Ecological Forum Ends in Russian Far East
4/23/99
*******************************
RELAYED TEXT STARTS HERE:
Title: Ecological Forum Ends in Russian Far East
Source: Itar-Tass
Status: Copyright 1999, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: April 23, 1999
KHABAROVSK, April 23 (Itar-Tass) - A two-day long ecological
conference that ended in the Far Eastern city of Khabarovsk
on Friday said the local environmental situation was poor.
The production slump in Russia "has neither caused the
expected reduction in human impact on the ecological systems
of the Amur River basin nor stopped the negative trend in
the development of the environmental situation", the forum
said in a statement.
"The ecological situation in forest and water ecological
systems is deteriorating and reservoirs are being polluted.
Man's habitat is worsening and the life expectancy of local
residents is lowering," it said.
The territory of Amur River basin is about two million
square kilometres, while Russia accounts for two-thirds of
the area.
The basin is home to 5.5 million Russians and more than 70
million Chinese, and the consequences of their negative
influence on the environment remain to be seen.
Participants in the forum called for pooled efforts by
Russian regions and Chinese provinces to face the ecological
challenges.
Chinese delegates said they were ready to co-operate with
Russia in controlling and improving the ecological situation
in the Amur River basin.