Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources, Rosaviakomos Airspace Agency to Monitor Environment Jointly

Today, at Russia's Ministry of Natural Resources, a presentation of the Situational Centre of the ministry will take place. Demonstrated will be the ways of monitoring wildfires, floods, and environmental pollution, while making forecasts as to the development of such situations. According to the press service of the ministry, during the presentation, an agreement will be signed between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosaviakosmos, Russia's Aerospace Agency, concerning their improved interaction monitoring environment and enhancing the effectiveness of environment-related federal purposive programmes.

Analysts believe that cooperation between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Rosaviakosmos will allow elevating the assessment of the condition of and control over Russia's natural resources and environment to a fundamentally new level. The two parties are about to establish a coordinating council to bring joint activities into accord.

Since the beginning of the 2002 hot season, wildfires situation has been continuously monitored from space, allowing discovering and containing wildfires much faster and, therefore, diminishing their spreading.