FW: Keep Baikal Alive!

[holly myers]

Like the famous Galapagos, Lake Baikal is home to a number of endemic
species.

These include the Epischura baikalensis, a tiny crustacean that
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epischura_baikalensis> cleans the lake's
water, the nerpa, one of only three fresh-water seal populations in the
world, the golomyanka, which feed the nerpa seals, and several endemic fish
of commercial importance in the area, such as omul, Baikal sturgeon, and
Baikal grayling.  One concern of environmentalists, fighting Putin's
decision to reopen the paper mill whose wastewater empties into Lake Baikal,
is that these endemic species will become extinct if the lake is polluted.
A related concern is that this wastewater will raise the lake's water
temperature, which could kill off these species even before the pollution
level becomes an issue.  The Epischura baikalensis, for example, is
especially vulnerable to increased water temperature, and the entire Baikal
ecosystem depends on this one animal species to keep the water clean.

Holly Myers


On Fri, Apr 9, 2010 at 6:05 AM, William Ryan <wfr at sas.ac.uk> wrote:

> I am sure that the petition forwarded by Robert is indeed important and
> worthy of support, but it does not help itself by starting with a bit of
> journalistic nonsense: 'Known as the "Galapagos of Russia," Lake Baikal ...
> etc.'. Who calls Baikal the 'Galapagos of Russia'? Has anyone ever said 'we
> are going sailing on the Galapagos of Russia'? Galapagos are islands, Baikal
> is a lake - sounds a bit like the Red Queen:' I could show you hills, in
> comparison with which you'd call that a valley'.
> Will Ryan
>
>
>
> Robert Chandler wrote:
>
>> Dear all,
>>
>> I forward what seems like a worthwhile petition.  Please circulate it if
>> you
>> agree.
>>
>> Yours,
>>
>> Robert Chandler
>>
>> ------ Forwarded Message
>> From: Pnina Levermore <info at pacificenvironment.org>
>> Reply-To: <info at pacificenvironment.org>
>> Subject: Keep Baikal Alive!
>>
>> Lake Baikal is No Small Change to Throw Away
>> Known as the "Galapagos of Russia," Lake Baikal is located in southern
>> Siberia near the Russian-Mongolian border. The oldest and deepest lake in
>> the world, Baikal contains 20% of the world's unfrozen freshwater
>> reserve.�
>> The Russian Government is treating Lake Baikal like small  change. Prime
>> Minister Putin's decision to re-start the Baikalsk Pulp  and Paper Mill
>> obstructs the  environmentally safe economic development  of the town of
>> Baikalsk and the  whole Baikal region. The governmental  decree, which
>> Prime
>> Minister Putin  signed on January 13, permitted the  mill to discharge its
>> wastewater into the cleanest lake on the planet. �  This is a  violation
>> of
>> both Russian laws and an indicator of Russia's   unwillingness to deliver
>> on
>> its international obligations to keep  intact  Lake Baikal - a priceless
>> heritage site protected by  UNESCO. Sign the petition to UNESCO Director
>> General!  UNESCO  must address the Russian Government with a demand to
>>  stop
>> pollution of  Lake Baikal.
>>
>> <
>> http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/608/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=26
>> 83>
>> Pnina Levermore Russia Program Director
>>
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