Minister of Natural Resources of Russia Yuri Trutnev held a working meeting with Minister of Environment of Finland Paula Lehtomäki on the 21 of August 2007

The Russian Federation was also represented at the meeting by Mr. Igor Maydanov, Director of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Mr. Alexander Ishkov, Director of State Policy in the Field of Environmental Protection of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia; Finland was represented as well by Mr. Harry Helenius, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Finland to Russia, and Ms. Helena Pakarinen, Special Adviser.

A wide spectrum of issues was discussed by the parties during the meeting. In particular, the protection of the marine environment of the Baltic Sea, cooperation to establish particularly protected areas network, climate change issues and Russia-EU dialogue development.

Yuri Trutnev noted that: "In 2008 Russia will chair the Helsinki Commission for the protection of the Baltic Sea marine environment (HELCOM) that is the main mechanism for the enforcement of the environmental law in the Baltic Sea region and for the implementation of corresponding measures." According to his words, a procedure is being finalized for submitting to the Russian Federation Government required documents that contain the list of measures to be implemented during the period when Russia will chair HELCOM until 2010, including the national Baltic Sea Action Plan. 

Mr. I.Maydanov said that when Finland chaired the European Union a working group was formed following the signature of Russia-EU dialogue on environmental protection and 7 working sub-groups to tackle major issues of cooperation with the European Union. Presently the sub-groups are working actively and are ready to make specific proposals for joint environmental protection projects.

According to Mr. A.Ishkov, the strategic goal of joint work and cooperation with the aim to establish special protected areas is to form the "Green Belt of Fennoscandia" stretching for 1,000 km and having a total area about 1 million hectares. The "Green Belt of Fennoscandia" is being created by Russia, Finland, and Norway. Russia is represented by the following nature reserves: Pasvik, Lappland (Murmansk region), Kostomukshsky  (Karelia) reserves, Paanajarvi and Kalevala (Karelia) National Parks.

In addition, Mr.A.Ishkov pointed out that Ingermanland reserve establishment in the Leningrad region is currently being approved in order to implement the ordinance of the Russian Federation Government concerning formation of a joint transboundary reserve with Finland. Besides Ingermanland reserve that is being established now, the transboundary reserve will include Paanajarvi National Park (Karelia) from the Russian side and Oulanka National Park from the Finnish side.