The international seminar “Modern social, ecological and scientific approaches to planning and management in the field of ecological tourism in nature reserves” has completed its work.
We came to the end of three days of reports, practical exercises, exchange of experience, lively discussions. All those who came to the park-hotel “Vozdvizhenskoye” these days think that this seminar has become a brave attempt to find theoretical bases for the development of ecological tourism in nature reserves. And it was all useful.
Natalia Danilina, the director of the Ecocenter “Zapovedniki”: “The main result I see is that for the first time we began to discuss very deeply the issues related to tourism in nature reserves. So far we have talked about this superficially. And at this seminar we started talking about the place of reserves in the development of tourism, the role of people working there, the positioning of the natural reserves themselves. We were looking for criteria for the effectiveness of this work. It is important that there were a lot of practical examples. This was very important for the seminar to become useful even to the most convinced skeptics. We heard examples from the American experience. Comparison of experiments is very useful. We also realized that Russia’s experience in the development of ecological tourism is very high and does not contradict world experience. All this is due to the high level of work and motivation of our heads of nature reserves. It is also very important that we saw our weaknesses. In these areas you need to work! We must always learn!”
American professor Nathan Rainer brought to the seminar the intellectual spirit of sociological research. This new knowledge has become a timely impetus for all to actively seek answers to many important questions. And Professor Rainer himself said that he was not just in the circle of specialists of the highest level, but people who infected him with the spirit of his work, enthusiasm, the desire to develop and move forward.
Professor Nathan Reigner: “I’m very impressed. It is obvious to me that people working in Russian nature reserves and national parks are very qualified, have vast experience of working with their territories, that they think a lot about the ways of development. They are real enthusiasts. And I am very glad that I met so many animate colleagues. They shared their spirit with me. I would be glad to visit all your reserves, although I understand that this is difficult. But if you choose where I would go first – then to Kamchatka!”
The seminar created an excellent platform for the exchange of experience, discussions that did not stop on the sidelines of the forum.
Alexander Gubernatorov, director of the national park “Samarskaya Luka”:”Such seminars are very necessary! For example, I was very interested in the presentation of specialists from the Ecocenter “Zapovedniki” with a story about state standards, the activities of tourist operators, and the laws that all regulate it. In general, we all took the need to develop tourism in the reserves. And we need to make sure that tourism does not cause damage to nature. Listening to our American colleague, I was convinced that we are far from the last place in the world for this work.”
Peter Shpilenok, director of the Kronotsky Nature Reserve: “We came here for the experience of our colleagues – both foreign and Russian. The format of free discussions is very correct and useful. In this mode, you can not only exchange experience, but also better understand the most important issues of interest. I believe that such seminars are very necessary, and it would be nice for us to meet at least once a year. “
Leonid Simakin, director of the Pechoro-Ilychsky Nature Reserve:“Not everything I heard here was interesting to me. It seemed to me that the theoretical part of the seminar was far from our practice of work. Everything else – colleagues’ reports, exchange of experience, discussion – was very useful. But we, of course, need both strategy and methods, and in the correct evaluation of the chosen path. So we must continue to look for opportunities to conduct new seminars, to look for this way. “
The second seminar, which the Prioksko-Terrasny Reserve holds at the Vozdvizhenskoye Hotel, is distinguished by a wonderful friendly atmosphere, excellent conditions for both work and communication. This spirit reflected even the traditional collective photos. Those who work in nature reserves, now it is very important to feel their professional unity, to see colleagues of their friends connected by common cause. And it turns out! Parting after the seminar, leaving for different parts of Russia, people take with them a feeling of friendship, the joy of mutual meetings, new ideas, new motivation, a new charge of optimism and hope for the best.
We congratulate our friends, our colleagues, on the upcoming New Year – Year of Volunteers! We are all waiting for new interesting events and new meetings!
