Published on: 2026-07-01
Source: Government of the Russian Federation –
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During a working trip to the Irkutsk region, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev, together with the head of the region Igor Kobzev, inspected the research vessel “Vikentiy Zaitsev”, visited the former Baikal pulp and paper mill, and held a meeting of the Government Commission on the protection of Lake Baikal.
“Baikal is one of the most beautiful places on our planet. At the same time, this territory plays a significant role in the socio-economic development of local entities, and is also a landmark tourist center of our country. Therefore, at the state level, it is necessary to ensure a balance that will preserve the unique ecosystem while allowing the regions to develop for the benefit of the people. Solving such a task requires a comprehensive approach and interaction at all levels. In recent years, legislation has been systematically improved for this purpose, and a set of environmental protection measures has also been implemented. More than 46 billion rubles have already been allocated from the federal budget for them,” said Dmitry Patrushev.
Work is being carried out in many areas – a system of state environmental monitoring is being formed, infrastructure for waste management is being created, and six cities in the Baikal natural territory are participating in the federal project “Clean Air.” In addition, an important component is the construction and modernization of treatment facilities. Large-scale elimination of accumulated damage at the Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill continues, and in recent years, 45 landfills have been eliminated in the Irkutsk region and Buryatia. In this regard, the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, together with the regions, has been tasked with strengthening this work in the central ecological zone, and it is especially important to complete work on specially protected natural areas in a timely manner.
Great attention is being paid to forest restoration in the Baikal region. Currently, it exceeds forest loss. To maintain this trend, the construction and modernization of forest nurseries are being financed. By 2030, these activities will affect 18 sites in the Baikal region. Rosleskhoz has been instructed to present proposals to increase the area of forest restoration in the Baikal natural territory and to strengthen control over the forest fire situation. Rosselkhoznadzor, in turn, is tasked with ensuring continuous monitoring of the phytosanitary condition of this region.
Speaking about the conservation and reproduction of Baikal’s aquatic biological resources, Dmitry Patrushev noted that, according to the All-Russian Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography, the stocks of main commercial species in the lake are in a relatively stable condition. The situation has significantly improved with the introduction of a ban on commercial fishing of Baikal omul and measures for its artificial reproduction. The Bolsheretsky fish breeding plant, which recently underwent reconstruction, will contribute to this. In the future, it should produce a billion specimens annually. Rosrybolovstvo should provide optimal conditions for the effective reproduction of the omul population.
In addition, the monitoring of aquatic biological resources in Baikal is carried out by the new research vessel “Vikentiy Zaitsev.” The government allocated nearly 500 million rubles for its construction. The vessel is intended for conducting regular comprehensive studies of aquatic biological resources. It is equipped with echo sounders for hydroacoustic monitoring, a trawl complex, and a multifunctional laboratory for rapid sample analysis.
“We will definitely continue the systematic work on the environmental rehabilitation of the territories near Lake Baikal,” emphasized Dmitry Patrushev.
During the working visit, the Deputy Prime Minister also visited the city of Baikalsk, where he assessed the progress of work at the former Pulp and Paper Mill. In particular, Dmitry Patrushev inspected the Solzansky landfill, the reclamation of which is being carried out by the Federal Environmental Operator of the Rosatom State Corporation, as well as the industrial site of the enterprise. Its development is being handled by VEB.RF in cooperation with the Irkutsk region. So far, one-third of the total number of the plant’s facilities have been dismantled.
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