According to a number of experts, the EcoPechora conference, which took place on October 10-11, became a real breakthrough in the dialogue between the environmentalists and oilmen. If before that their interaction consisted mostly in the demonstrative actions on one side and the demonstrative silence on the other side, no we can talk about real suggestions, real readiness for compromise and real progress.
One of the key roles in this process belongs to Alexey Knizhnikov, who is the coordinator for the Oil and Gas Program at the Russian office of WWF (World Wildlife Fund).
Alexey Knizhnikov comes from Moscow. He in known to have liked outdoor activities and living in the wild since his early childhood. Being an eighth form student, Knizhnikov changed his school for the School for Young Geographers at the Moscow State University and starting from the age of fourteen he started taking part in real expeditions. Alexey Knizhnikov obtained his higher education at the Geography department of the MSU, and during the time of his studies at the university he visited Tien Shan and Novaya Zemlya, and through his work in the Group for Nature Protection he entered the carrier of an environmentalist.
Alexey Knizhnikov served in the army, and after he completed his term he engaged into the environmental protection at the pipeline construction, which became the prototype of his activity at the World Wildlife Fund.
Starting from mid-90th Alexey Knizhnikov worked for the ISAR Environmental Protection Program, in particular at the Caspian Sea, where his responsibility included first and foremost working with oilmen, which further defined his status at WWF. According to his own words, the most important is to prove “that not all of the gems of our nature can be sold for black gold”.
Knizhnikov mentions Lake Seliger as his favorite place in the world.
Метки: Alexey Knizhnikov, EcoPechora, environmental protection, oil, oil pipeline, oil production, oil transportation, World Wildlife Fund, WWF
