*[Enwl] заявление по олимпийскому строительству в Сочи (UNEP mission)
ENWL.Bellona
SOCHI 2014
REPORT OF THE UNEP 2^nd EXPERT MISSION
28-30 JANUARY 2010
I. INTRODUCTION
A UNEP expert team conducted a mission to Sochi from 28 to 30
January 2010. The objective of the mission was to review the
construction of the combined road/railway from Adler to Krasnaya
Polyana, in relation to the impacts on the environment.
It was in response to a number of protests from some non-
governmental organizations and the invitation of the Government of
the Russian Federation and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee.
The mission involved visits to various sites that were considered
sensitive along the construction path of the combined road/railway
and other sensitive sites in the region (including the Biathlon
venue and Olympic Village in the mountain cluster, Gasprom
complex, Rosa Khuta). It also involved discussions with the
Russian Railway Corporation, Olympstroy, the Sochi 2014 Organizing
Committee, and the administrations of the City of Sochi, the Sochi
National Park, the Biosphere Reserve, NGOs and local experts. The
mission visited several installations (including the leopard
breeding centre, tree nursery and zoo) presented as mitigation
measures to the effects of various Olympic and tourism projects on
the environment.
The mission also used the opportunity to organize a roundtable
discussion for stakeholders (the Organizing Committee, Olympstroy,
the Russian Railway Corporation, representatives of the Ministry
of Natural Resources, NGOs and representatives of various
communities around the various Olympic projects) with the view of
bridging the communications gap between them.
The mission received overwhelming support from the various
stakeholders. There were staff from all the relevant departments
and corporations working on the Sochi 2014 project as well as
representatives from NGOs who accompanied the mission for the site
visits.
II. KEY FINDINGS
1. Several environmental assessments have been conducted by the
Russian Railway Corporation on the combined road/railway project.
The mission was presented with them and with separate assessments
by NGOs highlighting negative impacts of this project on fauna and
flora.
2. These assessments were conducted mostly on the available and
out of date literature and they covered specific fields of
expertise. The mission observed that more efforts could be devoted
to the collection of field data, particularly on key issues such
as hydro-ecology and the values and functions of the ecosystems of
the valley in general.
3. It was also noted that the assessments focused on the direct
impacts of the projects to the immediate surrounding and did not
take into account the cumulative and synergetic effects of the
various projects on the ecosystems of the Sochi region and its
population.
4. The mission found the Russian Railway, Olympstroy, the Sochi
2014 Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Natural Resources
very opened to discussions and suggestions on improving this
particular project as well as the other projects that are
associated with the Olympics and tourism development of the
region. The mission appreciated very much this positive approach
of the local stakeholders who seem eager to address all
environmental issues, with more interest and attention than in the
past and pledged to integrate those issues in their workplans and
priorities. 5. The mission observed that the implementation of
decisions taken at the political level relating to the mitigation
and compensation of impacts of Olympic and tourism projects are
taking too long. Some of these projects include :
The enlargement of the Sochi national park;
The strengthening of the level of protection of the most sensitive
areas, such as the upper Mzimta valley;
The setting up of new protected areas, in particular along the
Black Sea coast, in order to protect important wetlands and
migratory routes of birds, as well as key types of natural
habitats for wildlife.
6. The mission noticed that there is a relative reluctance of
the various stakeholders to engage each other. Some
NGOs/stakeholders did not feel that their suggestions or inputs
were being taken into account. On the other hand, those contracted
to develop projects also feel that some NGOs were only interested
in stalling the entire Olympic project and were not interested in
constructive dialogue. In the view of the mission, the level of
reluctance to engage with or even listen to each other calls for
actions from _both sides_ to improve cooperation.
III. KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
The above-mentioned findings lead the mission to make the
following recommendations:
1. A comprehensive assessment of the overall impact of the
Olympic and tourism projects on the ecosystem should be conducted,
in all relevant fields of ecological expertise. If needed and
required, UNEP could propose experts to undertake this assessment
or help to coordinate the process. This assessment would
contribute in building the necessary baseline without which it
will not be possible to comprehensively monitor the impacts of the
projects on the environment;
2. A strong “monitoring programme” that integrates all effects
of Olympic and tourism development projects should be set up. This
programme should be based on updated and field data and should
monitor both the direct and indirect effects of all projects on
ecological goods and services. _The process should involve a
third party_ and on a regular basis;
3 . This monitoring programme should be developed through a
holistic approach of biodiversity preservation and management in
the Sochi region. This is an important condition for assessing the
synergetic effects of all Olympic and tourism projects, structures
and activities on the natural processes on the basis of which the
ecological goods and services are provided to the local
population;
4. Both, in response to short term necessity and as a
compensatory measure, a " Caucasus Eco-region Monitoring Centre "
should, if feasible, be set up at the eco-regional level, that
could benefit from the Biosphere Centre recommended by the
UNESCO World Heritage Committee (32COM 7B25).
This Centre could aim to significantly improve and update the
knowledge on biodiversity in the region and benefit from local and
national institutional capacities (academy of sciences, Sochi
National Park, Caucasus Biosphere Reserve, Teberdinsky Strict
Natural Reserve, local expertise) as well as foreign expertise; 5.
The process of designing a global "landscape restoration plan"
of the Mzimta Valley should start in order to restore the areas
affected by provisional and/or definitive infrastructures (roads,
bridges, settlements, etc.) and equipments.
In addition, a detailed "landscape restoration programme" of the
river valley affected by the construction works of road and
railways, should be implemented. This programme should aim at
restoring the characteristic features of the original landscape,
as much as possible .
Preparatory restoration field activities (such as plantation)
should continue, as well as adapted and strengthened, in
accordance to the priorities and guidance defined in this
landscape restoration plan, as soon as it will be made available;
6. The mission was informed that a decision has recently been was
made to set up the " Caucasus polygon " at the Caucasus eco-region
level. The mission feels that this is an important decision and
considers this measure a precondition for the reintroduction of
the Caucasus leopard and for obtaining a minimum viable
population of this species, through the establishment of a
functional ecological corridor between the Western and Eastern
Caucasus. With regards to this specific compensatory measure, the
IUCN (SSC/Cat specialist group) could be approached for support;
7. The implementation of the decisions taken in order to prevent,
reduce and compensate the negative effects of all Olympic and
tourism projects on the ecosystem in general and biodiversity in
particular, should be strengthened. It might be useful to have
plans and follow-up mechanism on the implementation of these
decisions;
8. The inputs of various stakeholders is necessary for the
achievement of the greening objectives of the Sochi 2014 Games.
The view of the mission is that _both sides_ need to increase
efforts to genuinely engage each other. Work on the above
recommendations might help in rebuilding confidence on the
commitment to make the Games green. Secondly, regular interactions
between stakeholders, is encouraged. _UNEP could increase the
frequency of its roundtables and other forms of interactions
within the next 12 to 24 months to assist this process as
necessary_ .
IV. CONCLUSION
Sochi Games present both challenges and opportunities. Some of the
above-mentioned recommendations are meant to help in addressing
the challenges. Effective engagement of stakeholders and using
experiences of international best practices could make Sochi 2014
a unique environmental showpiece. Sochi 2014 also presents a major
opportunity to raise environmental awareness and care for the
environment particularly in the Sochi region. It is an important
opportunity for best practices on waste management and sustainable
transport to be implemented in Sochi.
http://www.vedomosti.ru/newspaper/article/2010/03/15/228068
From: "Evgeny Usov" <evgeni...@greenpeace.org>
To: "ENWL.Bellona" <ENWL.B...@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 3:05 PM
Subject: заявление по олимпийскому строительству в Сочи
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