«ECOLOGICAL EDUCATION»

ECO-EDUCATION ACTIVITIES AT NATIONAL PARKS
AND STATE NATURE RESERVES IN 2002

(Based on letters from the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources #63-01/165
and #63-01/166 dd. September 3, 2003)

By the end of 2002, separate divisions specializing in ecological education were functioning as independent units in 17 out of 35 national parks and in 70 out of 95 state nature reserves supervised by the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). In 3 reserves (Visimsky, Ust’-Lensky and Tsentralnosibirsky) and in 2 national parks ecological education was part of the staff of scientific departments, and in 2 national parks — of tourism and recreation departments, while Kenozersky national park established its own eco-education service. Eco-education workgroups were functioning in Voronezhsky, Zhigulevsky and Kabardino-Balkarsky reserves. In 9 reserves eco-education was conducted by staffers in other divisions: Bastak, Bolshoi Arktichesky, Komsomolsky, Kuznetsky Alatau, Mordovsky, Olekmansky, Orenburgskiy, Prioksko-Terrasny and Rdeisky. In 7 reserves (Dzhugdzhursky, Magadansky, Norsky, Rostovsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Chernye Zemli, Yugansky) scientific departments included 1-5 specialists in ecological education and training. The total of 391 staffers responsible for eco-education worked in the Russian state nature reserves. In national parks a total of 79 staffers were responsible for eco-education. On average, 4 persons were engaged in eco-education in reserves, and 2 — in national parks.

In 2002, staffers of eco-education departments of 16 reserves and 8 national parks completed upgrading and professional training courses.

Ecological education activities in national parks and state nature reserves in 2002 were carried out along the following lines:

• Management of museums, visit-centers, stationary, temporary and itinerant exhibition displays;
• Interaction with mass media (articles, appearances on radio and TV, periodical publications);
• Promotion and publication;
• Work with schoolchildren;
• Interaction with teachers and education authorities;
• Liaison with local population;
• Organization of ecological festivals and ecological PR actions.

Additionally, national parks provided visitors services visitors (excursions, tours, etc.) as required by current legislation.

Museum Management

In 2002, visitor centers were established or were under construction in 8 national parks and 46 reserves. By the end of the year, 57 visitor centers in reserves and 16 visitor centers in national parks were receiving visitors. Nature Museums were functioning in 37 reserves and 12 national parks.

Both visitor centers and Nature Museums were functioning in 19 reserves: Astrakhansky, Baikalsky, Barguzinsky, Basegi, Bashkirsky, Bolshoi Arktichesky, Volzhsko-Kamsky, Voronezhsky, Darvinsky, Kandalakshsky, Kronotsky, Lazovsky, Pechero-Ilychsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Taimyrsky, Teberdinsky, Khopersky, Tsentralno-lesnoi, Shulgan-Tash.

In 2002 national parks set up 232 exhibition displays for different audiences, and reserves — 603. The most displays were organized by the reserves: Baikalsky, Lazovsky, Poronaisky, Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Taimyrsky, Khankaisky, and the national parks: Plescheevo Ozero, Russky Sever and Sebezhsky. Beside these PNAs more than 10 exhibition displays were set up by the reserves: Bashkirsky, Bolshekhekhtsyrsky, Botchinsky, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Darvinsky, Zhigulevsky, Kavkazsky, Komandorsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Ust-Lensky, Khakassky, Tsentralno-Lesnoi, and Shulgan-Tash, and the national parks: Valdaisky, Orlovskoye Polesye, Smolenskoye Poozerye, Sochinsky, and Ugra.

Children’s art displays were set up by 69 reserves and 19 national parks and were very popular. The most active in organizing such displays were the reserves: Baikalsky, Lazovsky, Taimyrsky, Ust'-Lensky and Khankaisky, as well as the national parks: Plescheevo Ozero, Smolenskoye Poozerye and Russky Sever.

In 48 reserves and 15 national parks eco-education specialists set up 153 and 39 photo-exhibitions respectively. The greatest number of photo-exhibitions were organized by the reserves: Baikalsky (12), Komandorsky (11), Botchinsky (10), Laplandsky (8), Porpnaisky (6), Altaisky, Bastak, Kuznetsky Alatau, Norsky and Shulgan-Tash (5 each), and the national parks: Russky Sever, Sebezhsky and Plescheevo Ozero.

In 35 nature reserves and in 14 national parks eco-education specialists set up 107 and 43 nature conservation exhibition displays respectively. Among reserves, the most active here were Darvinsky (15), Taimyrsky(14), Poronaisky (8), Baikalsky (7) and Bashkirsky (6).

Art exhibitions were set up by 31 reserves (72 displays) and 10 national parks (34 displays). In 2002, the most active here was Plescheevo Ozero national park, which organized the greatest number of displays of the kind (12) as well as the reserves: Lazovsky (8), Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe (5), Norsky, Poronaisky (4 each), Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky, Kavkazsky, Nizhne-Svirsky and Taimyrsky (3 each).

21 reserves and 8 national parks set up 67 literature exhibition displays (40 and 27 respectively). The leaders here were the national parks Plescheevo Ozero and Sochinsky, and the reserves Kavkazsky, Lazovsky, Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Sayano-Shushensky, Taimyrsky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy and Schylgan-Tash.

As for the variety of the exhibition topics (5 each) the most active were set up by 14 reserves (Taimyrsky, Lazovsky, Poronaisky, Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Ust'-Lensky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, Khakassky, Kavkazsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Barguzinsky, Zhigulevsky, Shulgan-Tash, Magadansky and Polistovsky) and 7 national parks (Valdaisky, Orlovskoye Poleskye, Plescheevo Ozero, Russky Sever, Smolenskoye Poozerye, Sochinsky and Ugra). Exhibition displays of four kinds were set up by 9 reserves: Verkhne-Tazovsky, Astrakhansky, Kronotsky, Belogorye, Daursky, Denezhkin Kamen’, Stolby, Olekmansky and Malaya Sos’va.

So-called “pet corners” and animal houses were displayed to visitors in 9 reserves (a total of 23 in the reserves Pechero-Lychsky, Poronaisky, Prioksko-Terrasny, Oksky, Taimyrsky, Teberdinsky, Khingansky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy and Cherniye Zemli) and in 6 national parks. In Shulgan-Tash, a bee apiary display was open for visitors. Ten reserves (Belogorye, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Volzhsko-Kamsky, Kavkazsky, Kandalakshsky, Kivach, Lazovsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Ust'-Lensky and Tsentralsno-Chernozemny) and 8 national parks had exhibitions of live plants.

In addition to nature museum excursions the visitors to national parks enjoyed field excursions and various tours:

• Walking tours (for visitors on their own) — in 19 parks;
• Boat trips (for tourists and visitors)— in 14 parks;
• Car and bus tours (for tourists and visitors) — in 9 parks.

In 2000, 208 ecological paths and routes (12,028 km total) were open in 32 national parks (376 km per NP, on average).

A total of 499,315 visitors in groups or specially organized tours passed through national parks (on average, 17 218 visitors per NP), including 41,399 tourists from abroad.

The greatest number of visitors passed trough Sochinsky, where 290,100 legal visitors were registered. Most popular among foreign tourists was Kurshskaya Kosa — 36,389 visitors.

Interaction with the Mass Media

In 2002, the staffers of reserves and national parks wrote 2,625 articles which were published in periodicals (1801 articles by reserve specialists and 824 articles — by NP specialists), including 1801 (1210 and 591 accordingly) — in regional, 267 — in federal (187 and 80 accordingly) and 557 (404 and 153 accordingly) — in the local press. On average, 25 articles per reserve or national park.

Articles by staffers of 42 reserves and 15 national parks were published in national editions. Most distinguished here were the reserves Astrakhansky (35), Kavkazsky (21), and Khingansky (11), and the national parks Smolenskoye Poozerye (29), Plescheevo Ozero (17), and Sebezhsky (10).

Articles written by the staffers of 78 reserves and 23 national parks were published in the regional press. More than 50 articles published in the regional press belong to the reserves Sikhote-Alinsky (100), Laplandsky (86), Belogorye (56) and Khakassky (55), and the national parks Nizhnyaya Kama (168), Plescheevo Ozero (112) and Smolenskoye Poozerye (56).

Articles by the staffers of 33 reserves and 23 national parks were published in the local press. Here the leaders were the reserves Darvinsky (53), Putoransky (37), Khankaisky (34), Bureinsky (33), Komsomolsky (27), Kaluzhskiye Zaseki (19), Teberdinsky (18), Altaisky (16), Bryansky Les, Kavkazsky (15 each), Yugansky (14), Visimsky, Vishersky (12 each), Botchinsky, Rostovsky (11 each), and the national parks Shushensky Bor (36), Meschersky (26), Ugra (25), Chavash Varmane (18), Taganai (14) and Nechkinsky (12 articles).

Fifteen reserves (Altaisky, Bryansky Les, Bureinsky, Visimsky, Darvinsky, Denezhkin Kamen’, Dzherginsky, Kronotsky, Mordovsky, Putoransky, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina, Khakassky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, Tsentralno-Chernozyemny, and Shulgan-Tash) and 6 national parks (Losiny Ostrov, Nechkinsky, Paanayarvi, Tunkinsky, Ugra, and Shushensky Bor) practiced interaction with the press most actively.

The greatest number of articles belongs to the staffers of 9 reserves (Sikhote-Alinsky — 100, Baikalsky — 97, Laplandsky — 95, Astrakhansky — 77, Darvisnky — 65, Khakassky — 62, Belogorye — 59, Putoransky — 53 and Tsentralno-Lesnoy — 48) and 3 national parks (Nizhnyaya Kama — 170, Plescheevo Ozero — 129 and Smolenskoye Poozerye — 85).

Appearances on TV, TV reports and programs play important role in ecological education. In 2002, the number of appearances with the participation or support of reserve specialists came to 1,105. National channels broadcasted 53 reports developed with the participation of reserve staffers, and 20 — with the participation of NP staffers, regional TV stations broadcasted 449 and 120 reports respectively, and local TV channels — 336 and 127 respectively. Most distinguished here were the national parks Nizhnyaya Kama (68 TV reports), Sochinsky (49) and Smolenskoye Poozerye (24) as well as the reserves Bolshoi Arktichesky (61), Laplandsky (51), Astrakhansky (34), Bastak (33), Barguzinsky (30), Putoransky, Belogorye (29 each), Khakassky (26), Altaisky (25), Magadansky, Teberdinsky (22 each), Nenetsky (21), Khingansky and Olekmansky (20 each).

National TV broadcasted reports on 21 reserves and 4 national parks. Most active here were the reserves Laplandsky (15 TV appearances), Oksky (5), Teberdinsky and Tsentralno-Lesnoy (4 each). Regional TV broadcasted reports about 61 reserves and 16 national parks. The leaders here are the reserves Bolshoi Arktichesky, Laplandsky, Astrakhansky, Bastak, Magadansky, and the national parks Nizhnyaya Kama, Smolenskoye Poozerye, Kenozersky and Taganay. Forty-six reserves and 8 national parks were presented on local TV stations. The greatest number of local TV appearances belonged to the national parks Sochinsky (49 TV appearances) and Nizhnyaya Kama (45), and reserves Baikalsky (27), Putoransky (26), Nenetsky (20), Bashkirsky (19), Teberdinsky (18) and Kavkazsky (17 appearances).

Materials provided by the Putoransky, Rostovsky, Tungussky and Tsentralno-Lesnoy reserves and the Valdaisky and Ugra national parks appeared on local and national television.

In 2002, 98 video films were made in 55 reserves and 12 national parks (65 in reserves and 33 in national parks), 31 of them (27 and 4 respectively) PNAs made themselves, and 55 video films (41 and 14) were made by outside organizations. Both possibilities were used by the reserves Baikalsky, Bashkirsky, Voroninsky, Daursky, Kivach, Magadansky, Malaya Sos'va, Poronaisky, Severo-Osetinsky, Taimyrsky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, Shulgan-Tash, Yuzhno-Uralsky, and the national parks Meschera, Sebezhsky, Smolenskoye Poozerye, and Sochinsky.

577 reports about 54 reserves and 264 reports about 22 national parks were broadcasted on radio stations. National radio stations broadcasted information 65 times on 65 reserves and 14 times on national parks, regional radio stations — 311 and 107 respectively, and local stations — 201 and 143 times respectively. Most active here were the reserves Laplandsky (61 reports), Belogorye (57), Bolshoi Arktichesky (42), Teberdinsky (29), Prioksko-Terrasny (28), Darvinsky (20), and the national parks Niznyaya Kama (59), Kenozersky and Sebezhsky (27 reports each).

Dissemination of information through periodicals issued by reserves and national parks plays an important role in developing liaison with the local people and work with visitors. In 2002, 17 reserves and 11 national parks issued their own information editions on a regular basis. The largest circulation was achieved by the 12 editions of the Darvisnsky reserve (100,000 copies) and the 12 editions of the Denezhkin Kamen reserve (4,300 copies). Slightly smaller was the circulation of 26 editions of the Yuzhno-Uralsky reserve. Bolshoi Arktichesky, Kerzhensky and Khakassky produced 11 editions each. The reserves Magadansky (10 editions), Katunsky (7), Vitimsky (4), Khopersky (4), Astrakhansky (2), Kostomukshsky (2), Shulgan-Tash (2), Zhigulevsky and Norsky (1 edition each) also published their own editions.

Among national parks, the largest circulation was achieved by the newspapers issued by national parks Ugra (around 4,000 copies), Losiny Ostrov, Prypyshmenskiye Bory (2,000 each), Plescheevo Ozero, Smolenskoye Poozerye, Sochinsky (1,000 each) and Shushensky Bor (just under 1,000 copies).

Supplements to regional and local newspapers were issued with the financial support and expertise of 14 reserves (Bashkirsky, Botchinsky, Bryansky Les, Bureinsky, Daursky, Zhigulevsky, Zeisky, Kerzhensky, Kurilsky, Nizhne-Svirsky, Nurgush, Sokhondinsky, Khankaisky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy) and 2 national parks (Zabaikalsky and Russky Sever). Thirteen reserves and 7 national parks ran their own regular conservation columns in periodicals.

In 2002, electronic editions were developed by 2 nature reserves (2 editions by Dzhugdzhursky, and 1— by Khakassky) and 3 national parks (Mariy Chodra, Plescheevo Ozero and Pribaikalsky).

In 2002, the process of introducing the Internet continued steadily. Eighteen reserves (Baikalsky, Barguzinsky, Belogorye, Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky, Bolshyaya Kokshaga, Bolshoi Arktichesky, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Zhigulevsky, Komandorsky, Kronotsky, Oksky, Polistovsky, Stolby, Taimyrsky, Khakassky, Khingansky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, and Shulgan-Tash) and 15 national parks (Bashkiriya, Vodlozersky, Zyuratkul’, Mariy Chodra, Meschera, Paanayarvi, Plescheevo Ozero, Pribaikalsky, Russky Sever, Sebezhsky, Smolenskoye Poozerye, Taganai, Ugra, Shorsky, and Shushensky Bor) had their own websites or web-pages on the websites of other organizations.

In 2002, 22 reserves issued 11,061 copies of leaflets and 11 national parks — 11,408 copies. Most of these materials were provided by the reserves Bolshaya Kokshaga (4,000 copies), Komsomolsky (2,000), Zeisky (1,000), Teberdinsky (1,000), Shulgan-Tash (1,000), and the national parks Losiny Ostrov and Meschera (2,000 copies each).

A total of 119,913 booklets were published in 18 national parks, and a total of 52,840 copies in 21 reserves. The best results here were shown by the national parks Sochinsky (105,000 copies), Ugra (3,500), Losiny Ostrov (3,000), Kenozersky (2,100), and Sebezhsky (2,000), and the reserves Kerzhesnky (10,000), Vishersky (5,000), Baikalsky (4,520), Bolshaya Kokshaga (4,500), Barguzinsky (4,050), Zeisky, Kivach, Severo-Osetinsky (3,000 each), Tsentralno-Lesnoy (2,520), Visimsky (2,000), Norsky (1,560), Sayano-Shushesnky (1,240), Bashkirsky (1,050), Voroninsky, Darvinsky, Kaluzhskiye Zaseki, Nurgush, Khakassky, Shulgan-Tash and Yuzhno-Uralsky (1,000 each).

Brochures were published by 11 reserves (a total of 7,366 copies) and 8 national parks (8,724 copies).

Thirty-six reserves and 11 national parks produced their own wall calendars (a total of 11,345 copies by 20 nature reserves and a total of 3,801 copies by 5 national parks) and pocket calendars (a total of 27,501 copies by 16 reserves and 641,081 copies by 8 national parks).

Photo-albums were chosen as presentation materials by13 reserves and 8 national parks (1,082 copies were produced by reserves and 3,642 copies by parks).

Conservation posters were produces by 8 reserves (Astrakhansky, Basegi, Bolon'sky, Vishersky, Lazovsky, Norsky, Teberdinsky, and Tsentralno-Lesnoy) and 4 national parks (Samarskaya Luka, Nizhnyaya Kama, Meschera and Kenozersky).

Eight reserves and 6 national parks produced badges, batches ranging from 100 to 5,000 copies, including reserves Kavkazsky (5,000 copies), Shulgan-Tash (1,000), Voroninsky (850), Kandalakshsky (400), Komsomolsky (251), Khakassky (200), Norsky (194), Stolby (100), and national parks Plescheevo Ozero (1,200), Sebezhsky (1,000), Losiny Ostrov and Smolenskoye Poozerye (500 each), and Nizhnyaya Kama (200 copies).

Emblems were produced by 5 reserves (Verkhne-Tazovsky, Komandorsky, Stolby, Tsentralno-Lesnoy and Polistovsky) and 3 national parks (Plescheevo Ozero, Shushensky Bor and Samarskaya Luka).

Pennants were produced in 4 national parks and 2 reserves (Ugra — 1,000 copies, Nizhnyaya Kama, Plescheyevo Ozero, Samarskaya Luka, Daursky and Stolby — 150 each). Reserves Verkhne-Tazovsky, Stolby and Tsentralno-Lesnoy produced souvenir medals.

In 2002, work with schoolchildren was one of the most important and successful activities in reserves and national parks. Regular courses on conservation were given to schoolchildren in 13 reserves (Baikalsky, Belogorye, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Daursky, Kavkazsky, Kurilsky, Lazovsky, Magadansky, Poronaisky, Sayano-Shushensky, Severo-Osetinsky, Khakassky and Tsentralno-Lesnoy) and in 7 national parks (Kenozersky, Nizhnyaya Kama, Paanayarvi, Plescheyevo Ozero, Sebezhsky, Sochinsky, Shushensky Bor). The best results here belong to the staffers of Plescheevo Ozero NP who gave courses to 4,380 schoolchildren. Single lectures on environmental topics were given by the staffers of 57 reserves and 16 national parks.

Specialized workshops and conferences were held in 36 reserves and 12 national parks. Over 20 thousand schoolchildren took part in these events. Most active here were the reserves Yuzhno-Uralsky, Bashkirsky, Zhigulevsky and Khopersky, and the national parks Valdaisky, Paanayrvi and Nizhnyaya Kama.

In 2002, 53 reserves and 17 national parks organized numerous contests and quizzes involving some 20,000 children and teenagers. Among reserves the largest campaigns were initiated by Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe (4,970 participants), Laplandsky (3,000), Voroninsky (1,543), Vitimsky (1,380), Kostomukshsky (1,200), Lazovsky (2,135), Verkhne-Tazovsly (1,050), Daursky (947), Kavkazsky (961), Belogorye (820), Bolshaya Kokshaga (608), Magadansky (600), Poronaisky (489), Prisursky (470), and Severo-Osetinsky (400).

The staffers of 31 reserves and 11 national parks ran various clubs on conservation topics. Most active here were the reserves Belogorye, Komandorsky, Lazovsky, Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Sayano-Shushensky, Khakassky, and the national parks Sebezhsky, Kenozersky and Paanayarvi.

Research, conservation and other field trips and several-day expeditions took place in 33 reserves and 12 national parks. The largest number of schoolchildren involved belongs to the Sochinsky NP (669 children) and to the reserves Bashkirsky (455) and Kivach (315).

School forestry and conservation brigades were organized in 5 reserves (Bastak, Belogorye, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Teberdinsky and Khakassky) and 16 national parks. Orlovskoye Polesye PN ran 8 of them, and the national parks Nizhnyaya Kama and Shushensky Bor — 5 each.

Most popular among schoolchildren were the large events: concerts (26 reserves), festivals and rallies (39 reserves). In 2002, 105 concerts were held in the following reserves: Lazovsky (1,880 people), Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe (1,600), Kavkazsky (1,270), Voroninsky (1,009), Khakassky (1,000), Bastak (550), and Belogorye (508).

Large school festivals and rallies were held in reserves Bolshaya Kokshaga (5,574 participants), Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe (2,000), Khakassky (1,500), Sayano-Shushensky (1,280), Malaya Sos’va (1,115), Bastak (1,100), Voroninsky (1,080), Yuzhno-Uralsky (900), Kavkazsky (760), Belogorye (690), Poronaisky (677), Bolonsky, Ust'-Lensky (600 each), and Khopersky (500 participants).

Festivals and marathons were also held in national parks (a total of 68 events). The best results as to the variety of the events and number belong to the national parks Kenozersky, Losiny Ostrov (12 each) and Sochinsky (10). The largest numbers of participants belong to the national parks Sochinsky (4,825), Losiny Ostrov (1,400) and Pribaikalsky (1,245).

Schoolchildren helped PNA staffers in arranging artificial breeding sites for birds, collecting rubbish, facilitating parking, ecological paths and recreational zones, tree planting, etc. within 34 reserves and 18 national parks.

Thirty-eight reserves and 12 national parks provided ecological summer camps for schoolchildren. Most distinguished here were the national parks Valdaisky, Vodlozersky, Kenozersky, Nechkinsky, Shushensky Bor, and the reserves Altaisky, Daursky, Zhigulevsky, Kavkazsky, Kostomukshsky, Lazovsky and Nurgush. In 13 national parks schoolchildren completed 179 scientific research works. Students improved their practical knowledge by engaging in scientific research at 34 reserves.

In 2002, numerous excursions for teenagers and schoolchildren were held in 48 reserves and 18 national parks with a total of 50,000 participants. The leaders here were the national parks Losiny Ostrov (15,500 children and teenagers), Plescheevo Ozero (2,500), Nizhnyaya Kama (1,653), Smolenskoye Poozerye (1,641), Sochinsky (1,147), and the reserves Laplandsky (6,350), Volzhsko-Kamsky (3,927), Kavkazsky (2,398), Belogorye (2,510), Shulgan-Tash (2,300), Khopersky (2,000), Lazovsky (1,750), Malaya Sos’va (1,719), Severo-Osetinsky (1,600), Khingansky (1,436), Sayano-Shushensky (1,371) and Kostomukshsky (1,023).

In 2002, the staffers of 19 reserves and 8 national parks organized 154 school parties dedicated to conservation topics (reserves gave 98 parties and national parks — 56). The events with the best attendance were those organized by the staffers of the reserves Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Pechero-Ilychsky, Vitimsky, Lazovsky, Voroninsky, Kurilsky, Taimyrsky, and national parks Shushensky Bor and Sochinsky.

Round-table discussions for schoolchildren were held by 25 reserves and 10 national parks. The best results were shown by Khopersky reserve (15 round tables), Losiny Ostrov NP (10), and Shulgan-Tash reserve (7).

Eighteen reserves conducted sociological polls among children and teenagers.

Interaction with Schoolteachers and Educational Authorities

Many reserves and national parks focused on interaction with teachers and educational authorities. Eco-education tools included setting up topical seminars and consultations, arranging upgrading courses for teachers, providing them with informational and methodical literature, visual aids, etc.

In 2002, the staffers of the national parks Nizhnyaya Kama and Plescheevo Ozero delivered regular courses for teachers; single lectures were delivered in 11 national parks. Their audience comprised a total of 2,802 teachers.

In 2002, 44 reserves and 12 national parks were hosts to 202 conferences for teachers. The leaders as to the number of arranged conferences are the national parks Russky Sever (15), Plescheevo Ozero (9), Nizhnyaya Kama (5), and reserves Verkhne-Tazovsky (12), Bashkirsky (10), Kandalakshsky, Khakassky (6 each), Belogorye, Voroninsky, Daursky, Komandorsky, Kostomukshsky, Magadansky and Prissursky (5 each). The staffers of 12 national parks delivered 187 lectures on methodology and talks for the audience of 1,510 teachers.

The staffers of 35 reserves and 11 national parks provided guidelines, manuals and draft instructions for teachers. The best results here belong to the national park Smolenskoye Poozerye and the reserves Bolshaya Kokshaga, Volzhsko-Kamsky and Yuzhno-Uralsky.

Upgrading programs for teachers on relevant subjects were elaborated in 12 reserves (Darvinsky, Komandorsky, Dzhugdzhursky, Kostomukshsky, Kuznetsky Alatau, Magadansky, Pechero-Ilychsky, Prisursky, Sikhote-Alinsky, Khakassky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy and Shulgan-Tash) and 4 national parks (Kenozersky, Plescheevo Ozero, Paanayarvi and Sebezhsky).

Thirty-seven reserves provided resource aid to teachers in the form of literature materials and methodical guidelines. As to the quantity, the best results were shown by the reserves Laplandsky, Khakassky, Daursky and Prisursky.

The staffers of 31 reserves and 12 national parks provided teachers with thousands of photo- and video materials. Most active here were the reserves Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky and Verkhne-Tazovsky and the national parks Sebezhsky, Kenozersky and Smolenskoye Poozerye.

Liaison with Local Population

Regular courses for local people were given at 5 reserves and 5 national parks, single lectures, talks and meetings — at 28 reserves and 28 national parks.

Seminars and conferences with the participation of local people were held at 12 reserves and 8 national parks.

Contests for local people were held at 27 reserves and 7 national parks; concerts were organized at 14 reserves and 14 national parks.

Festive events and festivals took place in 21 reserves. The biggest large-scale events were set up at the Zhigulevsky (3,910 participants), Khakassky (1,500), Vitimsky (1,350) and Stolby (1,000) reserves.

Parties on conservation topics were held in 14 reserves. As to the number of participants, the leaders are the reserves Shulgan-Tash (100), Poronaisky (67) and Komandorsky (50). The staffers of 14 reserves organized 42 round-table discussions; the biggest round tables were held by the Sayano-Shushensky (67 participants) and Khakassky (60) reserves.

Twenty-six reserves showed video films for local people, and 29 reserves and 26 national parks led excursions. Most numerous were the excursions organized by the national parks Sochinsky (44,948 visitors), Smolenskoye Poozerye (19,684), Plescheevo Ozero (5,690), Russky Sever (5,338) and reserves Shulgan-tash (6,111) and Kavkazsky (6,000). Rallies and marches were carried out in 16 reserves.

Sociological studies and surveys were carried out in 14 reserves (Volzhsko-Kamsky, Dzhugdzhursky, Kavkazsky, Norsky, Polistovsky, Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Putoransky, Sayano-Shushensky, Ust'-Lensky, Khakassky, Khingansky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, Cherniye Zemli, and Shulgan-Tash) and 10 national parks. Thus, in Norsky reserve 350 people were polled, in Khingansky — 312, in Ust'-Lensky — 300.

Twenty-two reserves and 20 national parks involved local people in work in PNAs on a volunteer basis.

In 2002, over 100,000 local people were involved in different activities initiated by national parks. In the reserve system, the most successful in attracting people to various events initiated by reserve staffers were the reserves: Kuznetsky Alatau (50,515), Kavkazsky (26,154), Shulgan-Tash (7,439), Khakassky (3,235), Sayano-Shushensky (2,060), Belogorye (1,998), Khingansky (1,901), Lazovsky (1,414), Voroninsky (1,390), Vitimsky (1,350), Daursky (1,328), Taimyrsky (1,284), and Tsentralno-Lesnoy (1,037).

The March for Parks Campaign was the largest event held by reserves and national parks in 2002. Fifty-four reserves and 17 national parks took part (see Table 1).

Table 1. Participation of reserves and national parks in international
and all-Russian Ecological Festivals and Campaigns

In 12 reserves and 3 national parks the staffers held an Open House; 25 reserves and a number of national parks celebrated their birthdays festively.

Public activities, such as festivals, marathons, rallies, marches, concerts, etc. were timed to coincide with ecological holidays. The staff of the reserves and national parks, authorities, environmental activists and scientists gave speeches; special agitprop teams organized shows. The activities attracted crowds and much publicity in the media. The staffers of the following national parks organized the most numerous campaigns: Plescheevo Ozero, Vodlozersky, Alaniya, Kenozersky and Sochinsky.

Thirty-two reserves and 13 national parks worked with NGOs. Most active here were the reserves Prisursky, Daursky, Kronotsky, Khakassky, Nizhne-Svirsky, Privolzhskaya Lesosteppe, Sikhote-Alinsky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, Shulgan-Tash, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Kavkazsky, Kurilsky, Belogorye, Volzhsko-Kamsky, Laplandsky, Poronaisky, and national parks Mariy Chodra, Russky Sever, Losiny Ostrov, Plescheevo Ozero and Smolenskoye Poozerye.

In general, all the state nature reserves and national parks participated somehow in eco-education and eco-training activities in 2002. According to the Department of Protected Natural Areas, Objects and Biodiversity Conservation, the most comprehensive and efficient work in the sphere of eco-education was done by the staff of the following reserves: Astrakhansky, Baikalsky, Barguzinsky, Belogorye, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Bolshoi Arktichesky, Volzhsko-Kamsky, Voronezhsky, Darvinsky, Daursky, Kavkazsky, Kostomukshsky, Lazovsky, Laplandsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Sikhote-Alinsky, Khakassky, Tsentralno-Lesnoy, and Shulgan-Tash, and the following national parks: Kenozersky, Losiny Ostrov, Nizhnyaya Kama, Paanayarvi, Plescheevo Ozero, Smolenskoye Poozerye, Sebezhsky, Sochinsky, Ugra, and Shushensky Bor.

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