This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication is the sole responsibility of the Baltic Fund for Nature and can in no way be taken to reflect the views  of the European Union.

Project within the framework of the TACIS SPF Programme

BIG LAKES LADOGA AND PÄJÄNNE – USING NATURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
AS A BOOST OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

co-operation agreement between
Municipality of Sysmä (Finland)
and Baltic Fund for Nature (Russia)
TSPF/0302/0067

The project is funded by the European Union within the framework of its TACIS Programme
EuropeAide Co-operation Office programmes and projects

The project is parallel to the Big Lakes II project realised within the framework of the Interreg III B programme

The project is implemented under co-operation agreement between Municipality of Sysmä and Baltic Fund for Nature

Project manager: Technology Center Neopoli Oy (Finland) (since January 2004 Lahti Science and Business Park Ltd)

Partners in Russia:
- Municipal Formation of Lodeynoye Pole
- Committee on Youth Affairs, Tourism and Sport of the Leningrad Region Government

Project co-ordinators:
Nina Leinonen (Municipality of Sysmä)
Dr. Sergey Resvyi (BFN)

Project inplementation period: 2002 - 2004

The overall objective is to develop, test and implement techniques for spatial planning of sustainable use of natural and cultural resources in large lakes' regions, and for social and economic development of rural territories (municipalities) and long-term conservation of natural and cultural landscapes.

Lodeynoye Pole district is one of the least affecteced by human activity district in Leningrad region. Part of the Vepssky Les nature park and Nizhnesvirsky
nature reserve (the single strict nature reserve in Leningrad region established to preserve unique virgin nature of south-east Ladoga lake region) are situated here. There are several big monasteries in the district, one of the oldest in North-west Russia - Alexandro-Svirsky monastery - being among them. Old traditional handicraft technologies of Ojat ceramics, crocheting and embroidery are carefully kept by local craftsmen.
Lodeynoye Pole town stands on river Svir which is the part of Volga-Baltic and White Sea- Baltic water ways and thus thousands tourists visit this place every year. It takes only several hours to reach Lodeyneye Pole by car or by train from St. Petersburg. Such convinient location along with welthy natural and cultural heritage makes this district extremely attractive for development of different kinds of tourism – especially natural and ethnographic.

Short-term goals of the project are:

International co-operation under the Baltic Agenda 21 (Sustainable development: tourism) by adding the Russian component (The Lake Ladoga) to the network of sustainable tourism development on large lakes of Northern Europe (Norway, Sweden, Finland - Big Lakes I and II)
Development of legal, material and technical basis for the development of nature tourism in the Lake Ladoga region and in Leningrad region as a whole.
Sustainable development (environment friendly development of social and economic sectors) of Lodeynoye Pole district of the Leningrad region by means of organizing nature tourism on its territory.
Promotion of the "identity" (pride and responsibility for the territory) of the local people and of attractiveness of the region for visitors.
Development of intersectoral co-operation (authorities - business - society) upon resolving complex issues of rural territories' support.
 

Main activities under the project
Revival of local handicrafts

Round table on folk handicrafts for district administration, enterpreneurs and work collectives dealing with traditional handicrafts (ceramics, women handicrafts) was held in old pottery center - village Alehovshina - on 2 of April 2003.

Nature and ethnographic tourism development in the Lake Ladoga region.
New opportunities to discover nature and cultural values of Lodeynoye Pole district are opened for visitors. Tourism companies are invited for cooperation.

- Development of the Regional Center Environmental of Education in Zaostrovje;

- Establishment of a visit-center in Nizhne-Svirsky Nature Reserve.

- Creation of exhibition about the nature of Ladoga Lake area in local lore museum of Lodeynoye Pole

New exhibitions and information materials will be interesting for local people and visitors from other regions.

Opening ceremony of museum exhibition in Lodeynoye Pole and visit-center in Nizhne-Svirsky Nature Reserve was held on 23 April 2004 with participation of EU representatives and officials from Leningrad Region Government and Lodeynoye Pole District Administration.
 

The seminar for representatives of different organisations dealing with ecotourism in Leningrad region was held between 6 - 8.08.2003 in RCEE in Zaostrovje. Participants have been trained in the organising  of nature tours and general principles of nature interpretation. Lectures and excursions were prepared by specialists from Finland and Russia.

Routs for ecological and ethnografical tours around the Lake Ladoga region were elaborated. For their practical implementation cooperation with tourism companies has been started. Information leaflet is prepared.
Pilot tour on developed nature routs for the representatives of Russian tourist companies and nature tourism expetrs from Finland was held 2 - 6 June 2004.

A number of study tours to Finland were organised for russian administrators, representatives of companies dealing with tourism and traditional handicrafts to share Finnish experience.

The manual on nature tourism organization in Ladoga region for tourist operators, service sector and private entrepreneurs is under preparation.

Development of legal basis for nature and ethnographical tourism development in Leningrad region

Preparation of detailed section on ecological and ethnographical tourism in the  Target Program of tourism and recreation sectors development in Leningrad region;

Environmental education

Two seminars for school teachers from St. Petersburg and Leningrad region were organised in RCEE Zaostrovje in May and September 2003 within the framework of international program NatureWatch Baltic. Lectures and excursions during the seminars were devoted to unique nature of Ladoga Lake region.

Last updated
01.08.2004

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This project is funded by the European Union
 

This project is implemented by Municipality of Sysmä
 

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