NaftaGaz and the National Fund for Support and Development of Environmental Initiatives COMPASS signed a cooperation agreement

Oilfield service company NaftaGaz and the National Foundation for Support and Development of Environmental Initiatives COMPASS signed an agreement. The cooperation will include joint events aimed at systematic support and development of environmental initiatives, including the protection of populations of rare and endangered species of plants and animals. In particular, NaftaGaz will become a partner of COMPASS in the program of monitoring and conservation of the Caspian seal population.

The project has been implemented since the beginning of 2023 together in cooperation with the Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development of Dagestan State University. Scientists are working to identify the reasons for the decline in the population of this Red List species which plays an important role in the ecosystem of the Caspian Sea.

“We did not hesitate to respond to the offer of the COMPASS Foundation to contribute to the study and conservation of the fauna of the Caspian region and sponsored the scientific expedition to Zhemchuzhny Island to study the Caspian seal. Today, the pinniped family as a whole has suffered serious losses due to the fault of humans. In Russia alone, nine species are on the verge of extinction. We hope that with this step of the Foundation and scientists, the awareness of the problem will turn into its large-scale solution,” commented Tural Kerimov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of NaftaGaz.

“The Caspian seal population is in a critical state after the mass death that occurred in December 2022. Studies conducted in the spring and summer in cooperation with the COMPASS Foundation revealed a catastrophically low density of the population of seals in the places of their seasonal stay both on island rookeries and in the sea. In order to understand how to ensure the safety of the Caspian seal, it is necessary to unite the efforts of all the Caspian states as soon as possible and adopt a comprehensive plan for the conservation of the species for the next 5-10 years,” said Alimurad Hajiyev, Director of the Institute of Ecology and Sustainable Development of Dagestan State University.

By December, a number of additional studies will be carried out on the Dagestan coast, as well as on Maly Zhemchuzhny Island: collection of information on the number of animals, their age and sexual structures, selection of biomaterial from seals for laboratory virological and serological studies, which will make it possible to assess the intensity of immunity of animals to the current and most common pathogens of viral, bacterial and other etiology.

The expedition will include the leading experts on marine mammals from the Dagestan State University, the Research Institute of Virology of the Federal Research Center for Fundamental and Translational Medicine (FIC FTM) of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, and the National Research Tomsk State University. In the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature, the Caspian seal has been given the status of “endangered”, this endemic species is included in the Red Lists of all Caspian states.

NaftaGaz is one of the largest independent oilfield service companies in Russia, operating in the Far North. Understanding the importance of preserving the biodiversity and ecosystem of our country, the company traditionally supports volunteer, scientific, and research projects in this area. In addition, the company actively participates in initiatives that contribute to the preservation and popularization of national culture and history. The company is a trustee of the All-Russian Decorative Art Museum and an official partner of a large-scale project - the All-Russian Competition-Biennale of Object Design “Invented and Made in Russia”. NaftaGaz also assisted in the creation of an artistic concept for the “Mammoth Chamber” bone-carving art center in Salekhard, and much more.