Scientist: Restrict human arctic access

MOSCOW, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- Human access to the arctic should be limited and restricted to protect the region's fragile ecosystem, a Russian scientist says.

Arkadiy Tishkov of the Russian Academy of Science made the remarks amid growing concern about battles for control of the territory among arctic-bordering nations, RIA Novosti reported.

"We should restrict access to the Arctic, whether it is for tourism or drilling," Tishkov said. "The arctic should become a territory with a regulated ecological regime."

Last week Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said that partnership agreements could settle all border disputes in the region.

Russia would expand its scientific research in the arctic, he said.

The Russian government intends to establish national parks and reserves in the arctic and is also planning to remove the waste that has accumulated there over many decades, RIA Novosti reported.