Lake Baikal Foundation and the Chikoy National Park started cooperation as part of the Trash Free National Parks program, which has been implemented by the Foundation since 2019. Chikoy is already the second natural territory where the Foundation will develop sustainable tourism practices such as responsible waste treatment and improvement of environmental culture of the local community and tourists. Scale-up of these practices is possible thanks to the support of the Foundation The World Around You and the new program partner company L-PACK with participation of Association RusPRO.
The national park and the neighboring Krasny Chikoy settlement are in the buffer zone of the Baikal Natural Area. It is inhabited by various animal and plant species listed in regional, federal and international Red Books that are crucial for the Baikal ecosystems conservation.
Launching this collaborative project in 2021, Lake Baikal Foundation and the Chikoy National Park are going to implement separate waste collection system in the Specially Protected Natural Area (SPNA) including installation of 6 recycling points with recycling bins, instructions for waste separation, information boards with a map of waste collection points. The main principle of this waste treatment system is «Carry In – Carry Out» approach. Following this rule, tourists and employees of the national park and the local community are thought to reduce anthropogenic pressure on the SPNA and increase their own environmental culture.
In addition, as part of the project, trainings and educational events will be held with the involvement of volunteers from the local population. Volunteers will explain the basics of proper waste separation to park visitors and will also help in the implementation of activities related to sustainable tourism.
«The task of the Foundation is to provide analytical, expert and financial support to the Chikoy National Park in creating the foundation for the development of sustainable tourism and a system of responsible waste management. Already at the start of the project, the Foundation seeks to create conditions for the independent maintenance and improvement of sustainable practices by the park in the long term», – notes the Foundation’s CEO Anastasia Tsvetkova.
Lake Baikal Foundation and the Chikoy National Park are glad to work together to spread sustainable tourism practices in the Baikal Natural Area.