Russian environment gives great possibilities to develop ecological tourism. For many regions this is a unique way to reach sustainable development, provide wellbeing to local people and preserve environment and biodiversity.

Karelya is often named "lungs of Europe" due to the dense forests covering the half of its territory, many lakes and rivers. Central Russia possess many interesting places. For example the Central forest biosphere reserve in the West of Tverskaya oblast is unique for its fir forests under the age of 500 years. Many rare species inhabit this area: brown bear, wolf, elk, hare, river beaver, wood marten. A popular place for ecological tourism is the Seliger lake.  In the South steppe and semi-desert zone in Astrakhan biosphere reserve there could be seen about 20 species of rare and threatened plants (wild irises, tulips, lotus...), 23 species of birds and animals, including fox, raccoon dog, ermine, muskrat, American mink. Environment of the Northern Caucasus is unique. The highest mountain ridge in Russia has five peaks above 5 thousand meters above sea level from which Elbrus and Kazbek are the most known. Mountain Altai, Mountain Shoria and Kuznetsk Ala-Tau are the most attractive wild nature regions in the Southern and Central part of Siberia. The lake Baikal is the main center of tourism in Siberia famous for the fantastic landscapes. The taiga and semidesert, tundra and stony steppe adjoin here. More than a half of 2,5 thousand local species of animals and plants are endemics. The Far East is attractive for its vast territory, great variety of natural landscapes, climatic zones, active volcanoes of Kamchatka and Kuriles. In Japan and Okhotskoe seas it is possible to observe a grey whale and a white whale, at coasts - the bird's markets, rookeries of sea animals.

Due to the former uncontrolled tourism activities in several regions the serious biodiversity degradation could be observed, especially it relates to the most popular recreation regions like Baksan river in Prielbrusie, Black Sea coast, Baikal lake, e.t.c. At some places tourism seems to be the main negative factor influencing ecosystems, habitats and species. There are few examples of studies conducted in order to assess the impact of tourism on  biodiversity.

Inspite of this today we see a positive trend. New firms are established positioning themselves in the field of ecological tourism. According to the Russian report to the Forum International at the Reisepavillon, Heidelberg in 2002 there were developed more than 150 ecotourism programs for various categories of visitors in the Russian Far East, Altai, Baikal, Khakassia, Sayans, Tuva, Krasnoyarsk Region, Caucasus, European North, etc. They include general cognitive ecotours, adventure ecotours (rafting, trekking, horseback riding), specialized programs (birdwatching, botanical, archaeological and ethnographic), scientific tours and student practices, weekend excursions, etc. Recreation capacities were assessed for ecotourist routes in more than 30 nature reserves and national parks. For several nature reserves there were developed tourism programs and management plans, special environmental education centers were organized, equipped and work now successfully in the nature reserves of the Far East, Altai-Sayans ecoregion, European North, etc., ecotourism training workshops had been conducted for the personnel of nature reserves, representatives of administrations and tour operators. There are numerous examples, when local population is involved in organization of ecological tours in Caucasus and Altai-Sayan region. The program for ecotourism development had been included in the regional Tourism Development Program in the Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia (Western Caucasus), approved at the governmental level. The Ecotourism Development Concept had been developed and included in the “Major Directions of Activity for the period until 2010” for the state nature reserves and national parks, approved by the Russian Federation Ministry for Environmental Protection.

This section of our portal will integrate information about activities in Russia aimed to develop ecological tourism in order to preserve and carefully use biodiversity.