The Russian Federation has participated in the ENRIN programme since 1994
following long-term involvements with UNEP and GRID that started in 1987.
GRID-Moscow was officially opened in autumn 1998. The ENRIN focal point for
Russia has taken an active role in UNEP's and other international environmental
information activities, such as co-organizing the UNEP/OECD seminars in Moscow
in 1995, participating in the the Electronic Highway Seminar in Arendal in 1995,
the ENRIN focal point meeting in Warsaw in 1995, the BALLERINA conference in
Riga in 1997.

Building upon the feasibility study and the regional workshop in
St. Petersburg in 2000, the two phases of the environmental information
project in the Northwest Federal District of Russia 'Strengthening production,
dissemination and use of environmental information in Northwest Russia'
(2002-2003) and 'Increasing the Impact of Environmental Information in Northwest
Russia' (2004-2005) have been implemented. Its overall goal is to establish an
environmental information network in the Northwest Russia, based on the
Environmental Information Centers in all administrative units of the federal
district. The centers are formed with participation of all
major holders of environmental information in the region from the
state, educational and non-profit sectors. The on-going project is
funded by the Swedish EPA and co-funded by UNEP/GRID-Arendal.

Currently GRID-Arendal runs a two projects in Russia, both funded by the
Swedish EPA: 

'Increasing the impact of environmental information in Northwest Russia.
Phase IV' 

'Information management system and infrastructures for the
transboundary Daugava/Zapadnaya Dvina and Nemunas/Neman river basins' 
(DatabasiN). Participating
countries also include: Belarus, Latvia, and Lithuania.