Legal Problems of Spatial Development of the Arctic Ecological Zone of the Russian Federation

Abstract

The paper considers the strategic directions of legal support for the spatial development of the Arctic ecological zone of the Russian Federation. It is proved that a key principle of the development of the Arctic is the principle of preservation and the balance between economic activity, human presence and conservation of the environment. Therefore, the existing strategic planning documents defining strategic guidelines for spatial development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation shall be brought into compliance with the basic documents of state strategic planning in the field of environmental protection and ecological safety, as well as in national, economic, and other types of security. The authors substantiate the conclusion that it is necessary to develop and adopt a separate strategy for marine (aquatic) spatial development, which contains key types of economic specialization in relation to individual water areas, promising marine reference zones of economic growth, as well as the main directions for environmental protection and ensuring environmental safety. According to the authors, the implementation of the tasks specified in the strategy of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, it is necessary to determine the status of the whole Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (strategic, environmental, economic, social, etc.), and, given the special international and national status of the Arctic, its special position as a testing ground for ideas and environmental-economic investments, to develop and adopt the basic law "On environmental Arctic zone of the Russian Federation" or to integrate environmental requirements into the project of the Federal law "On the development of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation".