Summarising the results of the past year, we would like to share with you our plans for the coming year 2025. Thanks to your support, we have already implemented many successful projects. Next year we will focus our efforts on three main areas: Biodiversity Conservation, Sustainable Tourism Development and Water Conservation.
Be involved in conservation – make a donation on the Foundation’s website here.
The 2025 projects that need your support more than ever:
Conservation of the Khamar-Daban reindeer
One of our priorities in the coming year will be to protect the population of reindeer on the Khamar-Daban mountain range, a twice-red-listed species in the Red Book of Russia and the Red Book of the Republic of Buryatia. The species is an important part of the Khamar-Daban ridge ecosystem, but over the past 20 years the population has been declining, with an estimated population of only 24 individuals in 2024.
It is important to continue studying rare animals and make joint efforts to restore the population. In 2025, it is necessary to identify places of winter concentration and migration of the rare animal and form scientific recommendations for the conservation of reindeer in Baikal.
Even the smallest donation can help save the lives of reindeer. Contribute to the conservation of the Hamar-Daban reindeer population through our website and be part of a great cause!
Study of the Baikal seal
Our work is not limited to terrestrial animals. The Lake Baikal Foundation has been supporting research on Baikal seals since 2018. In 2020, we approved a unique research programme for Baikal seals until 2025 and defended the ban on seal shooting.
Your support is needed for the Circum-Baikal expedition to determine the summer distribution of Baikal seals, which will allow us to assess the current summer distribution of Baikal seals, and to identify new locations for capturing seals (for minimally invasive sampling) other than the Ushkan Islands.
Together we can significantly improve the life of the Baikal seal and keep it alive! Next year the Baikal Seal Research Programme will come to an end. Your donations will help to conduct a final comprehensive study to develop conservation strategies and habitat restoration programmes.
Development of the “Trash Free National Parks” Programme
The problem of littering is one of the most acute in Baikal, and along with the growing tourist flow in the region, the volume of waste left behind is also growing. During the implementation of the ‘National Parks without Garbage’ programme, we have introduced separate waste accumulation in three national parks – Pribaikalsky in the Irkutsk Region, Zabaikalsky in the Republic of Buryatia, and Chikoi in the Zabaikalsky Territory. Over the past six years, we have sent over 16 tonnes of recyclable materials (plastic, metal, glass) for recycling.
Every contribution counts! With your help, we want to expand the area where separate waste collection operates, support the efficient operation of existing separate waste collection points, upgrade existing infrastructure and provide seasonal jobs for local residents. Make a donation on our website and become part of the sustainable future of Baikal’s nature!
Supporting the water sector
In 2025, a comprehensive work on the water sector is planned: conducting a sociological study “Personnel for the water sector”, on the Youth Water Strategy and on the development of the Youth Water Council aimed at increasing the level of young people’s knowledge on water issues and interest in water sector professions.
Supporting the water sector is particularly important given the dwindling supply of clean fresh water and the rapidly increasing demand for it from all sectors of the economy. At the same time, the water sector is experiencing staff shortages.
Neither the present nor the future is possible without clean fresh water. We are convinced that it is extremely important to develop young people’s interest in the water agenda and to focus efforts on training in-demand highly qualified specialists for the water industry.
Thank you for your dedication! Without your support we would not have been able to realise such a large number of important environmental projects on Baikal and beyond.
Be involved in conservation – make a donation on the Foundation’s website here.
You can find out more about the projects for 2025 in our presentation.