The 2nd International Ecological Forum “Clean City. Clean River. Clean Planet” was held on November, 18-19 in the premises of Oles Honchar Kherson regional universal scientific library at the initiative of Kherson Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with the support of the Moscow CCI.

Besides, the Forum was organized with the indispensable support of the valid members of the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Dnieper River Basin, as well as of the State Environmental Inspection of Ukraine, the Kherson region State Department of Environmental Protection, the Kherson region Maintenance Department for Melioration and Water Services, Kherson City Council and the Kherson Regional State Administration.

There were diplomatic officials of Norway and of Finland among the distinguished guests of the Forum. The Scandinavian countries are well-known all over the world for their extremely careful and serious attitude towards nature. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Norway to Ukraine H.E. Mr. Olav Berstad being among the honorary guests of the first Ecological Forum “Clean City. Clean River. Clean Planet” (2009) said his welcoming word at the opening ceremony again. The Forum events were attended by First Secretary of the Embassy of Finland in Ukraine Mr. Christian Heikkinen, Counsellor of the Trade Office of the Russian Federation in Ukraine Mr. Mikhail Krivoguz and Consul of the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Odessa Mr. Andrey Sidelnikov.

Kherson City Mayor Mr. Volodymyr Saldo and Deputy Head of the Kherson Regional State Administration Mr. Vasyl Kotenkov greeted the participants and the guests of the Forum on behalf of the Kherson local authorities.

A governmental telegram from Mr. Andrey Molchanov, the Chairman of the Federation on CIS Affairs (Russian Federation), was sent to the organising committee of the Ecological Forum. It was stated in the telegram that this Forum has a significant potential for further development of interregional and international cooperation between CIS membering countries in the environmental, socio-economic and humanitarian spheres.

More than 350 people participated in the 2nd International Ecological Forum. Among foreign guests there were Director of the Moscow CCI Mr. Yuriy Azarov; President of the Taganrog CCI Mr. Aleksandr Amerkhanov; a big delegation from Smolensk, headed by President of the Smolensk CCI Mr. Vladimir Arhipenkov; Vice-president of the Gomel branch of Belarusian CCI Mr. Vasiliy Starovoitov; Deputy Director General of the Mogilev branch of Belarusian CCI Mr. Viktor Senokosov; Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Control of Dniester Moldavian Republic Mr. Oleg Kalyakin.

Mission of the Forum was to promote the natural resources and biological diversity saving, to popularize ecological well-being establishment, to stimulate interregional and international cooperation in the sphere of environmental protection. In this context, Forum participants expressed their high concern about environmental degradation and unsustainable use of natural resources, destruction of natural ecosystems. All participants emphasized the urgent need for active and decisive acting.

During the two days the authority bodies’ representatives, businessmen and scientists from different parts of Ukraine, Russia, Belarus and Moldova were discussing the possible ways of our countries’ environmental problems joint solutions. The main idea of the Forum was declared as the preservation and increasing of water-resource potential of the Dnieper River Basin. Thematic seminars, round-table discussions, conferences and presentations created favourable conditions for presenting, discussing and experience exchange.

Six round tables, dedicated to urgent topics careful consideration, i.e. “The Dnieper River Basin Saving and Improving – International Viewpoint”, “Ecology of Urban Living”, “Ecology, Water and Healthy Way of Living”, “Energy Saving and Renewable Sources of Energy”, “Environmental Education and Environmental Consciousness Formation”, “Natural-reserved Fund: Problems and Prospects”, – provided a perfect discussion platform, where the representatives of science, education, industry and authority bodies were able to listen to each other as well as to develop a joint improvement strategy.

According to Forum participants, urgent problems of the Dnieper River being a transboundary river may be solved only by means of successive reforms and international cooperation. Participation of the management of Ukrainian, Belarusian and Russian regional Chambers, being the valid members of the Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the Dnieper River Basin became a very important step in the direction chosen. On November, 19 there was held a regular meeting of the Association members, following the results of which President of the Kherson CCI Ms. Viktoriya Ostroumova was elected to become the President of the Association in 2011.

In 2010, the International Ecological Forum “Clean City. Clean River. Clean Planet” was attended by more participants when compared to last year's event. We do believe, this must prove people’s increased level of ecological culture and society's understanding of the need to take immediate actions aimed at nature saving. After all, our lives are inseparably connected to the environment, and responsibility for its state rests with each of us.