EKONORD

The Kola Regional Ecological Information Centre

Mailing address: PO Box 176, 184200 Apatiti, Murmansk Oblast, Russian Federation

Office address: 40a Fersman Str., Apatiti

Telephone:  +7 815 55 79762

Tel/fax from Norway, Finland and Sweden: +7 51295 14118

Tel/fax from all other countries: +47 789 14118

Telex: 126 129 KOLSC SU

E-mail: econord@inep.ksc.ru

Director: Dr Alexander Baklanov. Tel: +7 815 55 33164

Manager: Irina Chirkova. Tel: +7 815 55 79762

Ekonord is an independent, non-government, non-profit organisation

The Centre’s activities are conducted within the general collaborative framework of the Barents Region Project

Staff  of Ekonord.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

1. Publications

Ekonord, a scientific magazine for general readership, published since October 1991. Articles in Russian and Norwegian, with English abstracts, address the environmental problems of the Kola Peninsula and the Barents Region as a whole.  The magazine aims to spread ecological awareness amongst youth and adults, and also serves as an   ecology textbook

Ekonord-Inform special supplements.  Published in Russian and English with articles by Scandinavian and Russian scientists, dedicated to topics such as irradiation and ecology in education.  Future editions will focus on current issues of international concern as they arise.

Bulletins, brochures, videotapes.  Ekonord produces and publishes bulletins and videotapes.  Its facilities are available to other compatible interest groups.

 

2. International contacts

Pupil and student exchange.  Together with principal partners Svanvik Folk High School and Malmfaltens Folk High School Ekonord organises exchanges for one year period.  Students have the opportunity to learn the language of their host country while broadening their knowledge in their chosen field of study.  We also conduct language classes in Russian and in the Scandinavian languages.

Seminars, expeditions, practical exercises are organised by Ekonord on a range of subjects relating to the ecology   of the Kola Peninsula.  The approach is positive, with a view to finding solutions to as much as exposing the   environmental problems.
 

3. Ecology education for young people

ECO-AS, a science and ecology youth organisation established at the Ekonord centre, enables young people to:

- attend lectures and pursue theoretical and practical courses
- participate in ecological monitoring projects
- conduct scientific research in ecologically damaged areas using specialist measuring instruments and computer
  analysis methods
- take part in conferences, seminars and discussion groups
- learn to produce reports and present the results of  joint research work with students of other nationalities
- issue bulletins and reports using modern editing equipment
- develop videotopics and make videotapes on the social and environmental issues of the Kola Peninsula
- devise and take part in tours with ecological research aims

We collaborate with the Kola Science Centre whose scientists prefer to employ informal and unorthodox educational methods when working with youth groups
 

4. Ecotourism

Ecotreks with educational and research goals.  The Kola Peninsula’s Xibini mountains in summer are the usual location for touring.  The treks, led by the Centre’s specialists, last several days and require some training and preparation.  However, one-day routes can be organised without prior training.

International youth ecocamps.  Ecology camps, held concurrently in Norway, Sweden and Russia, have been      running since 1992.  Participants undertake ecological measuring projects using modern equipment and up-to-date  methods of analysis, make day trips to the Xibini mountains, visit museums and exhibitions, and take part in excursions. They learn about outdoor life, how to live in the open, and how to be ‘at one with nature’.