The Second World Congress of Environmental History

Associated professor Julia Lajus, associated professor Alexandra Bekasova, associated professor Marina Loskutova, and junior research fellow Elena Kochetkova took part in the Second World Congress of Environmental History. The event was held in July, 2014 at the Minho university in Guimarães (Portugal). The aim of the congress was providing scholars with a space for discussions on topics related to environmental history.

The congress invited more than 400 scholars from various countries who made presentations on more than 100 panels and round tables. Among others, the topics of the congress included the world wars and environment, projects of modernity and transformation of nature, agriculture, fisheries, forests, energy, and water resources.

Julia Lajus, a vice-president of the European Society for Environmental History, served in the Programme Committee of the Congress. Within the panel “Comparative Fisheries” she presented a paper titled «Experts, Fish Hatcheries and Indirect 'Tragedy of the Commons' for the Pacific Salmon». The paper proposed historical explanation of the knowledge constrains which led behind current policy of Pacific salmon hatcheries. The paper is based on the recent biological arguments that uncontrolled access to food for growing salmon in the open ocean in absence of limitation of hatchery production represents a new example of the 'tragedy of the commons'. Artificial propagation of salmon based on a belief that number of salmon is limited by river environment, is widely used in to increase fishery production. In the paper the history of scientific basis of fish propagation was discussed especially its development in Russia, which was heavily affected by Lysenkoism.

In addition, Julia Lajus served as a chair and commentator on the panel «Transforming Nature: Modernity, Science and Ideology» devoted to transformation of nature by socialist regimes on example of Czechoslovakia. She also chaired the panel «Global Perspectives on the Environment» which comprised papers dealing with activities of international organizations such as the United Nations and UNESCO and their politics towards environment.

Alexandra Bekasova presented a paper «Managing Risks: The Development of Transportation Insurance Services and Attitudes towards Environmental and Man-made Hazards in the 19th Century Russia». She told that An increase in freight movement over land and water after the Napoleonic wars brought into existence a number of stock transport insurance companies in Russian Empire. They specialized in the carrying of heavy and bulky goods by land and water routes. The companies introduced the system of invoicing and transport insurance which had never before existed in Russia. Taking responsibility for the safety and on-time delivery of commodities, the companies acted as mediators between carriers and merchants. The company offered their clients solid wagons, which were accompanied by conductors. Using European examples, the governing bodies of the companies worked out the form of commodity account as well as a whole package of other documents.

Elena Kochetkova gave a presentation “Between Pollution and Protection in the Soviet Context: The Svetogorsk Pulp and Paper Factory in Mid-1950s – 1960s» devoted to water management in the Soviet Union during Khrushchev`s time. These years were a period of rapid economic modernization aimed at “surpassing and overcoming the West” which implied intensive industrial production and, as a consequence, environmental pollution. At the same time, they introduced first attempts of environmental protection in an industrial area. A significant incentive for discussions on environment was constructing of a cellulose and paper plant on the Baikal which at that time was considered as a national natural heritage. It leaded to turn towards peripheral water basins which were not considered before as objects to protect. One of them became the Vuoksa river, and the Svetogorsky pulp and paper plant located on its bank became a ground for testing water and wastewater treatment facility. These projects were to be implemented in Svetogorsk, mostly, due to technology transfer from Western countries, in particular from a neighboring Finland.
Marina Loskutova presented a paper "Making insects into public enemies: re-examining the links between environmental change and professionalization of applied entomology in Russia".