Environment and Conservation
January 30, 2009

A Russian delegation will be in St. John�s from February 1-8 for an information exchange with the Department of Environment and Conservation. This exchange will assist the Government of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra in the area of water resources management, use and protection.

"Having a delegation come to our province to acquire knowledge on water resources management, and learn from our experience and approach to water management, is indeed international recognition of the expertise that exists in our government," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "The Water Resources Management Division of my department has also been involved in other international development projects funded by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and European Space Agency (ESA) and, recently, we saw this expertise in action as we closely monitored the water levels and ice flow at Badger."

The goal of this current project is to assist the Government of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra, which is a major oil and gas producing region, to improve legislation for the protection and management of water resources. The delegation�s visit to the province includes meetings and information exchange sessions with the department�s water resources officials on water quality monitoring, watershed protection, water rights, data analysis, management and communication.

The delegation�s visit to the province is part of the project Study of the Canadian Experience in Water Resources Use and Protection under the Canada-Russia Northern Development Partnership Program, a joint initiative of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency. The project is co-lead by the Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Environment and Conservation, and the Water Resources Management Division of the Department of Oil, Gas and Mineral Resources of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra.

"I wish the Russian delegation a productive and enjoyable visit to our province, and I would also like to thank all participants for their contribution to this valuable project," said Minister Johnson. "Our government is committed to sound and prudent water resources management, and we are delighted to be able to share our expertise with the Government of Khanty-Mansiysk Autonomous Okrug-Yugra and assist them in this area."

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2009 01 30                                                    10:30 a.m.