ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY AND ECOTOURISM IN RUSSIA ENHANCING BIODIVERSITY AND ECOTOURISM IN RUSSIA A joint project by

The project responds to the identified need to develop and promote genuine ecotourism in develop and promote genuine ecotourism in Russia, which provides benefits to both the Russia, which provides benefits to both the wildlife and local communities. This multi- wildlife and local communities. This multi- stakeholder project spearheads sustainable stakeholder project spearheads sustainable ecotourism development by providing practical ecotourism development by providing practical demonstration and assistance to selected demonstration and assistance to selected protected areas in Russia. protected areas in Russia. Project summary

is to help protected areas in Russia in their biodiversity conservation efforts through: biodiversity conservation efforts through: Training on sustainable tourism development (STD) Training on sustainable tourism development (STD) Development of pilot ecotourism programmes Development of pilot ecotourism programmes Active promotion at the international level Active promotion at the international level The main objective of the project The main objective of the project

Invitation of protected areas to participate in the project and explanation of the project to them Coordinated preparation of eco-tours and STD рrogrammes Preparation of an interactive training course Interactive training (seminar), exchange of experience Promotion of protected areas and the developed eco-tours and STD programmes on a website and in promotional booklets in 3 languages Initiating partnerships and networks between protected areas and ecotourism industry Testing of the eco-tours by Dersu Uzala and invited tour operators from abroad Evaluation of the project experience, dissemination of the results to other PAs Project activities Research, collection of data, local input

Expected outcomes A participatory framework for STD A participatory framework for STD New partnerships for STD created New partnerships for STD created Training course adjusted to local conditions Training course adjusted to local conditions Pilot eco-tours and STD programmes Pilot eco-tours and STD programmes Multi-lingual promotion of biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecotourism Multi-lingual promotion of biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecotourism (website, booklets). (website, booklets).

Fieldfare International Ecological Development plc (FIED) It is a UK-based public limited company specialising in promoting ecologically sustainable development; ethical investment and practice. It is a UK-based public limited company specialising in promoting ecologically sustainable development; ethical investment and practice. It has a successful ecotourism subsidiary It has a successful ecotourism subsidiary Salix Ltd (the Lower Danube region, Ukraine). Salix Ltd (the Lower Danube region, Ukraine). It has wide-ranging international experience It has wide-ranging international experience as an consulting organisation in STD. as an consulting organisation in STD.

The role of FIED Supervision of the project Supervision of the project Participation in the training course development Participation in the training course development Consulting of the eco-tours and programmes Consulting of the eco-tours and programmes The creation and management of a multi-lingual web- The creation and management of a multi-lingual web- site promoting biodiversity conservation and eco-tours site promoting biodiversity conservation and eco-tours Helping to establish international recognition for Helping to establish international recognition for the participating protected areas as unique the participating protected areas as unique ecotourism destinations ecotourism destinations

Environmental Education Centre ‘Zapovedniks’ (EcoCentre) It is a Moscow-based NGO focusing on environmental education, and raising of public awareness of protected areas in Russia. It is a Moscow-based NGO focusing on environmental education, and raising of public awareness of protected areas in Russia. It develops and provides training to protected areas managers and conservation specialists. It develops and provides training to protected areas managers and conservation specialists.

The role of the EcoCentre Local facilitation of the project and liaising Local facilitation of the project and liaising with the participating protected areas with the participating protected areas Organisation of the interactive training course Organisation of the interactive training course Consulting of the programmes Consulting of the programmes by providing assistance to the protected areas by providing assistance to the protected areas Dissemination of the project and its results Dissemination of the project and its results to other protected areas in Russia to other protected areas in Russia

Dersu Uzala It is a Moscow-based organisation, which develops and runs tailor-made eco-tours, expeditions and trips to various protected areas in Russia. It is a Moscow-based organisation, which develops and runs tailor-made eco-tours, expeditions and trips to various protected areas in Russia. It was originally established as an ecotourism development fund in the framework of environmental projects of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). It was originally established as an ecotourism development fund in the framework of environmental projects of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

The role of Dersu Uzala Market research in the protected areas Market research in the protected areas Participation in the training course development Participation in the training course development Technical assistance in STD programmes Technical assistance in STD programmes Organisation and testing of concrete pilot Organisation and testing of concrete pilot eco-tours (and STD programmes) eco-tours (and STD programmes)

Project area

National parks: Ugra, Shushensky Bor Ugra, Shushensky Bor Zapovedniks (State nature reserves): Zapovedniks (State nature reserves): Sayano-Shushensky, Sayano-Shushensky, Central’no Sibirskiy, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina, Central’no Sibirskiy, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina, Stolby, Тungussky, Khakassky Stolby, Тungussky, Khakassky Nature parks: Ergaki Nature parks: Ergaki Planned participating protected areas Planned participating protected areas

Planned timetable Planned timetable Project start (January 2007) Project start (January 2007) Training course development (February – July) Training course development (February – July) Research and data analysis (March – August) Research and data analysis (March – August) Training course for PAs (September) Training course for PAs (September) Website creation and leaflets (November – February 2008) Website creation and leaflets (November – February 2008) Pilot eco-tours and partnerships (spring 2008) Pilot eco-tours and partnerships (spring 2008) End of the project (June 2008) End of the project (June 2008)

The roles of protected areas in the project The roles of protected areas in the project Provision of local knowledge and information about the protected area Provision of local knowledge and information about the protected area Presentation of ecotourism Presentation of ecotourism Participation in the training seminar Participation in the training seminar Co-operation with partners in the creation of local STD programmes Co-operation with partners in the creation of local STD programmes

Benefits to protected areas of the project Benefits to protected areas of the project STD programmes and eco-tours developed STD programmes and eco-tours developed New know-how and skills obtained New know-how and skills obtained Exchange of experience and ideas with others Exchange of experience and ideas with others Information about each protected area Information about each protected area in English and German on a website in English and German on a website Promotion of eco-tours on the Western markets Promotion of eco-tours on the Western markets Support in further efforts in STD within Support in further efforts in STD within the protected areas (+ fundraising) the protected areas (+ fundraising)

This project is carried out under the Partners for Environmental Cooperation in Europe (PECE) initiative and is supported by Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA, United Kingdom) by a financial grant of £ 44,500. Acknowledgments

If you have any questions or comments, If you have any questions or comments, please, contact the project manager: Jozef Bednar Tel: Website: