MINSK, 24 November (BelTA) – The preservation of the biodiversity of wetlands is one of the most important areas in the nature protection activities of Belarus, Belarusian First Deputy Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Minister Iya Malkina said at the final seminar ClimaEast: Conservation and sustainable management of peatlands in Belarus to minimize carbon emissions and help ecosystems to adapt to the climate change on 24 November, BelTA has learned.
“Today, we are completing one of many big projects, which was possible thanks to the cooperation with the EU and the UNDP. Such cooperation gives results, makes considerable contribution to the social and economic development of the country and separate regions. At the government level Belarus works closely on the environmental protection areas such as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and rational sustainable use of lowlands. A number of important documents have been adopted in the sector, including efforts to preserve the biological diversity and combat land degradation,” Iya Malkina said.
In her words, an increased attention to the problem can be explained by lowlands being one of the most vulnerable places on earth. Their area constantly reduces due to antropogenic factors and the climate change. Open wetlands and areas after drainage reclamation suffer in the first place. The biggest threat from natural factors is the bush and reed encroachment.
“In recent decades the process has affected more than 500,00 hectares of natural wetlands and lowland floodplain meadows. The overgrowth threatens a large number of species of animals and plants listed in the Red Book of Belarus and the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, other types of flora and fauna protected in accordance with international treaties. Zvanets and Sporovsky alone are home to at least 40 species of rare and endangered animals,” Iya Malkina noted.
“Thanks to this and similar projects, we see positive dynamics. We should continue this work. This becomes even more relevant in the context of the recent climate change conference, the Paris climate agreement. The wetland ecosystems is the heritage of not only Belarus but of the entire world space,” Iya malkina said.
The seminar summed up the results of the four-year project ClimaEast: Conservation and sustainable management of peatlands in Belarus to minimize carbon emissions and help ecosystems to adapt to the climate change. The EU earmarked nearly €1.5 million for this project.
