THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, July 2, 1994 TAG: 9407020569
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY PAUL SOUTH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LAKE MATTAMUSKEET LENGTH: Medium: 89 lines
A bulging environmental bureaucracy and sometimes inefficient enforcement process may seem like uniquely American problems.
But in post-communist Russia, those difficulties are all too real - not only in the push toward democracy and a market economy, but in environmental management as well.
With those concerns in mind, a group of Russian wildlife refuge managers are touring North Carolina in an effort to learn American management techniques. The project is a combined venture between the U.S. Department of Defense, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, the World Wildlife Fund, the Nature Conservancy and the Russian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources.
``To my great surprise, I find that there are a lot of common problems in our two countries,'' said Rafael Idrisov, manager of the Perm District refuge in the Ural Mountains. ``There are organizational problems and financial problems. There is not a lot of information exchanged between people in protected areas.''
The Russian Federation has 66 refuges ranging in size from 15,000 acres to 5 million acres.
However, the protected lands differ from those in the United States in that access is limited to researchers.
Since Mikhail Gorbachev initiated peristroika in 1985, environmental management - like everything in Russia - has undergone dramatic change. According to Col. Nikolai Grisha of the Ministry of Defense's Ecological Center in Moscow, those changes have been positive.
``Starting in 1992, we began to work on environmental projects in the army,'' he said.
``We started a department of ecology and an ecological center.
``We have problems in relations between civilian specialists,'' he said. ``One of the things I see here that I like is the ecological education program for soldiers in your military. I want to have similar ecological education for our soldiers.''
Grisha said democratization has resulted in a shifting of priorities in the military.
``There is, of course, more openness and more democratic practices,'' he said. ``Before, our approach was different than here. The military was first and ecology second. Here, we've found the opposite to be true. Ecology is the first priority.''
Scientist Svetlana Popova of the Big Bolshaya Kshaga Refuge on the Volga River said she has learned a great deal about capturing and marking different species for study during her time in the United States. Friday morning, the group tagged osprey and several varieties of ducks.
``The new methodics which are being used by biological specialists can be applied at our site,'' she said.
Dun Temple, manager of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service's refuge at Lake Mattamuskeet in Hyde County, agreed that there are a number of similarities between the two countries and their wilderness protection systems.
``They have a lot of concerns about managing personnel and protecting resources,'' Temple said. ``They've shown a lot of interest in how our judicial system enforces our regulations. They are very impressed with our system.''
Interpreter Sergei Rosolovsky said, ``Wherever there are two Russians, there will be three opinions.''
There was no shortage of those when the visitors were asked about the most pressing issue facing that country's environment.
``I think it is protection of natural resources,'' Grisha said, ``as well as rationing use of resources.''
Idrisov said poaching, particularly of fur-bearing animals, is a problem at his refuge. Sport hunting is not as large a concern as in the United States, but poaching is brought about by socio-economic concerns.
``There has to be a change in people's mentality,'' he said. ``We have to realize there are certain environmental realities we have to face.''
Popova would emphasize environmental education.
``I think the most attention should be given to ecological education and ecological behavior,'' she said.
Grisha expressed hope that the once-chilly relationship between his country and the United States would continue to warm.
``As a military man, I am happy the Cold War is gone,'' he said. ``I would like to add it would be wonderful if the old times don't come back. It is better to meet each other and solve ecological problems. Ecology knows no boundaries.'' ILLUSTRATION: DREW C. WILSON/Staff
From left, Col. Nikolai Grisha, Rafael Idrisov and Svetlana Popova
are Russian environmentalists who are visiting North Carolina.
by CNB