The Russian Arctic coastal zone management problems: past lessons and new realities

The growing attention to the development of coastal zone resources is notable not only for moderate and southern latitudes but also in the Arctic regions. In Russia this process has a history related to exploration of non-renewable resources and the lone-term policy of moving labour forces to the Far North and East. The role of the Russian Arctic coastal zone in the national economy had been stimulated by active usage of the Northern Sea Route for 60 years as a mainstream Arctic transport line. Diversified human usage of all kinds of natural resources is getting more controversial. A deep revaluation of existing methods and management approaches is needed in accordance with the complexities of Russian social/economic and ecological factors in the Arctic. The modern challenge of transition towards sustainable development also needs to be reevaluated. The last decade has shown a real effort of all Arctic countries to expand cooperation in joint scientific multidisciplinary studies. The studies are aimed at elaboration of common views on Arctic development and protection of environment. Moreover, the Arctic shelf and coastal zone are getting a new arena of international investments for industrial projects and implementation due to recovery of huge deposits of oil and gas resources of sophisticated technologies. All this makes international scientific cooperation more of a reality. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.