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Snake Island represents a uniquely important case study for understanding the environmental consequences of modern military conflict. Located in the Black Sea, the island covers an area of approximately 20 hectares and has a long history of human occupation, beginning around the 6th century BCE during the Greek colonization of the Black Sea region.
The large-scale military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, which began on 24 February 2022, transformed Snake Island into a site of intensive military activity. As a result, the island and its surrounding marine environment were exposed to significant physical and chemical impacts associated with warfare.
Crucially, Snake Island was the subject of detailed scientific investigations prior to the war. These pre-conflict datasets create a rare and scientifically valuable baseline, allowing for rigorous comparative analysis of war-related chemical contamination and its environmental consequences. Few locations worldwide offer such a clearly defined geographic area with comprehensive pre-war environmental data followed by well-documented military exposure.We invite international researchers and institutions to collaborate in the design and implementation of an expeditionary research program focused on Snake Island and its adjacent waters. The proposed research aims to assess the extent, composition, and ecological effects of military-related contamination on terrestrial and marine ecosystems, as well as to evaluate potential long-term impacts on biodiversity, soil, freshwater, and coastal processes.
This initiative seeks to bring together expertise from environmental science, soil science, marine ecology, chemistry, toxicology and related disciplines. Collaborative efforts will contribute to a deeper scientific understanding of the environmental costs of armed conflict and support the development of evidence-based approaches to environmental assessment and restoration in post-conflict settings.
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