The Great Baikal Trail: the first system of hiking trails in all of Russia
Location
The Great Baikal Trail will allow access to parts of Lake Baikal that are now beyond the reach of most visitors. Only five percent of the lakeshores are developed, with very few roads anywhere. We would like to keep it that way. Therefore, to avoid industrial development, and to preserve our cultural and natural environments intact, we Siberians are intent on limiting access to most of our lake to only hikers, bikers, skiers, horseback riders, etc.
Through eco-tourism and volunteer vacations, we are working to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the deepest, purest, oldest lake in the world.
Your idea
This will be the address used to plot your entry on the map.
Street Address
Yadrintseva st 5-11
City
Irkutsk
State/Province
Irkutsk Region
Postal/Zip Code
664023
Country
Russia
Year innovation began
2002
Geotourism Challenge Addressed by Entrant
Quality of benefit to the people of the desitination
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Indicate sector in which you principally work
Conservation/Preservation organization
Geographic location
Urban, Rural, Coast, Mountain.
Plot your innovation within the Mosaic of Solutions
Main insight addressed
Education through hands-on experience
Name Your Project
The Great Baikal Trail: the first system of hiking trails in all of Russia
Describe Your Idea
The Great Baikal Trail will allow access to parts of Lake Baikal that are now beyond the reach of most visitors. Only five percent of the lakeshores are developed, with very few roads anywhere. We would like to keep it that way. Therefore, to avoid industrial development, and to preserve our cultural and natural environments intact, we Siberians are intent on limiting access to most of our lake to only hikers, bikers, skiers, horseback riders, etc.
Through eco-tourism and volunteer vacations, we are working to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the deepest, purest, oldest lake in the world.
Innovation
What is the goal of your innovation?
We protect the environment in Siberia by advocating for environmentally sustainable development around the deepest, purest lake on earth.
How does your approach support or embody geotourism?
Local people around Lake Baikal want to preserve their environment, as well as their own native lifestyles, sustained for hundreds of years. At the same time, they want to earn a decent wage, and escape the poverty that plagues rural areas of Russia. Geotourism can successfully combine these goals. The local population understands that tourism holds great promise on Baikal, and that many jobs could appear if more travelers are attracted to the oldest lake in the world.
The Great Baikal Trail not only opens up much of the lake for visitors from around the world, it also creates a network of local people, who are starting up their own business enterprises that will serve visitors along the trail. Tourists realize that there is more to the Baikal area than the beautiful wilderness. They also discover aspects of traditional Siberian lifestyle alongside Siberian families, who are indigenous Russians, the descendents of Siberian explorers, and the descendents of exiles.
By creating tourism employment for the local population, GBT dissuades them from continuing their current occupations, which are sometimes harmful to the environment. We give them another, ecologically friendly option that also helps preserve their Siberian heritage.
Describe your approach in detail. How is it innovative?
The Great Baikal Trail is building the first system of trails in all of Russia. It is also attempting to connect national parks and reserves with Mongolia, which neighbors Siberia to the South. Finally, this is Russia’s first attempt at harnessing a volunteer force on such a large scale, so as to create a tourism network without drawing upon the limited resources of either the local people or their representative institutions.
The Great Baikal Trail, therefore, is more than just the construction of a network of trails. If this trail program continues to succeed, it will likely engender a spirit of volunteerism that has been absent in Russia’s recent history. It will also give us a sense of global community, by bringing people together from around the world—whether they are volunteers along the trail, or one of the many international tourists who are drawn to this immense lake. In the end, the GBT might be able to offer the ultimate in environmental lessons, one that the GBT staff is teaching almost daily: that, through the development of real geo-tourism, it possible to protect the environment and make a decent living at the same time.
What types of partnerships or professional development would be most beneficial in spreading your innovation?
Although the Great Baikal Trail has the full support of the national parks, reserves, and other local administrations and enjoys the partnership of many Russian and global organizations, it is still seeking out international volunteers and ecotourists who might come to Baikal and contribute. For this reason it would be helpful to connect with other tourism and volunteer-placement agencies from around the world, who could help us recruit from abroad. It would certainly make our program all the more attractive and profitable for everyone if we were able to bring in even more participants from overseas.
Impact
In one sentence describe what kind of impact, change, or reform your approach is intended to achieve.
By building trails, GBT attracts ecotourists to Baikal, creates environmentally friendly jobs in remote villages, and develops Russian volunteerism.
Describe the degree of success of your approach to date. Clearly define how you measure quantitative and qualitative impact in terms of how your approach contributes to the sustainability or enhancement of local culture, environment, heritage, or aesthetics? How does your approach minimize negative impacts? 200 words or less
In five years, the Great Baikal Trail has recruited and trained 2,319 volunteers, who have worked on 540 kilometers of trails around Baikal. This is considerably more than other regional organizations. The GBT has hosted over 30 international experts on trail-building, interpretation, and cultural heritage. These eminent specialists have guided us in designing a more effective trail system with fewer negative impacts, created in the beginning due to lack of knowledge. Recently, some of these experts have begun leading overall assessments of our work, giving us suggestions on how to create an even more useful, low-impact trail system.
In recent years, we have grown into an umbrella organization that not only builds trails, but contributes to society through additional methods. With our help, the number of homestays in the Baikal region increased substantially. Each of these families provides accommodation and other services to tourists and volunteers along the trail, to their own financial profit. We also conduct seminars and other public outreach programs around Baikal, educating local people about the benefits that will accrue with ecotourism. We have also worked with hundreds of handicapped, orphaned, and at-risk children in our region, giving them experience in volunteerism, leadership, and out-door recreation.
How does your program promote traveler enthusiasm, satisfaction, and engagement with the locale?
Lake Baikal allures tourists with the beauty and bounty of its natural world and local cultures. There are more species of plants and animals here than in any other lake in the world. The Great Baikal Trail gives visitors direct access to the wildlife and the natural environment here, as well as introducing them to local families and traditions. The local population benefits financially, but everyone gains cultural understanding and experience through individual interactions in the home. Through ecotourism, this pristine area will be preserved for future generations.
Describe how your innovation helps travelers and local residents better understand the value of the area’s cultural and natural heritage, and educates them on local environmental issues. How do you motivate them to act responsibly in their future travel decisions?
All of GBT’s crew/tour leaders are trained on how to conduct their trips and trail-building projects in an environmentally and culturally sensitive way. When local people build trails themselves, they come to value the result, and want to share it with others. The GBT has also enlisted several environmental educators in the region, who help spread the word amongst schoolkids and the local public at large about the meaning of ecotourism. Their message: if you do not trash your environment, and if you really value Siberia’s cultural heritage, then you likely will reap all kinds of benefits in the future.
In what ways are local residents actively involved in your innovation, including participation and community input? How has the community responded to or benefited from your approach?
Local residents are heavily involved in GBT projects. Some 70%, or about 1,700, of our volunteers come from the local population. We also work closely with local national parks and other community agencies on Baikal, which help us plan and design all of our trail-building projects. Local people benefit financially from the GBT, either as host-families who accommodate tourists along the trail or as one of the many other emerging service providers who assist international volunteers and other visitors along the trail. GBT is well known in the area, and locals support our activities.
This Entry is about (Issues)
Sustainability
Is your initiative financially and organizationally sustainable? If not, what is required to make it so? What is the potential demand for your innovation?
The GBT not only receives fees from its project volunteers, but also has begun to operate its own ecotours along that part of the trail system that has already been built. Our tourism specialists estimate that by the year 2010 there will be enough money collected from all our volunteers and ecotourists to run each of the 25-30 trail-building and other annual projects along the GBT. This will mean that any grants or donations that we collect can be dedicated to the expansion of our work.
How is your initiative currently financed? If available, provide information on your finances and organization that could help others. Please list: Annual budget, annual revenue generated, size of part-time, full-time and volunteer staff.
The GBT presently receives fees of US$350 from each of its some 120 international volunteers each summer. It also receives small grants from local government agencies, as well as from international organizations such as Global Greengrants, Rotary, and others. There are also donations and contributions from private individuals. This generates about US$40,000 a year in revenue, which goes to operate about 25 trail-building and other environmental education projects each year. There are three full-time staff, and four part-time workers, and another 25 people who volunteer in the GBT offices on a regular basis.
What is your plan to expand your approach? Please indicate where/how you would like to grow or enhance your innovation, or have others do so.
Already there are representatives from other parts of Russia who are looking to replicate our experience at Lake Baikal. The GBT staff has begun to train and advise park officials and environmental NGOs from Kamchatka, the Altai Mountain, and the Russian Far East. We are helping them plan to build their own trail systems. The GBT is beginning to collaborate with trail-building programs in Eastern Europe, and we hope to initiate one of the few exchange programs between Russia and its former Soviet bloc colleagues in Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic.
What are the main barriers you encounter in managing, implementing, or replicating your innovation? What barriers keep your program from having greater impact?
The main barrier to developing our trails, but perhaps one of our greatest advantages in protecting our environment, is the remoteness of our region. We are located thousands of miles from most major cities, and the nearest large population centers have not had the time to develop volunteerism as a modern tradition. Therefore, it is a challenge for us to recruit the hundreds of international volunteers that we seek each year.
The same kind of problem makes it difficult for us to find many international participants for our eco-tours along the trail. Next door to us in China, most people are not very well versed in or inclined towards the development of eco-tourism. In fact, only one of our trip participants or volunteers has come from China these past five years. However, there is great potential for cooperation with our Asian neighbors. In the long run, we would like to see our trail programs expand so that we can work more closely with Mongolian partners. And there is the dream of building historical trail extensions along the old Silk and other caravan routes that are famous around the globe.
The Story
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers' marketing material.
I am a student of Natural Resource Management at the Irkutsk State University. I also studied as a Rotary exchange student in Illinois, USA in 2001-2002, and was trained in non-profit management in 2006 in the Western part of the United States and in trail building in Australia in 2007. With GBT, I have worked as International Coordinator and have also served as a crew leader and interpreter on summer projects. I teach GBT courses on trail building and leadership skills to future GBT crew/tour leaders.
What is the origin of your innovation? Tell your story.
Siberia is a place of legend for all Russians. Lake Baikal, the pearl of Siberia, is the cradle of history for this part of the world. Genghis Khan was born near here, and many native tribes have roamed Baikal’s shores. In more recent times, proud and hearty Siberian woodsmen have explored the wilds of Siberia, and the stories of these adventurers captivate Russian children to this day.
During tsarist and Soviet times, Siberia was a place of exile. These days it is a land of opportunity. There are plenteous deposits of oil, gas, and precious metals to be found here, as well as vast forests that might be cut down for wood. However, the people around Baikal see the lake itself as the main resource.
Lake Baikal is also the birthplace for the Russian environmental movement of the 1960s. Because only 5% of the lake’s shorelines had been developed, local environmentalists wanted to find ways of keeping the other 95% as close to a natural state as possible. While “developers” talked about building roads around the lake, several emerging activists came forward in the 1980s with the idea of keeping the lake road-less.
The Great Baikal Trail concept began with a simple yet daunting idea - to build a trail circumventing one of the oldest and most beautiful lakes on Earth, with access for horseback riders, bicyclists, and people in wheelchairs. The trail would stretch over 2000 kilometers, connecting seven national parks and reserves and providing easy access to Baikal’s breath-taking views and panoramas. While a single trail around the entire lake is still a far off dream, volunteers with the GBT have been working diligently for the past five years to create Russia’s first system of trails that provide access to some of the most magical places in the Baikal Region. Eventually, these trails will be connected and the vision of a complete system of trails around Lake Baikal will become reality.
Even though there was no tradition of volunteerism in Russia, a working group was formed to help recruit, train, and employ at first dozens, then hundreds, and now thousands of volunteers to build the trail. Nearly a third of these volunteers would come from abroad, ecotourists who wanted to do good work while exploring this vast, untrammeled corner of the world. These volunteers were even willing to pay a fee for the privilege of working on the trail—a willingness which, at first, was quite incomprehensible to local Siberians. The international flavor of these trail-building camps turned out to be one of the main selling points for all volunteers.
During the last five years, the GBT has worked closely with local parks, and with international experts (from organizations such as Earth Corps, Earth Island Institute, the US Forest Service, and the German Baikal-Plan), to design and work on some 540 kilometers of trails around Baikal. And now, each summer, the GBT plans to continue with another 25-30 trail-building projects, until the entire system of trails is completed.
Please write an overview of your project. This text will appear when people scroll over the icon for your entry on the Google map located on the competition homepage.
The Great Baikal Trail will allow access to parts of Lake Baikal that are now beyond the reach of most visitors. Only five percent of the lakeshores are developed, with very few roads anywhere. We would like to keep it that way. Therefore, to avoid industrial development, and to preserve our cultural and natural environments intact, we Siberians are intent on limiting access to most of our lake to only hikers, bikers, skiers, horseback riders, etc.
Through eco-tourism and volunteer vacations, we are working to preserve the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the deepest, purest, oldest lake in the world.
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 | Amelia Forrest Kaye said: On May 28, 2008, the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge” and would like to pass on this feedback for ... about this Competition Entry. - 1331 days ago read more > |
| nhtahoe said: I spent some time volunteering on the GBT with a group from the Tahoe-Baikal institute - what an incredible network you are building ... about this Competition Entry. - 1338 days ago read more > |
| clagettpark said: I am proud to place at the top of my life adventures that in 2005 I visited the Lake Baikal region and walked the partially finished ... about this Competition Entry. - 1340 days ago read more > |
| Rolf Sieber said: I have been at the Baikal during March 2008. This Winterproject has been a suuuper expression of Baikal/Siberia to me. Rolf Sieber, ... about this Competition Entry. - 1340 days ago read more > |
| Elisabeth GBT said: Thank you! I think that you are right about the sense of ownership that people get after working on a project. Over the past ... about this Competition Entry. - 1342 days ago read more > |
| ka7 said: The aspect of volunteerism in this application makes it stand out from the crowd. the sense of ownership that that will engender will be ... about this Competition Entry. - 1342 days ago read more > |
| Elisabeth GBT said: Dear Apostolis, Thank you for the kind note! We are definitely glad to play a part in developing environmentalism and ecotourism ... about this Competition Entry. - 1343 days ago read more > |
| Elisabeth GBT said: Dear Sebastian, Thank you for your note! Unfortunately, there are very few records here about the increase in geotourism. We ... about this Competition Entry. - 1343 days ago read more > |
| Elisabeth GBT said: Dear Sebastian, Thank you for your note! Unfortunately, there are very few records here about the increase in geotourism. We ... about this Competition Entry. - 1343 days ago read more > |
| Coco86 said: Dear GBT-team! Since 2002, when your initiative was initiated, could you register success in boosting local geotourism? Are there any ... about this Competition Entry. - 1348 days ago read more > |
Comments
Hi Natasha,
As an aspiring long-distance hiker, I found myself becoming very excited as I read your entry - what a terrific project!
I have two questions for you.
The first is that as I read, I wondered how you would balance access (especially for the wheelchair-bound, as that has been a big part of the discussion for this competition) with aesthetic, as in the desire of backpackers to have a rustic, backcountry, back-to-nature kind of experience. I found myself hoping you were not planning on paving the trail, although I of course also want those who may not have the same physical capabilities to be able to access it - so how will you balance those sometimes conflicting interests?
Second, I was interested in what you said about locals looking to start small business enterprises along the route. I know that here in the US, the Appalachian Trail has given rise to many small lodges, small businesses like food stores and hiking gear stores, and festivals - is that the kind of business enterprise you're thinking of, or would this be on a larger scale?
Thanks for entering the geotourism challenge - I'm so excited about this project, I may just come volunteer, myself!
Dear MTrainor,
My name is Elisabeth, and I am a volunteer at GBT. I'll try to answer your question.
We build many kinds of trails at the moment, and are working to start classifying them based on various factors. Currently, none of our trails are paved, and we have no plans to pave the majority of our trails.
We choose the trail type based on a number of factors, one of which is the type of use that the trail will encounter during the year. We try to take into consideration many different types of hikers when we decide what type of trail to build. Ideally, there would be smaller portions of trail that could accomidate hikers with physical limitations, but the majority of our trails will definitely remain more "rustic."
GBT encourages interaction between hikers and villagers. We have been working to set up Bed and Breakfasts and small businesses, which cater to the physical and cultural needs of the travellors. We are not advocating any larger enterprises, as we want the economic benefits of the trail to go directly to the local population, in order to help them keep up their traditional way of life in an ecologically friendly manner.
I would definitely recommend volunteering with us! It is truly a great experience.
- Elisabeth
Dear Mrs. Luzhkova,
The Great Baikal Trail seems like a good project.. Internationals get to visit the legendary Siberia and help build a network of trails around a great lake.
You say there is not a culture of volunteering in Russia. How does the Great Baikal Trail attract Russian volunteers?
Thank you.
Dear Ms. Ugoletti,
I am writing in place of Natasha, since she is deep in the process of finishing the cumulative research paper, which she needs to graduate from university. I also apologize for the delay in this response.
My name is Elisabeth Kruger, and I am a volunteer with GBT.
Most of our volunteers during the year (not on the summer projects) are Russian, with a few exceptions. During the summer and winter trailbuilding projects, many international volunteers join us, and a true international volunteer exchange takes place.
At first, it was difficult to find Russian volunteers. The concept of working for free was difficult to explain, and not very many people came in off the street. Gradually, friends and acquaintances of the founders of GBT started joining the organization. The, through word-of-mouth, more people started hearing about what we do and becoming interested. Currently, our best method of recruiting volunteers is still through word-of-mouth, but we also post advertisements in local universities, print brochures, which we distribute through volunteers all over Russia and the world, and advertise our group on the GBT website.
Gradually, volunteerism is becoming more popular in Russia. We hope to fuel the movement!
Thank you for your interest,
Elisabeth
It was preety hard to be a volunteer in Russia several years ago and it is so even now, but the situation becomes better. In our region (Siberia) it's (to some degree) due to the GBT. When I became a GBT volunteer, I had to explain almost to every person I met on the way to the project what volunteer is. Now at different exhibitions or project presentation (at schools, universities) there are more and more people who know what GBT and Volunteerism mean. I'm glad to be GBT volunteer. It makes my life meaningful and colorful.
I have been volunteering at GBT since the very beginning, summer 2003, when first trail building projects were conducted. During all past years I have seen the rapid increase of people interest to this project. It is expressed in increase of number of volunteers every year. Why I have been volunteering so long – it does give new experience and skills to me. And so to many other young people. The same time we all help to Lake Baikal. Everyone does a few but together we do a lot. I guess there are little or no organizations like GBT in my region or even in whole Russia and no organizations which build safety and interpretative trails. Thus GBT work is needed. Thus I like it!
GBT is cool. My brother has taken part in the project in 2005, and my wife and I will go to Siberian Great Baikal Lake to join them in July.
Dear Yining Xiang,
Where are you from? What was your brother's experience like, and what moved you to decide to volunteer?
Elisabeth
There are not too many good trails around Lake Baikal… and GBT does important thing – it draws our attention to this problem. Good trail – means safety, availability, and beautiful views. Trail attracts people to place and reduces negative influence of visitors at environment. Also trail allows people to visit remote villages and use service of locals so as bed&beakfast houses, buy handmade souvenirs etc…
hello!
We build a network of trails which could be composed of different leveled trails for various social groups. We are thinking about trails for wheelchairs too but unfortunately do not have enough materials now. And there should be appropriate infrastructure for such kind of people to get there. And this issue has risen only recently.
About sort of business you were right. Bed&breakfast houses, sale of handmade souvenirs, provision local guides could be appropriate locals. Big hotels and resorts all around the lake will be harmful for fragile ecosystem and since this business is usually started by wealthy people from big cities, it would worsen life of locals.
Thank you for your questions and your interest. I am experienced GBT volunteer and team leader. I answer because all GBT stuff have been extremely busy during past 1,5 month with organizing upcoming season of projects.
regards,
Nadya
GBT doesn't only build trails. GBT runs diffrent projekts, including educational projekts with children. I study at the linguistic university and my future profession is teacher. Taking part in such projekts i get a great expierence at work with children! As a GBT volunteer i also have an opportunity to improve my languages. And GBT gives us much more! GBT helps us to develop ourselves!
Sorry for my English.
At GBT I hit accidentally. wanted simply to relax on Baikal in summer. There was a little shocked that my 15 years and will have to work! But then even liked:) I do not imagine his life without volunteering. I met with many interesting people, travelled in protected corners of nature. I'm just happy that GBT there! Thanks to organizers and Maryasovoy Alene, GBT projects coordinator in the north of Lake Baikal, personally for the work.
I believe that GBT projects together people from different countries, help in mastering other languages, participants are introduced to the culture of different countries. The more projects - the better.
GBT also volunteers engaged in environmental education. It is just excellent! This means that their children will we be able to convey a clean planet, and they will continue our cause.
I can think of few not-for-profit organizations that take on the bredth of work that the GBT does; from environmental conservation and restoration to cultural exchange and working with children. They provide a unique and invaluable opportunity for people not just in their part of the world, but on an international scale. I question whether there are many organizations in the world that get as much done with such a small resource base.
There is a pressing need for the work that the GBT performs. They are working to preserve one of the world's most valuable natural resources, promoting cultural understanding worldwide, improving the quality of life for the people of the region, and building a sustainable local economy, which is based on a participative rather than explotative labor base and use of natural resources. They are setting an example that much of the world could learn from.
My experience working with the GBT was highly educational and inspiring. I cannot stress enough the value this organization has not just for Russia, but for environmental conservation and cultural exchange world wide. The beauty and spiritual presense of lake Baikal is incomparable and is something that must be experienced to be understood. Long live GBT.
I think, GBT is the great organization. It’s a new idea for our region and it helps people to understand, how it is important, when you work without money for the lake, for nature and for all us! To save Lake Baikal is not just necessary, it is vitally important. GBT is one of all organizations, who make great work for it.
We build trails and we save life of our children!
Great Baikal Trail is a really effective organization, it contributes a lot to developing the ecoligical tourism in the region, and it's a platform for meeting and collaborating people from all parts of the world.
I participated in the GBT project just once, but it was an unforgettable experience. I wish everyone could take part in the GBT projects and see a wonderful Baikal lake!
Sincerely yours,
Tatiana Isaeva
Dear friends
The idea to make approachable to all people of our Global Community the area of Baical by hiking is very innovative. I could not imagine it myself, so I must congratulate you. Here it is now an affordable reality available to all of us, a very attractive idea of tourism. One more reason to visit an area out of the traditional roads and destinations of tourism.
I find it as a unique idea, especially since it is materialised in Russia a country where the interest for the protection of the environment was zero just a few years ago.
Apostolis Papageorgiou, Environmental Protection Consultant, Athens Greece
Dear Apostolis,
Thank you for the kind note!
We are definitely glad to play a part in developing environmentalism and ecotourism here. We still have a long way to go, but everyone at GBT is very committed.
If you are interested, you can go to our website (www.greatbaikaltrail.org) and find out how to join us on a project. We love having new participants from new countries!
All the Best,
Elisabeth
Dear GBT-team!
Since 2002, when your initiative was initiated, could you register success in boosting local geotourism? Are there any official statistics which show this success?
Nice Greetings,
Sebastian Riedel
Dear Sebastian,
Thank you for your note!
Unfortunately, there are very few records here about the increase in geotourism. We would love to have more data, but the infrastructure to collect it is still lacking.
The only official data we have comes from the yearly report of the director of the Pribaiakal National Park, where GBT actively builds trails. According to his reports, in 2005 there were 16,850 official guests in the Pribaikal National Park, which covers about 60% of the Western coast of Baikal. In 2006, there were 150,000 visitors, and in 2007, 151,200 people visited the park. As you can see, this represents a huge jump in visitors between 2005 and 2006.
Otherwise, we know that homestays have opened in many of the villages along our trails. We hope to gather more concrete data on this in the future, because as of now our information is purely anecdotal.
Again, thank you for your comment, and please let us know if you have any more questions.
Best,
Elisabeth
Dear Sebastian,
Thank you for your note!
Unfortunately, there are very few records here about the increase in geotourism. We would love to have more data, but the infrastructure to collect it is still lacking.
The only official data we have comes from the yearly report of the director of the Pribaiakal National Park, where GBT actively builds trails. According to his reports, in 2005 there were 16,850 official guests in the Pribaikal National Park, which covers about 60% of the Western coast of Baikal. In 2006, there were 150,000 visitors, and in 2007, 151,200 people visited the park. As you can see, this represents a huge jump in visitors between 2005 and 2006.
Otherwise, we know that homestays have opened in many of the villages along our trails. We hope to gather more concrete data on this in the future, because as of now our information is purely anecdotal.
Again, thank you for your comment, and please let us know if you have any more questions.
Best,
Elisabeth
The aspect of volunteerism in this application makes it stand out from the crowd. the sense of ownership that that will engender will be overwhelmingly important in embedding the GBT in the hearts of Siberians and making it part of their environment, its right to existence no longer questioned.
A very impressive venture.
Thank you!
I think that you are right about the sense of ownership that people get after working on a project.
Over the past five years, 1677 Russian volunteers and 642 international volunteers have worked on the Great Baikal Trail.
I often help to represent the GBTA at local fairs, and people always stop by to tell us about their participation in projects and express their appreciation for our continuing work. For those people, Baikal has become even more precious, because they put their own sweat into protecting it.
In addition, our international volunteers take their experience home with them and spread the word about Baikal and its global importance.
- Elisabeth
I have been at the Baikal during March 2008. This Winterproject has been a suuuper expression of Baikal/Siberia to me.
Rolf Sieber, Switzerland
I am proud to place at the top of my life adventures that in 2005 I visited the Lake Baikal region and walked the partially finished Great Baikal Trail (GBT). In a group of multinational ecotourists, representing a wide range of ages and physical abilities, we ultimately all fell in love with this deep, beautiful and ancient lake. A short distance in kilometers on the trail can take the hiker through three to four distinct plant communties, each illustrating canopy cover, soil layers, and tempering influence of the lake. Then there's the hot springs.
The GBT volunteers we met along the trail were just like us in several ways: They were multinational and in love with Lake Baikal. Unlike us they were all young and strong, full of energy, ready to take on the next task, looking forward to the next big meal, and grateful for anything chocolate.
Mining and logging enterprises extract value from the region. This project ADDS VALUE to the region. I am very pleased to support this GBT project.
I spent some time volunteering on the GBT with a group from the Tahoe-Baikal institute - what an incredible network you are building there! Go GBT!
On May 28, 2008, the judges reviewed the entries for the Changemakers “Geotourism Challenge” and would like to pass on this feedback for your entry. Thank you for applying and for your hard work in the field. We are excited to archive your entry to serve as a leading solution for the worldwide community of sustainable tourism innovators. We wish you continued luck with your sustainable, innovative, and socially impactful initiatives.
All the best, The Changemakers Team
“The combination of outdoor exploration, environmental conservation, and harnessing a mass volunteer base to create a network of trails in Russia is truly innovative. What are the recruiting techniques to keep up a viable volunteer base to support the initiative?”
-Changemakers Geotourism Judges: National Geographic Society, Past President the Ford Foundation, whl.travel - World Hotel Link, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth.