Projects

The Ecological Travel Centre participates in a number of Russian and international research projects supported by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Tacis Partnership and Co-ordination Programme, Federal Agency For Nature Conservation (Germany). These projects aim to draw public attention to the problems faced by Nature Protected Areas (NPA)and raise additional financial support for NPA, develop ecotourism programs and create jobs.

We have organized conferences and seminars to exchange experience and ideas. These events have brought together staff from the Reserves.

We provide lectures and field excursions for students and specialists in  different natural sciences under the leadership of Russian scientists. We publish illustrated catalogues and guidebooks, video films, and multimedia presentations on ecotourism in Russia's Protected areas to potential visitors.

We are interested in collaborating with state and private institutions. We are open for ideas on mutual co-operation and projects aimed at developing ecotourism in Russia and biodiversity conservation.

Current projects

Год	Финансирование	Title and brief overview of the project
2009	Ecological Travel Center Green Net	Russian ecotourist portrait study based on ecotourism survey
2008 - present		Youth volunteer program.
2008 - present		Russian protected areas ecotourism network.

Accomplished projects

Year	Finance	Title and brief overview of the project
1998	WWF Arctic Program Office, Oslo, Norway	International workshop “Linking tourism and conservation in the Russian Arctic” Arkhangelsk, Russia
1999	WWF Arctic Program Office, Oslo, Norway Office	Feasibility study on ecotourism development in the 3 pilot areas: Nenets Autonomus Okrug, Laplandsky reserve, Lovozero (both – Murmansk reg.), Russia
2000	Baltic office of WWF - Germany	Ecotourism development at Kuronian Spit. Economical, legislative, social aspects of the program “Bed & Breakfast”, Kaliningrad, Russia
2001	WWF–Denmark – WWF-Moscow PRO	Organization of the seminar and test-tour for the staff of the Reserves to Nizhne-Svirsky and Oksky Natural Reserves (in the framework of the project “Contribution towards Sustainable Russia”), Russia
2002	Institute of Sustainable Communities (USA)	Ecotourism as a tool for additional financial support for the Reserves and Natural Parks of the Moscow’s Green Ring (6 areas), Russia
2005	Wetlands International	Publication of the guide-book “Wetlands of European part of Russia”
2005	Finno-Ugric Society	“Traditional handicrafts of Oyat’s Vepsi” “Social status of the modern veps”
2006	Ecological Travel Center "Green Network"	Volunteers project: Tourism in national parks of Russia.
2007	Ecological Travel Center "Green Network"	Ecological Tourism News Weekly Bulletin