Ryazan’s New Regional Network of Natural Heritage
Keepers
October 27, 2000 – A workshop on forming an activists’ network to support
notable natural territories of the Ryazan Region was held by the Ryazan
Regional Department of Education, Science and Youth Policy and by the
Ryazan S. A. Yesenin State Pedagogical University. More than
40 people from 30 organizations (including most regional secondary schools,
Tver State University, the Biodiversity Conservation Center, the Center
for Preparation and Implementation of International Projects on Technical
Assistance, Russia's Bird Conservation Union, and the Regional Environmental
Biology Center) attended.
The workshop was an important stage in accomplishing the "Creation of
the System of Natural Protected Territories for the Center of the Central
Russian Plain" Task in the GEF Project “Biodiversity Conservation” of
Russian Federation, as well as of the similar Wild Nature Network BCC
SEU Program, in the Ryazan Region. The workshop’s main aims were to create
a public monitoring system for natural landmarks and small nature reserves
of national significance, and to organize environmental education on this
basis.
Fourteen talks on various issues of natural heritage preservation were
presented at the workshop. As noted by their authors, the Ryazan region
now has substantial experience in applied nature conservation. This work
is carried out by the public and includes the investigation of important
natural objects. On the other hand, a basis for the formation of a system
of environmental and patriotic education of young people has been created
in the Region. In particular, significant experience in environmental
education and preservation of natural heritage of Ryazan Region was presented
by the Ryazan State Pedagogical University, Priokskiy Children's Creativity
Center, Ryazan Regional Environmental Biological Center, Leaf Ryazan Regional
Children's Public Organization, Zhelannov Secondary School of Shatsky
District, Aleshin Secondary School of Kasimov District.
Meeting participants suggested the following objectives:
strengthen business contacts with the authorities dealing with preservation
and management of natural resources, cultural organizations, movement
of regional studies;
organize on-going exchanges of experience among nature protection
activists. This includes joint nature protection actions, as well as
regional and interdistrict workshops;
draft action plans for the most important small nature reserves and
natural landmarks and other priority objects of natural heritage of
the Ryazan Region.
At the end of the meeting, a presentation and sale of literature on nature
protection and environmental issues was held.
