The "Great scientific expedition", the second stage of an ambitious environmental research project conducted by Norilsk Nickel together with scientists from the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), concluded in 2023. Its results were presented today in Zaryadye Park in Moscow.
Based on the results of the work, scientists were able to assess the current state of biodiversity of animals and plants and identified negative factors and threats from industrial facilities. The expedition became the first large-scale and comprehensive study of the regions of industrial activity of Norilsk Nickel enterprises in the history of modern Russia. The total area on which scientific samples were collected amounted to 71,300 square km.
Cooperation between Norilsk Nickel and the Russian Academy of Sciences began as the company took post-accident action at Norilsk CHPP-3. The company decided not only to reduce the impact of production facilities on the environment to the minimum, but to achieve zero net losses of biodiversity and promote the gradual restoration of damaged ecosystems, which required scientific research.
The first step in this direction was the Great Norilsk Expedition, which took place from 2020 to 2022, and the Great Scientific Expedition became its logical continuation. It was important for the company to assess the impact of its production in the regions of its operation - the Trans-Baikal and Krasnoyarsk territories, and the Murmansk region.
“The interaction of Norilsk Nickel with the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences began with the idea of reviving systematic scientific research in the Arctic regions,” noted Andrey Grachev, vice president for federal and regional programs of Norilsk Nickel.
“In total, over the past 4 years, 6 scientific expeditions have been carried out with the support of Norilsk Nickel.”
Theodor Lisovoy, Editor in Chief of the European bureau, Rough&Polished
