Provision of expert status for scientific institutions while making decisions on protection of Lake Baikal

Abstract

Creation of international and Russian legal basis of Lake Baikal preservation and examples of prevention of its ecosystem threats are determined by professionalism and consolidation of scientific community, joint actions of Russian and international experts and NGOs. The examples of inclusion of Lake Baikal into the World Heritage Site list, adoption of the federal law “On protection of Lake Baikal” and transfer of the “Eastern Siberia - Pacific Ocean” oil pipeline, show the central role of subjective factor in decision making by authorities and consideration of opinion of scientific and expert community. Interests and actions of authorities in regards to global threats to the Lake Baikal ecosystem are studied. Having defined scientific community as the only institution that is capable to find ecologically safe solutions for development of Baikal region, it is necessary to integrate functions of the science as an expert body in decision making by authorities. The article includes a set of measures for achieving of common positions of scientific community based on the Scientific council on Lake Baikal problems, and for achieving of legal support of the council’s status as an expert body which position is considered in governmental decision making for Lake Baikal.