Wildfires in Siberia

An interesting, and sad, article about the wildfires in Siberia.

Of particular interest to the Network group who visited Lake Baikal last summer and experienced the lake shrouded in smoke from wildfires.

https://theconversation.com/vast-wildfires-are-burning-in-remote-siberia-far-from-humans-heres-why-we-should-care-62881

Essays and photos from Lake Baikal

The Network fieldtrip to Lake Baikal took place on 25 July – 4 August 2015. The group met in Ulan-Ude and visited various places on and around the lake including the Barguzin Nature Reserve (Russia’s first Zapovednik), the Ushkanyi Islands (home to the nerpa – the endemic  Baikal ringed seals Pusa sibirica), Olkhon island (with its important Buriat sites), finishing up in Irkutsk. Several workshops were held and local experts were involved.

Visit the Baikal page of our website for a full itinerary, reflective essays from participants, photos and more.

Talk on Lake Baikal at Georgetown University - 22 September

Tuesday, September 22, 4 - 6pm, at Georgetown University

Exploring Russia's Environmental History : Lake Baikal 

David Moon and Catherine Evtuhov will talk about their recent visit to Lake Baikal in Siberia

More details at http://guevents.georgetown.edu/event/exploring_russias_environmental_history_lake_baikal#.VffkYpcYGi9

Baikal forest fires appeal

The Network has received an urgent appeal for help to combat the catastrophic forest fires around Lake Baikal from Nikolay Tsyrempilov, of Buryat State University, who hosted a roundtable discussion on our recent trip to Ulan Ude and Baikal.

Nikolay explains the seriousness and urgency of the situation in his email below and also sends links with information on how to make donations and help.

David Moon

Lead investigator, Leverhulme International Network, Exploring Russia's Environmental History and Natural Resources.
http://www.york.ac.uk/history/research/majorprojects/russiasenvironmentalhistory/
 

31 August 2015

Here in Buryatia we face a catastrophic situation with fires in the forests around lake Baikal. Russian authorities (both federal and regional) demonstrate inability to stop them. Moreover, they try to conceal the scale of destruction. Meanwhile about 180 000 hectares of woods are being destroyed by fires and the weather forecast is very pessimistic. Many people here in Buryatia fight with fires as volunteers.

My friends organized a public committee "SOS Baikal Buryatia". They raise funds, buy equipments, food, costumes, medicaments, etc for those volunteers who fight with the fires. I have just returned from a meeting. We face lack of funds. I am writing to my friends in Moscow and other cities of Russia. I am sending you our collective request to donate what you can to support our efforts. Any donation is welcome.

Please visit our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/pages/SOS-Байкал-Бурятия/888410137909923?fref=ts and website http://sosbaikal.ru. On the website you'll find the USD bank account number to which you can send your donations. I'll appreciate if you let your other colleagues involved in Leverhulme network. I guarantee with my reputation that all your donations will be used only for support of volunteers. Andrey Suknev and Sergey Shapkhaev are with us. Please help us to save Baikal and protect it from the large-scale ecological catastrophe.
 

Thank you for your understanding and support. Don't hesitate to ask me, Sergey Shapkhaev shapsg@gmail.com or Andrey Suknev suknevgbt@gmail.com for additional information. Just to be clear, it is very urgent. 

Nikolay Tsyrempilov

Buryat State University

Ulan-Ude

10 September 2015 update

Please excuse us for the problematic bank account. In the attachment you can find the new one. We still desperately need your help. Most of the fires are stopped but still there are some areas where firefighters and volunteers work. We need also money to equip the volunteers station because we should be ready for such kind of fires again in the future.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=488057961362826

Thank you for your efforts,

Nikolay Tsyrempilov

Lake Baikal in danger, scientists warn against dam

An article in the Gulf Times on 6 September 2015 discusses current threats to Lake Baikal and its ecosystems, including plans by neighbouring Mongolia to build a dam on the Selenga River, considered the most important water source for the lake.

http://www.gulf-times.com/culture/238/details/453886/lake-baikal-in-danger,-scientists-warn-against-dam

 

Lake Baikal threatened by Mongolian dam and pipeline - article in 'The Conversation'

"Mongolia is hoping a massive dam on its largest river could provide much needed power and water for the country’s booming mining industry. However environmental groups are concerned that the hydroelectric power plant and a related pipeline project will do immeasurable environmental damage to oldest and deepest freshwater body in the world: Lake Baikal."

Read the whole article.

The Baikal seal is found nowhere else on Earth. Sergey Gabdurakhmanov, CC BY

Lake Baikal field trip summer 2015

The Leverhulme international network "Exploring Russia's Environmental History and Natural Resources" will be conducting a field trip to Lake Baikal, Siberia, from 25 July – 4 August 2015.

The group will meet in Ulan-Ude and visit various places on and around the lake including the Barguzin Nature Reserve (Russia’s first Zapovednik), the Ushkanyi Islands (home to the nerpa – the endemic Baikal ringed seals Pusa sibirica), Olkhon island (with its important Buriat sites) and finishing up in Irkutsk. Workshops will be held in the Barguzin Nature Reserve and Irkutsk and local experts will be involved throughout. 

An outline itinerary and a brief bibliography of the environmental history of the area are both available on our website.

Olchon Shaman Rock, Lake Baikal. Photo courtesy of Kirsten Buerger via Wikimedia Commons

Network poster

A poster providing information about the Network is now available to download from the website at http://www.york.ac.uk/history/research/majorprojects/russiasenvironmentalhistory/#tab-7 under the subheading "Network Publicity"

"The Coolest Music in the World" on Lake Baikal

Listen to Siberian Ice Drummers Use Frozen Lake Baikal as an Incredible Musical Instrument.

http://www.snowaddiction.org/2013/11/the-coolest-music-in-the-world-listen-to-siberian-ice-drummers-use-frozen-lake-baikal-as-an-incredible-musical-instrument.html