BALTIC
FUND FOR NATURE PROGRAMMES
North-west
Russia terrestrial ecosystems programme
 North-west
Russia still preserves vast areas of relatively undisturbed
nature large enough to maintain natural processes and
ecosystems. This is a unique reserve of biological diversity
for the rest of northern Europe and its conservation
requires a well-developed and functional ecological
network and application of ecosystem-based approaches
in development. The Programme’s main goals are in supporting
protected areas, incorporating various forms of spatial
protection into the regional context and intensifying
international co-operation in building up ecological
networks.
The Programme comprises projects focusing
on inventories and monitoring of rare and commercially
valuable species, on the development of species and
habitat conservation approaches, on improvement of PA
management practices. Populations of the white-tailed
sea eagle and brown bear were assessed in the region
collaboratively with WWF. The woodcock status was analysed
in co-operation with the French National Game Department.
BFN field groups are studying the floral and faunal
diversity of the Pskov and Leningrad regions, compiling
Red Data Books and Red lists.
 The
project “Towards sustainable development of the Sebezhsky
National Park” was implemented in 1999-2001. A new project
“Protected Areas Networking in North-west Russia”
has been
implemented since 2002 as a partnership with the Association
of Zapovedniks and National Parks of North-west Russia
and the Danish company Nordeco
is supported by the Danish Environmental Protection
Agency. The project objective is to strengthen and further
develop practical co-operation between zapovedniks and
national parks in the region.
The Programme’s main
perspective is in further widening practical partnership
networks of organisations in developing and implementing
regional nature conservation approaches in North-west
Russia.
Dr.
Alexei Zavarzin, Terrestrial programme co-ordinator
 White-tailed
eagle (1995 - 1999) - project results
Forest
mammals (1996 - 1999) - project results,
published in WWF
Baltic Bulletin 2/98
Woodcock
in Russia (since 1997) - project results
Promoting the protection
of important forests in the Green Belt between Russian Karelia
and Finland (2001 - 2002) - project results
Towards sustainable
management of Sebezhsky National Park (2000 - 2001) - project
results
Flora and
Fauna Inventory in Pskov region and Protection
of Rare Species (since 1996) - projects results
Protected area co-ordination,
networking and capacity building in European Russia (2002 -
2005)
Improvement
of the regional legislation for protected areas and
conservation of rare species (2004 - 2005)
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Lake
Ladoga is a unique natural object and the largest freshwater
lake of Europe. Almost all water flowing into the Gulf
of Finland through the Neva river (74 000 106 m3 annually)
comes from Ladoga thus making the lake responsible for
about one fourth of the total runoff to the Baltic.
The flora and fauna of the Ladoga region is rich and
diverse due to geological peculiarities, geographical
location and specific history of the area. At the same
time, environmental problems caused by long-term anthropogenic
pressure are also notorious.
The
Baltic Sea is a unique and fragile water body. The Baltic
region is home to over 90 million people. Concerted
international effort is essential to maintain its stability
and preserve the nature of the Baltic region.
A
special component of the Marine Programme is devoted
to adapting Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
principles to Russia. Dutch PIN MATRA pilot project
was implemented together with the Coastal Union (EUCC)
in the Kingisepp district of the Leningrad region. The
Programme’s experts have participated in monitoring
programmes in the Gulf of Finland. 
Success
of nature conservation efforts largely depends on the
overall environmental culture and awareness of people.
BFN’s priority in this sphere is to create and maintain
environmental education tools for teachers thus addressing
schoolchildren. The main activities are implemented
within the framework of the international educational
project NatureWatch Baltic, initiated and headed by
WWF Sweden.