RN-Uvatneftegaz (part of Rosneft’s oil production complex) has finalised the results of a grant project to develop an electronic information database of rare and protected plants in the Uvat District of the Tyumen Region. The catalog includes data on more than 50 plant species native to the area.

Scientists from the Tyumen Scientific Centre of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) also carried out field research in the Uvat District to identify new and clarify the location of previously known protected plant species.

During the expedition, a species new to the Tyumen Region, the Subularia aquatica, previously found only in the north of Western Siberia, was discovered. The scientists were also able to confirm the only known location of quillworts in the region, namely Isoetes echinospora and Isoetes lacustris, which are listed in the Red Lists of Russia and the Tyumen Region. Five species of plants were found to have new habitats in the Uvat District, including ghost orchid, frog orchid, creeping lady’s-tresses, Daphne mezereum, and long beech fern.

The scientists added to the herbarium collections and took new photographs of the plants in their natural environment. This data has been compiled into a single catalogue containing information on plant names, characteristics and locations. The catalog allows to work with a large amount of data on the entire habitat within the region, and its availability on the Internet platform and on the website of the Tyumen Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences gives specialists and all those interested access to the first service for the identification and classification of plants of the Uvat District that need protection.

The project implementation will help to develop scientific recommendations for the conservation of rare species and will contribute to the promotion of environmental knowledge among schoolchildren and students of biological specialties, as well as environmental awareness of the Tyumen Oblast residents.

Preservation of the environment for future generations is an integral part of the corporate culture and business operations of Rosneft. The Company is implementing a number of comprehensive programmes for the preservation and restoration of natural resources. Rosneft organises research and cares for many species of rare birds and animals in Russia.

RN-Uvatneftegaz has been implementing grant programmes since 2022. During this period, representatives of the environmental and scientific communities submitted more than three dozen projects for funding from the oil company.

For example, as part of a successful collaboration with the oil company, Tyumen scientists are involved in projects to conserve the northern forest reindeer population and red-listed birds in the Uvat District. Surveys conducted in 2022-2023 over an area of about 8.8 thousand square kilometres recorded 117 species of birds, including white-tailed eagle, black-throated loon and great grey shrike. For the first time, nesting blackbirds were recorded in the Uvat district, as well as the presence of about 60 deer. Based on the data collected, the experts will develop measures to conserve animal and bird habitats and create the conditions for their populations to grow.

Furthermore, in 2023, scientists supported by RN-Uvatneftegaz conducted the first retrospective analysis of space images and calculated changes in the area of 390 water bodies in the Tyumen Region. The data show that the total area of all lakes in the south of the Tyumen Region has increased by 119 square kilometres (3.5%) over the last 50 years. These include large lakes such as Bolshoi Uvat, Chernoye, and Andreyevskoye, where employees of Rosneft’s Tyumen enterprises are organising an environmental campaign to clean up the shoreline.

Over the past five years, volunteers from Rosneft subsidiaries have cleaned more than 100 hectares of the shores of major lakes in the Tyumen Region.

Department of Information and Advertising
Rosneft
December 13, 2024

Keywords: Environmental news 2024