program. All these measures allowed us undergone due diligence procedures throughout to Forbes. to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic, the supply chain in accordance with the OECD Due maintain a stable financial situation and strengthen our Diligence Guidance. market position. 1 On 15 February 2021 by the decision of the Supervisory Board, minutes No.01/327-PR-NS, the Strategic Planning Committee under the Supervisory Board of PJSC ALROSA was renamed as the Strategy and Sustainability Committee under the Supervisory Board of PJSC ALROSA | SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2020 ALROSA STRATEGY AND CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT OCCUPATIONAL CLIMATE RISK REGIONAL APPENDICES 6 GROUP SUSTAINABLE GOVERNANCE OF HUMAN HEALTH AND MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT 7 DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS CAPITAL SAFETY ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS PROTECTION OUR PERFORMANCE IN 2020 Occupational health and safety Development of the regions of presence Financial and operating indicators The safety and health of our employees has always We are committed to ensuring a decent quality been our priority. ALROSA improves the culture of life, contribute to the social, economic and cultural of safe production, which is based on responsible development of the regions of presence. The Company's Revenue including Investments Dividends paid1 Share of tax and dividend Inventories Rough behavior of employees at all levels and the Company's social investments remain one of the largest in
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Structure, Condition, and Prospects of Electrical Grids in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)
    E3S Web of Conferences 124, 04001 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1051/e3sconf/201912404001 SES-2019 Structure, condition, and prospects of electrical grids in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) N. S. Volotkovskaya1, N. N. Kugusheva1,2, A. S. Semenov1,2,*, I. A. Yakushev1,2, S. N. Pavlova1,3, and O. V. Kolosova4 1 North-Eastern Federal University n.a. M.K. Ammosov, Polytechnic Institute (branch) in Mirny, Sakha (Yakutia), Russia 2 North-Eastern Federal University n.a. M.K. Ammosov, Institute of Mathematics and Information Science, Sakha (Yakutia), Russia 3 North-Eastern Federal University n.a. M.K. Ammosov, Institute of Finances and Economics, Sakha (Yakutia), Russia 4 Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, St Petersburg, Russia Abstract. The paper analyzes the condition of electrical grids in the west of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia); data sampled for the last 10 years. It demonstrates the geographic location of grids, which defines the scale of the study. Technical indicators are presented for 10 years; they reflect an increase in the fixed assets. The paper derives mathematical models of the wear of transmission equipment used in the western grids. It proves that the condition of equipment will deteriorate further unless its maintenance is properly funded. The paper analyzes the prospects of electrical grids in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). It presents a program for local energy optimization. The costs associated with five alternative development scenarios are calculated and presented in a tabular format. 1 Introduction 30% of the total heat in the Republic. HPPs account for 37.5% of the installed capacity.
    [Show full text]
  • Quantifying the Northward Spread of Ticks (Ixodida) As Climate Warms in Northern Russia
    atmosphere Article Quantifying the Northward Spread of Ticks (Ixodida) as Climate Warms in Northern Russia Leonid N. Vladimirov 1, Grigory N. Machakhtyrov 1, Varvara A. Machakhtyrova 1 , Albertus S. Louw 2 , Netrananda Sahu 3 , Ali P. Yunus 4 and Ram Avtar 2,5,* 1 Yakut Scientific Research Institute of Agriculture, Yakutsk 677001, Russia; [email protected] (L.N.V.); [email protected] (G.N.M.); [email protected] (V.A.M.) 2 Graduate School of Environmental Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan; [email protected] 3 Department of Geography, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, Delhi 110007, India; [email protected] 4 Center for Climate Change Adaptation, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan; [email protected] 5 Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +81-011-706-2261 Abstract: Climate change is affecting human health worldwide. In particular, changes to local and global climate parameters influence vector and water-borne diseases like malaria, dengue fever, and tick-borne encephalitis. The Republic of Sakha in northern Russia is no exception. Long-term trends of increasing annual temperatures and thawing permafrost have corresponded with the northward range expansion of tick-species in the Republic. Indigenous communities living in these remote areas may be severely affected by human and livestock diseases introduced by disease vectors like ticks. To better understand the risk of vector-borne diseases in Sakha, we aimed to describe the Citation: Vladimirov, L.N.; increase and spatial spread of tick-bite cases in the Republic.
    [Show full text]
  • Survival of Indicator Species of the Mammoth Fauna Large Mammals in the Holocene of Yakutia (East Siberia, Russia)
    The 5th International Conference “Ecosystem dynamics in the Holocene” IOP Publishing IOP Conf. Series: Earth and Environmental Science 438 (2020) 012004 doi:10.1088/1755-1315/438/1/012004 Survival of indicator species of the mammoth fauna large mammals in the Holocene of Yakutia (East Siberia, Russia) G G Boeskorov Diamond and Precious Metals Geology Institute, SB RAS, Yakutsk, Russia E-mail: [email protected] Abstract. Global climate change at the end of the Pleistocene led to extinction across the huge territories of the Northern Hemisphere of indicator species of large mammals of the mammoth fauna. Undoubtedly, in some more densely populated regions, the mammoth fauna underwent pressure from Upper Paleolithic humans hunting activity. Previously it was thought that the megafauna of the “Mammoth complex” had become extinct in the territory of Yakutia by the beginning of the Holocene. However, the latest data indicate that extinction of the mammoth fauna was significantly delayed in the north of Eastern Siberia. Radiocarbon data show that wild horses inhabited the north of Yakutia during 5300–2200 cal yr BP. Musk oxen lived here about 3400 – 2600 cal yr BP. Some bison remains from Yakutia belong to the early Holocene. The following circumstances could have facilitated the survival of representatives of the mammoth fauna in Yakutia. The cool, dry climate in this region is favorable to steppe associations, the habitats of these mammals. The small number of Stone Age hunting tribes in the northern part of Yakutia was probably another factor that contributed to the survival of some mammoth fauna representatives. 1. Introduction It is well known that global climate change at the end of the Pleistocene led to the extinction across the huge territories of the Northern Hemisphere of indicator (or typical) species of the mammoth fauna.
    [Show full text]
  • Trace Elements and Stable Isotope Diagrams of Late Pleistocene Ice Wedges of Batagaika Yedoma, Central Yakutia
    Trace elements and stable isotope diagrams of Late Pleistocene ice wedges of Batagaika yedoma, Central Yakutia Yu.K.Vasil'chuk1 J.Yu.Vasil'chuk1 N. A. Budantseva1 A.C. Vasil'chuk1 1Department of Geography, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia, e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The subject of the study is the yedoma ice complex, which locates in the Batagaika depression, Sakha Republic, Russia. The oxygen and hydrogen stable isotope composition, and the content of the dissolved forms of minor and major elements were studied for the first time in ice-wedges of Batagaika depression, which makes the novelty of the study. The isotope composition of the two most saline ice-wedges located in the upper and lower parts of the Batagay depression indicates that they were formed in a close temperature range, the average winter temperature was close to –34/–35 °C, and the average January air temperature was –51/ –53 °C. The ice-wedge with the lowest content of all the trace elements was formed in more severe conditions, the average winter air temperature was close to -36 °C, and the average January air temperature was –54/–55 °C. Keywords: permafrost; ice wedge; oxygen isotope; hydrogen isotope; trace elements; East Siberia, Late Pleistocene The subject of the study is the yedoma, which is found lacustrine or taberal deposits, which are form horizontal in the Batagaika depression (67°34'49" N, 134°46'19" E), wedge 150-200 meters long and intruding into the located 10 km southeast of Batagai settlement (about 17 yedoma deposits and overlaying it.
    [Show full text]
  • The Study of Cultural Landscapes of Central Yakutia
    5 Journal of Sustainable Architecture and Civil Engineering 2017/4/21 The Study of Cultural JSACE 4/21 Landscapes of The Study of Cultural Landscapes of Central Yakutia for Central Yakutia for the Development of the Development of Scientific Tourism Received 2017/11/21 Scientific Tourism Accepted after revision Viktoriya Filippova 2017/12/28 The Institute for Humanities Research and Indigenous Studies of the North, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, Petrovskogo st. 1, Yakutsk, Russia, 677027 Antonina Savvinova, Yurij Danilov North-Eastern-Federal University, Institute of Natural Sciences, Department of Ecology and Geography, Kulakovskogo st. 48, Yakutsk, Russia, 677000 Sébastien Gadal Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, ESPACE UMR 7300, Univ Nice Sophia Antipolis, Avignon Uni 13545 Aix-en-Provence, France Jūratė Kamičaitytė-Virbašienė* Kaunas University of Technology, Faculty of Civil Engineering and Architecture Studentu st. 48, LT-51367 Kaunas, Lithuania *Corresponding author: [email protected] http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.sace.21.4.19501 In this article authors analyse natural and cultural landscapes for scientific tourism. Central Yakutia with the unique permafrost landscapes is a rich and large territory of sites of interest for the development of “scientific tourism” for explorers, researchers or eco-natural-tourists. There are three types of scientific tourism relevant for Central Yakutia: the aim of which is scientific research; the aim of which is practical training and education of students of educational institutions; the aim of which is introducing the history of scientific research, unique natural resources, historical and cultural heritage to a wide range of people. The objects of interest of scientific tourism – landscapes of Khangalassky region – are classified according the selected types of scientific tourism using methods of secondary sources analysis and field research.
    [Show full text]
  • Potential Emigration of Siberian Cattle Germplasm on Chirikof Island, Alaska
    c Indian Academy of Sciences RESEARCH ARTICLE Potential emigration of Siberian cattle germplasm on Chirikof Island, Alaska M. D. MACNEIL1,2∗, L. J. ALEXANDER2, J. KANTANEN3,4,I.A.AMMOSOV5, Z. I. IVANOVA6,R.G.POPOV7, M. OZEROV8, A. MILLBROOKE9 andM.A.CRONIN10 1Delta G, 145 Ice Cave Rd, Miles City, MT 59301, USA 2USDA Agricultural Research Service, 243 Fort Keogh Road, Miles City, MT 59301, USA 3Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute Finland, Myllytie 1, FI-31600 Jokioinen, Finland 4Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, PO Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland 5Board of Agricultural Office of Eveno-Bytantaj Region, Batagay-Alyta 678580, The Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia 6Autumnwood Ct SE 22344, Yelm WA 98597, United States 7Yakutian Research Institute of Agriculture (FGBNU Yakutskij NIISH), 677001 Yakutsk, ul. Bestyzhevo-Marlinskogo 23/1, The Sakha Republic (Yakutia), Russia 8Department of Biology, University of Turku, Turku 20014, Finland 9Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Daytona, Beach, FL 32114, USA 10University of Alaska School of Natural Resources and Extension, Palmer, AK 99645, USA Abstract Feral cattle residing in Chirikof Island, Alaska, are relatively distinct from breeds used in commercial production in North America. However, preliminary evidence suggested that they exhibit substantial genetic relationship with cattle from Yakutian region of Siberia. Thus, our objective was to further elucidate quantify the origins, admixture and divergence of the Chirikof Island cattle relative to cattle from Siberia and USA. Subject animals were genotyped at 15 microsatellite loci. Compared with Turano–Mongolian and North American cattle, Chirikof Island cattle had similar variation, with slightly less observed heterozygosity, fewer alleles per locus and a positive fixation index.
    [Show full text]
  • Analysis of GH1, GHR and PRL Gene Polymorphisms for Estimation of the Genetic Diversity of Buryat and Altai Cattle Breeds
    Генетика животных Вавиловский журнал генетики и селекции. 2018;22(6):734-741 ОригинальнОе исследОвание / ORIGINAL ARTICLE DOI 10.18699/VJ18.417 Analysis of GH1, GHR and PRL gene polymorphisms for estimation of the genetic diversity of Buryat and Altai cattle breeds I.V. Lazebnaya1 , A.V. Perchun2, B.B. Lhasaranov3, O.E. Lazebny4, Yu.A. Stolpovskiy1 1 Vavilov Institute of General Genetics, RAS, Moscow, Russia 2 Federal Centre for Animal Health, Vladimir, Russia 3 Ltd Shuluuta, Buryatia, Ulan-Ude, Russia 4 Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology, RAS, Moscow, Russia Small and unique Buryat and Altai cattle breeds of Turano- Генетическая изменчивость Mongolian origin are well adapted to harsh conditions бурятской и алтайской пород of the continental climate to be their habitat. However, крупного рогатого скота, оцененная the population-genetic structure of the breeds has been poorly studied. This paper presents the results of analysis на основе анализа полиморфизма of polymorphisms GH1 (AC_000176.1: BTA 19, exon 5, генов GH1, GHR и PRL rs41923484, g.2141C>G, L127V), GHR (AC_000177.1: BTA 20, exon 10, rs109300983, g.257A>G, S555G) and PRL И.В. Лазебная1 , А.В. Перчун2, Б.Б. Лхасаранов3, (AC_000180.1: BTA 23, exon 3, g.35108342A>G) in the samples О.Е. Лазебный4, Ю.А. Столповский1 of Buryat cattle breed of Russia, China and Mongolia, and indigenous Altai cattle breed (Russia) that belong to Turano- 1 Институт общей генетики им. Н.И. Вавилова Российской академии Mongolian cattle. The Russian sample of Buryat breed was наук, Москва, Россия differentiated from the Mongolian sample based on pairwise 2 Федеральный центр охраны здоровья животных, Владимир, Россия 3 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью «Шулуута», G-test and FST values for the PRL-RsaI polymorphism and from the Chinese sample – based on pairwise G-test values for Республика Бурятия, Улан-Удэ, Россия 4 Институт биологии развития им.
    [Show full text]
  • The Population History of Northeastern Siberia Since the Pleistocene Martin Sikora1,43*, Vladimir V
    ARTICLE https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1279-z The population history of northeastern Siberia since the Pleistocene Martin Sikora1,43*, Vladimir V. Pitulko2,43*, Vitor C. Sousa3,4,5,43, Morten E. Allentoft1,43, Lasse Vinner1, Simon Rasmussen6,41, Ashot Margaryan1, Peter de Barros Damgaard1, Constanza de la Fuente1,42, Gabriel Renaud1, Melinda A. Yang7, Qiaomei Fu7, Isabelle Dupanloup8, Konstantinos Giampoudakis9, David Nogués-Bravo9, Carsten Rahbek9, Guus Kroonen10,11, Michaël Peyrot11, Hugh McColl1, Sergey V. Vasilyev12, Elizaveta Veselovskaya12,13, Margarita Gerasimova12, Elena Y. Pavlova2,14, Vyacheslav G. Chasnyk15, Pavel A. Nikolskiy2,16, Andrei V. Gromov17, Valeriy I. Khartanovich17, Vyacheslav Moiseyev17, Pavel S. Grebenyuk18,19, Alexander Yu. Fedorchenko20, Alexander I. Lebedintsev18, Sergey B. Slobodin18, Boris A. Malyarchuk21, Rui Martiniano22, Morten Meldgaard1,23, Laura Arppe24, Jukka U. Palo25,26, Tarja Sundell27,28, Kristiina Mannermaa27, Mikko Putkonen25, Verner Alexandersen29, Charlotte Primeau29, Nurbol Baimukhanov30, Ripan S. Malhi31,32, Karl-Göran Sjögren33, Kristian Kristiansen33, Anna Wessman27,34, Antti Sajantila25, Marta Mirazon Lahr1,35, Richard Durbin22,36, Rasmus Nielsen1,37, David J. Meltzer1,38, Laurent Excoffier4,5* & Eske Willerslev1,36,39,40* Northeastern Siberia has been inhabited by humans for more than 40,000 years but its deep population history remains poorly understood. Here we investigate the late Pleistocene population history of northeastern Siberia through analyses of 34 newly recovered ancient
    [Show full text]
  • Cattle Mitogenome Variation Reveals a Post-Glacial Expansion Of
    www.nature.com/scientificreports OPEN Cattle mitogenome variation reveals a post‑glacial expansion of haplogroup P and an early incorporation into northeast Asian domestic herds Hideyuki Mannen1,4*, Takahiro Yonezawa2,4, Kako Murata1, Aoi Noda1, Fuki Kawaguchi1, Shinji Sasazaki1, Anna Olivieri3, Alessandro Achilli3 & Antonio Torroni3 Surveys of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variation have shown that worldwide domestic cattle are characterized by just a few major haplogroups. Two, T and I, are common and characterize Bos taurus and Bos indicus, respectively, while the other three, P, Q and R, are rare and are found only in taurine breeds. Haplogroup P is typical of extinct European aurochs, while intriguingly modern P mtDNAs have only been found in northeast Asian cattle. These Asian P mtDNAs are extremely rare with the exception of the Japanese Shorthorn breed, where they reach a frequency of 45.9%. To shed light on the origin of this haplogroup in northeast Asian cattle, we completely sequenced 14 Japanese Shorthorn mitogenomes belonging to haplogroup P. Phylogenetic and Bayesian analyses revealed: (1) a post‑glacial expansion of aurochs carrying haplogroup P from Europe to Asia; (2) that all Asian P mtDNAs belong to a single sub‑haplogroup (P1a), so far never detected in either European or Asian aurochs remains, which was incorporated into domestic cattle of continental northeastern Asia possibly ~ 3700 years ago; and (3) that haplogroup P1a mtDNAs found in the Japanese Shorthorn breed probably reached Japan about 650 years ago from Mongolia/Russia, in agreement with historical evidence. All modern cattle derive from wild ancestral aurochs (Bos primigenius), which were distributed throughout large parts of Eurasia and Northern Africa during the Pleistocene and the early Holocene1,2.
    [Show full text]
  • Woodlands and Steppes: Pleistocene Vegetation in Yakutia's Most Continental Part Recorded in the Batagay Permafrost Sequence
    Quaternary Science Reviews 196 (2018) 38e61 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Quaternary Science Reviews journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/quascirev Woodlands and steppes: Pleistocene vegetation in Yakutia's most continental part recorded in the Batagay permafrost sequence * Kseniia Ashastina a, b, , 1, Svetlana Kuzmina c, m, Natalia Rudaya d, i, j, Elena Troeva e, Werner H. Schoch f, Christine Romermann€ b, Jennifer Reinecke g, Volker Otte g, Grigoriy Savvinov h, Karsten Wesche g, k, l, Frank Kienast a, 1 a Senckenberg Research Institute and Natural History Museum, Research Station of Quaternary Palaeontology, Am Jakobskirchhof 4, 99423, Weimar, Germany b Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute for Ecology and Evolution, Philosophenweg 16, 07743, Jena, Germany c Palaeontological Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Ul. Profsoyuznaya 123, 117868, Moscow, Russia d Alfred Wegener Institute Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, Department of Periglacial Research, Telegraphenberg A43, 14401, Potsdam, Germany e Institute for Biological Problems of Cryolithozone, Siberian Branch of RAS, 41, Lenina Ave, 677980, Yakutsk, Russia f Laboratory for Ancient Wood Research, Unterrütistrasse 17, CH-8135, Langnau, Switzerland g Senckenberg Museum of Natural History, Am Museum 1, 02826, Gorlitz,€ Germany h Federal State Autonomous Educational Institution of Higher Education "M. K. Ammosov North-Eastern Federal University", 43 Lenin Prospekt, 677980, Yakutsk, Russia i Kazan State University, Department of Bioresources and Aquaculture, Ul. Kremlyovskaya 18, 420000, Kazan, Russia j University of Potsdam, Institute of Earth and Environmental Science, Karl-Liebknecht-Straße 24e25, Golm, 14476, Potsdam, Germany k International Institute Zittau, Technische Universitat€ Dresden, Markt 23, 02763, Zittau, Germany l German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Deutscher Pl.
    [Show full text]
  • Vol-20. No. 4,Oct. Dec. 2016.Pmd
    ISSN 0971-9318 (JOURNAL OF HIMALAYAN RESEARCH AND CULTURAL FOUNDATION) NGO in Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC, United Nations Vol. 20 No. October-December 2016 HIMALAYAN AND CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES © Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation, New Delhi. * All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electrical, mechanical or otherwise without first seeking the written permission of the publisher or due acknowledgement. * The views expressed in this Journal are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinions or policies of the Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation. SUBSCRIPTION IN INDIA Single Copy (Individual) : Rs. 500.00 Annual (Individual) : Rs. 1000.00 Institutions : Rs. 1400.00 & Libraries (Annual) OVERSEAS (AIRMAIL) Single Copy : US $ 30.00 UK £ 20.00 Annual (Individual) : US $ 60.00 UK £ 40.00 Institutions : US $ 100.00 & Libraries (Annual) UK £ 70.00 Himalayan and Central Asian Studies is included within the ProQuest products Himalayan and Central Asian Studies is included and abstracted in Worldwide Political Science Abstracts and PAIS International, CSA, USA Subscriptions should be sent by crossed cheque or bank draft in favour of HIMALAYAN RESEARCH AND CULTURAL FOUNDATION, B-6/86, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi - 110029 (India) Printed and published by Prof. K. Warikoo on behalf of the Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation, B-6/86, Safdarjung Enclave, New Delhi-110029. Distributed by Anamika Publishers & Distributors (P) Ltd, 4697/3, 21-A, Ansari Road, Daryaganj, New Delhi-110002. Printed at Nagri Printers, Delhi-110032. EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD CONTRIBUTORS HIMALAYAN AND CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES HIMALAYAN AND CENTRAL ASIAN STUDIES is a quarterly Journal published by the Himalayan Research and Cultural Foundation, which is a non-governmental, non-profit research, cultural and development facilitative organisation.
    [Show full text]
  • TRIUMPH of COLOUR Fancy Colour Rough and Polished Diamonds Win the Market Editorial Note
    IN-HOUSE PUBLICATION OF THE LARGEST DIAMOND MINING COMPANY SEPTEMBER 2018 CARATS ON THE What is the difference between customers’ profiles in China and the USA? 500ALROSA social responsibility projects Head of ALROSA SERGEY MATTER OF IVANOV: TECHNIQUE “We change New player in response to new in the diamond challenges” detection market TRIUMPH OF COLOUR Fancy colour rough and polished diamonds win the market Editorial note STEPAN PISAKHOV, A XX CENTURY WRITER AND ARTIST FROM THE ARKHANGELSK REGION, which is world-famous for coloured diamonds minable there, in his fairytale “Frozen songs” (Morozheny pesni) tells how semiprecious stones came out of songs. The local people pronounced words in the freezing cold; the words remained frozen till thawing weather, and when it got warmer they thawed and sang again. “We have fences shored with strong words, and old men and women lean on warmly said words.” And delightful laces shining like diamonds were resulted from songs of maidens and women. Houses were SMART HELPER FOR PICKING decorated with these diamond laces; and venturers brought the frozen diamond songs to other countries. NATURAL DIAMONDS JEWELRY This issue of the magazine is dedicated to the way in which PORTABLE DIAMOND DETECTOR the gems of unique hues appear by quaint plan of nature, INTELLIGENT AND USERFRIENDLY about special aspects and possibilities of fancy colour diamonds market, and ALROSA colour gems mining and faceting. We also tell about selling of the most valuable diamond of the Company, about new development in diamond origin detection, about the • polished natural diamonds; most outstanding social responsibility projects of ALROSA.
    [Show full text]