So what can Russia do to protect itself from the impacts of climate change?

   The 2010 year was the hottest year in the history of Russia. Due to record temperatures and drought in the region there were several hundred wildfires that broke out across Russia, primarily in the west, starting in late July 2010.

According to the MINISTRY, from the beginning of fire period until September 7, 2010 on the territory of the Russian Federation emerged 30376 hotbeds of natural fires a total of 1.25 million. In the period from late July to mid-August for a day in the country (mostly in its European part) had up to 400 fires.

Fires have affected at least 60 Federal reserves and national parks, in which relic Woods, other reference ecosystems damaged populations of rare species of plants and animals.

According to Roslesozashity, (Рослесозащиты) from mid-June to early August registered forest fires at 3900 hectares of land contaminated with radionuclides, including in the Bryansk (33 fire over an area of 269 hectares), Kaluga (11 fires at 173 ha), Tula (6 fires on the area of 44 hectares), Orel (3 fire over an area of 13 ha), Penza (34 fire on the area 82 ha), Chelyabinsk (401 fire at 1431 ha) and Kurgan areas (12 fires over an area of 63 hectares).

   How we did some researches there 2 mail reasons of wildfires: because of drought ( global warming) and because of human activities.

According to multi-year statistics on fires with known causes, 90% of fires caused by human activity. The main reason for fire 2010, is a violation of the rules of fire safety of forests and adjacent territories. Also it is possible in conditions of prolonged drought and high temperature of spontaneous combustion forest floor as a result of refraction of sunlight in fragments of glass was above average. It follows that the main reason is global warming. 

   As we read a lot of articles, news about wildfires, we understood the whole consequences of this.  Material and environmental damage from the fire was huge. Damage caused by populations of plants and animals listed in federal and regional red books, as well as populations of domestic animals and plants have yet to be determined. According to expert estimates, the damage amounts to tens of millions of rubles. For example, in the Nizhny Novgorod region lost more than half of the cranes. Damage to the hunting economy could be, experts estimate that tens of millions of rubles.

Also it damaged to the air. When forest fires in peat 2010, into the atmosphere, it was a huge amount of suspended particles ("black carbon"), "greenhouse" and chemically active gases (carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide), organic compounds (ammonia, formaldehyde, phenols, benzo (a) pyrene, aldehydes, dioxins) and other compounds. From satellite NASA "Terra" and "Aqua", powerful flows of hot air and smoke from a forest fire on the border regions of Nizhny Novgorod and Ryazan (10 km east of Yelatma), was raised to a height of 12 cm and hit the stratosphere causing formation of cloud (which usually only occurs when volcanic eruptions). 

So what can Russia do to protect itself from the impacts of climate change?

The first possible solutions, as we think, it could be to build special fire-fighting installation on wooded areas in the form of roads (passages), fire barriers, system of mineralized strips, fire water, etc.   With this kind of drought and hot temperatures, which were observed in 2010 in Russia, we think, no fire protection would be unable to fully prevent fire disaster in the wood. But it could significantly reduce the number of forest fires that

go out of control, to prevent the destruction of most of the villages and drastically reduce the number of victims.

And also second possible solution would be to receive assistance in extinguishing the fires from the nearest countries like China, Ukraine, Kazakhstan and other countries. If these countries would provide them with helicopters and planes it would help Russia to douse the flames.  

Another possible solution is having the volunteers. Volunteers can take part in fire fighting and help those affected by the fires. In some cases, informal help is faster and more effective than official help. Volunteers can help these people to buy and transport equipment such as fire suppression materials, engine-driven water pumps, respirators, food for firemen and volunteers, soap, and drinking water.

Conclusion.

In the summer of 2010, the natural peat forest fires in Russia have adopted the scale of national disasters. They have:

• in loss to fire dozens of people;

• full or partial destruction of hundreds of villages and thousands of households;

• destruction of natural ecosystems on the area of several million;

• air pollution products of combustion of forests and peat lands, which caused a marked increase in mortality and morbidity, which will affect the health status of the population in the coming years;

• release huge quantities of greenhouse gases and black carbon, which would have global consequences for the natural environment on the planet;

And if we do not think about it today, tomorrow will be late.

References:

1.       Avialesoohrana. Questions and Answers. Reporting on forest fires », 2009b. (www.aviales.ru/default.aspx?textpage=87&subjectid=2)

2.       Blocks of IP Forest fires: Manuscript. Greenpeace, 12 p. September 2, 2010.

3.       Vladimirov, A. 2010. Code of the apocalypse. "Results», № 35, August 30, 2010 (www.itogi.ru/russia/2010/35/155983.html).

4.       Henry, Patrick (2010-08-03). "Russian Wildfires' Death Toll Rises to 50; Drought May Force Export Ban". Bloomberg. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-08-05/russian-wildfires-death-toll-rises-to-50-drought-may-force-export-ban.html. Retrieved 2010-08-07. 

5.       Centre for Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters