Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia NGO’s Experience in Organizing Interpretation Trails

-Our Activities -Positive and Negative Experience by establishing a network of nature trails in Sochi -Discussion Main Issues

Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia BLACK SEA

Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia

Round Tables with Official Bodies

The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail

Realizing the start boards and panels

The Booklet “The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail” Каньоны Сочи The Canyons of Sochi The Nature Trail Guide Карта и описание маршрута на русском и английском языках Map and description of the route in English and Russian Кандык кавказский (Eritronium caucasicum) - редкий эндемик Fawn lily (Eritronium caucasicum) – rare endemic species Шакал обыкновенный (Canis aureus)-типичный обитатель каньонов и ущелий The golden jaсal (Canis aureus)– a common inhabitant of the canyons

The Canyons of Sochi Nature Trail

The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail Решеточник красный (Clathrus ruber)– очень редкий гриб, иногда встречающийся в самшитовом лесу The red cage (Clathrus ruber) – a very rare mushroom, which one can see sometimes in a boxwood forest Ящерица прыткая (Lacerta agilis) в брачном наряде | Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis), mating season colouring От полянки с кострищами хорошо набитая тропа вдоль бровки обрыва ведет через самшитовые дебри наверх. Через 900 м некрутого подъема вправо отходит тропинка к пещере Широкопокосской или как ее еще называют, пещере святой Марии. Тропа вьется вниз по крутому склону каньона и вскоре выводит к небольшому карнизу, где и расположена пещера. Длина ее составляет около 50 м, поэтому для ее посещения вам понадобится взять с собой фонарик. Войдя в верхний вход, можно пройти пещеру насквозь, посетив небольшой зал с естественными колоннами и выйти через нижний вход наружу. Во времена сталинских репрессий местные жители использовали пещеру, как подпольную церковь, откуда и пошло ее название – пещера св. Марии. A well-defined trail starts at the meadow with fire pits and runs up through a boxwood grove along the edge of a cliff. After a mild incline of 900m (about half a mile), you'll see a trail branching off to the right towards the Shirokopokosskaya cave, also known as the Cave of St. Mary. The trail zigzags down the steep side of a canyon and soon brings you to a small ledge and the cave entrance. The cave is 50m (54 yards) long and you will need a flashlight to explore it. You can enter the cave through the upper entrance,walk through the entire cave, and exit at the lower opening. Inside you will find a small hall with natural columns. The name of St. Mary's goes back to the era of Stalin's repressions, during which the local people used this cave as an underground church. Офрис пчелоносная (Ofris apifera)слева и Серапиас сошниковый ( Serapias vomeracea) справа – редкие орхидеи, истинное украшение окрестностей Сочи Rare Orchids - The Bee Orchid (Ofris apifera) left and the Long lipped Serapias (Serapias vomeracea) right - are genuine decoration of Sochi’s environments

The Imeretinskaya Lowland Project

Preparation to the Olympics 2014 causes loss of endangered species habitats

Unique Habitat of rare and endangered psammofit Species in Russia

The Imeretinskaya Lowland Project -Nature conservation: protection of the habitat of endangered species, -Reintroduction of rare species in situ -Sustainable use: creation of a nature interpretation trail for educational and recreational purposes - Action to draw public attention: involving children from Sochi art school for desighning a trail

Complete destruction of the Habitat through the construction of a promenade for the Olympic Village

The Interpretation Trail “Our beautiful forest “Blinovo”

The “Mys Vidnyy” Nature Monument

Values -Forest area in the city – very important place for recreation of the population -big variability (elevation, habitats, land uses, etc.) in a small area -Habitat of many rare species -Interesting geological features -Historical aspects The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project

Goals of the trail - To show the natural values in the target place -To tell about culture, customs, historical land use of indigenous inhabitans in the target place -To prevent the further construction of private households through functioning of the trail and drawing public attention The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project

SOS!!! The Russian Black Sea Cost loses entire Ecosystems and Habitats of rare species, many valuable Green Areas and Recreational Places

Main Problems: - Intensive city development and giant construction projects – rapid and massive degradation of green areas in surroundings of Sochi - Lack of support from the official bodies - Absence of financing - Law public awareness - Vandalism

The Sochi Branch of the Russian Geographical Society Michail Plotnikov Projects Coordinator Maria Reneva Science secretary

Thank you for the attention!!! Special Thanks to Emma Gileva and Aleksandar Shivarov for kind invitation to participate on the Conference