Typhoon "Chang-Hom" did not prevent the student group "Tiger" from embarking on the improvement of the new object - the eco-trail "Lake Blagodatnoe" in the Sikhote-Alin reserve.
The student squad "Tiger-2015", organized by the Amur Tiger Center and the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, eliminated problem areas that appeared during the autumn-winter period on the Cape Severny ecotrope, and set about arranging the tour "Lake Blagodatnoe".
"For the past ten days, a planned repair of the environmental path of the Northern Cape trail was done without harming the natural complex with minimal impact on the ecosystem. During this time, three drainage embankments were made, two culverts were laid, the trail was filled with 700 m of gravel, and an adjustment was made steps on the stairs, one more turnpike was added, 150 m of wooden flooring was laid. Students quickly coped with the task and started to improve the second path - “Lake Blagodatnoe” – Anna Gritsuk, specialist in the improvement of ecotrail of the Inter-regional organization "Big Baikalsky Trail".
On the eve of Anna Gritsuk, Dmitry Gorshkov, director of the Sikhote-Alin reserve, Olga Arifulina, deputy director for environmental education, and Leonid Zayka, brigadier of the student squad, employee of the Far Eastern Branch of the Amur Tiger Center, carried out planning of the trail, determined control points through updated ecological route. The Tigers have already prepared the terrain for the trail and dismantled obsolete facing material on the observation tower.
“The work at the “Tiger” this year goes at an accelerated pace, thanks to the fact that, first of all, over the past year, the reserve park has been supplemented with several quad bikes, including cargo ones, - comments Dmitry Gorshkov. - As a result, the movement of goods has become much faster and more convenient. Secondly, the detachment itself, which united students from all over the country, works smoothly, quickly and efficiently. We have a lot of plans. At Blagodatny, in addition to the improvement of the trail itself, it is necessary to repair the high observation tower. Now we arrange a parking lot. The site has already been dumped, fencing and information stands are being prepared. We have enough work and construction materials for all two months of an environmental watch.”
The weather conditions are trying to interfere with the progress along the Tiger trail. From the typhoon "Chang-Hom" the camp of the students was not injured, but for the next week in the tract Blagodatnoe, weather forecasters predict torrential rains and strong wind. At this time, future environmentalists, veterinarians, game managers will be busy with an educational program prepared for them by the reserve staff and the project organizers.
“During the lectures, we will tell students about the history of the Sikhote-Alin Reserve, which celebrates its 80th anniversary this year; environmental education, which is conducted by experts, as well as research activities. Well, the main inhabitant of the reserve will be the highlight - Amur tiger. In my speech titled "The Amur Tiger: Speculation and Facts," I will try to tell you how unique and amazing the tiger is,” said Sergey Aramilev, director of the Amur Tiger Center Primorsky branch.
Recall that the natural habitats of the Amur tiger are most fully preserved in the Sikhote-Alin reserve. The history of this specially protected natural area has always been closely connected with the history of the protection of the "rare cat". The Sikhote-Alin State Natural Biosphere Reserve is located on the territory of three districts of Primorsky Krai: Terney, Krasnoarmeisky and Dalnegorsky. A unique natural complex has been preserved here, including the majority of animal and plant species in the Far East of Russia. In this regard, in 1979, the reserve was granted biosphere status at the UNESCO forum, and in 2001 the reserve was included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The work of the student environmental unit "Tiger" is aimed at drawing attention to the problem of preserving wildlife in general and the Amur tiger in particular, developing the volunteer movement and ecotourism in the Far East, supporting the creation of infrastructure in national parks and reserves, and work in protected areas of theoretical and practical knowledge and skills.
The project is carried out with the financial support of the State Atomic Energy Corporation ROSATOM and the JSC TENEX.