Mono-town Baikalsk: Consequences of economic crisis

1. Mono-town Baikalsk: Consequences of economic crisis Vera Kuklina, Researcher of V.B. Sochava Institute SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia Kuklina-v@yandex.ru

2. Mono-towns: • 1) Percentage of workers in the main enterprise or in a group of technically connected enterprises is no less than 25% of economically active population. • 2) The value of the output of the enterprise or the group of enterprises is no less than 50% of total production of the settlement Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

3. Economic structure of Baikalsk in 2006 Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

4. Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

5. Lake Baikal • The world’s largest reservoir of fresh water • In 1987 - Resolution of Soviet Government, “Measure for further provision for rational use of natural resources of Lake Baikal basin in 1987-1995” • In 1996 – placed on the List of the World Natural Heritage • In 1999 - Federal Law “Protection of Lake Baikal” • In 2001 - Federal Resolution “Confirmation of the list of activities prohibited in the central ecological zone of Baikal natural territory” prohibited paper and pulp production • In January 2010, V. Putin signed the Decree of the Russian government “Changes in the list of activities prohibited in central ecological zone of Baikal natural territory” allowing the pulp and paper production Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

6. City of Baikalsk • In 1958 the news about construction of paper plants at the basin of Baikal stimulated development of an environmental protest movement • In 1961, the City of Baikalsk was founded Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

7. Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

8. Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

9. Industrial area • In 1966, the Baikalsk Pulp and Paper Mill began to work • 1969 – industrial logging in Baikal basin was restricted • 2008, Aug. – the closed cycle on BPPM was put online • 2008, Sept. – the plant ceased operation Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

10. Former Mill Workers Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

11. Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

12. Environmental problems • 14 uncovered dumpsites of industrial waste on area of 180 hectares • In 2002, the 10 Solzan dumpsites alone held about 250,000 tons of lignin sludge • In 1973 a factory was built to dry and burn the lignin sludge • 3 Babkha dumpsites contain ash of lignin and residential solid waste • One dumpsite is in the area of the mill • In case of floods, mudflows, earthquakes the content would flow to Baikal. Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

13. Motivations to refuse the courses • absence of guarantees for employment after completing the courses • lack of placement opportunities and training internships. • perception of age challenge by people older 40 • loss of unemployment payments during the time of the courses Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk

14. Inefficiency of “anti-crisis measures” • High expectations from former workers • Absence of independent decision-making by local authorities • Return of state paternalism • Prolonging the solution of social, economic and environmental problems by reopening the obsolete mill after departure of many specialists. Vera Kuklina Mono-town Baikalsk