Robert Moiseev

In recent weeks, we have lost two shining stars of Russia’s conservation movement.  On Thursday, Robert Savelievich Moiseev passed away, one day after his 70th birthday.  Robert Savelievich was the director of the Kamchatka Branch of the Pacific Institute of Geography, part of the Russian Academy of Sciences.  

Robert Savelievich’s vision of sustainable development for Kamchatka and the North Pacific was truly extraordinary.  Meeting with Robert Savelievich was always a pleasure that would result in expanding my worldview.  He had a deep and complex understanding of sustainable development, based on his background as an economist and a patriot of Kamchatka and the North Pacific.  He immediately understood the value of international connections; his vision was truly North-Pacific wide, as he understood the ties between Kamchatka and Alaska.  He was one of the primary drivers behind the ideas for the International Bering Sea Forum, which brought together community members from both sides of the Bering Sea.  

Robert Savelievich believed that Kamchatka could prosper only if it could sustainably manage its renewable resources, particularly its fisheries.  He worked with us to demonstrate the value of Kamchatka’s salmon economy.  He thought that Kamchatka’s economic priorities – which now appear to favor oil over fisheries – were terribly misplaced.  His vision, though, was always frustrated by government officials who failed to have the long-term vision that Robert Savelievich championed.  It’s particularly tragic that proposals to drill for oil off of western Kamchatka are moving forward at the same time that Robert Savelievich has passed away. 

Most of all, though, I will remember Robert Savelievich as a mentor with an incredibly keen wit, golden tongue, and sharp mind.  I remember once attending a public hearing on mining issues in Kamchatka, at which Robert Savelievich spoke.  He spoke directly after a representative from the mining company.  Robert Savelievich had the amazing ability – well-developed through the Russian scientific dialectic – to “dress down” whoever had spoken immediately prior to him.  With an amazing economy of words, he showed the gaping flaws in the arguments of the mining company and went on to offer a vision for Kamchatka far beyond what anyone could imagine.  I remember thinking to myself that I never wanted to speak directly after Robert Savelievich! 

Robert Savelievich’s vision and leadership will be sorely missed, but I am hopeful that his vision for Kamchatka and the North Pacific will live on through his writings, his colleagues, and his family – and through those of us who will continue to promote a vision of sustainable development for the North Pacific. 

Another shining star of the Russian conservation movement who passed away in late November is Boris Konstantinovich Shibnev, at the amazing age of 89.  Boris Konstantinovich led an incredible life, having been born just a year after the Russian Revolution.  He had read the works of Arseniev (the Russian analogue of John Muir) who wrote about his travels through the amazing nature of the Russian Far East (for those interested in his work, I recommend the Akira Kurosawa film “Dersu Uzala”).  After being demobilized from the Russian Navy in 1939, Boris Konstantinovich moved to the Bikin River watershed in northern Primorsky Region. 

Boris Konstantinovich was a fierce defender of the Bikin, a roadless area of 3 million acres with an amazing collection of subtropical biodiversity that is rare to find in such a northern area.  He led scientific expeditions, was a teacher who gained great respect among the indigenous Udege people, and led early non-governmental efforts.  I met Boris Konstantinovich in 1992 during my first visit to the Russian Far East.  He had created a natural history museum in his home in the village of Verkhny Pereval.  His passion and commitment to the Bikin watershed was contagious.  At the time, the Bikin was under threat from Hyundai Corporation, which wanted to log the upper headwaters.  We helped launch an international campaign that helped protect these forests from loggers. 

These two stars of the Russian conservation movement will be warmly remembered – and our partners will be working to continue their traditions by protecting Russia’s most important wilderness areas and by promoting a sustainable vision for the region.

Deforestation caused by the Sakhalin II pipeline

Over 150 people stuffed the large hearing room in the Sakhalin Administration building to hear the Russian Minister for Natural Resources, Yury Trutnev assail Sakhalin Energy Investment Company (SEIC, Operated by Royal Dutch/Shell) for mass environmental violations.  Minister Trutnev cited over 54 environmental grievances including 5 that he said will be considered criminal offenses that will be filed in the near future.  The whole scene resembled a public prosecution with defendants Ian Craig, CEO of SEIC, and David Greer, deputy CEO of SEIC, sitting and listening to the charges brought against them. Amongst perhaps 30 reporters were 10-15 photo and television journalists who stuck their cameras within inches of the faces of Craig and Greer.  Both looked like they had been hit by a truck.  

Several other people presented, including Pacific Environment’s partner, Dmitry Lisitsyn of Sakhalin Environment Watch, who gave another of his signature graphic photo presentations of project damage and superior practices from elsewhere, such as above ground crossing of earthquake faults on the Trans-Alaska Pipeline.  Others who presented also projected graphic pictures, demonstrating that they are learning from Dmitry’s approach!

Violations cited included illegal logging, creation of fire hazards, damage to rivers from pipeline crossing, mass erosion, and more.  Trutnev said that damage must be recalculated and a long term monitoring program be put in place.  He calculated fines over ten billion rubles for damage to Aniva Bay, and other fines for other damage such as to fisheries.  

Craig was asked to stand and speak to the charges against him.  Craig said that of course SEIC will fully and transparently address the charges with the authorities and where appropriate take remedial action.  Craig also said that this moment was the first time that he had heard of most of the charges and that SEIC is committed to using the highest international standards.  You could almost hear the room full of people hissing back at him.

Minister Trutnev snapped back, saying, “Are your international standards as high as mine?  Because if so, lets take a helicopter ride tomorrow so that you can see what I’ve seen and you will see that the project is far from Russian and international standards.”  Trutnev also said that it’s ridiculous for Craig to claim that this is the first time he has heard of these problems because independent environmental groups have sent hundreds of letters about these problems.  Trutnev also praised Sakhalin Environment Watch for its contribution to the prosecution, and acknowledged that the Ministry got involved in the problems late and is therefore partly responsible for allowing the environmental situation to get as bad as it has become.  

Environmental groups present remarked that it was indeed an enjoyably surreal event they never predicted they would witness.

Later, SEIC gave a press conference that several environmental groups managed to sneak into.  Nothing meaningful was said by Craig and Greer other than that they disputed that the subsea scouring underneath the PA-B platform is a problem any longer.  No reporters raised this concern; the fact that SEIC brought this up without prompting may suggest yet another smoking gun.