From June 16 to June 17, 2026, a working event was held on the territory of the Russian Federation, in the settlements of Senkovo (Velizhsky District, Smolensk Oblast) and Kashkovka (Krasnogorsky District, Bryansk Oblast), as part of international cooperation in the field of environmental protection. The event was attended by representatives of Belhydromet.
The purpose of the event was to collect hydrobiological samples of macrozoobenthos at transboundary surface water monitoring points on the Western Dvina and Besed rivers. The event was also attended by specialists from the regional analytical control laboratories of the Republican Center for Analytical Control in the Field of Environmental Protection (Republic of Belarus), the Klintsy Hydrochemical Laboratory of the Mosoblvodkhoz Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Water Management Institution "Centrregionvodkhoz" (Klintsy GHL), and the Hydrochemical Laboratory for the Pskov Region of the Baltvodkhoz Branch of the Federal State Budgetary Water Management Institution "Centrregionvodkhoz" (Russian Federation).
Joint sampling of macrozoobenthos is an important step towards the harmonization of methodologies and improving the accuracy of the data obtained. During the work, joint analysis and primary processing of the collected samples were carried out, which allowed the participants to exchange experience and adopt best practices in the field of hydrobiological research. Special attention was paid to the discussion of methods for primary sample processing, storage and transportation, as well as approaches to data processing obtained during interlaboratory comparative analyses.
Cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in the field of monitoring transboundary water bodies is becoming increasingly significant. The activities carried out are aimed at enhancing the technical competence of the units responsible for hydrobiological observations and assessing the comparability of data obtained by national laboratories. The results of interlaboratory comparisons lay the foundation for mutual recognition of data on the state of the Western Dvina and Besed rivers, which, in turn, facilitates informed management decisions on the protection and sustainable use of water resources.
This event is evidence of fruitful cooperation between the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation in ensuring the environmental safety of transboundary water bodies and maintaining high-quality hydrobiological monitoring.
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