Category: Conservation

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Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation

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Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The capital celebrated the 10th anniversary season of one of the country's largest corporate volunteer marathons, the "Poneslos" eco-marathon. The most active volunteer teams received awards from Norilsk Nickel. Projects that benefit nature and society were recognized not only with certificates but also with certificates to support future good deeds. The marathon's long-standing expert partner, the "Zapovednoye Poslostvo" Foundation, actively participated in the event.

The volunteer season, as in all previous years, lasted several months and included several stages, from project development and training to eco-volunteer shifts and the implementation of good deeds. The results of the tenth anniversary season were summed up in style: with a business game, cake, and big plans for the future. Experts from the Nature Embassy Foundation organized a "Nature Reshearium" for the participating teams—a brainstorming session to address real-life challenges facing protected areas. The participants enthusiastically proposed solutions to cases from Krasnoyarsk Stolby National Park and the Daurian Nature Reserve.

Over the past ten years, the marathon has grown from a local initiative into a large-scale program, uniting 173 teams and over 1,500 people across Russia in 2025—from Norilsk and the Murmansk region to Moscow and Transbaikal. While the first season focused on litter cleanup, today "Poneslos" encompasses six major areas: from scientific volunteering and assistance to protected areas to environmental education and animal rights.

The scientific focus—assisting nature reserve scientists—was a fascinating new feature last season. For example, at the Daursky Nature Reserve, volunteers helped scientists count birds, collected feathers for mercury analysis, and even made a scientific discovery, discovering that long-legged buzzards, due to a rodent shortage, have switched to feeding on… insects! And Moscow teams brilliantly demonstrated how to combine environmental and social assistance. For example, one team took over the "Husky Help" dog shelter. The volunteers not only walked the huskies but also organized a special outing for the dogs and children from the orphanage, giving both the children and the animals a joyful experience. Another team, while planting plants at a nursing home, realized that seniors need more than just greenery in their yard. They gave them a relevant lecture on digital security, protecting grandparents from online scammers. There are teams that have been supporting the Tsar's Apiary eco-center in Izmailovo Park, museum-reserves near Moscow, and other sites for several years now.

These projects are just part of a larger effort. This season, volunteers across the country built eco-trails, improved street spaces in their communities, supported animal shelters, created eco-art installations, and held hundreds of educational events.

The evening concluded, as is traditional, with a shared celebratory cake. But for the "Ponesils" volunteers, this isn't the end, but merely a pause before new achievements. After all, as the participants themselves say, they're already a big family, growing stronger with each passing year and ready to make the world a better place.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation

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From February 6 to March 5, 2026, the "Primordial Russia" nature festival will take place at the Manege Central Exhibition Hall in Moscow. This year, the event has moved to a new location. The Zapovednoye Posledstvo Foundation is a traditional partner of the festival.

The festival will feature one of Europe's largest exhibitions of Russian wildlife photography. Over 400 images will showcase diverse landscapes, territories, and animals in their natural environments. The photographs were taken by leading Russian photographers during expeditions across various regions of the country.

The exhibition is dedicated to nature conservation, ecotourism development, and responsible environmental stewardship. Visitors will learn about Russia's nature reserves, their conservation regulations, and appropriate behavior in the wild.

A rich program has been prepared for festival guests, including lectures, discussions, film screenings, and practical workshops. Ecology and conservation experts will participate in the events, presenting modern methods for preserving natural resources and biodiversity and sharing opportunities for volunteering in nature reserves and specially protected areas.

A separate program section will be devoted to responsible interaction with wildlife and ethical principles of animal photography. A series of master classes and roundtable discussions will be held for photography professionals and amateurs, where they will discuss how to work with animals in their natural environments without disrupting their lifestyles or harming the environment. The business portion of the festival will provide a platform for exchanging experiences between representatives of nature reserves, conservation organizations, the Ministry of Natural Resources, and the environmental photography community. Discussions will cover the development of ecotourism, the use of modern media in educational activities, and raising environmental awareness.

On February 13, 2026, we will hold our now-traditional Nature Embassy Day. We will dedicate this day to Russia's protected nature and its rich natural and associated cultural heritage. As part of our traditional public report for 2025, we will share the most significant, large-scale, and environmentally beneficial results of our activities, highlight exciting projects, and, of course, answer the important question: how can any ordinary person help protected areas? Spoiler alert: it will all follow our beloved formula: "Discover! Love! Save!", which has been our motto for seven years now.

Nature Embassy Day is an opportunity for protected area staff, educators, youth, and nature lovers alike to immerse themselves in the world of conservation and gain inspiration for future endeavors.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation

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A class dedicated to the rarest big cat, the snow leopard, and its prominent researcher, Sergei Vladimirovich Spitsyn, a senior researcher at the Altai Biosphere Reserve, has opened in the geography room of M. V. Karamaev Lyceum No. 1 in Gorno-Altaisk. The Zapovednoye Polostel'stvo Foundation supported the expansion of the class's environmental education exhibit.

The project to create a class dedicated to the snow leopard was implemented on the initiative of the staff of the Altai Biosphere Reserve, the Zapovednoye Poslost Foundation, participants of the expedition "In the Footsteps of the Snow Leopard", with the support of the administration of Lyceum No. 1 and members of the public organization "Keepers of the Lake".

This is the first time such a specialized geography classroom has been established in an educational institution in Russia, dedicated to the protected area and the object of its research.

The office was named after Sergei Vladimirovich Spitsyn in recognition and respect for the conservation and research work of this employee of the Altai Nature Reserve. At the reserve, Spitsyn rose from forester to deputy director for conservation, and then to senior researcher. He pioneered the study of the snow leopard and Altai argali sheep populations. Sergei Spitsyn is considered one of the leading experts on snow leopard research in Altai.

The office wall features a unique mural on the exhibition's theme, and the office itself contains a wealth of interesting and useful information about the snow leopard and its study and conservation methods. Also on display are items and field equipment used by Sergei Vladimirovich, collections of scientific articles, books, and exhibition photographs. Among the exhibits are the camera trap used to take the first photograph of a snow leopard in this region, as well as Sergei Spitsyn's original radio and travel bag.

The Zapovednoye Polstvovo Foundation and the Zapovedniki Ecocenter's educational center supported the interactive equipment of the classroom, as well as the future expansion of the exhibition: exhibits related to the habits of this rare cat and its study will soon appear in the classroom.

The opening ceremony echoed the beautiful parable of how a seed becomes a forest. Similarly, the "Lake of Miracles" club, founded at the lyceum in 2016, has grown and become a significant force in the region's environmental education sector. The club is especially significant for us: Elena Romanova, the current head of the Zapovedniki Ecocenter's Educational Center, is the club's founder and first director. Elena personally attended the ceremony, conveyed congratulations from the "Zapovedniy Polost" (Reserve Embassy), and presented a certificate for further equipping the geography classroom.

The event was attended by Spitsyn's colleagues and good friends: Vasily Manyshev, Chairman of the Committee of the State Assembly – El Kurultai of the Republic of Adygeya on Agrarian Policy, Ecology, and Nature Management; Igor Pautov, organizer of the "In the Footsteps of the Snow Leopard" expeditions; Dobrynya Satin, ethnomusician, expedition participant, and lead singer of the band "Novaya Aziya"; Igor Kalmykov, Chairman of the Republican Branch of the Russian Geographical Society and Director of the Altai Biosphere Reserve; as well as employees of the Altai Reserve and Saylyugem National Park, and leaders of the RGS Youth Center. Participants of the "In the Footsteps of the Snow Leopard" expedition from across the country sent video greetings sharing their impressions of working with Spitsyn.

The Lyceum's management recognized the project participants with letters of gratitude.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.

Translation. Region: Russian Federation –

Source: Preserved Embassy Foundation

An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.

The Eduard Bendersky Charitable Foundation and the Zapovednoye Posledstvo Foundation held a roundtable discussion on "Engaging Children and Youth in Natural Science and Conservation Activities in the Cooperation Area of Meshchera National Park and the Village of Urshelsky." This important event marked the launch of our joint comprehensive project to develop the cooperation area between Meshchera National Park and the village of Urshelsky.

Representatives of volunteer organizations, the village administration, the school, the community center, youth policy specialists, activists from the "Movement of the First," and, of course, national park staff gathered at the Bird Museum, located at the entrance to Urshelsky. The event was preceded by a quiz for schoolchildren, "Meshchera Nature Reserve."

The main goal of the roundtable was to introduce the project team and identify common ground. Participants discussed the natural and cultural potential of the area, as well as mechanisms for involving youth and local residents in development projects.

The meeting was opened by Elena Knizhnikova, Chair of the Friends of Protected Islands Movement (FPI), and Ksenia Gasparyan, Development Director of the Nature Conservation Embassy Foundation. In their presentations, they outlined the goals of the long-term project to create a cooperation area and shared their experience of engaging teenagers, local residents, and businesses in nature conservation, using examples from other projects implemented by the Nature Conservation Embassy throughout Russia over its thirty years of work.

Olesya Filippova, head of the municipal district's youth policy department, supported the development of new tourist routes and nature trails and confirmed her willingness to participate in the project. The head of the school's "Heritage" history and local history museum discussed the possibility of including it in the tourist routes. Zoya Drozdova, a representative of the Meshchera National Park, spoke about the environmental education events and celebrations the park already organizes.

Sergey Vasenev, Eduard Bendersky's press secretary, invited everyone to participate in the work of collecting, organizing, and presenting information about Urshelsky, which is important for attracting tourists. He also announced trail run "Meshchera Fest"The event is scheduled for June 7, 2026, with the start and finish in Urshelsky. The program includes an environmental event, a fair, a Nordic walking workshop, a sauna, and local cuisine. This is just the first event under the "Meshchera Fest" umbrella brand; new activities are being developed, which will eventually make Urshelsky a regional hub for event and sports tourism.

The first meeting served as the starting point for the formation of a project team, whose goal is to develop the cooperation area between the national park and the village of Urshelsky. With the support and partnership of the Eduard Bendersky Foundation, the "Zapovednoye Posledstvo" Foundation launched a comprehensive project to develop the cooperation area between Meshchera National Park and the village of Urshelsky. The first phase of the project will include the following:

– master plan for tourism development;

– a roadmap for working with children and youth to engage them in supporting the national park through environmental volunteering and other activities, as well as for their career guidance in natural sciences and tourism.

Work is already underway within the framework of this same comprehensive project to develop a concept for renovating the Bird Museum and the surrounding area in the village of Urshelsky.

Please note: This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It represents an accurate account of the source's assertions and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.