Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 30 October (BelTA) – Plans are in place to integrate the National Environmental Monitoring System (NEMS) in Belarus with the European Shared Environmental Information System (SEIS), Belarus’ First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Iya Malkina said at the international conference “Environmental Monitoring for Sustainable Development. 25 years of the National Environmental Monitoring System in the Republic of Belarus” in Minsk on 30 October, BelTA has learned.

“Using the data provided by the National Environmental Monitoring System (NEMS) we can assess the situation in the environment as quite stable. The degree of protection of the population and the environment from man-made and natural effects can be defined as reasonable for the current phase of socio-economic development. The NEMS operates effectively; promising new types of observations are launched. But the modern challenges and threats suggest that we need to develop this system further. Among the promising areas of development we see the development of the NEMS-based forecasting of ecological state of the territories in order to solve environmental problems, the integration of the National Environmental Monitoring System with the European Shared Environmental Information System, raising the level and quality of the dissemination of environmental information,” Iya Malkina noted.

Today the National Environmental Monitoring System includes 12 types of monitoring: atmospheric air, surface and groundwater, soils, and also forests, flora and fauna, geological environment, dumping and emissions from industrial and other enterprises, etc.

Minsk hosts the international conference “Environmental Monitoring for Sustainable Development. 25 years of the National Environmental Monitoring System in the Republic of Belarus” on 30-31 October. The NEMS plays an important role in the implementation of the state environmental policy and is the basis of information support for managerial decision-making in environmental protection. The conference participants will get acquainted with the results of the 25-year operation of the NEMS, major accomplishments, and visit observation objects.