This year the worlwide environmental protection action "March for Parks" celebrated its tenth anniversary under the slogan "Natural territories are the source of fresh water". This action involved Russian and the CIS natural reserves and national parks, children and environmental organizations, as well as regional administration officials. The action resulted in multiple meetings, workshops, round tables, public lessons and exhibitions all held in a friendly atmosphere. During the action volunteers removed household wastes in big quantities from the protected areas. Many natural reserves and national parks in their endeavors received financial assistance from sponsors. During the preparation stage and the action itself, many of these reserves and parks expediently sent reports on their undertakings by e-mail. They were placed on Biodiversity Conservation Center's web site. Particularly active role in the implementation of activities during the March for Parks and preparation of reports took Yugansky reserve.
This year saw the beginning a new competition for children's stories on the topic "The river of my childhood" in the context of the March for Parks. Children's stories and fairy tales about their favorite river have been published in magazines "Svirel", "Svirelka" and "Lazur". The results of another children's competition, "The world protects nature" were demonstrated at the first art exhibition opened this year in the Timiryazev's museum. In the near future the outcome of the March for Parks action will be reviewed and winners will be announced.
