On November 12, 2021, the Federation Council announced the results of the III All-Russian Reliable Partner – Ecology competition, which is held by the Reliable Partner Association and the Russian Ecological Society with the support of the Federation Council Committee on Agrarian and Food Policy and Environmental Management. According to the results of the competition, having passed a multi-stage selection system, the Foundation’s Baikal Nature Reserve School became the winner in the nomination «The best educational (including informational) project in the environmental field» among the initiatives of the non-profit sector.
The purpose of the Reliable Partner – Ecology competition is to identify the most successful regional environmental practices for their further replication to facilitate the effective implementation of the Ecology National Project. Every year, the competition is officially supported by many relevant ministries, including the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia and the Ministry of Education of Russia.
In 2021, 291 applications from more than 50 Russian regions were accepted for consideration by the jury, the winners were selected in 27 nominations. Each of the winning initiatives has proven its effectiveness, the ability to create strong partnerships and the potential for replication in other regions. According to the competition organizers, individual winning projects can be recommended by the Organizing Committee for replication in other subjects of Russia. In addition, Konstantin Anatolyevich Tsyganov, First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment of Russia, suggested that the Ministry should analyze the winning projects and select several cases to support them in further development. Such support of grassroots initiatives by the Organizing Committee and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment can contribute to strengthening the effect of the implementation of successful environmental practices and help to get closer to achieving the goals of the Ecology National Project.
The Baikal Nature Reserve School is an ecoeducational project of Lake Baikal Foundation, which has been implemented in partnership with the Federal State Budgetary Institution «Zapovednoe Podlemorye» with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation since 2021. The aim of the initiative is to form a responsible attitude to the environment among local residents and visitors of the Zabaikalsky National Park, on the territory of which the site is located, through involving them in the process of sustainable waste management and studying the composition of water in Lake Baikal and other local water bodies. The key values of the project are inclusiveness, interactivity and accessibility of environmental knowledge for all: tourists of all ages, students of educational institutions of the region, wards of social protection organizations.
We thank the organizers and the jury for the opportunity to share the experience of implementing a successful ecoeducational initiative with the expert community and a wide audience!