Nornickel and the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences held public hearings on the outcome of the 2023 Big Scientific Expedition.

We recognise how important it is to maintain the diversity of species on the Earth, as it is required to sustain life on the planet. Nornickel’s Environmental and Climate Change Strategy seeks to reduce the negative impact on natural ecosystems and biodiversity.

Researchers, environmentalists, representatives of federal and regional authorities, Nornickel, and Russian nature reserves took part in the public hearings under the auspices of the Civic Chamber of Russia in Zaryadye Park’s Conservation Embassy pavilion.

The event was part of the programme “Artistic Perspectives of Exploration: The Explorer and the Artist”, a major art and education project. It is dedicated to the exploration of the Russian Arctic and represents the first systematic attempt to rethink research in the Polar region, where Nornickel’s facilities operate, in a cultural context and artistic images.

The joint work of Nornickel and the researchers on biodiversity assessment started in 2022. The expedition covers the Krasnoyarsk Territory, Murmansk Region, and Trans-Baikal Territory. In 2023, the expedition involved more than 100 researchers from seven organisations of the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as experts from other institutes.

The scientists noted a great diversity of flora and fauna in the research area: they found 1,371 species of the key groups of organisms. In the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, 1,039 and 332 species respectively were recorded.

The researchers found 32 protected species in the area, including 19 plant and 13 animal species. As the experts were studying the biodiversity of the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems in 2023, they also analysed the processes of heavy metal migration from waste rock dumps, clarified the boundaries of affected areas and the data of the previous year of research.

According to the researchers, in the terrestrial ecosystems, the radius of the impact area of the Company’s facilities was up to 10 km, in some locations — 15 km.

The scientists highlighted the alienation of territories, sulphur dioxide emissions, and domestic wastewater as the main adverse factors of environmental impact.

In 2023, the researchers confirmed information on all indicator species identified in 2022. The list of indicators that make up an integral indicator of the state of ecosystems was also expanded.

Last year’s research brought about great discoveries. Scientists came across an unknown weevil species near the Norilsk Industrial District, and tasked Norilsk residents and the Company employees to name the beetle. Throughout January they sent their versions to the website of the Severny Gorod Media Company, with the most interesting and frequently proposed ones such as a miner beetle, Northern elephant, Noricum, Taimyr trailblazer, Northern beetle, and Northern snout beetle compiled into a short list. The final vote chose Putoranchik which received the biggest number of votes. Now the world of insects will boast a species whose name will remind of the unique nature reserve of Putoranа Plateau.

In 2023, researchers engaged volunteers to help them. Their joint work will continue going forward.

Stanislav Seleznev, Vice President for Ecology and Industrial Safety, said: “The 2023 Big Scientific Expedition confirmed or refuted theories and hypotheses formed at the first stage. Today, we can say this research was indeed systemic, and we need to carry on with it to develop a reliable evidence-based approach to biodiversity conservation that will enable us to minimise our environmental footprint.”

Viktor Glupov, head of the research team and a corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, commented: “The research delivered exciting scientific findings that can be implemented into the practices of sustainable natural resource use and environmental protection in areas where large industrial companies such as Nornickel operate. Observations must continue as the huge Arctic ecosystem is evolving very slowly, in waves. To detect these waves we need long-lasting large-scale research.”

The research data will create a foundation for a corporate system to manage biodiversity impact while also providing a blueprint for relevant conservation and monitoring programmes.

Nornickel adapts and makes research results available to a wider audience to promote a responsible attitude to fragile ecosystems. For this purpose, we created a dedicated website: https://life.nornickel.com/.

For more details on the biodiversity findings of the second season, 2023, please click here.

New species and minimal environmental impact: Nornickel reports on big scientific expedition