Towards sustainable development for the Murmansk region

Abstract

The Murmansk region is situated in northwest Russia and is bordered by the Barents Sea. Most of the region (an area of 145 000 sq km) lies beyond the Arctic circle. Historically, the region has been of great importance politically and economically to the Russian Federation, providing the country with its only all-weather northern port and serving as the home to the Northern fleet of the Russian Navy, and the Murmansk Shipping Company (the main shipping agent for commercial cargo along the Russian Northern Sea Route). The main economic activities of the Murmansk region are mining and metallurgy, fishing, shipping and forestry. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the potential for oil and gas development in the Barents Sea which provides economic opportunities as well as environmental challenges for the Murmansk region. Despite the rich mineral resources and bioresources of this coastal region, Murmansk is suffering economically and is also facing severe environmental problems. It is officially recognized as the most environmentally devastated region of the Arctic. Key problems include air pollution, nuclear and other hazardous wastes, and resource depletion. Industries of the region are in need of investment for development and modernization. In order to protect the region’s natural resource base and fragile ecosystem, and improve socio-economic conditions, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP)-Capacity 21, in cooperation with the government of the Russian Federation, initiated the Murmansk Region-Barents Sea Sustainable Development Project. This project aims to strengthen the capacity of institutions in the region to effectively plan and implement environmentally sustainable economic development policies and programs. Phase 1 of the UNDP project resulted in development of a Sustainable Development Action Plan (SDAP) for the region which presents action strategies and specific recommendations to strengthen the economy and environment of the Murmansk region. In preparation of the SDAP and other project activities, multi-disciplinary and inter-sectoral Task Force teams addressed a broad range of topics including coastal zone management (CZM), radioactive waste handling, mining and metallurgy, energy, and public health. This article provides a brief overview of the Murmansk Region-Barents Sea Sustainable Development Project. It then focuses on the CZM component, discussing priority environment and economic development issues for ocean and coastal areas and looking at Integrated Coastal Zone Management as a framework for addressing some of the region’s needs. Specific recommendations for sustainable development of ocean and coastal areas are proposed (for fisheries, oil and gas development, shipping, waste management, etc.). The article concludes by summarizing the overall project achievements and highlighting priority programs identified by regional specialists as well as some factors influencing regional progress towards sustainable development. The Murmansk Region State Committee on Environmental Protection served as the National Executing Agency for the UNDP project. Project management and technical services were provided, under contract with UNDP, by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), an international NGO whose work focuses on human and organizational capacity building for sustainable development. Over 150 local and international experts collaborated on the project. Key institutions contributing to the coastal zone management component of the project were: Murmansk Marine Biological Institute (Kola Science Center); Murmansk State Committee on Environmental Protection (Marine Inspection); Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries (PINRO); Urban Harbors Institute, University of Massachusetts, Boston; Fritjof Nansen Institute, Norway, and the Coastal Zone Management Centre of the Ministry of Transport, Public Works, and Water Management, The Netherlands.