Russia and the US have agreed on the cooperative monitoring of the Alaska-Chukotka polar bear population. The survey is being conducted within the framework of a Russian-US cooperation programme on the conservation of wild species of flora and fauna for 2016–2018. 

The agreement was signed during a meeting of the Working Group on Area V “Protection of Nature and the Organisation of Reserves” of the 1994 Russian-US Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of Protection of the Environment and Natural Resources. The event was held on March 22-24 in San Diego, California.

The parties discussed the issues from developments in 2013–2015 and the plans for 2016–2018. In particular, as part of the three-year cooperation plan, Russia and the US have exchanged experience in the management of specially protected natural areas, including joint research and working with visitors, as well as educational and volunteer programmes. In addition, the countries held events as part of a Russia-US Agreement on the Conservation and Management of the Alaska-Chukotka Polar Bear Population, as well as on the study and conservation of marine mammals, the salmon populations and their habitats.

The parties also discussed the study of the status and dynamics of the Bering and the Chukchi seas’ ecosystems, and many other issues.

“Our cooperation has proven to be efficient over the years. We have done a great deal, in particular, developed a cooperation programme to preserve wild flora and fauna for 2016–2018,” Amirkhan Amirkhanov, Deputy Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Natural Resources, said.

He said the positive results of the cooperation included the 23rd coordination meeting of the Russian-US Marine Mammal Working Group at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment in February 2016.

The next Area V Working Group meeting will be held in Russia in 2018.