«Eco-efficient tourism» project congratulates North Karelia Biosphere reserve on the 20th anniversary
9 november 2012
«Eco-efficient tourism» project study tour to North Karelia, Finland took place from the 30th of October to 2nd of November, 2012. The main goal of the visit was to study Finnish technologies and experience for facilitating campsites in long-stay recreation areas and short-stay stopover sites along the roads and to get familiarized with specific technical solutions for these territories. Karelian Research Centre of RAS will publish a scientific report "Elaboration of optimal management models for the recreational areas and roadside infrastructure for pilot areas" after the detailed analysis of information received.
The study tour was also held in the framework of a bigger event - North Karelia Biosphere reserve 20th anniversary conference «Pearls of the coniferous forest". The work was organized in six sessions: Forest ecosystems; Renewable energy & climate change, Nature tourism, Green mining, Border area nature and Networks & collaboration.
The «Eco-efficient tourism» project was presented during the session «Nature tourism» by the project leader Igor Shevchuk.
Border area issues were exemplified through the border regions in general and the Green Belt of Fennoscandia, which consists of the bordering areas of Finland, Russia and Norway. North Karelia Biosphere reserve has been an active part in the development of the concept of the Green Belt of Fennoscandia already 20 years.
With the great number of professionals and international experts from various backgrounds and sustainable development sectors participating in the event, this conference created many new contacts and joint activities and gave food for thought for new approaches.