Loss of a respected wetland conservationist

Vadim Georgievitch Vinogradov: 1948-2004

Vadim G. Vinogradov, one of the great people in wetland research and conservation, died of heart attack on 8 October 2004, one day before his 56th birthday, at his home in Moscow, Russia.

Vadim Vinigradov graduated from Moscow University, Faculty of Geography in 1971, and worked at the Faculty's Eastern Expedition in 1971-1977, at the Research Institute for Nature Conservation in 1977-1995, at the International Foundation of Reforms in 1995-1998, at the Federal Research Institute for Medical Problems of Health in 1998-2001, and at the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Science from 2001.

In his scientific studies, Vadim Vinogradov formulated the basic principles of wetland ecosystem dynamics in connection with their status in the system of biogeocoenosis successions, developed the national wetland classification and compiled the first national estimation of waterfowl populations by species (together with Vitaly Krivenko), developed the scheme of territorial zonation of the country for the purpose of wetland inventory, and carried out research on wetlands and water birds in many localities. Many important wetland sites and staging areas of water birds located in the remote tundra and taiga regions and on the Arctic coast are known to the scientific community only because of his publications. He is one of the two compilers of the first national wetland inventory containing descriptions of over 200 wetlands in the former USSR (Skokova & Vinogradov. 1986. Conservation of waterbird habitat. 240 pp.).

Vadim worked on the Ramsar Convention from the early stages of its development. Thanks to his efforts, many important objectives of the Convention were translated into national strategic, legislative and managerial instruments. He wrote the first drafts of many important documents and resolutions related to wetland conservation, including:

National criteria to select important wetlands for their conservation;
Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation No.1050 (issued in 1994) on designation of 35 wetland sites as wetlands of international importance;
Methodological recommendations on carrying out wetland inventories in Russia (with V.Krivenko);
Sample Regulations for Russian Ramsar Sites: a basic document on which Ramsar sites operate in Russia establishing their borders and regimes of management and protection; and
Strategy and Action Plan for Wetland Conservation in the Russian Federation.

Since the Wetlands International-Russia Programme was launched in 1997, Vadim Vinogradov provided consultations to the Programme staff at a regular (if not everyday) basis. He was a member of the Programme's Advisory Council and a very active member of the Editorial Board established to supervise the development of 'Wetlands in Russia' series of publications.

Vadim was a brilliant lecturer. He supervised many students' and post-graduates' studies. He was an outstanding source of information on wetland-related matters, was familiar with wetland experts all over Russia, and provided help and advice to all interested people. He judged his own work by the highest standards and set a continuing challenge to his many colleagues to do the same. His influence on all national activities related to wetlands has been profound.

Text prepared by Irina Kamennova, Technical Programme Officer,
Wetlands International - Russia Programme