Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia

1. Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia NGO’s Experience in Organizing Interpretation Trails

2. Main Issues • Our Activities • Positive and Negative Experience by establishing a network of nature trails in Sochi • Discussion

3. Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia BLACK SEA

4. Nature trails in Sochi, Black Sea coast of Russia

5. Round Tables with Official Bodies

6. The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail

7. The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail

8. The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail

9. The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail

10. Realizing the start boards and panels

11. Realizing the start boards and panels

12. The Booklet “The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail” КаньоныСочи The Canyons of Sochi The Nature Trail Guide Карта и описание маршрута на русском и английском языках Map and description of the route in English and Russian Шакал обыкновенный (Canisaureus)-типичный обитатель каньонов и ущелий The golden jaсal (Canis aureus)– a common inhabitant of the canyons Кандык кавказский (Eritronium caucasicum) - редкий эндемик Fawn lily (Eritronium caucasicum) – rare endemic species

13. The Canyons of Sochi Nature Trail

14. The Canyons of Sochi Interpretation Trail Решеточник красный (Clathrusruber)– очень редкий гриб, иногда встречающийся в самшитовом лесу The red cage (Clathrus ruber) – a very rare mushroom, which one can see sometimes in a boxwood forest Ящерица прыткая (Lacerta agilis) в брачном наряде | Sand Lizard (Lacerta agilis) , mating season colouring Офрис пчелоносная (Ofrisapifera)слева и Серапиас сошниковый ( Serapiasvomeracea) справа – редкие орхидеи, истинное украшение окрестностейСочи Rare Orchids - The Bee Orchid (Ofris apifera) leftand the Long lipped Serapias (Serapias vomeracea) right - are genuine decoration of Sochi’s environments От полянки с кострищами хорошо набитая тропа вдоль бровки обрыва ведет через самшитовые дебри наверх. Через 900 м некрутого подъема вправо отходит тропинка к пещере Широкопокосской или как ее еще называют, пещере святой Марии. Тропа вьется вниз по крутому склону каньона и вскоре выводит к небольшому карнизу, где и расположена пещера. Длина ее составляет около 50 м, поэтому для ее посещения вам понадобится взять с собой фонарик. Войдя в верхний вход, можно пройти пещеру насквозь, посетив небольшой зал с естественными колоннами и выйти через нижний вход наружу. Во времена сталинских репрессий местные жители использовали пещеру, как подпольную церковь, откуда и пошло ее название – пещера св. Марии. A well-defined trail starts at the meadow with fire pits and runs up through a boxwood grove along the edge of a cliff. After a mild incline of 900m (about half a mile), you'll see a trail branching off to the right towards the Shirokopokosskaya cave, also known as the Cave of St. Mary. The trail zigzags down the steep side of a canyon and soon brings you to a small ledge and the cave entrance. The cave is 50m (54 yards) long and you will need a flashlight to explore it. You can enter the cave through the upper entrance,walk through the entire cave, and exit at the lower opening. Inside you will find a small hall with natural columns. The name of St. Mary's goes back to the era of Stalin's repressions, during which the local people used this cave as an underground church.

15. The Imeretinskaya Lowland Project

16. The Imeretinskaya Lowland Project Preparation to the Olympics 2014 causes loss of endangered species habitats 2006 2011

17. Unique Habitat of rare and endangered psammofit Species in Russia

18. The Imeretinskaya Lowland Project - Action to draw public attention: involving children from Sochi art school for desighning a trail • Nature conservation: protection of the habitat of endangered species, • Reintroduction of rare species in situ • Sustainable use: creation of a nature interpretation trail for educational and recreational purposes

19. Complete destruction of the Habitat through the construction of a promenade for the Olympic Village

20. The Interpretation Trail“Our beautiful forest “Blinovo”

21. The Interpretation Trail“Our beautiful forest “Blinovo”

22. The Interpretation Trail“Our beautiful forest “Blinovo”

23. The Interpretation Trail“Our beautiful forest “Blinovo”

24. The “Mys Vidnyy” Nature Monument

25. The “Mys Vidnyy” Nature Monument

26. The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project Values • Forest area in the city – very important place for recreation of the population • big variability (elevation, habitats, land uses, etc.) in a small area • Habitat of many rare species • Interesting geological features • Historical aspects

27. The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project

28. The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project

29. The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project Goals of the trail - To show the natural values in the target place • To tell about culture, customs, historical land use of indigenous inhabitans in the target place • To prevent the further construction of private households through functioning of the trail and drawing public attention

30. The “Holy mountain Bytkha” Project

31. SOS!!!The Russian Black Sea Cost loses entire Ecosystems and Habitats of rare species,many valuable Green Areas and Recreational Places

32. Main Problems: • Intensive city development and giant construction projects – rapid and massive degradation of green areas in surroundings of Sochi • - Lack of support from the official bodies • - Absence of financing • - Law public awareness • - Vandalism

33. The Sochi Branch of the Russian Geographical Society Maria Reneva Science secretary Michail Plotnikov Projects Coordinator www.geo.opensochi.org sorgo05@gmail.com +7 862 261 98 57

34. Thank you for the attention!!! Special Thanks to Emma Gileva and Aleksandar Shivarov for kind invitation to participate on the Conference