The Russian office of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF Russia) has summed up the results of the grants competition for nature reserves and national parks. The jury selected 13 best environmental projects developed by the employees of specially protected natural areas (SPNA). Each of them will receive funds to implement their ideas.
The Director of WWF Russia, Dmitry Gorshkov, noted that the current competition had turned out to be massive and received a large number of good projects. In total, the fund received a record number of applications – 91.
Фото: Георгий Неробеев, участник фотоконкурса "Самая красивая страна"
The grant amount, depending on the projects, ranged from 290 thousand to 800 thousand rubles. The winners were determined in five categories:
Conservation of rare animal species
Saving the Eastern bustard / Daursky Reserve
Providing artificial nesting platforms for birds of prey – the steppe eagle and the long-legged buzzard / Sarpinsky Reserve
The spoonbill conservation / Astrakhan Nature Reserve
Improving the quality of the natural habitat of the saiga / Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Nature Reserve
Conservation of key ecosystems and habitats
Important Bird Area of Russia of International Importance "Unskaya Bay": Conservation of the vulnerable ecosystem of the White Sea lagoon / National Park "Onega Pomorie"
Assessment of the state of key habitats and development of recommendations for improving protection measures for the stone loach – an endangered endemic of the Kamchatka River / Kronotsky Nature Reserve
Eco education and ecotourism
The Curonian Spit – unpolluted territory / National Park "The Curonian Spit"
Ecological educational trail Saraysky beach / Pribaikalsky National Park
Nearby marvels, Pinezhsky Reserve
To Tirmentau, after sweet gold/ "Shulgan-Tash" Reserve
Innovative approaches to the conservation of rare animal species
Ecology study of the harbor seal Phoca vitulina stejnegeri of the Commander Islands / Commander Islands Reserve
Aerial monitoring of the free-living population of bison / National Park "Orlovskoe Polesye"
Adapting to climate change
Creation of borehole watering places that use solar energy for the semi-free population of Przewalski’s horses / Orenburg Reserve
Фото: Сергей Шанин, участник фотоконкурса "Самая красивая страна"
The competition has been held since 1999. The main goal of the program is to support the activities of protected areas in Russia. During this time, WWF has implemented more than 160 projects throughout the country – from the Caucasus to the Far East.