In 2007 ConocoPhillips Russia Inc. started the program of support of the environmental studies , performed by The Nenets Informational Analytical center , - of the river Chernaya basin in the Nenets Autonomous district (NAO). The objective of the work was the preparation of the information base for the on-site investigation and assessment of current environmental status of the r. Chernaya basin in the conditions of the NAO oil and gas industry development. The work resulted in Geoinformation system development.
In 2008 Land Fauna research program was continued.
The Chernaya River basin region is a unique ornithological territory having the wetland status and included in the Prospective List of the Ramsar Convention (Russian Wetlands, Volume 3, Moscow, 2000). The wetland is among the Key Russian Ornithological Territories (Key Russian Ornithological Territories, Volume 1 “Key Ornithological Territories of International Importance in the European Russia “, Moscow, 2000).
The territory is the nesting and mewing site for bean geese, pied geese – 30-50 thousand species overall, lesser white-fronted geese – 50-100 pairs (Russian Wetlands, Volume 3, Moscow, 2000).
Among ducks, this is a common nesting and mewing place for European teal, European wigeon, pintail, greater scaup duck, long-tailed duck, black scoter, American merganser and common merganser. The total number of ducks in the wetland is from 30 to 60 thousand species.
Among the rare species included in the Red Book of Russia and NAO lesser white-fronted goose, Bewick's swan, white-tailed eagle, Arctic falcon, peregrine and European oyster catcher nestle and golden eagle occurs in the area. The wetland is the concentration territory of Arctic fox brood holes.
Photo: River Chernaya in NAO
Photo: Beaver lodge on r.Chernaya
Photo: Arctic loon