www.wwf.ru/report ANNUAL REPORT WWF-RUSSIA 2009 CONTENTS WHAT IS WWF? P. 4 CONSERVATION OF BIODIVERSITY P. 7 Elena Gadjieva, Vladivostok THE HUMAN ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT AND BIOSPHERE CAPACITIES P. 17 THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! P. 27 WWF-RUSSIA PUBLICATIONS 2009 P. 47 FINANCE IN 2009 P. 49 Compilation: Julia Kalinicheva Editors: Russian version – Katya Pal, Elena Voronkova; English version – Philip Johnson, Julia Kuleshova Design & printing: ExpoMediaGroup Old Fortress Distribution: XXXXX April 2010, WWF Russia, Moscow When fully or partly quoting this report, reference to WWF is necessary Use of photographs from this report is not permitted without written permission from WWF Russia © Text 2010 WWF-Russia. All rights reserved Publication is supported by a member of WWF Russia’s Golden Panda Club, Moscow Distribution is free Let us together do what we can! © Denis Bogomolov / WWF-Russia Anna Glushak, Chuguevka he over-riding problem during 2009 was the global In Russia, 2009 began with the sad news aboutt a economic crisis. It caused a significant decline in helicopter crash in the Altai Mountains and thee Tthe global economy, but at the same time, a number deaths of several top officials. The victims of countries came up with new development strategies. turned out to be poachers shooting argali, All the countries had to undertake large-scale investment a species listed in the Red Data Book. The programmes that involved granting subsidies and loans incident highlighted the widespread practice of on technological refurbishment virtually everywhere. ‘tsar hunts’ and aroused a wave of indignation Unfortunately, Russia confined itself to investing in throughout the country. The President of backward industries in order to help mitigate social tensions the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, was that develop with any crisis. As a result, even when the handed a letter signed by thousands of citizenss crisis has passed, the Russian economy is likely to become calling for public condemnation of such practicesces even more inefficient in the management of our energy and their incompatibility with civil service. A criminalminal resources and the environment. case was initiated, but no public statement on thee mmoralsorals A major event for environmentalists around the world was of what took place was made. In another incident in early-May, Igor Chestin the UN Climate Conference that was held in Copenhagen in the Governor of Irkutsk Region also died in a helicopter crash. CEO, WWF-Russia December. Millions of people expected a new agreement It was later revealed that he had been hunting bears. to be signed by heads of state to prevent climate change Nevertheless, during 2009 environmental issues received and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In March, one of increasing attention from the authorities. For the first the largest public actions in world history, Earth Hour, was time in ten years, the Chairman of the Government of the organized and hundreds of millions of people around the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, held a special meeting world turned off their lights for one hour to demonstrate on environmental issues. A number of WWF proposals, their concern about climate change. However, no miracle such as the restoration of state environmental assessments occurred at the Conference and no agreement was signed. of hazardous facilities, the ‘greening’ of state purchases It should be noted that Russia contributed substantially and improving state environmental regulations, received to the achievements of the Conference by obligating to support. It is particularly noteworthy that Vladimir Putin reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by 25% compared with supported WWF’s proposal to conduct a heads of government 1990. Unfortunately, not all the states were ready to follow summit on tiger conservation in Vladivostok to coincide with this example. Hopefully in 2010, the responsible attitude 2010 being the Year of the Tiger according to the Chinese of developed countries, including Russia, will allow the calendar. It is certainly high time that urgent measures are Agreement to be successfully concluded, something that the taken to help this endangered animal. Dear friends, you also world desperately needs. have this opportunity – so let us together do what we can! What is WWF? WWF Kids Clubs WWF is one of the largest national conservation organizations in Russia. The Fund comprises a network of international WWF organizations which operate in over 100 countries and unite more than 5,000,000 supporters. In 2009, Wwf- russia celebrated its 15th Anniversary. During these years, we have successfully accomplished more than 200 field conservation projects in 47 regions of our country. © Andrey Gorelovskiy / WWF-Russia © Katya Pal / WWF-Russia Russia possesses almost 10% of the world’s flora and fauna. Our richest nature is found in the Caucasus and the Altai-Sayan Mountains, Kamchatka and the Amur River basin. However, the Arctic is of no less value to us with its terrestrial ecosystems that are vulnerable to climate change and also its coastal and offshore regions. In the Arctic, we work in the Barents and Bering Seas. To make our Anastasia Ursulyak, Olenevod © Viktor Nikiforov / WWF-Russia work more efficient, Wwf-russia opened branches and project offices in these regions, such as in WWF’s mission is to help stop the degradation of the planet’s natural Vladivostok, Yelizovo in Kamchatka, Krasnodar, environment and to build a future in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Pskov. The range which humans live in harmony with of our projects is diverse, covering such fields nature. In order to accomplish this large-scale as the development of sustainable forestry and and ambitious objective, we set two most important marine fisheries, controlling climate change tasks – to preserve biological diversity in the and increasing energy efficiency in the Russian most valuable regions of the world and to attain economy, greening the policies of the oil and gas a sustainable usage and management of natural resources. In addition, we have been striving in industry, mining, trade and investment and the every possible way to raise ecological awareness so refinement of nature conservation legislation. In that environmental responsibility becomes second addition, WWF specialists contribute significantly nature to every person. to the conservation of rare species of wildlife and © Marina Odinokova / WWF-Russia the support of protected areas. We are doing our best to help resolve a variety of pertinent problems at regional, federal and international level. Wwf- russia’s central office is in Moscow. Our staff here numbers over 60 individuals responsible for the development and implementation of our nature conservation programmes, interaction with authorities and the academic community, establishing and maintaining regular contact with our supporters, the mass media and business and undertaking many other duties. 2009 ❘ WWF Russia ❘ ANNUAL REPORT 5 © Ekaterina Pyankova / WWF-Russia Kiparisovo Vitaly Gorodynskiy, HIGHLIGHTED EVENTS OF 2009 JANUARY MAY SEPTEMBER In Primorsky Region in the Far East, a reserve fund was set No less than 511,000 ha of the best Siberian pine forest Persian leopards were brought from Turkmenistan and up to help save ungulates during heavy winter snowfalls. in Primorsky Region have been spared from logging by released into Sochi National Park as part of the recovery High mortality amongst ungulates is detrimental to the leasing them out on a long-term basis for protection and programme for this rare species that was developed by Amur tiger and Far Eastern leopard as deer, wild boar and the collection of only edible forest products and medicinal specialists in WWF and the Russian Academy of Sciences roe deer are the main prey for these rare carnivores. WWF plants. The largest portion of the forest, which is 460,000 and approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources and and the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) believe that ha in size and located in the middle reaches of the Bikin Environmental Protection. Page 10 it would be more feasible to spend minimal funds to help River, was leased out to the Tiger, a local community of prevent the problem, rather than to make huge investments indigenous minorities. Page 14 OCTOBER over several years in restoring lost populations. Page 15 The Tyva Republic’s first nature park was established to JUNE ensure the conservation of the taiga ecosystems in the FEBRUARY The Russian Arctic National Park was established on Novaya West Sayany Mountains. The Erzi Reserve in Ingushetia Over 8,000 Russian citizens signed a letter addressed to Zemlya. The area is home to numerous natural sites, was enlarged by six times its original size. This will help Vladimir Putin with an appeal to turn down the very including walrus rookeries and bird colonies, and is also protect and preserve in its natural condition the upper environmentally-damaging construction project for the a home to the polar bear. WWF took an active role in the reaches of the Assa River basin and also stabilize numbers Evenkiiskaya Hydropower plant. WWF and a coalition of establishment of the Park. Page 9 of many animal species whose populations had declined environmental NGOs handed the letter to the Premier. The substantially due to increases in poaching and habitat public appeal has been distributed among relevant ministries JULY reduction. Page 12 and agencies and also handed to RusHydro. Page 23 A public campaign conducted by WWF to find an urgent solution to the problem of burning off oil-gas in flares NOVEMBER MARCH received a positive feedback from both oil and gas WWF translocated European bison from the Prioksko- On March 28, hundreds of millions of people around the companies and authorities and also from the President Terrasny Reserve breeding centre to the Republic of North world switched off lights for one hour to show that they of the Russian Federation. The Fund appeals to Russian Ossetia-Alania. Once released, they will help replenish the care for the future of our planet.