THE HISTORY OF THE RGS CONGRESSES: FROM THE I TO THE XVI RGS CONGRESS

The most important decisions in the life of the Russian Geographical Society, the strategy and directions of its development are made at the congresses of the RGS: it is the congress that directs the work of the organization. Every five years, the regional and local branches of the Society elect delegates who come together and discuss the results of the work of the RGS and outline plans for the future. On the eve of the XVI Congress, we’ll recall what preceded it.

The first All-Union Geographical Congress was held in 1933, and the task before it was the most serious: to prove that the Geographical Society had the right to exist. The organization that arose in tsarist Russia had to be rebuilt in accordance with the requirements of a completely different state system, to justify its viability within the framework of a new country.

Fortunately, no one doubted that the country needed accurate geographical maps, detailed descriptions of the vast territory of the USSR, including the most remote corners, and comprehensive geographical expeditions, which, among other things, were equipped by the Geographical Society. The structure of the organization had changed, but its essence remained the same: the development and popularization of geography, scientific knowledge of the natural resources of the homeland, systematization and processing of accumulated materials (many of which were still waiting in the wings since the expeditions that took place before the revolution).

In 1947, the Second All-Union Geographical Congress was held, which simultaneously became the First Congress of the Geographical Society. It was timed to coincide with the centenary of the organization. By this point, the importance of the Society's work was already obvious.

The range of tasks facing the GS was expanding – at this congress, in particular, the need to create reserves in the basins of the Yenisei, Ob, Lena, on the Kuril Islands and on Southern Sakhalin in order to cover the entire USSR with a uniform network of specially protected areas was discussed. Close attention was also paid to Arctic research. The meetings were held in sections – separate decisions were made in the sections of physical geography, mathematical geography and cartography, economic geography, biogeography, etc.

The next congress was held not in Leningrad, but in Moscow, in 1955, and since then it had been meeting about once every five years in different cities of the Soviet Union. The issues of economic geography were being considered in more and more depth. If the 1947 congress was mainly about the restoration of the economy after the war, then the II Congress of the GS was discussing the issues of the development of uncultivated lands and land reclamation in arid areas. At the III Congress, which was held in Kiev in 1960, the focus was on economic zoning. At the IV (it was in Moscow again, in 1964) the delegates discussed the geographical aspects of the industrialization of Siberia and the development of the taiga, arid and mountainous regions as well as the role of transport in the formation of economic areas and measures to combat physical and geographical processes that interfere with agriculture.

In 1964, much attention was paid to international cooperation – it was then that foreigners became honorary members of the Geographical Society of the USSR, among whom were Swede Hans Almani, Englishman Laurence Dudley Stamp, and Norwegian Thor Heyerdahl. Another new topic raised at this congress was medical geography: one of the resolutions concerned the development of a Medical and geographical Atlas of the USSR and neighboring states.

The V Congress was held in 1970 in Leningrad. In addition to the plenary sessions, an exhibition dedicated to the 125th anniversary of the GS was held, as well as a film screening directed by the creator of the program "Film Travel Club" Vladimir Schneiderov, and a number of evening lectures.

Five years later, the Society's delegates gathered in Tbilisi. Among the issues discussed were bold and complex projects: the development of agriculture in the non-chernozem zone of the RSFSR, the development of Western Siberia, the transfer of river waters from the basins of northern rivers to the south, and the construction of the BAM, the most expensive and one of the longest-running infrastructure projects of the USSR: the work on the mainline began in 1932 and lasted until December 2003. In addition, the issues of demography and urban planning attracted the attention of the participants of the congress. One of the scientific issues to be worked out was the following.

The next two congresses were held in the cities of Frunze (present-day Bishkek) and Kiev, in 1980 and 1985, respectively. The members of the GS continued to analyze the work done and adjust strategic objectives every five years. In 1986, the disaster at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant happened, and by the IX Congress its consequences could not be eliminated, which added another issue to the agenda.

At the 1995 congress in St. Petersburg, the topic of the environmental crisis as a whole was discussed. In addition, the participants' attention was drawn to the issues of geopolitics. Technological progress had also made its own adjustments – for the first time, digitalization-related tasks were solved at the congress. Among the work planned for the coming years, there was a study of standardization and certification of digital databases of geographical data, rules for their use and exchange, copyright protection, data cost, responsibility for their quality.

Five years later, the topic of ecology reached a new level in Arkhangelsk – the conversation turned to energy-efficient technologies and sustainable development strategies.

In Kronstadt in 2005, among other resolutions, it was decided to create electronic publications of the RGS in foreign languages – globalization and technological progress had left their mark on the peculiarities of international interaction.

At that time, the Russian Geographical Society was in a difficult financial situation, although it continued to function preserving traditions and still doing everything possible for the development of science. In 2009, an extraordinary congress was held in Moscow, at which decisions were made that allowed the organization to enter a new stage. Vladimir Putin became Chairman of the Board of Trustees, and Sergei Shoigu became President of the RGS.

A year later, the XIV Congress was held in St. Petersburg, at which Vladimir Putin outlined the mission of the RGS "to inspire people to love Russia." At the same congress, for the first time in many decades, a Grand Constantine Medal was awarded. Nikolai Drozdov was awarded the highest award of the Society for his services to popularize geographical knowledge.

Over the next five years, the RGS was consistently developing a regional network, including branches in 85 regions of Russia, revived and strengthened historical traditions. The archives, library, and collections of the Society had been put in order and opened to the general public. Thanks to grants from the RGS, numerous projects had been implemented in various fields: the conservation of rare animals and natural attractions, the development of atlases and maps, research and educational activities.

Time is passing, and the next, XVI Congress of the RGS is ahead. Delegates of the Society's branches from all over the country have already been selected by secret ballot. Due to the pandemic, the XVI Congress will be held remotely, it will be held from December 1 to December 4. The work continues.

Olga Ladygina