The XII International Reforestation Forum "Baikal Ecosystem 2026" Held in Irkutsk

Irkutsk, 26 September 2026

On the third day of the Baikal International Environmental Congress, the XII International Reforestation Forum "Baikal Ecosystem 2026" took place. The official partners of the Forum were Sberbank's Baikal Bank and VEB.RF. Other partners included the National ESG Alliance, Irkutsk State University, Irkutsk National Research Technical University, the Representative Office of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Irkutsk, Russian Railways, Norilsk Nickel, Gazprom Dobycha Irkutsk and other organisations. The Forum was organised by the Ministry of Forestry of the Irkutsk Region and the "Give the Planet Life" Charitable Foundation, with the support of the Government of the Irkutsk Region and the Governor personally.

Professor Pavel Vasilyevich Terelyansky, co-head of the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves" at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, took part in the Forum. The event aimed to consolidate volunteer, expert and organisational resources for implementing environmental initiatives, and to share best practices in conserving and restoring forest ecosystems.

As part of the business programme, Professor Terelyansky participated in the conference "International Experience in Financing Environmental Projects" and in the expert sessions "Adaptation" and "Forest and Biodiversity Conservation". The Forum's key objectives were to promote forest-climate projects, develop reforestation practices and support the implementation of environmental programmes. The event brought together representatives of relevant ministries, major businesses and the academic community.

The business programme concluded with a symbolic practical action: Forum participants planted more than 4,000 conifer seedlings across more than 2 hectares on the site of the former Baikal Pulp and Paper Mill.