At the Eastern Economic Forum, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment outlined the early outcomes of the national project titled Ecology, with the target completion year set for 2024. The ministry notes indicate progress in cleanups and waste management across the country, reflecting a broad push to reduce environmental hazards and improve ecological health.
Key achievements include the construction of 253 waste processing facilities and the remediation of nearly 2,000 kilometers of watercourse paths. The initiative also recorded the construction of 116 dams and the elimination of six sites with accumulated environmental damage in the Far East, coinciding with the forum’s regional focus. In addition, 136 sunken vessels were removed and processed in Kamchatka, Sakhalin, Chukotka, Magadan, and Primorye, while 82 ships are currently undergoing liquidation.
The head of the department emphasized that a major milestone of Ecology lies in legislative improvements that restrict ship owners from sinking vessels at their own discretion, strengthening accountability and protection for water ecosystems.
The program also fostered domestic energy transitions, with more than 12,000 households in the city of Chita switching from coal to gas heating, contributing to cleaner air and reduced emissions. In energy infrastructure, two combined heat and power plants and eight boiler houses were upgraded, boosting efficiency and reliability in regional energy supply. Moreover, roughly 7,000 units of forestry and forest fire-fighting equipment were procured to support forest stewardship across the Far Eastern regions.
Earlier discussions in the State Duma included proposals related to clear-cutting practices around Lake Baikal, highlighting ongoing debates about conservation, resource management, and ecological safeguards in sensitive areas. The Ecology project continues to be a major policy initiative aimed at balancing industrial development with environmental protection and public health across Russia.