International Legal Regulation of Biodiversity Conservation in Northern Latitudes (Part 1)

Environmental problems are one of the strongest drivers of the development of international law, in some cases, they do act as a way to restrict certain types of activities for certain states. They are of particular importance in the context of polar regions resources usage. The study aims to identify problems and formulate proposals for the development of Russia’s legal position on the conservation of biodiversity in the northern latitudes, as well as to assess the applicability of the universal regime of biodiversity management and the experience of conservation of Antarctic biodiversity. Key threats to the conservation of biodiversity in the northern latitudes include climate change, fishing, marine pollution, tourism and insufficient scientific data on the ecosystems of the region. Fishing poses an immediate threat to the biodiversity of the Arctic, while other threats are the consequences of various human activities. Territorial claims in the Arctic have virtually no effect on the conservation and management of the region’s biodiversity. There is no special treaty on combating climate change and its consequences in the Arctic, because the problem is caused by activities under the jurisdiction of states, has a global character and does not depend solely on the efforts of the Arctic states. Regarding the prevention of pollution of the Arctic marine environment, states recognize the applicability of universal international treaties and decisions of the International Maritime Organization. Legal regulation of tourism in the Arctic is carried out at the national level, with the mandatory implementation of universal environmental obligations, including environmental impact assessment, waste disposal, and the use of zonally linked management tools.