When fully or partly quoting this report, reference to WWF is necessary. Compilation: Julia Kalinicheva

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WWF-Russia 2014

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Compilation: Julia Kalinicheva Editing of the Russian version:

Lyudmila Lyagushkina

Translation and editing of the English version:

Yulia Kuleshova, Philip Johnson Design: Denis Kopeykin

May 2015, WWF-Russia, Moscow

When fully or partly quoting this report, reference to WWF is necessary

Using photographs from this report is not permitted without written consent from WWF-Russia

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INTRODUCTION

. . . 3

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

. . . 4

New leopard addition . . . 5

Ecologists estimate the polar bear population on Vaigach Island . . . 6

Oil companies will contribute to the conservation of the walrus . . . 7

We know leopards “personally” . . . 8

Partnership for Nature . . . 9

Russian business is helping snow leopard . . . 10

Mountain sheep have been counted . . . 11

Tiger comes back . . . 12

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

. . . 13

Sustainable forest management . . . 14

Certificates for the forests . . . 15

Five million trees in Russia . . . 16

High value forests in the Russian Far East received more protection . . . 17

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES

. . . 18

Plan to combat Illegal fishing has been approved . . . 19

Serious confrontation on Bolshaya River . . . 20

Drift net fishing will be put to an end . . . 21

Cod and haddock granted “protection documents” . . . 22

Streamers rescue endangered birds . . . 23

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

. . . 24

All emissions will have to be reported . . . 25

GREEN ECONOMY

. . . 27

A dangerous project has been suspended . . . 28

How can we save the Arctic inhabitants? . . . 29

Which region is richer? . . . 30

WWF assessed the responsibility of oil and gas companies . . . 32

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ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

. . . 33

Environmentalists prevented the abolishment of the state environmental review . . . 34

Amendments to the Criminal Code of Russia came into effect . . . 35

Your active position saved Russian nature reserves . . . 36

Integrated natural resource management will contribute to the conservation of marine ecosystems . . . 37

COLLABORATION FOR NATURE

. . . 39

Reduction of ecological footprint through more efficient use of resources and energy . . . 41

Encouraging environmentally-responsible business practices . . . 41

Communications and awareness-raising activities . . . 41

Philanthropic relationships . . . 41

Our largest corporate partnerships . . . 42

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

. . . 47

Internet charity shop . . . 48

SMS-campaign: helping has become easier! . . . 49

Important people for the living planet . . . 49

WWF supporters get together . . . 49

Travelling under the WWF flag . . . 50

Taking part in projects and expeditions . . . 50

WWF-Russia jubilee at Muraviev-Apostols mansion . . . 51

Charity event with Nikolai Drozdov . . . 52

Aid for tigers arrived in time . . . 52

What we will remember of 2014 . . . 53

WWF ON AIR

. . . 54

Earth Hour – 2014 . . . 56

WWF: 20 years in Russia . . . 56

Text messages will help to study pinnipeds . . . 57

Vote with your fork! . . . 57

For the benefit of people and nature . . . 58

To know in order to protect . . . 59

Celebration that became a tradition . . . 59

FINANCES OF WWF-RUSSIA IN 2014

. . . 60

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INTRODUCTION

Dear Friends,

The year 2014 was a very special one for us – WWF-Russia celebrated its 20^th anniversary.

Over these past 20 years and together with you, our supporters, like-minders, colleagues and friends, we have achieved a lot. Thanks to your support we implemented more than 300 field projects in 47 regions of Russia and invested over 3 billion roubles into nature conservation.

During this anniversary year, a number of events important to Russian nature took place. Three more leopard cubs were born at the Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre in Sochi National Park. This Centre is now home to 13 animals, including eight cubs. The cubs are destined to become the founding members of a population of wild leopard in the Russian Caucasus.

The new amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that came into effect in 2014 significantly toughened the penalties for illegal hunting and trading in endangered species. Poachers were sentenced to imprisonment and serious fines for shooting Amur tiger and polar bear.

WWF, together with the Global Footprint Network, calculated for the first time the ecological footprint and biocapacity of Russian regions. Russia is among the few nations that, with careful management of its resources, can securely maintain its biocapacity reserves for decades to come.

In 2014, the Government of Russia approved a National Plan to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing aimed at eradicating poaching in the fisheries sector.

Mongolian oak and Manchurian ash were listed in Annex III of CITES (Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species). Timber from these valuable species may only be exported after an additional procedure to confirm the legality of the timber has been carried out.

These are just a few examples of what can be done by either WWF experts actively participating with others or by them working on their own. The outcome of our work in 2014 is covered in more detail in the pages of this report.

We express sincere gratitude to each and every one of you who has followed our actions and successes with interest and attention and helped to overcome barriers and to everyone who has given their voices in support of our

initiatives and donated funds to our projects. Without your help we could not have achieved such significant results.

Many, many thanks to you all!

Victoria Elias Conservation Director, WWF-Russia

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BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ^~

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NEW LEOPARD ADDITION

Years ago, the Persian leopard was very common in the Russian Caucasus.

In the late-19^th and early-20^th centuries, however, the conflict between humans and the leopard dramatically increased and the animals were permitted to be killed all year round and by any means. Ungulates, the big cat’s main prey, were severely hunted as well. Despite the creation of the Caucasian Nature Reserve in 1924, massive poaching lasted through the 1920s and 30s, not to mention during the Second World War. All this resulted in the fact that it is virtually impossible nowadays to encounter a leopard in the Northern Caucasus.

In 2007, WWF, together with the Russian Academy of Sciences, developed a Persian leopard reintroduction programme in the Caucasus. In 2008, initiated and supported by WWF, the Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre opened its doors in Sochi National Park. Since it was first opened, WWF-Russia organised the translocation of six leopards from Turkmenistan, Iran and Portugal and provided continuous methodical and technical support. In 2013, the first cubs were born to two parental pairs formed at the Centre. The Persian leopard reintroduction programme in the Caucasus is undertaken by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in partnership with Sochi National Park, Kavkazsky Nature Reserve, the Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, WWF-Russia, Moscow Zoo and the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

In 2014, three more cubs were born at the Persian Leopard Breeding and Rehabilitation Centre and now it is home to 13 animals including eight cubs. These cubs are destined to become the founding members of a population of wild leopard in the Russian Caucasus. The young leopards not only require food and care, but also special enclosures that imitate natural landscapes in order to help develop their skills and strength.

International experts assessed the condition of the young leopards and gave recommendations on their release into the wild. Two older cubs which have learned the skills of independent life are planned to be released into the Caucasian Nature Reserve in the spring of 2015. Meanwhile, nature reserve staff are busy preparing the territory for their long-awaited guests by providing additional food for the ungulates and maintaining their numbers at a required level.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Victoria Elias,

Biodiversity Conservation director of WWF-Russia:

“The Persian leopard reintroduction programme in the Russian Caucasus is progressing successfully. Let’s hope the Caucasian Nature Reserve will soon become home for a self-sustaining population of this predator. Furthermore, our experience in the Caucasus can be used in helping to raise the number of the Amur leopard population.”

FACTS OF THE MATTER

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6 | WWF-Russia. Annual Report 2014

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

ECOLOGISTS ESTIMATE THE POLAR BEAR POPULATION ON VAIGACH ISLAND

The lives of polar bears strongly depend on sea ice, largely because they hunt seals on the ice. Due to global climate change, the area of perennial ice in the Arctic is shrinking rapidly giving way to large expanses of open water during summer. It is therefore becoming increasingly difficult for polar bears to find a suitable habitat and more and more often these predators have to remain on the mainland where obtaining food is extremely hard.

The size of the polar bear population in the south-eastern Barents Sea is still unknown. Meanwhile, in addition to changes caused in this area by global climate change, especially in the

waters around Vaigach Island in the Nenets Autonomous Region, the human pressure on ecosystems is likely to grow considerably. Primarily, this is related to the increasing amounts of oil and gas being transported by sea. Experts from WWF and the Council for Marine Mammals set off on an expedition

to Vaigach Island to assess the state and size of the island’s polar bear

population. The mission had three objectives: to find bears, to take samples of their fur for DNA testing in order to identify genetic links between different populations and to obtain an idea of their distribution.

Over the four-day-long mission in April 2014, the experts searched an area of 30,000 square kilometres of sea ice. It was found that in general the number of polar bears is not high. However, in some areas during just one hour-long flight, up to ten animals could be seen, this being a relatively high number.

On the island, expedition members interviewed local residents on their sightings of polar bears, possible reports of illegal hunting and the most likely locations of polar bear dens. During the expedition, it transpired that the island is an important stopover along the polar bear migration route. The data collected during the mission will help to strengthen protection efforts for this species.

The diary on the Arctic expedition to Vaigach Island is available on WWF- Russia’s official page in VKontakte social media, http://vk.com/wwf.russia.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

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OIL COMPANIES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSERVATION OF THE WALRUS

Walruses make their rookeries on the coastal ice where they rest and breed.

The area of Arctic ice is shrinking in both size and thickness which means that animals lose suitable sites for rookeries. Increasing rates of oil extraction in the Arctic pose another threat to walruses by raising the risk of oil spillages and worsening the environmental situation. Intensified human activities disturb and scare animals and push them into looking for new breeding sites.

WWF is striving to build cooperation with oil and gas companies in order to lessen their impact on the Atlantic walrus and on the fragile arctic marine ecosystems.

Encouraged by WWF, Yamal LNG developed its own Strategy for the Conservation of the Atlantic Walrus. For the first time in Russia, such a corporate environmental standard has been followed. By implementing this strategy, we expect that Yamal LNG will be able to protect the animals within the area of its operations and along the shipping routes.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Margarita Pukhova, Coordinator of Marine

Biodiversity Conservation Projects at WWF-Russia Barents Office:

“The corporate standards of Yamal LNG are a very good example of corporate responsibility towards the conservation of endangered species within the oil and gas sector. We appeal to other oil and gas companies working in the same area to join our efforts in researching and conserving the Atlantic walrus.”

Alexander Tynkovan,

member of the Golden Panda Club:

“WWF opened an interesting chapter in my life. Any businessperson gives a huge amount of emotion and energy (sometimes all of them) to his or her work. However, our world is so much wider and more fascinating than any business is, even if it is very big, and successful.”

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WE KNOW LEOPARDS

‘PERSONALLY’

Individual Amur leopards can be identified by the distinct pattern of spots on their skin. This can be done by comparing images taken with automatic camera traps that ‘capture’ all animals passing by. Using this method, staff members of Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve and researchers from the Russian Academy of Sciences, together with experts from WWF and the Wildlife Conservation Society, have been conducting annual photo-surveys at two sites over the last ten years.

The traditional survey method of counting leopard using prints in the snow allows one to distinguish between the prints of male and female animals, while comparing photographic images enables one to identify individual animals.

Monitoring of leopards using camera traps therefore became a crucial task.

Considering that cameras can cover quite large areas, this is one of the most reliable methods for estimating the size of predator populations.

Experts in the Land of Leopard National Park, together with research institutions and conservation NGOs including WWF, cover 90% of the Amur leopard range with photo surveying camera traps. The camera traps for the National Park have been purchased by companies supporting WWF and by the Amur Leopard non-governmental organisation. Over several months, leopards and tigers have been monitored not only within the Land of Leopard National Park and its buffer zone but also in Poltavsky Wildlife Refuge where monitoring had not been conducted before.

The project combined the forces of the Primorsky Protected Areas Administration, Russian Academy of Sciences, WWF, Institute of Sustainable Use of Natural Resources and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

The photo-monitoring will help to obtain reliable data on the state of Amur leopard and

Amur tiger populations and also on the interaction between these two species.

An unprecedented amount of data collected during the project were used to put together individual ‘passports’ for a considerable proportion of the population of the Amur leopard, the world’s rarest wild cat. In 2014, the Land of Leopard National Park and WWF began a new joint project on video-monitoring. The footage was used to put together a film on the life of a large family of leopards called The Spotty Family. This film is available on YouTube (http://youtu.be/

ZbrosompXzE).

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Elena Salmanova, Deputy Head of the Joint Administration of Kedrovaya Pad Nature Reserve and Land of Leopard National Park:

“We are planning to make all the information we have collected available to the united database on endangered wildcats.

Everyone who was involved in the monitoring will have access to this database. We adapt the data collected on each animal for the general public by creating individual ‘passports’ with photographs which are now available on the Land of Leopard National Park website.”

Vassily Birulin,

Earth Keeper since 2006:

“Our nature is not a renewable resource. If a species goes extinct, it won’t come back whether we want it to or not. One can’t eat money, contemplate tarmac and tend robots, but unfortunately many of us haven’t realised that yet. I don’t want my children to see our world poorer than I saw it, but if possible, to see it more diverse. WWF helps my dream to come true.

Thank you so much for doing so.”

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PARTNERSHIP FOR NATURE

Low living standards that exist in many regions in which WWF operates mean that people tend to earn their living by exploiting any possible source of income, including poaching and illegally trading in wildlife and plants.

In order to protect natural ecosystems, it is important to raise the standard of living within local communities and to provide them with opportunities to earn a living by legal means.

Since 2011, WWF and Citi Foundation have run a joint project that aims to reduce and prevent poaching by giving

local communities an opportunity of generating income legally. Local communities have been given start-up grants to develop small nature- friendly businesses, such as eco-tourism, construction and maintenance of guest houses, production of crafts, etc. In 2013, the project was expanded into Kamchatka. In 2014, a total of 200 first-time entrepreneurs in remote areas of Altai and Kamchatka received financial support and advice.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Sergey Rafanov, Head of WWF-Russia

Kamchatka/Bering Ecoregional Office:

“In Kamchatka, with support of the Citi Foundation we help local businesses organise the harvesting, processing and marketing of wild plants based on the principles of sustainable and environmentally-responsible use of natural resources. We create jobs and demonstrate legal ways to earn a living as opposed to poaching.”

Alexander Bondarev, Head of WWF-Russia Altai-Sayan Ecoregional Office:

“In remote villages in the Altai we demonstrate to local people that, instead of pursuing traditional livelihoods which often result in the overexploitation of natural resources, one can find an alternative source of income.

The project is aimed at not just dealing with the disappearance of rare wildlife species and plants but also at addressing its cause, namely poverty in rural areas.”

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RUSSIAN BUSINESS IS HELPING SNOW LEOPARD

Snow leopards usually move along the same routes and trails, so making this wild cat very vulnerable. Animals can easily be caught by poachers using traps set up along the narrow trails.

Approximately 60-70% of the snow leopard population within Russia is found in the Republics of Altai and Tyva and also in the southern tip of Krasnoyarsk Region. Due to rural poverty, the main threat to this wild cat is poaching, targeted both at the rare cat itself and at the ungulates which form its main prey.

M.Video, a company that has been supporting WWF projects for over a decade, sponsored a project on the conservation of snow leopard in the Argut River valley in Altai Republic. During every month of the hunting season starting from December, snow leopard habitat has been patrolled by special anti-poaching teams. The teams’ objectives include not only finding and arresting poachers but also removing poaching traps and setting up new camera traps in order to monitor the snow leopard population. One of the most important pieces of evidence of the project’s success is the number of photographic images that have been taken of live animals. Another project objective is to provide alternative opportunities for local communities to earn their living, primarily through tourism and making souvenirs.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Victoria Sinitsyna, Head of Charitable Projects, M.Video:

“M.Video pays special attention to the conservation of nature.

We are very glad our efforts are helping to combat poaching and to restore the snow leopard population in Russia.”

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MOUNTAIN SHEEP HAVE BEEN COUNTED

Altai mountain sheep (argali) and snow leopard are two symbols of the whole of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion. Within Russia, the argali is found in the Republics of Tyva and Altai on the border with Mongolia where it forms four sub-populations in the mountain ranges. The Russian Red List classifies argali as a near threatened subspecies at the northern extent of its range.

Every two years, a large-scale count of the Altai population of argali takes place in both Russia and Mongolia. In 2012, experts counted approximately 2,000 animals with one-third of them occurring within Russia and two- thirds in Mongolia. During 2014, another planned survey took place.

WWF has been funding argali conservation for many years. In 2014, a WWF- coordinated census was conducted in order to estimate the population size of this rare species. Experts from Altaisky Nature Reserve, Sailugemsky National Park and the regional environmental NGO Arkhar took part in the count. The key finding of the census is positive in that, during the previous two years, the population of Altai wild sheep found in areas along Russia- Mongolia border increased by 82%. The total number of animals counted was 3,450. This was the fifth census to be undertaken and it embraced thousands of square kilometres of Russian and Mongolian Altai. Only within just the Russian territory and over less than a month, 15 members of the counting team covered a distance of more than 800 kilometres, including 650 kilometres on foot.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Sergey Spitsyn,

leader of the argali survey team in Altai Republic:

“Two years ago, we came across many traces of poaching activity, but since then the situation has improved significantly. We can now make a bold statement that the number of argali in the areas close to the Russia- Mongolia border has stabilised and is rising and that this is not a play of chance, but a result of many years of the tight-knit work by conservation NGOs and enthusiasts”.

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TIGER COMES BACK

As late as the middle of the 20^th Century, the Caspian tiger was found in riverine forests across all of Central Asia. During the 19^th Century, however, while clearing land for cotton plantations, the tiger was persecuted through a fear of them attacking humans.

Even now there are people living in this area who in the past have encountered the tiger in the wild.

Symbolic images of the tiger can be found on both ancient mausoleums

and modern-day constructions, for example on the sign at the entrance to the Ile-Balkhash region of Kazakhstan. Genetically, the Caspian subspecies of tiger does not differ from its Amur relative and its population can be restored through the reintroduction of tigers from the Russian Far East.

Amongst all the countries of the Caspian tiger’s former range, Kazakhstan is the only country having an area sufficient in size for the restoration of a viable tiger population. During the World Tiger Conservation Forum in 2010, the Government of Kazakhstan confirmed its intention of embarking on the tiger reintroduction programme that was initiated by WWF and Kazakh ecologists.

In 2014, WWF conducted a number of consultations on the draft programme for the restoration of the Caspian tiger in Kazakhstan along with Kazakh independent experts and government agencies and also international experts who made a considerable contribution to the finalisation of the programme.

At present, this unique project is awaiting approval from the Government of Kazakhstan. Meanwhile, WWF is working with the local communities with the hope that the programme when it is implemented would help to improve local livelihoods and to restore various components within the ecosystems.

For example, we are trying to convince local livestock herders to stop burning reed beds that are in the way of their cattle getting to new grass. Wildfires generated by this practice result in forests being burnt along with their inhabitants, including ungulates, which will be the future prey for the tiger.

As an alternative, WWF proposes mowing the reed beds and planting highly productive crops in order to feed their livestock. We are also looking into opportunities of establishing game reserves that would help raise the number and diversity of ungulates required for the tiger’s well-being. Development of eco-tourism and fishing is also very promising and will provide an alternative for local residents to earn their living other than poaching.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Karim Massimov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan:

“The tiger has always been a symbolic animal in our culture and nature. The unique reintroduction programme has been widely discussed not only within Kazakhstan but also in other countries and has received very positive expert reviews.

The tigers will be brought to Kazakhstan from the Far East, but not before they have a habitat sufficient in size, plenty of food and adequate protection and the risk of conflicts between animals and people has been minimised. The Government of Kazakhstan, together with the National Geographic Society and WWF, will do everything to make our country a good home for the tigers. However, to preserve what we have and to restore what we have lost is only possible if both social and economic development in our country is balanced together. This is the core idea of the concept of a green economy approved by our President. I wish every success to all of us in this inspiring project and invite you to support it.”

FACT OF THE MATTER

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SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY ^~

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SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT

Around a quarter of all forests in Russia are considered to be virgin or intact. They have never been commercially exploited, they have no roads, no clear-cuts or clearings for farmland or mining and they have not been affected by fires or other calamities caused by humans. Intact forests, together with protected areas and other categories of valuable forest ecosystems, are termed “high conservation value forests.”

Between 2000 and 2013, the area of virgin forest in Russia dropped by 21 million hectares, or 7.5%. Due to commercial logging, forest fires and the prospecting, extraction and transportation of mineral resources, we lose on an average day 4,400 hectares of intact forest along with its diverse inhabitants which are sometimes rare and endemic.

WWF-Russia drew up agreements on the protection of high conservation value forests in Arkhangelsk Region and in the south of the Russian Far East with 18 timber producers. According to these agreements, 883,000 hectares of forest leased by timber-producing companies are excluded from exploitation while logging within another 141,000 hectares is limited.

This is a voluntary and conscientious step the timber producers have made towards the efficient and sustainable use of natural resources.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Anna Bykova, member of Golden Panda Club

“I have been following WWF’s work in Russia for the last few years and I can see its real outcomes.

Our planet and its wildlife is at the mercy of people and the powers we possess. If we learn to live in harmony with nature, we would all only benefit from that.”

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CERTIFICATES FOR THE FORESTS

After Canada, Russia is the second-ranked country by the forest area certified by the international environmental and social standards (FSC).

At present, these areas total 40 million hectares and are comparable in size to the combined area of Germany and Switzerland.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an international organisation that developed a system of assessment of environmentally-appropriate, socially- beneficial, and economically-viable forest management. FSC certificates are awarded to timber producers who take care of high conservation value forests, replant and restore forests after clear-cuts, use environmentally-sound technologies, provide social benefits for

their employees, do not violate the rights of local communities and take into account public opinion when making decisions that affect people.

In 2014, the area of forests managed in an environmentally- and socially- responsible manner grew by 1.2 million hectares. This is confirmed by the international FSC standards. In 2014, FSC certificates were given to the first timber producers in the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion.

DID YOU KNOW?

Alexander Voropaev, Coordinator of Russian Association of Environmentally Responsible Timber Producers:

“FSC certification in Russia has reached a stage where it can develop without WWF support. In the near future, we are therefore going to focus our efforts on improving its quality, ie. raising national certification standards, generating demand and developing the domestic market for FSC-certified products and also promoting the certification at the state level.”

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

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FIVE MILLION TREES IN RUSSIA

The Altay-Sayan Mountains are home to one of the largest tracts of mountain taiga in the world. By the richness of plant and animal diversity, this region is ahead of many other forest regions on the planet. The main threat to the Altai- Sayan taiga is the wildfires that every year destroy forest over large areas.

Besides, up until now, some large areas of forest clear-cuts dating from the Soviet era have not yet been restored.

Since 2010, WWF, in partnership with Yves Rocher, has been conducting a forest restoration project. The project was initiated in Arkhangelsk Region with the Republic of Altai joining in 2012 and Altai Region in 2014. In total, three million trees within an area of 780 hectares were planted in Arkhangelsk Region and Altai Republic between 2010 and 2013.

In 2014, WWF and Yves Rocher expanded their forest restoration project into the central part of Altai Region. Up until now, over one million Scots pine, Siberian pine, Siberian spruce and Siberian larch trees were planted in order to restore forests that have been destroyed by wildfires and industrial logging during the Soviet period. In total, 650 hectares of forests will be restored in Altai Region and the Republic of Altai and the number of seedlings planted will amount to five million.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

Alexander Bryukhanov, Forest Programme Coordinator at WWF-Russia Altai-Sayan Ecoregional office:

“The restoration of forest ecosystems with high biodiversity brings benefits primarily to local residents in that people generate income both from being employed by the project (planting and tending of seedlings) and later on from harvesting mushrooms, berries, Siberian pine nuts and other non-timber forest products.”

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HIGH VALUE FORESTS IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST RECEIVED MORE PROTECTION

Korean pine-broadleaved forests in the south of the Russian Far East are very special due to the great diversity of their inhabitants. The principal ranges of the endangered Amur tiger and Amur leopard are located in this region and a number of game species are also found here. These ecosystems produce valuable medicinal plants and edible forest products, such as pine nuts. The productivity of these forests depends directly on the presence of their main species, namely Korean pine and Mongolian oak.

Over the last two decades, such valuable tree species as Korean pine, oak, ash, elm and lime, were extensively cut to meet the high demands of Asian markets. As a result, the stock of Korean pine, oak and ash in the commercially- logged forests became depleted and timber producers began to consider logging inside the intact Korean pine-broad-leaved forests which are very important for the conservation of biodiversity within the Amur tiger habitat.

WWF-Russia conducted a thorough review of the situation with regard to illegal logging in the Ussuri taiga. Expert opinion was heard and an official decision was made to introduce restrictions on the export of valuable tree species. From

the second half of 2014, timber from the Mongolian oak and Manchurian ash listed in Annex III of CITES (Convention for the International Trade in Endangered Species) may only be exported after an additional procedure to confirm the legality of the timber has

been conducted. This export control mechanism needs to be improved to avoid becoming an impediment to environmentally-responsible timber harvesting.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER DID YOU KNOW?

Stanislav Kharchenko, member of the Golden Panda Club:

“I was very lucky to be born in one of the most beautiful places in our country, at the very heart of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains in a little town surrounded by the Ussury taiga on the Sea of Japan coast. The nature here is very diverse and unique.

Those who visit here always say so.

At present, however, nature in the Primorye needs help as it is being threatened by frequent wildfires, illegal logging and poaching. I can see how much WWF does for nature conservation in the Far East. I don’t want to be apart from that and try to help where I can.”

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SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ^~

Ekaterina Borisova,

member of the Golden Panda Club

“I have always admired those people who are ready to give so much, sometimes even their very lives, to protect the ecological balance and biodiversity on our planet. I know that single-handedly and without financial support, the fight for conservation is often impossible. It is important for me that, thanks to WWF, I have an opportunity to help such people to implement conservation projects and I'm even more confident I've chosen the right path.”

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SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES

PLAN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISHING HAS BEEN APPROVED

Until recently, there was no definition in Russian legislation of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. However, national budget losses due to IUU fishing are estimated by experts to be up to three billion US$

per year.

The Government of Russia approved a National Plan to combat IUU fishing.

It took several years to formulate this document and WWF experts actively participated in that work. Our experts estimated the salmon and crab poaching in the Russian Far East and prepared a number of proposals that were included in the Plan, such as fishery satellite monitoring

improvements, the introduction of a fishery observers’ institution, the use of onboard CCTV cameras, more strict port control measures, environmental certification of fisheries and many others.

DID YOU KNOW?

Konstantin Zgurovsky, Head of Sustainable Fisheries, WWF-Russia:

“Despite the fact that the approved version of the Plan has been significantly shortened compared to the original one, its approval will allow for more effective measures to eradicate illegal fishing. Responsible fish producers do realise that IUU fishing damages fish stocks and brings down market prices and we are ready to collaborate with these companies and government authorities to combat poaching in Russian seas.”

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

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SERIOUS CONFRONTATION ON BOLSHAYA RIVER

Every summer, a number of salmon species (humpback salmon, Siberian salmon, sock-eye salmon, Chinook and silver salmon) arrive in the Bolshaya River in Kamchatka to spawn. Due to transport accessibility, poaching here amounts to 30% of the total amount of salmon caught in this river basin.

For three years in a row, volunteer rangers helped to enforce control over fishing in the Bolshaya River. WWF has been helping volunteers by providing them with necessary equipment. Every year, however, rangers face serious confrontation with poachers. Volunteers work around the clock, but poachers don’t sleep either. Using mobile networks, the poachers’

accomplices report on the whereabouts of ranger boats. For that reason, rangers are much less likely to catch poachers at the scene of the crime and to film them than to find evidence of

their presence with such items as salt in bags, buckets for caviar, nets, boats and, occasionally, even large tracked vehicles.

In 2014, volunteer rangers removed more than 60 illegal fishing nets, some longer than 70 metres in length. During patrols along the Bolshaya River and roads in Ust-Bolsheretsky District, the rangers confiscated approximately 2.5 tonnes of illegally-harvested red caviar. Over a tonne of ripped open fish which had been abandoned by the poachers was found along the banks of once one of the richest salmon rivers in Kamchatka.

To allow the rangers to work more effectively in 2015, we need to provide them with a more powerful boat engine and a sufficient amount of fuel and equipment. This will allow the area under patrol to be expanded and the equipping of rangers at least up to the level of a well- kitted out poacher.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

Alexey Demidov, WWF supporter and Earth Keeper:

“Fish are not as fun as pandas, or as loveable as cats and are certainly not as devoted as dogs. However, the majority of people consider a diet without fish to be incomplete, and for many of us fish is the staple diet during our entire lifetimes.

Thoughtless extermination puts under threat the future of salmon and the whole of the Kamchatka ecosystem. Let’s support the volunteer rangers! Our children must know that fish are not only to be found in aquariums. Not to mention the fact that fish have just as much right to live on our planet as we do!”

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DRIFT NET FISHING WILL BE PUT TO AN END

Drift netting is a fishing technique that uses floating nets that are 30 metres wide and up to 12 metres high.

Drifts nets are effectively multi-kilometre-long ‘walls of death’ that prevent salmon from travelling up rivers to spawn. Apart from the Pacific salmon they are designed to catch, such nets also catch and kill whales, dolphins and seals as well as marine birds such as the short-tailed albatross. This all leads to major shocks to already-disturbed marine ecosystems. Drift net fishing also prevents fish from approaching shores, causing damage not only to the environment but also to traditional near-shore fishing.

In the spring of 2014, the Russian regulations on Pacific salmon fishing were changed. Drift net fishing has become illegal before 1^st June each year – previously, it was allowed from 1^st May. This change in seasonal limitations will give young Kamchatka Chinook salmon the chance to reach maturity and help protect those few remaining populations of wild Pacific salmon that spawn in spring. Despite an important step being made in combatting this barbaric fishing technique, WWF is looking for a complete ban on drift net fishing within Russia’s exclusive economic zone. This initiative is supported by several parliamentarians. In late-2014, members of the Council of Federation and State Duma tabled a draft law in the Lower Chamber of Parliament that proposes a full ban on commercial and coastal drift net fishing within salmon spawning migration routes.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sergey Korostelev,

Sustainable Fisheries Programme Coordinator at the WWF-Russia Kamchatka/Bering Ecoregional Office:

“Drift net fishing has long been recognised to be ecologically damaging. Violations common in drift net fishing aggravate the situation even further and both the official statistics and the information provided by independent observers demonstrate very poor control over the fishing. The fishing boats either do not report at all on their by-catch, including sea birds and mammals, or they significantly understate these figures by an average of 11 fold.”

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

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COD AND HADDOCK GRANTED

‘PROTECTION DOCUMENTS’

Over the last 25 years, the consumption of seafood in the world (both harvested in the wild and farmed) has doubled and amounted to 150 million tonnes a year. At the same time, the annual global catch is only 80 million tonnes. Neither expanding the global fishing fleet, nor exploiting new grounds, nor fishing new categories of marine products would help to increase this figure. According to the FAO’s (UN Food and Agricultural Organization) prognosis, if the fisheries that are pushed by the growing demand continue to overfish, then the world’s fish stocks would be exhausted by 2050.

For a long time, WWF has been promoting the principles of sustainable fishing as a tool to prevent the degradation of marine ecosystems. In 2009, the first Russian fisheries were granted MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) certificates. Together with the certificates, the fishermen receive an incentive for the conservation of marine

ecosystems. The fish harvested by the certified companies corresponds to international standards of environmental responsibility.

In 2014, two fisheries were granted MSC certificates of environmentally- responsible fishing. The companies, Strelets and Eridan, together harvest 10% of Russian cod and haddock in the Barents Sea, this being why WWF suggested that they apply for certificates.

Initiated by WWF, the fisheries purchased innovative trawling planks that do not touch the sea bottom and which do not damage the bottom ecosystems. Another important achievement is that the chain of custody of the seafood harvested by

the Karat Group was granted the MSC certificate. Previously, the MSC certified products were almost entirely exported to the west, while nowadays they can be found on sale in Karat Group retail shops in Moscow and Murmansk and, in the near future, in St. Petersburg.

DID YOU KNOW?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Vassily Spiridonov, Advisor to MSC in Russia:

“Since the early-2000s and the first organisation in Russia to do so, WWF has been promoting MSC certification. The first certificates were granted in 2009 and nowadays a number of Russian fisheries meet the highest globally-recognised environmental standards. The problem is that their produce is largely being exported, while the owners and top management of Russian retail companies do not realise the benefits of bringing their chain of custody up to standards and of MSC- branding their products. As a result, only very few consumers in Russia are aware of the poor state of global fishing stocks and of environmentally-responsible fishing. To raise this awareness, restaurants, hotels and food stores must purchase MSC- certified seafood and sell it with MSC eco-branding.”

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STREAMERS RESCUE ENDANGERED BIRDS

Up to 20,000 birds die every year in the Russian Far East longline fishery after being caught by baited hooks. To scare birds away from the fishing device in order to save their lives and to make the fishery more effective, environmentally- responsible fisheries use streamer lines which consist of lengths of rope with brightly coloured streamers attached. These flap in the wind and deter seabirds from attacking baited hooks. The studies conducted in various parts of the ocean prove that streamer lines are amongst the most effective mitigation in reducing by-catch in longline fisheries. Studies carried out in Kamchatka with WWF support demonstrated that a pair of streamer lines that protect the groundline like curtains reduce bird mortality by almost 90%.

Since 2008, WWF-Russia has been in dialogue with fisheries promoting the idea of using streamer lines in the longline demersal fishery. It was then that the first consignment of streamers was produced in Russia and handed over to the fishing companies. Due to financial problems, the project had to be suspended, but in 2013, it was resumed. During this period, however, fishermen continued to use the streamers that had been provided by WWF or ones which they made themselves.

In 2014, WWF signed an agreement with the Longline Fishery Association of Russia.

Our experts instructed the fishermen on how to use the streamers. WWF has been funding the work of independent observers, recruited from amongst scientists, who stay on fishing vessels during longline fishing activities evaluating the species composition and quantity of by-catch and also the effectiveness of streamers used for reducing the bird mortality.

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Yuri Artyukhin, Head of the Laboratory of Ornithology at the Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences:

«Longline fishery is probably the only type of fishing where business interests are in line with those of ecologists. The streamer lines significantly reduce seabird mortality. This gives a positive trend for their population dynamics and helps to increase the volume of catch by reducing the loss of baits. The positive effect of using the streamers can be seen through the population dynamic of the short-tailed albatross, an endangered species caught by baited hooks. In the middle of the last century, it was on the brink of extinction, but thanks to the measures that were implemented, the species was rescued. At present, the population of short-tailed albatross is growing. In 2008 in the Bering Sea, we could normally sight between one and three birds close to a fishing vessel. Five years later, however, the average number of sightings was nine and once we saw 41 birds.»

FACTS OF THE MATTER

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CLIMATE

AND ENERGY ^~

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CLIMATE AND ENERGY

DID YOU KNOW?

ALL EMISSIONS WILL HAVE TO BE REPORTED

Climatologists are absolutely convinced that the global emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) must be reduced very significantly, otherwise mankind will face serious problems during the second half of the 21st Century. This is what both the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and its Russian equivalent, the Second Assessment Report of the Russian Federal Service for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring (RosHydroMet), both published in 2014, came up with.

Country-specific objectives on reducing GHG emissions do not prove to be effective. The emissions must be regulated at the level of individual companies, which is how

such regulations work effectively across the world.

Governments in different countries are bothered not so much by the amount of GHG emission but by the

‘backwardness’ of energy production and industries.

Therefore, governments

want to find and apply a simple and transparent tool with which to identify those companies that operate significantly below the average global level and to force them to modernise. Experience in many countries shows that the most practical and efficient tool is the introduction of emission quotas through market methods, ie. by issuing quotas and developing a mechanism for trading in quotas. This is probably the best direction for Russia to take and WWF has been promoting this idea at all levels, from scientific papers through to meetings with government officials and industry managers.

Dmitry Zylev,

Director General of Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Plant:

“Over the last ten years, Arkhangelsk Pulp and Paper Plant (PPP) has been calculating and verifying its carbon footprint and publishing its annual reports on GHG emissions. We were the first company in Russia to introduce a GHG emission management system according to ISO 14064 standard. This enables us not only to correctly calculate the amount of GHG emission but also helps us to plan and implement measures to reduce the emissions. In 2014, Arkhangelsk PPP took part for the first time in the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), the largest world database on GHG emissions by individual companies. We produced a report on our climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in CDP format. As a result, Arkhangelsk PPP was given the highest rating of carbon transparency in Russia and we are truly proud of this.”

Elena Perevertailova, Earth Keeper since 2009:

“It is nice to know that your money, even if it was a small amount, helped to save an animal’s life or your vote helped to prevent the implementation of a project that would have had an adverse impact on the environment or made its implementation more environmentally- responsible.”

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CLIMATE AND ENERGY

In 2013, the President of Russia signed a decree that limits greenhouse gas emissions to 75% of the 1990 level by 2020. However, this Decree sets the target for the whole country which does not provide any results on its own. The Decree does not specify who should reduce emissions and why. In order to specify these, the Government needs to know how much individual companies emit – in other words, obligatory reporting must be in place.

Those companies which are considerably behind the global average indicators must be forced to introduce modern technologies that will eventually result in the reduction of emissions. The reporting system should be reliable, comprehensive, open to the public and provide incentives for taking the next steps.

In April 2014 and after a long period of consultation during which WWF-Russia was an active participant, the Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Medvedev, signed an Instruction whereby each sector of the economy must have its own quotas of GHG emissions and from the beginning of 2016 obligatory reporting

for each enterprise must be in place. The Instruction, however, specifies neither the format of reporting to be used nor the government body to whom to report should be directed. This subject has been the focus of intense discussion for almost a year. In the end, common sense prevailed. The final draft of the Concept sent by the agencies to the Government for approval is functional, aimed at future regulation and a reduction in emissions and is in line with WWF’s position.

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Alexei Kokorin,

Head of the WWF-Russia Climate and Energy Programme:

“At present, developed countries reduce their CO₂ emissions while countries at a similar stage of development as Russia are levelling off their emissions.

A significant reduction in the amount of CO₂ emissions is expected in Russia in the 2030s when it is realistic to expect the economy becoming less dependent on extractive industries. However, even now we can see a very noticeable shift. In 2014, investments in solar power generation grew dramatically. Solar power stations are being actively built and their total installed capacity by 2015 will be 40 times more than in 2011.”

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GREEN

ECONOMY ^~

Irina Antonova, WWF supporter

“Why do I like helping WWF? It just makes me happy!

To help and to create is so much more fun than

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GREEN ECONOMY

A DANGEROUS PROjECT HAS BEEN SUSPENDED

Every year, western Pacific grey whales spend five summer months feeding in the Okhotsk Sea close to the north-eastern shores of Sakhalin Island and then leave for their winter breeding. This whale population is now in a critical state and totals only about 150 animals. In addition, there are only between 25 and 30 female whales left that are capable of breeding.

The grey whales are threatened by the oil and gas development projects, especially during seismic exploration.

The problem of saving the grey whales that feed close to the north-eastern shores of Sakhalin Island in Piltun Bay has been a focus of WWF and other environmental NGOs for a number of years. In 2013, under pressure from a public campaign, Sakhalin Energy announced the postponement until 2020 of the construction of a new drilling platform within the whale habitat.

However, another company, Exxon Neftegas Limited, is planning to construct temporary uploading facilities in the area. According to the company’s plans, transportation by sea will cut through those off-shore waters that are the most

important for whales. Our experts have proved that the noise impact will exceed the level acceptable to these animals and that the radius of the noise zone will not be six kilometres as stated by the company but 20 kilometres. If the construction takes place, the whales will be driven out of the largest and best part of their feeding grounds.

A coalition of environmental NGOs including WWF succeeded in postponing government approval for the construction project in Piltun Bay that

threatened western Pacific grey whales and other marine mammals. A public environmental review has been conducted which showed that any cargo can be delivered through the well- established port of Moskalvo in the north of Sakhalin. The cargo can then be further transported by roads that need to be strengthened and widened. We hope that in 2015 the construction of an ecologically-dangerous temporary port in Piltun Bay will be banned completely.

DID YOU KNOW?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Dmitry Lisitsyn,

Head of Sakhalin Environmental Watch:

“In the past, Exxon Neftegas Limited successfully delivered their heavy equipment to Piltun Spit by land. Their intention to use a marine route this time is neither in line with environmental requirements nor with the social and economic interests of Sakhalin Region. Instead of investing in improvements to the road infrastructure on Sakhalin, the company attempts to save their money and put under threat of extinction the smallest population of grey whales in the world.”

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GREEN ECONOMY

HOW CAN WE SAVE THE ARCTIC INHABITANTS?

The Arctic is a very vulnerable place. The shortage of natural light, low temperatures, drifting ice, strong wind and low visibility all raise the risk of spillages during the extraction of oil and make it especially dangerous here.

At the same time, the emergency response in case of accidents that may occur here is much more difficult than in other areas.

Development of the Arctic shelf in Russia is accelerating. So far, licences for oil and gas exploration and extraction have been issued for a quarter of its total area. However, neither Russia nor other countries possess the know-how for the safe extraction of hydrocarbons in icy conditions. WWF’s position in this regard is that, prior to intensive development within the Arctic, the effective emergency response measures for oil spillages in icy conditions need to be tested and special programmes to train volunteers in rescuing animals need to be implemented.

WWF’s proposals for the appropriate and safe development of the Arctic will be incorporated into the action plans of the Russian Government. Such a promise was given by President Putin after he took part in a roundtable discussion on the problems facing oil and gas development in Russia. The President instructed the Government to develop an action plan to prevent animals dying after spillages of oil and oil products. A list of species that can serve as indicators of marine ecosystem well-being was drawn up. Based on this list, the oil and gas companies are given recommendations to formulate their biodiversity conservation strategies. Among these species is the Atlantic walrus which is listed in the Red List and is one of the priority species in WWF’s work. The oil and gas companies will now have to formulate and implement programmes for the monitoring and protection of the walrus. In particular, they must introduce technologies to prevent the contamination of key walrus rookeries on arctic islands in case of oil spillages. We expect the presidential instructions to be implemented in 2015. At the same meeting, WWF was instrumental in the subsequent revocation of a draft law that proposed abolishing the state environmental review for development projects on the Arctic continental shelf (see Page 34).

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

Alexei Knizhnikov,

WWF-Russia, Extractive Industry Environmental Policy Officer:

“It is very important that the instructions to the Russian Government incorporated WWF’s proposal to develop a pilot project on the integrated management of marine resources in the Russian section of the Barents Sea. This approach will help to take into account the interests of key stakeholders, including oil industries, fisheries, protected areas and all other parties involved.”

When fully or partly quoting this report, reference to WWF is necessary. Compilation: Julia Kalinicheva

WWF-Russia 2014

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES

CLIMATE AND ENERGY

GREEN ECONOMY

ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

COLLABORATION FOR NATURE

THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

WWF ON AIR

FINANCES OF WWF-RUSSIA IN 2014

INTRODUCTION

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ~

NEW LEOPARD ADDITION

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

ECOLOGISTS ESTIMATE THE POLAR BEAR POPULATION ON VAIGACH ISLAND

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

OIL COMPANIES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONSERVATION OF THE WALRUS

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WE KNOW LEOPARDS

‘PERSONALLY’

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

PARTNERSHIP FOR NATURE

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

RUSSIAN BUSINESS IS HELPING SNOW LEOPARD

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

MOUNTAIN SHEEP HAVE BEEN COUNTED

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

TIGER COMES BACK

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACT OF THE MATTER

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY ~

RESPONSIBLE FOREST MANAGEMENT

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

CERTIFICATES FOR THE FORESTS

DID YOU KNOW?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FIVE MILLION TREES IN RUSSIA

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

HIGH VALUE FORESTS IN THE RUSSIAN FAR EAST RECEIVED MORE PROTECTION

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER DID YOU KNOW?

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ~

PLAN TO COMBAT ILLEGAL FISHING HAS BEEN APPROVED

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

SERIOUS CONFRONTATION ON BOLSHAYA RIVER

DID YOU KNOW?

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!

DRIFT NET FISHING WILL BE PUT TO AN END

DID YOU KNOW?

FACTS OF THE MATTER

WHAT HAS BEEN ACHIEVED?

COD AND HADDOCK GRANTED

‘PROTECTION DOCUMENTS’

DID YOU KNOW?

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ^~

SUSTAINABLE FORESTRY ^~

SUSTAINABLE FISHERIES ^~

AND ENERGY ^~

ECONOMY ^~