CASE STUDY

ASSESSMENT OF EFFICIENCY OF FUNCTIONAL ORGANIZATION OF ECOLOGICAL TRAILS WITHIN SPECIALLY PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS


In accordance with the Federal Law dated 14.03.1995 N 33-FL (ed. from 10.07.2023) “On Specially Protected Natural Areas” (with amendments and additions, effective from 01.09.2023) in Article 5.2. Tourism in specially protected natural areas and its criteria, features (introduced by the Federal Law dated 18.03.2023 N 77-FL) the main criteria, features of organization and implementation of tourism in specially protected natural territories are:

a) preservation of unique and typical natural complexes and objects, flora and fauna, natural ecological systems, biodiversity;
b) minimization of negative impact on the environment in the implementation of tourism;
c) observance of the established maximum permissible recreation capacity of the specially protected natural area when implementing tourism (the maximum number of visitors who can visit the specially protected natural area or its separate parts as a tourist per unit of time without degradation of natural complexes and objects, objects of flora and fauna, natural ecological systems), its special protection regime;
d) implementation of tourism in specially equipped for this purpose places and routes;
e) preservation of cultural heritage objects (historical and cultural monuments) of the peoples of the Russian Federation.

The Law of the Arkhangelsk region dated February 24, 2015 N 242-14-RL “On specially protected natural areas in the Arkhangelsk region” (as amended on November 21, 2023) prioritizes the preservation of natural ecological systems, natural landscapes and complexes when solving the issues of protection and use of specially protected natural areas.
On September 1, 2024 the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2229 dated 21.12.2023 “On Approval of the Rules for Organization and Implementation of Tourism, including ensuring the safety of tourism in specially protected natural areas of federal significance” came into force.

The National Standard of the Russian Federation R 56642-2021 “Tourist services. Ecological tourism” (introduced 30.06.2022) gives concepts and classifications of ecological tourism, limitations.

The Strategy for the Development of Tourism in the Russian Federation for the period until 2035 (Approved by the Order of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 2129-r of September 20, 2019) emphasizes that the tourism sector in Russia retains significant potential to accelerate growth and strengthen its role in the development of the economy. The economic return from the tourist organizations established in recent years is stable. The number of domestic tourist trips per one resident of the Russian Federation is projected to more than double by 2035. It is necessary to use a comprehensive approach in the development of tourism, taking into account economic, social, cultural, environmental and other aspects of tourism development. The World Tourism Organization has named ecological tourism among the priority areas for the development of domestic and inbound tourism in Russia. At the same time, there is still unrealized potential for the use of specially protected natural areas of regional importance for the development of ecological tourism due to underdeveloped tourist infrastructure.


THE PROBLEM OF THE PROPOSED CASE STUDY IS THE PROPER ORGANIZATION AND EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF NATURE TRAILS WITHIN THE SPECIALLY PROTECTED NATURAL AREAS




Case situation: Several ecological trails operate in the specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of the nature monument “Golubinsky Karst Massif” and the reserve “Pinezhsky”. Every year about 20 thousand tourists visit these protected areas. The majority of tourists get acquainted with SPNA through ecological trails and routes. SPNA is characterized by the presence of high natural values, the loss of some of them contributes to the loss of recreational pressure. Conduct a SWOT analysis of the functional organization of existing ecological trails. Develop a list of recommended measures for the proper organization and management of ecological trails in the protected areas.


Two walking trails and one weekend trail are included in the analysis:

Waterfall
ecological trail to the Holy Spring waterfall
Log
ecological trail to the Cockroach Log
River
ecological trail to the Sotka River “Sotka - protected beauty”.
Рекомендации к алгоритму решения:
I. Распределитесь на шесть групп при помощи куратора (4-5 человек в группе). Каждая группа работает по одному объекту:
1. Экологическая тропа к водопаду «Святой источник»: группа 1 и группа 2;
2. Экологическая тропа к Тараканьему логу: группа 3 и группа 4;
3. Экологическая тропа на реку Сотка «Сотка – заповедная красота»: группа 5 и группа 6.

II. Познакомитесь с характеристикой территорий, на которых расположены ООПТ. Основную информацию о Памятнике природы регионального значения «Голубинский карстовый массив» можно прочитать на сайте Центра природопользования и охраны окружающей среды, в разделе ООПТ (https://eco29.ru). Описание природных ценностей заповедника «Пинежский» можно найти на сайте заповедника (https://www.zapovednik-pinega.ru/)

III. Заполните чек-лист оценки функциональной организации экологической тропы (см. Приложение 1) для своего объекта.

IV. Проведите SWOT-анализ по организации и эффективности функционирования экологической тропы:
  1. Необходимо познакомиться с теоретической частью проведения swot-анализа. Пример представлен в Приложении 2.
  2. Анализ проводится на основе заполненного чек-листа, прослушанной информации лекционного блока, собранной информации с рекомендованных сайтов.
  3. Данные запишите в матрицу анализа, заполнив таблицу 1.

Таблица 1. SWOT-анализ для оценки реализации проекта экологической тропы


Strengths​

Weaknesses




Opportunities

Threats




  1. Perform a summary analysis. Fill in Table 2.

Table 2 - Summary SWOT analysis


Сильные стороны

Слабые стороны

Возможности

SO – Activities to be undertaken to capitalize on strengths to increase opportunities

WO –activities to be carried out, overcoming weaknesses, using the opportunities provided


Угрозы

ST – Activities that capitalize on the project's strengths to resist threats


SW – activities that minimize weaknesses to avoid threats



V. Based on the analysis, develop recommendations for improving the functional organization of the trail. Make general conclusions about the study. Share your impressions.

VI. Present a group presentation of the case solution to the commission (in Microsoft PowerPoint or on flipchart sheets) for 10 minutes at most.

Informational materials:


An example of SWOT-analysis to assess the implementation of ecological trail in the protected area “Pine forest of Yagry Island” from the project by Elizaveta Rusinova.

SWOT analysis table for evaluation of the ecological trail project implementation

Strengths

  • Status of SPNA (Specially Protected Natural Area);
  • Diversity of landscape and ecosystems;
  • Landscape views;
  • Unique natural objects on the territory of the SPNA;
  • Presence of historical heritage objects (War Memorial Complex) near the Yagra Pine forest;
  • The established image of the “Pine wood of Yagry Island” as a place for recreation of the population;
  • Convenient geographical location of the protected area;
  • Easy accessibility of the territory (constant movement of shuttle buses);
  • Availability of information stands;
  • Optimal length of the eco-trail;
  • Ease of walking along the route;
  • The whole ecotrail takes only 3 hours to complete;
  • The eco-trail can be visited at any time of the year.

Opportunities


  • Growing attractiveness of ecotourism among the population;
  • Development of ecotourism on a national scale;
  • Popularization of healthy lifestyle;
  • Lack of visible competitors;
  • Possibility to receive funds from various government programs, e.g. regional development programs;
  • Possibility of promotion through advertising in social networks;
  • Attracting investors;
  • Receiving assistance from eco-volunteers;
  • Demonstration of various initiatives on the part of city residents.

Weaknesses

  • Low resistance of natural objects of SPNA to anthropogenic impacts;
  • Degradation of ground cover;
  • Lack of modern tourist and recreational complexes for active tourism;
  • Lack of recreation areas (benches, pavilions);
  • Lack of wooden covering on the eco-trail;
  • Inconvenience of passing the route after rains;
  • Lack of shelters from unfavorable weather conditions.







Threats

  • Difficulties with attendance control;
  • Unwillingness of population and enterprises to spend their own funds for nature protection;
  • Lack of necessary legislation;
  • Lack of funds for project implementation;
  • The need for additional investments to maintain the condition of the ecotrail;
  • Appearance of competitors;
  • Cases of vandalism, fires;
  • Possible increase in the level of anthropogenic impact;
  • Lack of interest in the eco-trail on the part of visitors to the protected area.
Conclusion: The data presented in the table confirms that the project of the ecological trail in the territory of the protected area “Pine forest of Yagry Island” has significant advantages the key of which are: the presence of the protected area status in the territory, through which the ecological trail passes; the diversity of landscapes and ecosystems along the route of the ecological trail; the presence of unique natural objects in the protected area; the already established image of ‘Pine wood’ as a place for recreation; easy accessibility of the territory (location of the protected area within the city limits of Severodvinsk); the presence of information stands; the possibility of visiting the trail at any time of the year.
However, the project on the organization of the ecological trail has some problems, such as: natural objects of the protected area have low resistance to anthropogenic impacts; lack of modern tourist and recreational complexes for active tourism in the territory; lack of places for recreation (benches, pavilions); lack of wooden cover on the route of the ecological trail; inconvenience of the route after rains; lack of shelters from adverse weather conditions on the route of the ecological trail.
In addition, the organization of the eco-trail may be threatened by such factors as the unreadiness of the population and enterprises to spend their own money on nature protection; lack of necessary legislation in the field of organization and protection of eco-trails; lack of funds for project implementation; cases of vandalism and fires occurring on the territory of the protected area; possibility of lack of interest in the eco-trail on the part of visitors to the Yagry Pine wood.
To minimize the threats, it is necessary to take advantage of the opportunities of the eco-trail project. If there is a lack of funds for the realization of the project, it is possible, for example, to attract investors. To create interest in the eco-trail it is necessary to conduct an advertising campaign. To reduce the risks of anthropogenic impact and cases of vandalism it will help to equip the route with signs, warning stands, garbage cans, wooden paths.
As a result, the analysis provides an opportunity to speak about the ecological trail on the territory of the protected area “Pine wood of Yagry Island” as a project that has a good potential for its successful implementation.
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