Staff members of the Department of Science took part in the Russian-German seminar “Strategies of biodiversity adaptation to climate change in the Altai-Sayan ecoregion”, initiated by the German Federal Environment Agency. The seminar, hosted by the Gorno-Altaisk State University, brought together Prof. T. Bausch (ClimChAlp), Prof. Bayerkuhnlein (the University of Bayreuth), F. Ehrmann (Afi) and Dr. A.B. Shmakin (Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences).
This three day seminar proved very fruitful - the German colleagues shared their experience and knowledge in the sphere of landscape design adjusted for natural disaster risks (landslides, floods, mudflows, etc.). Another vital issue that aroused great interest among all participants was the support of alternative sources of subsistence and sustainable use of natural resources among local population in conditions of specially protected nature territories, including the experience of the Altaiskiy Biosphere Reserve.
The undisputed highlight of the seminar was the issues of facilitating the adaptation of natural ecosystems to climate change in separate specially protected nature territories of the Altai-Sayan ecoregion (Altaiskiy and Katunskiy biosphere reserves) as well as the issues of forest fire management experience in already existing and newly established specially protected nature territories. Apart from enabling the participants to familiarize with the foreign colleagues’ achievements, such seminars also help summarize the experience of Russian scientists and set up strategic goals for the future, including those with international support.
S.V. Chukhontseva, Deputy Director for Science