Natural Heritage Protection Fund summarized its work over a period of 10 yearsNatural Heritage Protection Fund, established on the 4 of April 2000 in compliance with the article 17 of the UNESCO Convention concerning the protection of the World Heritage, celebrated its first vast anniversary and summarized its work over a period of 10 years. Fund was established for the all-round support of the Russian properties inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as well as to obtain this status for unique natural sites both in Russia and CIS. In recent years much attention was directed to Russian Natural Heritage popularization and promotion, creation of a national sense of pride for Russian natural wealth and environmental responsibility among modern Russian society. The primary Fund's achievements against 4 main lines of activity are: Preparation of nomination files for natural sites toward its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List Fundraising for the support and Russian properties conservation Publishing projects, popularization of the Convention and World Heritage properties which already are on the List Training programs and research-practical designs Fund consulted and took part in the developing of the management plans for the SPAs which a part of the "Uvs Nuur Basin", "Volcanoes of Kamchatka", "Virgin Komi Forests" properties and "The Putorana Plateau" and "The Volga Delta" which are claimed to be in the List. Jointly with the Katunsky and Altaisky Reserves the Fund took part in the development of an innovatory document according to the implementation of the Convention in Russian practice - "Development strategy and Management of the World Natural Heritage Property Golden Mountains of Altai". A set of analytical and scientific-methods projects was executed by the Fund's staff within the implementation of the Convention in Russia. The Fund's near-term plans are: finalization of "The Ilmensky Mountains" nomination execution; assistance in developing a transnational nomination "Western Tien Shan"; preparation of the nomination "Bikin River Valley", "Daurian Steppes", "Great Vasyugan Mire"; publish of a Russian version Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the Convention; publish of a booklets "Volcanoes of Kamchatka", "Lena Pillars", "Lake Baikal"; a startup phase of the project consisting publishing of a periodical bulletin World Heritage in Russia; develop a set of billboards within the territory of the Russian properties keeping the information about the Convention and outstanding universal value of the property; renew a series of the annual training workshops for the World Natural Heritage properties managers; attract Russian business area funds for the all-round support of the Russian World Natural Heritage properties. |