The "Master of the Arctic" project is being implemented within the framework of cooperation between Rosprirodnadzor and the International Ecological Fund "Clean Seas". In addition, the Arctic Initiatives Center is actively involved in this work.
The scientific program of the experiment was developed by the A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPEE RAS), whose specialists will directly participate in aviation surveys and in the subsequent processing of the data obtained.
The head of Rosprirodnadzor, Svetlana Radionova, at a press conference held on July 21, 2020 at the RIA-Novosti press center dedicated to the "Master of the Arctic" project, said that the polar bear is one of the most beautiful and strong animals. He really is the master of the Arctic. However, polar bears are listed in the Red Book, meaning direct interference with the population in the wild is out of the question, which is why the department organized an exploratory expedition, based on the results of which further work will be drawn up to preserve the population.
In addition to the head of Rosprirodnadzor, the press conference on the "Master of the Arctic" project was attended by Hero of the Soviet Union, Hero of Russia, pilot-cosmonaut, President of the Clean Seas Foundation Sergei Krikalev; Vyacheslav Rozhnov, Academician of RAS, Director of IPEE RAS; General Director of ANO Arctic Initiatives Andrey Patrushev; General Director of the Clean Seas Foundation Vasily Bogoslovsky; and Hero of Russia, test pilot, cosmonaut, chief pilot of the expedition Valery Tokarev.
Director of IPEE RAS Vyacheslav Rozhnov spoke about the main scientific goals and objectives of this project. During the test flights of the La-8 aircraft, aerial observations and aerial photography will be carried out in the visible and infrared ranges of the spectrum. Based on the data obtained, an assessment of the abundance, spatial distribution of polar bears and the state of individuals in the summer-autumn (ice-free) period in the surveyed territory was carried out; the sex and age structure of the polar bear in the study area was studied; the main parameters of habitats and environmental factors of polar bears in the study period were determined; the distribution, number and spatial structure of the populations of marine mammals in the surveyed water area was studied; the role of natural and anthropogenic factors on the number of marine mammals was assessed; the level of anthropogenic pollution of surface waters of the surveyed water area, including floating debris, was determined.
The general director of the Clean Seas Foundation, Vasily Bogoslovsky, stated at the same press conference that polar bear counts had not been carried out for a long time. The expedition will begin in Amderma, and the researchers have been allocated 20 days for flights.
