WWF Russia announces winners of the grant competition for nature reserves and national parks

The jury of the Contest of Grants for Nature Reserves and National Parks selected 13 best conservation projects developed by the staff of Russian protected areas.

Each object will receive funds for the implementation of its projects.

The amount of grants, depending on the projects, ranged from 290 to 800 thousand rubles. Funds for the implementation of the projects were raised as part of the Earth Hour 2021 information campaign.

The participants of the competition will be able to take part in training seminars with leading experts in the field of PR and communications, ecotourism and environmental education, which will help increase the chances of success not only in this competition, but also in others.

In the category "Conservation of rare species of animals" the winners are:

1.Saving the Eastern Great Bustard, State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Daursky"

2. Arrangement of artificial nesting platforms for birds of prey - Steppe Eagle and Long-legged Buzzard - in the territory of the federal reserve "Sarpinsky", State nature reserve of federal significance "Sarpinsky"

3. Preservation of Spoonbill, Astrakhan State Natural Biosphere Reserve

4. Improving the quality of the natural habitat of the saiga in the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky Nature Reserve, the Bogdinsko-Baskunchaksky State Nature Reserve

In the category "Conservation of Key Ecosystems and Habitats" the winners are:

5. IBRA of international importance "Unskaya Bay": preservation of the vulnerable ecosystem of the White Sea lagoon, National Park "Onega Pomorie"

6. Assessment of the state of key habitats and development of recommendations for improving measures for the protection of char - an endangered endemic of the Kamchatka Peninsula, Kronotsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve

In the category "Environmental education and ecotourism" the winners are:

7. "Curonian Spit - the territory of purity", National Park "Curonian Spit"

8. Ecological educational trail Saraysky beach, Pribaikalsky national park

9. Amazing nearby, State Natural Reserve "Pinezhsky"

10. For sweet gold on Tirmentau, State Natural Biosphere Reserve «Shulgan-Tash"

In the category "Innovative approaches to the conservation of rare species of animals" won:

11. Study of the ecology of Anthur Phoca vitulina stejnegeri of the Commander Islands, State Natural Biosphere Reserve "Komandorsky"

12. Aerial monitoring of the free-living population of bison in the National Park "Orlovskoe Polesie", National Park "Orlovskoe Polesie"

In the category "Climate Change Adaptation" the winner was:

13. Creation of borehole watering places on solar energy for the population of Przhevalsky horses, State Nature Reserve "Orenburgsky"

WWF Russia also intends to support some projects out of competition, as they are consistent with the Fund's environmental strategy.