The Land of Expeditions. Kamchatka through the Eyes of Lichenologists

Irina STEPANCHIKOVA & Dmitri HIMELBRANT (St. Petersburg): Kamchatka, the most remote region in Russia, has long history of investigations, but it is still poorly known for both many scientists and ordinary people. Volcanoes and pristine forests, geysers and glaciers, wild reindeers and bears... Kamchatka is the land of contrasts and powerful nature. The speakers will talk about main Kamchatian landscapes, plant communities, lichens, nature conservation, expeditions and possibilities for collaboration, with special emphasis on regional specificity. We will also discuss some of the other work being conducted in Russia on lichens.