HL Project’s Results and pilot implementations in the Pskov Region Elena Naumova George Varlamov Pskov State Polytechnic Institute

Pskov Region (1) The Pskov region is located in the north-west of the Russian Federation. It covers about 20 thousand square miles. The Pskov region borders the Novgorod, Leningrad, Tver and Smolensk Regions and shares an external border with Belarus (211,2 miles long), Estonia (149 miles) and Latvia (162 miles). Pskov Region is home to many historical sights that are important to the Russian people.

Pskov Region (2) Pskov is located relatively close to such big cities as St.Petersburg (180 miles), Tallinn (170 miles), Riga (160 miles) and Moscow (360 miles). The population of Pskov Region is about 740 thousand people. There are 2 big cities in the region: Pskov (200,000 people) and Velikie Luki (100,000 people).

Pilot territories 3 HL territories were singled out as pilot ones in the Pskov Region. They are the main actors in the project: Vasilievskaya Volost’; Gavrovskaya Volost’; Pogranichnaya Volost’.

Project’s Partners Regional institutions so far involved in the project are: The Pskov Region Administration; The Committee for Development of Local Self- Government; The Centre on Sustainable Development of the Pskov Region; Pskov State Polytechnic Institute

Operating Hinterland-Vorderland partnerships/networks: The partnership between regional and local actors of the project can be considered as HL-VL networks: The Pskov Region Administration, The Committee for Development of Local Self-Government, The Centre on Sustainable Development of the Pskov region, Pskov State Polytechnic Institute, Pytalovskiy District Administration, Krasnogorodskiy District Administration, Palkinskiy District (V) - Vasilievskaya Volost', Gavrovskaya Volost’, Pogranichnaya Volost’ (H)

Main Activities and Objectives achieved so far (1): Statistical information is collected and analyzed; HL typology is worked, revised and applied; Scientific and practical conference «Strategic planning and development sources of municipal institutions» is held (21-22 December 2006); Key development priorities are singled out; Major pilots’ potentials are studied; HL projects are drafted; Foresight scenarios worked out;

10 meetings of the representatives of Pskov State Polytechnic Institute with Pskov Region Administration, a project partner and coordinator; Regular meetings and information exchange at the Pskov Region Administration, Pskov State Polytechnic Institute and pilot territories on the results of the decline surveys and their interpretation; Main Activities and Objectives achieved so far (2):

Scientific and practical conference «Strategic planning and development sources of municipal institutions» (Pskov, December 2006) 45 participants from Pskov Region (including participants from 3 pilot territories), Pskov Region Administration, Pskov State Polytechnic Institute, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Russia, Russian scientific centre on state and municipal management, Saint-Petersburg Academy of Management and Economics The following questions were discussed at the event:  Federal policy in strategic planning in regions and municipalities of Russia  Strategic planning in municipalities in new legal conditions  Innovative resources in strategic development of settlings  Municipalities’ cooperation as an instrument of strategic development As the result, drafts of the strategic development directions were worked out during the conference. Scientific conference

3 HL study visits; 1 expert meeting; 3 HL-VL meetings; Participation in Hinterland Forums; Newsletters are prepared and published; Information on the project is disseminated. Main Activities and Objectives achieved so far (3):

HL statistical data (1)

Main problem of HL territories is demography Natural decline of population, high rate of mortality, low rate of birth; Low rate of population in age 20-50; Small number of children per one family; The main part of population is over 50; Small number of immigrants.

HL statistical data (2)

Social and economic problems High rate of unemployment; Small number of work places in real sector; Main part of work places in municipal administration sector – depending from public finance; Crisis in traditional - agricultural – sector; Restrictions for development of manufacturing sector; Low level of family’s income.

HL statistical data (3)

HL’s typology Stable structure Sensitive structure Instable structure Low decline Gavrovs- kaya Volost’ Medium decline Vasilievs- kaya Volost’ High decline Pogranich- naya Volost’

Resources for HL territories development Natural construction resources (sand, gravel etc.); Natural bio resources (berries, mushrooms etc.); Natural energy resources (peat); Resources of location of the territory – near border;

Cross border infrastructure Pogranichnaya Volost’ Gavrovskaya Volost’

HL’s key development priorities Name of pilot Description of key development priorities Remarks «Gavrovskaya volost’» (the Pytalovo district) 1. Establishing cooperation on natural resources’ use; 2. SME’s development along the highway of federal importance; 3. Tourism development; 4. International cooperation 1. HL obtains peat, wood, sand and gravel supply that can be demanded by VL; 2. A part of the highway of federal importance runs through the territory of HL; 3. HL/VL cooperation on tourism development; 4. HL/VL cooperation with Latvia. «Pogranichnay a Volost’» (the Krasnogorodsk District) 1. Establishing cooperation on natural resources’ use; 2. HL/VL cooperation on cultural issues; 3. HL/VL cooperation on agricultural development 1. The area obtains natural resources that can be used in road-building; 2. There is a park on the territory of HL that can be used for tourism development by HL/VL; 3. The area is famous for its flax production. This direction can be developed further together with VL. «Vasilyevskaya volost’» (the Palkino district) 1. Establishing cooperation on natural resources’ use; 2. HL/VL cooperation on agricultural development; 3. Tourism development. 1. There is a wood supply in the area that can be demanded by VL as well; 2. Animal-husbandry should be developed together with VL; 3. HL/VL cooperation on tourism development.

Major pilot projects (1) Name of pilot Short pilot description Key priorities Co-operation issues/tools Pilot partner Web page "Database of the Pskov Region villages" general information, identification and marketing of rural life quality of rural life, local development vision, rural community web- presentation for every village Pskov Region Administ- ration Computer club at pilot villages‘ schools place where younger can spend their spare time rural community, youth issues meeting for locals, special attention should be paid to younger people, to involve them schools, authorities, sponsors Training of young people entrepre- neurship issues training courses that will give young people a chance to study entrepreneur- ship issues and start up their own business rural community, entrepreneur- ship issues, SMEs arranging coursesPskov State Polytechnic Institute, Pskov Region Ad- ministration

Major pilot projects (2) Name of pilot Short pilot descriptionKey priorities Co-operation issues/toolsPilot partner Development of pilgrimage tourism (Vasilievskaya Volost') special pilgrimage tourist routes should be arranged tourism, rural community, SMEs presentation of information to regional tourist companies Pskov-Pechory Monastery, tourist companies Development of sports tourism (Vasilievskaya Volost) sports tourist routes should be arranged, infrastructure development tourism, rural community, SMEs presentation of information to regional tourist companies, working out business projects business, tourist companies Arranging Russian Estate Museum (Gavrovskaya Volost) places to promote Russian culture tourism, rural community working out business projects, collecting historical items business, sponsors Arranging cafes (Gavrovskaya Volost) Infrastructure development SMEs, rural community working out business projects, collecting historical items consumers‘ co-operative Lyamonovskiy Park Reconstruction (Pogranichnaya Volost) Reconstruction of the park tourism, rural community working out park's design plan, inclusion of the park into the outs of tourist companies business, sponsors, tourist companies

HL study visits Vasilievskaya Volost’ Discussion of HL’ problems and possibilities for development: resources; tourism; agriculture Participators: - 11 HL’s; - 1 VL’s; - 3 PPI experts.

Vasilyevskaya volost’ (the Palkino District) It is planned to develop the following directions: 1. Effective use of natural resources (timber production, pulp and paper production) 2. Agriculture development and income increase in the industry (animal husbandry, land plots to farmers and agricultural enterprises) 3. Tourism (sport activities, recreational and cultural tourism) HL priority development directions

HL study visits Pogranichnaya Volost’ Discussion of HL’ problems and possibilities for development: small business; tourism; food processing Participators: - 12 HL’s; - 1 VL’s; - 3 PPI experts.

Pogranichnaya volost’ (the Krasnogorodsk District) It is planned to build a new customs terminal at the border with Latvia. It is planned to develop the following directions: 1.Increase of building materials/ production (including for road-building needs) 2.Cultural tourism (Lyamonov Park is a natural historical area connected with A. Pushkin.) 3.SMEs development 4.Flax production including for the needs of military- industrial complex of Russia. HL priority development directions

HL study visits Gavrovskaya Volost’ Discussion of HL’ problems and possibilities for development: manufacturing of construction materials; tourism; agriculture; international cooperation Participators: - 4 HL’s inhabitants; - 3 PPI experts.

HL priority development directions Gavrovskaya volost’ (the Pytalovo District) It is planned to develop the following directions: Economic a.Effective use of natural resources (peat, sand, gravel, wood-felling, animal farming) a.Infrastructure development (cafes, b.service centres along the highway etc) Social (new working places, income increase) Cultural (tourism) Ecological (environment protection programme) International cooperation with Latvia (Malnava)

Further Activities It is planned to do the following in the pilot territories: to implement HL projects; to work out conceptions of pilot territories’ development; to approve the conceptions at the Administration of the Pskov Region; to disseminate the results of the project

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