| Summary: | Ecological problems in many regions on Earth are the result of increasing technological pressure on the environment. There problems concern many of us and cause us to unite in order to search for means to protect our "natural house". Scientists, especially are responsible for the protection of the biosphere. The objective of this conference which took place in Syktyvkar, capital of the Northern Republic of Komi in Russia, was to discuss the results of studies on the present condition of the environment in the Far North where the industrial pressure is increasing. The participants of this conference also offered and suggested various necessary measures for the protection of the region and restoration of its disturbed sites. The specific structural characteristics of the environment of the Far North, tundra and northern taiga, cause its fragility and vulnerability to anthropogenic impact. The destruction of the thin, weak layer of soil and vegetation cover changes the thermal balance and thus causes the development of erosion process, which in their turn increase the zone of the direct technogenous destruction. Self restoration processes in this harsh climate usually are slow. The preservation of the ecological integrity in the Far North is essential for the stability of the biosphere of the planet. We must take into account the specifics of the natural conditions so that we will be able to develop the means of intensive agro-technology that can speed up the process of restoration of the biocenosis in the damaged areas. The extended abstracts of the conference reports that constitute this volume contain both theoretical discussions of problems of recultivation as well as accounts of experimental studies and applied explorations. U.S. Department of Energy.
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