President Vladimir Putin holds a meeting of the Russian Geographical Society Board of Trustees

On 15 April, the Fundamental Library of Lomonosov Moscow State University hosted the traditional spring meeting of the Russian Geographical Society (RGS) Board of Trustees.

President Putin pointed to the versatile agenda of the RGS and how closely linked it is with the life of the country. He emphasised that the society’s projects are having a tangible educational and cultural impact. 

“Many of the society’s initiatives that were launched as one-time events for a couple of years are being developed further and joined by new participants. This demonstrates how versatile the RGS agenda is; how closely it is linked with the life of our country and its regions; and the tangible educational and cultural mission or role of RGS projects. Suffice it to mention its programmes to preserve wild animals, which have yielded unique information and recommendations on preserving rare animals as well as many important decisions, including those on expanding Russia’s wildlife reserves and toughening environmental laws. We have formed new parks – Buzuluksky Bor, Pozarym and Leopard Land,” the President said at the meeting.

President Putin also mentioned the formation of the Far Eastern Leopards Centre, thanks to which the leopard population has started to grow gradually, almost doubling to date. The RGS established the Amur Tiger Centre last summer at the President’s initiative, marking a major step in the effort to restore Russia’s wild tiger population. Thanks to the centre’s experts, steeper penalties have been introduced for killing Amur tigers. Experts are also actively working to form a specially protected natural area in the upper and middle reaches of the Bikin River.