The fragile environment in the north is absolutely essential for the authorities of Troms and Finnmark (Norway), Murmansk Oblast (Russia), Lapland County (Finland) and Norrbotten County (Sweden) to actively cooperate across national borders. Thus, the public administrator in Troms and Finnmark has for a long time led and participated in projects in the framework of international cooperation in the field of environmental protection.
Even before the opening of borders to the east in the early 1990s, the district governor (now the state administrator) collaborated with the Russian Murmansk region on various environmental projects. After 1990, and especially after 1994, cooperation acquired a more solid foundation.
The state of the environment in the border areas is the main topic of the Pasvikseminaret 2021, organized by the public administrator in Troms County and Finnmark in cooperation with the municipality of Sør-Varanger municipality.
The purpose of the annual Pasvikseminaret is to provide the local population and local politicians with all information about the environmental situation in the border area of Norway–Russia. The program focused on pollution from the nickel plant and monitoring of the environment in the border area.
The activities of Norilsk Nickel have been the main focus of the workshop for many years.
Back in 2020, information was provided on the environmental monitoring of lakes in the border area from the Norwegian side. The long-term trend shows a decrease in the number of contaminated substances over the past 25 years. The condition of benthic animals and fish is good or very good. In 2018, a special study was conducted on the mercury content of fish. 180 fish from four different lakes were analyzed. The study showed that the level of mercury is below the limit values.
The governor of Troms and Finnmark counties is developing a multi-use plan to protect the environment at border watercourses in the north. One of these rivers is the Pasvik River. From the source in Lake Inari in Finland, it flows northeast through the Pasvik Valley, on the border between Norway and Russia, before finally flowing into the Bøkfjord at Elvenes in Sør-Varanger.
Earlier, the county governor and NIBIO Svanhovd (The Svanhovd Research Station of the Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research (NIBIO) is a hub for genetics-based research and monitoring) arranged a seminar for students from three schools in Finland, Norway and Russia. The idea was to get advice from young people on how they think the administration, politicians and research institutions should work with plans and environmental measures in the peripheral zone in the future. The contribution will be included in the further planning work.
For the first time in many years, Norwegian scientists at the Pasvikseminaret 2021 found only positive news from Russia.
Tore Flatlandsmo Berglen, a researcher at the Norwegian Institute for Atmospheric Research (NILU), noted a significant improvement in air quality in the border area. After the closure plant in Nikel in December 2020, the content of sulfur dioxide and heavy metals in the atmosphere at the border between Norway and the Murmansk region meets all international requirements.
“And I know that these emissions from the Kola MMC will continue to decline. Compared to 2015, this figure will be 85 percent. This is very positive news. Air quality issues are being addressed in the right direction. We have been talking about this for many years and finally the problem has been resolved, emissions significantly reduced. This is the most excellent presentation I have ever made!” said Tore Berglen.
The Norwegian environmentalists who participated in the workshop also noticed positive changes.
“The smelter is closed and Norilsk Nickel is working hard to become a ‘green’ metallurgical company—it reduces emissions, uses advanced technology and cooperates with Pasvik nature reserve which is our good partner in Russia. Today, a lot of interesting things are happening in the border areas. We have many common interests and there is a certain key to ensuring that everything works out for us—this is good coordination, cooperation, a large knowledge base,” said a representative of the environmental center NIBIO Svanhovd.
Other studies examining water resources, fish, berries, also prove that nature in the border area is recovering. All this testifies to the work of ecologists who care about the environment.
“We see examples of what has already been done. And this allows us to plan with confidence our future joint work, projects,” said Anne Fløgstad Smeland, senior adviser representative at the county governor in Finnmark.
