Stop Vandalism

World-famous scientific centre and a unique forest town - Novosibirsk Akademgorodok (Academy Town) - is planned for extermination

Akademgorodok near Novosibirsk was built in the 60s of the XX century as a scientific and university centre of the Siberian Branch of the Academy of Sciences. This event paved the way for a unique experiment in nature-saving (environmental) architecture which was completely new for Russia: natural forest was involved as a town-planning component. The principles on which the architectural arrangement of its territory was based included: complete involvement of the natural conditions of the territory and conservation of the natural landscape as a valuable structural element of urban environmental arrangement; clear zoning of the territory. Conservation of natural forest areas, alternation of the areas occupied by research institutes, shelter forest belts and residential territories were the governing principles in the laying out the forest town. With this approach, the zone of research institutes, the University town and residential areas are separated from each other by large forest belts. Zoning kept the existing forest areas and open green space unaffected. The value of such a structure is confirmed by the fact that Akademgorodok served as a clear example for academic centres in many countries of the world.

The project of the Novosibirsk Scientific Centre was awarded the State Prize of the USSR; this project was demonstrated at the World's Exhibition in Montreal as a masterpiece of landscape design. "The General History of Architecture" calls Akademgorodok the most significant achievement in Siberia during the whole its history. Worldwide-known Novosibirsk Akademgorodok can by right be an object of the World Heritage since it comes under the selection criterion of the Committee on the World Heritage of UNESCO. Criterion No. 2 says: "? to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design".

Another unique feature of Akademgorodok is that its forest areas do not differ in the species composition of animals and plants from that of the wild forest of the Novosibirsk Region (except for large mammals). Walking near dwelling houses or institute buildings, one may come across an ermine, squirrel, chipmunk or a hedgehog (about 50 wild mammal species as a total), birds of more than a hundred species, Amphibia, reptiles, the flowers of the taiga, ferns, lichens, moss, mushrooms. A clear indication of the ecological soundness of forest in Akademgorodok is the presence of the species included in the Red Book. Among plants, these are wild orchids lady's slipper (Cypripedium macranthon Sw.), dead man's finger (Orchis militaris L.), great-St.-John's-wort (Hypericum ascyron L.), grape-fern (Botrichium multifidum). Mushrooms: Sparassis crispa (Wulfen) Fr.; Dictyophora duplicata (Bosc) E. Fisch.; Mutinus caninus (Huds.) Fr.; Hericium coralloides (Scop.: Fr.) Pers.

Birds: Ural owl Strix uralensis (Pall.), saker falcon - Falco cherrug (J.E. Gray), nightingale (Luscinia luscinia), whinchat (Saxicola rubetra).

Mammals: white-toothed shrew (Ñrocidura sibirica), bicolored bat (Vespertilio murinus), northern bat (Eptesicus nillsoni), mole lemming (Ellobius talpinus).

Insects: bumble-bee Bombus muscorum, the butterflies Catocala fraxini, Papilio machaon, Coenonympha hero.

This is an inspiring example of the possibility of harmonic coexistence of humans with the natural ecosystem. It is likely to have no analogues in the world. Akademgorodok is a model for the creation of ecologically harmonic settlements nowadays and in future.

However, today the unique forest town is under the threat of complete extermination. Starting from 2006, total building up is planned in all the forest areas of Akademgorodok; offices of the Technological Park and the main item - elite deluxe houses are to be built there. The actual alternative versions of building out of the forest areas are ignored.

The structure of Akademgorodok as the academic scientific centre is in danger, too. Elite houses built in place of forests will mix the zone of research institutes with the residential areas, which would cause sharp worsening of the labour conditions for researchers. The autonomous character of the University town will also be eliminated. Changes in the social composition of population will ruin the creative atmosphere of Akademgorodok and decline its scientific potential.

Staring from February 2006, the scientific community and inhabitants of Akademgorodok are making attempts to stop the imminent vandalism. More than 10000 persons put their names to protect forest; copies of the sign lists were attached to the appeals for protection of Akademgorodok, addressed to President V.V. Putin and President's plenipotentiary A.V. Kvashnin by 35 Doctors of Science and Active Members of the Russian Academy of Sciences; Appeal to the First Vice Premier of the Government of RF D.A. Medvedev was forwarded; appeals were addressed to the Chairman of the CPRF G.A. Zyuganov, to deputies of the State Duma of RF L.N. Shvets and A.E. Lokot', to Head of the Committee of the State Duma of RF in Ecology V.A. Gratchev, to Head of the Committee of the State Duma of RF in Culture I.D. Kobzon, to the Social Chamber at President's, application was handed in to Rosprirodnadzor of RF; appeals were addressed to Governor of the Novosibirsk Region V.A. Tolokonsky, to deputies of the Sovetsky District of Novosibirsk, applications to the district, regional, and General Offices of Public Prosecutor were handed in. In spite of difficulties and opposition, publications in local and central newspapers and on TV were initiated; in September, a picket was held to collect signs witnessing for protection of Akademgorodok; 5000 persons signed within 5 days of the picket.; a meeting was held on the 8th of October to protect Akademgorodok to adopt a resolution about complete prohibition of building in the forests of Akademgorodok. A writ was submitted by Academician M.M. Lavrentiev and five Doctors of Science against the city administration to the Federal Judiciary of the Central District.

In spite of this, illegal felling started on the 28th of September in the central forest area of Akademgorodok for building the elite houses. Researchers, inhabitants of Akademgorodok and other districts of Novosibirsk stood in a picket against felling. This was accompanied by had-to-hand battles with wood-cutters and guards. The Court of the Central District made a security decision with respect to this area, which stopped felling and eliminated the situation which had been dangerous for human lives.

However, the way out of confrontation is not clear yet. Popularization and pressurized propaganda of building up go on in full swing. The opinion of thousands of people is ignored impudently.

The whole history of this problem proves that without holding the status of a secured landscape architectural memorial Akademgorodok as a scientific centre, unique forest town and the object of cultural heritage of the XXth century would be inevitably exterminated. Extermination of the forests of Akademgorodok would be an act of unexampled vandalism robbery against the existing and forthcoming generations. The group of public initiative for the protection of the Akademgorodok of Lavrentiev appeals to all the people of good will to do our best to protect the worldwide known scientific and university centre, a unique forest town and the object of cultural heritage of the All-Russia and world scale.

Protests against extermination of Novosibirsk Akademgorodok should be addressed to:

1. <waiting room> Administration of President of RF:
   +7 (495) 606-36-02
   http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/articles/send_letter_Eng1a.shtml
2. President's Plenipotentiary at the Siberian Federal region A.V. Kvashnin:
   +7 (383) 217-06-31 (fax)
3. Head of Administration of the Novosibirsk District, Governor V.A. Tolokonsky:
   +7 (383) 223-69-72 (fax)
4. Mayor of Novosibirsk V.F. Gorodetsky:
   +7 (383) 227-04-58 (fax)

Some illustrations