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This text highlights the environmental aspects of the Arctic in the Murmansk District. Its geographical, natural, geological, and historical characteristics are presented. Examples of environmental protection facilities have been shown and aspects of their features that make the region attractive for tourists have been indicated. Proposals for the development of tourist infrastructure were shown, models for the development of the cultural and industrial landscape of cities were proposed, as well as the exhibition of natural and post-industrial heritage in the context of the possibility of its protection and exhibition for visitors. The influence of social awareness of inhabitants and the role of their quality of life in the context of the possibility of effective nature protection was indicated. Examples are also shown that allow for the sustainable development of these areas also through the diversification of income with the participation of the tourism industry, economic recovery of post-industrial areas, and the possibility of further protection of the Arctic for future generations.

A survey of the rare relict fern Botrychium lunaria (L.) Sw was conducted in one of the recently created specially protected natural areas (SPNA) in the Murmansk Region – the natural park “Rybachy and Sredny Peninsulas”. 6 cenopopulations were identified in various parts of the park. It has been shown that this species will grow in a variety of conditions both with respect to the totality of the intensity of the action of abiotic factors and with respect to the composition of the phytocenosis. It is shown that while the vitality of individuals varies within rather narrow limits and only in two cenopopulations is below 1, the density of individuals differs significantly. The results of the survey showed that when monitoring the condition of the cenopopulations of the moon-fern, it is necessary to use a set of parameters.

This article is devoted to the study of the contents of zinc, cadmium, copper, and lead in lichen in the pastures of reindeer studs in the Timan and Bolshezemelskaya tundras. These areas are located in the Arctic part of Russia, to the west of the Polar Urals. These are areas where carbonate and sandstone rocks of the Permian–Mesozoic age dominate under the soil cover, as well as older deposits located in the western part of the research area (dated to the Cambrian–Devonian period). In these rocks, there is mineralization with metals, including copper. Research carried out in 2018 showed that in the surface layer of lichens, the concentration of metals was assessed differently in the upper, middle, and lower parts of the hill. On this basis, it was possible to identify clean and contaminated pastures. The high copper content in some pastures can be explained by the migration of metal ions from the parent rock. Due to the similar ionic radius of copper and the higher electrocativity in relation to zinc, the metal was probably displaced in the lichen. The observed concentrations can cause high levels of metals in the tissues and organs of deer. A high content of metals in lichens was found in samples collected near industrial enterprises, as well as at a considerable distance from them. At the same time, lichens at some locations near boiler houses or oil rigs are quite pure. In this regard, it has been suggested that the source of pollutants can be either natural factors (copper-bearing sands) or the ingress of metals from a remotely located source.

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