Published on: 2026-11-06
Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation – Фонд Заповедное посольство –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
At the business forum “Human. Nature. Time,” which was held as part of the 10th Anniversary International Gathering of Friends of Protected Islands, there was a session titled “The Potential of Protected Areas in the Socio-Economic Development of Regions. The Importance of Cross-Sectoral Interaction.” The session summarized the results of the large project by the Eco-Center “Reserves” called “Protected Areas and Local Population: From Alienation to Cooperation!”, which was implemented in 2025-2026 in several regions of the country using a grant from the President of the Russian Federation, provided by the Presidential Grants Foundation. This is one of the final events of the project; other events of the final stage include a business game, expert consultations, and online meetings.
The session was moderated by Ksenia Gasparyan, Development Director of the “Zapovednoe Posolstvo” Foundation. Participants included employees of protected areas, representatives of local communities, rural entrepreneurs, and companies launching grant programs in the regions where they operate: JTI Russia, Gazprom Neft, Kavkaz.RF, and SIBUR.
The main conclusion of the section: sustainable projects in protected areas are impossible without movement from all sides — business, authorities, NGOs, and, most importantly, local residents. It was the interaction with the local population that became the common thread of the discussion. A significant role was given to the coordinators and activists of the project “Protected Areas and Local Population: From Alienation to Cooperation!”: they reported on what they managed to achieve in a year and shared plans for the future.
“Teriberka”: when a specially protected natural area is located within city limits
Maria Rybnikova, The project manager of the social investment program “Native Towns” at Gazprom Neft spoke about the Teriberka natural park — a regional specially protected natural area in the Murmansk region, located right within the city limits. Unique cedar forests, an ecological trail… and yet spontaneous recreation, picnics, significant pressure from local residents and tourists. The company created an interactive map of the park and took other measures to teach visitors to treat the area with care. “For us, this is the development of the habitat and support of people’s initiatives,” emphasized Rybnikova.
Caucasus.RF: “People are the main priority”
Lyudmila Poplavskaya, The deputy director of the Department of Infrastructure Development for Ecology and Nature Management at JSC “KAVKAZ.RF” admitted: in the early years, while the corporation was building the resorts of Elbrus, Arkhyz, Veduchi, and the Caspian Coastal Cluster in seven regions of the North Caucasus, it did not consider contact with the local population. “Now we understand: people are the priority, they come first. We have taken on most of the responsibility for coordination with residents, locals, and national park administrations,” she said. The speaker emphasized that sustainable tourism is impossible without community involvement and adherence to the restrictions of specially protected natural areas (SNPAs).
Perm: From Dumps to Gems
Bright presentation Ekaterina Ovchinnikova, director of MKU “GorZelenStroy” (Perm), highlighted the project “Green Ring of Perm.” In the city, where there are about 300 small rivers and bodies of water, river valleys had been dumps for decades. “We removed 400 abandoned garages, piles of tires. From a place where garbage was dumped, they have turned into pearls and favorite places for recreation,” Ovchinnikova said.
Today, 11 visitor centers have been established in Perm, four of them opened within the year. More than 30,000 people have visited them during this time, and over 700 events have taken place. The team consists of 12 people. By the way, it’s nice that five of them have participated in the Friends of Protected Islands Rally. The previous, 9th Rally was held in 2024 precisely in the Perm region. Ekaterina said: “Some even changed their jobs after the Rally — they realized it’s their calling.” At the same time, the key factor in deciding to clean these areas was the request from local communities: groups of coordinators for small river valleys appeared even before the improvement work began.
“Smolenskoye Poozerye”: three years of systematic support
Ekaterina Levshina, head of social investment programs at JTI Russia, presented a three-year support project for the Smolenskoye Poozerye National Park, which was created and implemented together with the Zapovednoe Posolstvo Foundation. Results: the bison population grew from 80 to 140 animals, volunteers planted 24,450 trees, the first inclusive eco-trail appeared in the Smolensk region, and a modern visitor center was established. In 2025, the number of park visitors increased by 20%. “For the first time, the national park received long-term comprehensive support,” Levshina noted. The project began with research and strategy, rather than “quick construction.” Importantly, the work was not carried out in a vacuum: the local population was involved both at the research stage and during implementation, and actively participated in the park’s development.
Baikal and Karelia: locals are not guests, but hosts
Radzhana Rygzynova, The executive director of the Baikal Association of Reserves and National Parks “The Protected Necklace of Baikal” spoke about an unexpected partnership — with district hospitals. Exhibitions about Baikal’s protected areas have been organized in children’s clinics: “They distract the kids when they come to the hospital.” The association has also launched an educational course for SOPA and NGO employees.
Elena Kuznetsova, The Deputy Director for Research at the Federal State Budgetary Institution “United Directorate of the Kostomuksha Reserve and Kalevalsky National Park” explained why in Karelia the reserve, the town, and the plant are “triplets”: “The town takes protected water—8 million cubic meters annually—from Lake Kamennoe. Thus, we are all connected by the protected system and all depend on each other.”
“Territory of Opportunities”: schoolchildren earned money by making candles
Elena Romanova, The head of the training center of ANO DPO “EkoTsentr “Zapovedniki” and the head of the project for interaction with the local population summed up the results of the large amount of work done: after a year of training local active residents and employees of protected natural areas in social project design, the result was hundreds of newly created or revitalized mini-projects. What unites them is that local residents, who were indifferent or even opposed to the work of the protected territory, turn into allies and business partners. Among the projects are tours and souvenirs, authentic dishes and master classes, and much more. About 30 of the best practices were combined into a special section on the project website, and now anyone interested can familiarize themselves with them. Elena, in particular, gave an example of an entrepreneurial initiative by schoolchildren in one of the project regions: the kids made candles, invested 27,900 rubles, earned 25,200 rubles — the project paid back 95%. With the proceeds, they plan to buy a telescope for the school forestry club and go to a lighthouse. Right during the session, many participants who decided to support the young artisans asked the speaker for contacts and inquired about the possibility of ordering online!
Regional Coordinators: Achievements and Plans
Reports were also presented within the framework of the section Elena Skorobogatova (Sayano-Shushensky Nature Reserve) about the project “Protected Areas and Local Population: From Alienation to Cooperation” in the Siberian Federal District, Natalia Safina (Bolshaya Kokshaga Nature Reserve) about involving the local population in the conservation of the Volga region’s nature and Elena Dyagileva (Arkhangelsk Oblast). All three participants became regional coordinators of the project and actively involved both protected areas and the people living nearby. Their topics continued the main theme of the section: the transition from alienation to cooperation is not a slogan, but daily work. All speakers emphasized that one year is a short period for such a project, and work must continue to achieve truly sustainable results. And Viktor Grishenkov, the director of the Federal State Budgetary Institution ‘National Park Ugra’ and also an active participant in the project, noted: ‘Issues of public support for protected areas are a priority. It is important for any employee of a specially protected natural area to timely catch the movement of the public — to keep their finger on the pulse.’
“Cross-sector interaction is impossible without movement from all sides. Without this, sustainable projects do not come together for a long time. We have huge prospects for joint work,” summarized the moderator Ksenia Gasparyan.
The project, concluding at the end of November 2026, helped transform the proximity between protected natural areas and local communities from a source of tension into a space of cooperation, creating a model in the regions of presence for interaction between local populations and protected territories based on dialogue, mutual respect, trust, and shared values. Through training, consultations, meetings, and the exchange of successful practices, not only were joint projects launched, but trust between people and protected natural areas was genuinely strengthened. The project will continue until the end of November 2026; other events of the final stage include a business game, consultations with experts, and online meetings.
*The project activities are carried out using a grant from the President of the Russian Federation, provided by the Presidential Grants Foundation.
FOR REFERENCE: 10th Gathering of Friends of the Protected Islands organized The movement “Friends of Protected Islands” together with the Charitable Educational Foundation “Protected Embassy” and the NGO DPO “Ecological Educational Center “Reserves” with the support of the Presidential Nature Fund and the Presidential Grants Fund. Partners — Roszapovedcenter of the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia, Department of Nature Management and Environmental Protection of the city of Moscow. General partner of the Rally: ANO “Energy of DevelopmentThe Gathering of Friends of the Protected Islands thanks the hospitable venues of the Palace of Pioneers on Vorobyovy Hills, NITU MISIS, the International Wildlife Festival “Golden Turtle”, the Zoological Museum of MSU, and the State Darwin Museum.
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