From May 19 to 23, the NAS of Belarus is holding its traditional Native Nature Week
From May 19 to 23, 2025, the organizations of the Directorate of Biological Sciences of the NAS of Belarus are holding an open communications platform "Week of Native Nature". The event is dedicated to the celebration of the International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22)*. SSPA “SPC of the NAS of Belarus for Bioresources”, SSI “V. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the NAS of Belarus”, SSI “Central Botanical Garden of the NAS of Belarus” and SSI “Forest Institute” (Gomel) have prepared a number of events.
On May 19, 2025, the opening of the Native Nature Week will take place, at which leading scientists of the Directorate of Biological Sciences of the NAS of Belarus, representatives of scientific organizations, ministries and institutions will speak. On the same day, the IX International Scientific and Practical Workshop “Modern Technologies in the Activities of Specially Protected Natural Areas: Geoinformation Systems, Remote Sensing of the Earth” (GIS-Naroch-2025) will begin its work.
On May 20, at SSPA “SPC of the NAS of Belarus for Bioresources”, everyone will be able to listen to a popular science lecture "Mysterious Night Dwellers" (order Chiroptera).
On May 21, SSI “V. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the NAS of Belarus” will hold an online lecture-lesson for school students "Immortal Ecosystems: about the Amazing Life of Swamps", as well as a workshop "Adaptation of Forests and Forestry in Belarus to Climate Change: New Aspects". SSPA “SPC of the NAS of Belarus for Bioresources” is organizing an online workshop for teachers of Belarusian schools: "Invasive Species and the Use of Citizen Science in the Fight Against Them".
On May 22, SSI “Forest Institute of the NAS of Belarus” will host an information and educational project “Dialogues about Nature”, during which young scientists and research fellows will speak in biology classes of Gomel gymnasiums, discuss issues of biological diversity of forest ecosystems and its ecological significance, rational nature management and state forest policy.
May 23 – ZooThursday. SSPA “SPC of the NAS of Belarus for Bioresources” will host a popular science open lecture “Malaria Mosquitoes as Carriers of Pathogens of Transmissible Infections and Invasions”. On the same day, SSI “V. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the NAS of Belarus” will hold the “Clean Shore” campaign to clean up and improve the coastal strip of Vileika Reservoir.
As per tradition, as part of the Native Nature Week, scientists have prepared a wide-ranging excursion program.
For secondary school students, introductory excursions will be organized on the topic: "Collection Funds, a Ringing Center and Research Laboratories of SSPA “SPC of the NAS of Belarus for Bioresources”; "Research Laboratories SSI “V. Kuprevich Institute of Experimental Botany of the NAS of Belarus”. For students of secondary general and secondary specialized educational institutions of Gomel, residents of the regional center, familiarization excursions will be organized with a visit to the history museum of the Institute of Forestry, the office-museum of academician V. Ipatiev, and the research laboratories of the Institute.
During the Native Nature Week, it will be possible to get acquainted with the collection funds and expositions of SSI "Central Botanical Garden of the NAS of Belarus", including the rhododendron collection and the lilac collection that have entered the flowering phase.
* The International Day for Biological Diversity was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in 1995. The main objective of the International Day for Biological Diversity is to draw public attention to the problem of the irreversible disappearance of many representatives of flora and fauna on Earth. Our planet's biodiversity continues to decline and the ecological balance is being altered. About 60% of the ecological system is degraded or used recklessly, leading to loss of biodiversity and severe consequences that could worsen over the next 50 years.
