Svetlana Radionova, Head of the Federal Service for Supervision of Nature Management, spoke at the annual conference of the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums and spoke about the unique experience of Rosprirodnadzor, the Union of Zoos and Aquariums of Russia and the Moscow Zoo in conducting a unique training event to resolve conflict situations with a polar bear. In the Krasnoyarsk Territory, where this training seminar took place, several high-profile stories involving a man and a bear have occurred on Dixon Island in the last year alone.

As part of the conference, Svetlana Radionova also announced the start of a competition for installations of a polar bear, the mascot of the International Children's and Youth Award "Ecology is everyone's business". According to her, the author of the best work will be known in November 2023.

The annual conference of the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EARAZA) is taking place in the city of Alma-Ata (Republic of Kazakhstan), attended by delegations from 21 countries, including China, Turkey, Germany, Czech Republic, Sweden, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia, Israel, UAE, North Korea, Indonesia, Malaysia and others. The head of Rosprirodnadzor, speaking at the plenary session of the conference via video link, announced a new initiative within the framework of the Ecology is Everyone's Business award, and also invited zoos from other countries and delegates of the meeting to partner and participate in the project.

"Involving young people in solving environmental problems is a top priority. This is what the international prize "Ecology is everyone's business", which we initiated two years ago, is doing. Now it's the third season. The polar bear is the mascot of our award. To draw attention to the topic of preserving the living symbol of the Arctic, I am announcing a competition for the best installation of a polar bear. We will select the best works and announce their authors in November, when the names of the winners and prize winners will be known," Svetlana Radionova said.

She thanked the Moscow Zoo and personally its CEO, President of EARAZ Svetlana Akulova for supporting the Award. "At first glance, it may seem that zoos and Rosprirodnadzor have nothing in common. But this is only at first glance. We have one important mission – the preservation of Red Book animals. We are responsible for the fate of rare and endangered species of animals just like you. And together we are fighting for the preservation of biodiversity. It was for this good purpose that Rosprirodnadzor, together with the Union of Zoos and Aquariums of Russia and the Moscow Zoo, held a unique event – no one in the world has done this before – we held for the first time in the Krasnoyarsk Territory a field training seminar on conflict resolution with a polar bear. It is in the Krasnoyarsk Territory on Dixon Island that we have had several high–profile stories involving a man and a bear in the last year alone," Svetlana Radionova said.

The head of the service noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), meetings of the Committee on Animals and the Committee on Plants will be held in June.

"This year is the 50th anniversary of CITES, we are actively participating in it, we are actively present on the international agenda, two large meetings are scheduled in June, quite serious issues are being discussed.We are actively talking about endemics and about the protection of the flora and fauna that needs protection in the Russian Federation. We talk about our victories, about saving a leopard and a tiger, but we all have something to do and where to strive," she said.

Noting the importance of the EARAZA conference, Svetlana Akulova, General Director of the Moscow Zoo and President of EARAZA, stressed that this is always a great event for the zoological community.

"One of the primary tasks of modern zoos is to preserve the biodiversity of our planet. Each of the conference participants represents their region, deeply understands its problems, takes care of the affected animals. By combining our efforts, we have already been able to solve many problems of saving and preserving rare species of animals. And I am sure we will be able to do even more in the future," said the President of EARAZA.

Svetlana Akulova also recalled that several specialized working groups have been created on the basis of EARAZA, including on scientific and educational work and veterinary problems in zoos, as well as comprehensive international environmental programs have been developed, which are being implemented jointly with SOZAR. During the conference, the curators of these programs presented their observations and research results, presented reports on the work over the past years and shared plans for the future.

In addition, one of the most important items on the conference agenda was the admission of new members to the Association. According to the results of the vote, 8 more new members entered the EARAZA: Nanjing Aquarium, Hefei Aquarium, Chongqing Aquarium, Fuyang Aquarium (China), Dessau Zoo (Germany), Eskisehir Zoo (Turkey), Al Ain Zoo (UAE) and Shamakhi Safari Park (Azerbaijan). Thus, today EARAZA has 97 institutions.

"We are confident that the ties between the EARAZ zoos will strengthen and move to a new, higher-quality level. The Association will continue to be replenished with new members who are ready to multiply efforts in the field of wildlife conservation. We are glad to cooperate with all zoos of the world!" – stressed the President of EARAZA.

According to the head of Rosprirodnadzor Svetlana Radionova, thanks to the Ecology is Everyone's Business award, the number of people involved in the environmental agenda is growing all over the world, participants send videos of serious scientific developments and inventions to improve the environmental situation, their drawings, photos on ecotematics, as well as videos on the topic of caring for nature, caring for homeless animals, waste sorting.

The head of the service recalled that in the first season of the project, Aisha Sabyrzhankyzy from Taldykorgan, Almaty region of Kazakhstan received a diploma of the III degree from the chairman of the jury, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Victoria Abramchenko. In her work, Aisha was able to demonstrate the beauty of nature and the importance of its preservation on planet Earth.

"Last year we received more than 45 thousand applications from different parts of the World, and, of course, from all regions of Russia. Today we have 12 nominations focused not only on children and teenagers, but also on adults – on families, students, teachers, mentors, everyone with whom children can discuss the future of the planet, and most importantly – together with whom they can act together for the benefit of the environment," Svetlana Radionova said.

Recall that the International Children's and Youth Award "Ecology is everyone's business" was established by Rosprirodnadzor on March 31, 2021 and is awarded for interesting, non-standard ideas, initiatives and projects dedicated to environmental conservation, careful attitude to nature and popularization of ecological culture. The award is held annually and involves children, youth and adults in the environmental agenda, encourages their activity in the fight for a clean planet. In the first two years, more than 55 thousand applications were received from participants from all regions of Russia and 38 other countries of the near and far abroad (Abkhazia, Austria, Algeria, Armenia, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Great Britain, Venezuela, Guatemala, Germany, Greece, India, Indonesia, Spain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Cameroon, Qatar, Kyrgyzstan, China, Colombia, Lebanon, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, UAE, Panama, Peru, Poland, USA, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, France, Ecuador, Estonia, South Korea). The geography of the project covered 4 continents – Eurasia, Africa, North and South America. Participation in the Award is free of charge. The winners and prize–winners will receive gifts - smart speakers, smartphones, tablets, laptops, a trip to the sea, a ticket to the All-Russian Children's Center "Orlyonok" and others. All participants of the Award will receive diplomas, winners – diplomas, mentors of active participants – gratitude from the head of Rosprirodnadzor. Applications are accepted from March 1 to October 1.