Looking for a Path to Sustainability in Eastern Siberia

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this work is to describe a version of sustainable development strategy for the so-called “resource dependent territories” (RDT) of Eastern Siberia, which is based on a paradigm of “the infinite value of the integrity of an ecosystem.”

The main feature of RDTs is that the use of nature (natural resources) is practically the only source of economic growth for these regions. This is the result of a long history of previous economic development. RDTs have enormous possibilities both for the destructive and environmentally acceptable use of nature. However, incomes from the destructive use are far greater than those derived from renewable use. The differences often reach two-to-three orders of magnitude. We cannot expect market mechanisms in the economies of the RDTs to guarantee a sustainable use of the environment.

It is declared a priori that the value of ecosystem integrity is much larger than any benefit from the use of its resources. This paradigm can be supported by a comprehensive system of institutional and legal tools. The main directions of this strategy should be defined as follows: