OREANDA-NEWS. January 16, 2013. OJSC MMC Norilsk Nickel (hereinafter MMC Norilsk Nickel or the Company) announces the results of cooperation with state natural reserves located in the territories of the  Company’s operations, commemorating  Reserves and National Parks Day, reported the press-centre of Norilsk Nickel.

MMC Norilsk Nickel pays much attention to the environment protection. Alongside with the programs of production modernization and application of new technologies, the Company runs environmental protection projects, such as, for example, cooperation with state reserves.

Over ten years ago, Federal biosphere natural reserves located in Taymyr Dolgano-Nenets Municipal District, Taimyrsky and Putoransky natural reserves were included into MMC Norilsk Nickel’s patronage assistance program.

In 2012, MMC Norilsk Nickel and Bolshoy Arktichesky state natural reserve fulfilled a large-scale joint project related to polar bear populations monitoring in the Kara Sea area. The Company allocated RUB 7.43 million for the project implementation and RUB 1.88 as charity support for an airboat acquisition.

In the Kola Peninsula, MMC Norilsk Nickel and natural reserves carry on  joint projects on environment monitoring and land rehabilitation in areas adjacent to the Company’s operations. These projects are brought to life together with Lapland Reserve, as well as with Pasvik Reserve in Pechenga region.

As part of the cooperation, MMC Norilsk Nickel supports culture and education, and the reserves monitor the environment and wildlife on the territories adjacent to the Company’s production sites.

Since 2003, the Company goes on rehabilitating technologically affected lands. Two reserves’ employees elaborated recommended practices, whereby the Company carried out tree and bush planting in Monchegorsk, Nickel and Zapolyarny regions. During this period, 18.5 ha of lands were biologically rehabilitated in Pechenga region, and 81.5 ha – in Monchegorsk region. Furthermore, within the period from 2003 till 2012, over a million trees and bushes were planted in the territories of the Company’s both sites.

For over a year the Company’s Polar Division and Bolshoy Arktichesky reserve has been implementing the project related to biological rehabilitation of the territories adjacent to Lebyazhye tailing dump, which have been disturbed by production activities.

At  present, the Company carries on a project related to the construction of a modern visit-center for Pasvik reserve in Nickel town. The center is planned to be used as a permanent base for the environmental education of people from Russia, Norway and Finland’s border areas, and as a venue for scientific forums and other activities related to the environmental protection. This will develop the environmental cooperation among the neighbouring countries. Kola MMC has already allocated RUB 10 million to implement the project. Earlier, a similar project was executed in Lapland Nature Reserve.