National Academy of Sciences of Belarus

12.09.2016

Grand opening of International Scientific Conference "Problems in Rational Use of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development of Polesie" to be held on September 14, 2016

On September 14, 2016 (Wednesday) at 10.00 a.m. the Grand opening of the International Scientific Conference Problems in Rational Use of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development of Polesie will be held at the NAS of Belarus (66 Independence Avenue, Minsk, large conference room). The conference, which will be held on September 14–17, 2016, will bring together more than 300 scientists and specialists, including 80 from foreign countries: Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany. 280 reports on a wide range of issues related to efficient use and protection of natural resources, social and economic problems of preservation of historical and cultural heritage will be presented by the participants of the conference. The Forum is held by the NASB together with the Academies of Sciences of Russia, Poland and Ukraine, the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of Ukraine, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus, the State Committee for Science and Technologies of Belarus, the Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation.

Polesie, due to the preserving of almost unchanged natural systems, the variety of flora and fauna, mineral resources, a significant proportion of reclaimed lands in the land structure, intensive development of agricultural production, as well as ethnic and cultural identity of indigenous people living here, is a peculiar geographical region.

The fact that this region is located on the territory of several countries, namely Belarus, Ukraine, Poland and Russia, makes Polesie unique. Close substance and energy flows between the countries that do not recognize state borders, as well as similar problems in conservation and use of natural resources cause the necessity of international cooperation for the study and use of the transboundary area. The Forum is held in Minsk with the aim of consolidating experience gained by different countries in use of Polesie natural resources, and also of preserving unique Polesie landscapes, selecting scientific and technical priorities in the areas of wildlife management and subsoil use that are necessary to ensure sustainable social and economic development of the transboundary area of Polesie.

During the Conference, two field research trips to the territory of Polesie will be held to acquaint with the problems of use and protection of peat and bog soils and peat deposits, problems of land reclamation and the use of reclaimed lands, methods of preventing degradation of drained peat soils and preservation of organic substance in agricultural use. By the beginning of the Conference, the Collection of the Conference Papers in 2 volumes will be published by the Belaruskaya Navuka Publishing House.