On February, 8-9 the round table meeting Possibilities of the Territorial Self-Government (TSG) and Participation of the Local Communities in the Forest and Other Renewable Natural Resources Management was held under WWF Russia support. The representatives of the public self-government, NGOs and local authorities from different districts of Komi participated in the event. Moscow expert Ivanna Lebedeva gave an advisory opinion to the rural activists.
Moscow expert Ivanna Lebedeva
– TSGs in Komi have been functioning for several years already. Generally, TSG projects deal with the development of the villages. This meeting we devoted to the environmental projects, rural tourism development and participation of the local population in the development of their territory using the natural potential, – says Valentina Semyashkina, Silver Taiga Deputy Director.
The participants of the meeting shared their experience, such as organization of a textile studio, cooperation with the certified logging company, arrangement of an ethno and sports festival, etc. Besides, Nikolay Shilov, Model River Mezen project coordinator, told about ArgoUdora Cooperative experience in Udora district.
During the second day of the event the participants tried to develop their own projects. Moscow expert explained how to define a problem and a goal of the project correctly, how to prepare a description of the project, what objectives should be of the first order, how to arrange a timetable and a budget of the project.
Work in the group
As a result four meaningful projects were developed: traditional handicraft workshops in Ust-Kulom and Priluzje districts; an ecological path and a rest area in Priluzje district; an ethnopath around 5 villages in Udora district; Pomozdino village history presentation (Ust-Kulom district).
According to Ivanna Lebedeva all these projects have a fair chance of financing but there should be an expert project monitoring to achieve a maximal result.
Presentation of the future projects
Participants of the meeting
HOW DID GERARD MERKATOR, FEDOR GODUNOV AND POST RIDERS INTRODUCE THE MEZEN RIVER?
| News by Just AuthorSilver Taiga GIS-specialist Alexander Borovlev told about it to the readers of the Komi National Library on 7 April under the regional natural history lecturers organized by the National Library. Alexander presented the history of mapping development in details.
For the first time the Mezen River was presented on the map in 1551 by Austrian diplomat Siegmund Freiherr von Herberstein who visited Russia twice during the research expeditions. The general lines of the Mezen River coincide with its real stream way.
After Siegmund Freiherr von Herberstein the Mezen River appeared in the works of Gerard Merkator. In 1606 he published the Atlas of the European part of Russia. Besides the Mezen River other northern rivers are figured there as well. Landscape lines presented by Merkator are very close to the modern maps.
Audience of the lecture
In 1614 the czarevitch (an heir apparent of a Russian czar) Fedor Godunov prepared the map of the Russian Empire оn the basis of Merkator’s map.
In 1792 the Atlas of Russia appeared. It shows an administrative arrangement of the Russian Empire. The Mezen River is clearly drawn in this Atlas.
In 1871 Russian two-star general Alexei Iljin published the second Atlas of the Russian Empire. It does not differ from the modern maps. The rivers and the regions are presented in a good quality. The Mezen River is presented with its tributaries already.
In 1872 the postal map appeared in Russia. It clearly shows a postal line along the Mezen River.
A pictorial map of Russia was published in 1896. It reveals the fields of work of the population. According to this map, people along the Mezen River were busy with hunting and logging.
According to Alexander Borovlev another stage of the mapping development is the period of the Cold War. In 1979 the American army launched Corona satellite to get the detailed information about the potential enemies. At that time the Bulgarian loggers worked in Udora district of Komi and the Corona map clearly shows the volume of their loggings.
The representatives of the library prepared the exhibition of the printed publicity material about Mezen and Udora district of Komi.
The printed publicity material
Strobile Drying Factory Requires a Strobile Dryer to Work on the Strobile Drying Machine
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just Author– This Russian tongue twister became the title of the research work, which won the 1st place during the 5th ecological conference Istoki held on 16 March, 2019 in Udora district of Komi. The conference was organized by Silver Taiga Foundation in cooperation with Udora Department of Education and PA Center of Komi.
Opening of the conference
The schoolchildren collected the information about one of the departments of the logging companies – strobile-drying machine that was operating under the cooperation between Bulgaria and the Soviet Union in Udora forestry unit. The strobile drying machine was used to prepare conifer seeds for the artificial forest regeneration. The enterprise was built in 1978 and nowadays only ruins are left. At present, there is a strobile processing plant in Udora organized by the local entrepreneur.
Presentation of the Strobile Drying Factory
The 2nd place was given to the research work How to Save the Village from Rubbish. The author of the work proposed several ways out of the given problem. The 3rd place won the research of ancient cabbage storage method for the winter. Not long ago Komi people cooked cabbage on the open fire, put the cabbage head entirely into the boiling kettle. Usually women gathered in the center of the village, sang songs and exchanged the news. Local population in some villages try to revert to a custom.
Young researchers
Totally 12 research works were presented during the conference from 8 Udora educational institutions. All young researchers got certificates and valuable presents.
Awarding the winners
In addition, Model River Mezen project coordinator Nikolay Shilov told about Mezen River ichthyofaunal and Mezen salmon. The representatives of Komi PA Center conducted a quiz game and gave an advisory opinion about the peculiarities of the school research works preparation.
Model River Mezen project coordinator Nikolai Shilov
The representative of Komi PA Center is conducting a quiz game
During the quiz game
Сommemorative picture
The Istoki conference for the first time was held in 2015 under Model River Mezen project.
“BEARS” AND “HARES” GOT PRESENTS FROM SILVER TAIGA
| News by Just AuthorThe Experts of Nature quiz game prepared by Silver Taiga Foundation was held on 10 March under Komi Maslenitsa festival for the schoolchildren in Ust-Kulom. The game was focused on flora and fauna of the Komi Republic. The schoolchildren also got acquainted with different Komi traditions, culture and nature. All schoolchildren got presents from Silver Taiga Foundation (T-shirts and baseball caps with Silver Taiga logo). The event was organized by the local administration, department of education and Komi People NGO (one of the active Silver Taiga partners).
Maslenitsa festival is a very cheerful event. The parents also took part in the festival. First of all the jury checked the homework of the participants – meals of the Komi ethnic cuisine. Later on, the participants opened the festival by the musical composition on the Komi language and brought in the Maslenitsa Doll made by the schoolchildren out of locally improvised material. Then the festival hosts told about Komi Maslenitsa traditions. Finally, the schoolchildren divided into two groups: Bears and Hares. They participated in different sport and dance competitions. By the decision of jury, both groups got the same number of points. Winners all around!
Throwing of the felt boots (traditional Komi boots)
About Komi banya (bath house)
NEW PLATFORM FOR TSG DEVELOPMENT
| News by Just AuthorHow to prepare a social project correctly? This question tried to answer during the workshop 10 Steps to the Successful Project the representatives of the territorial self-government (TSG) on the basis of Kenozerskiy National Park in Arkhangelsk region. This year the Presidential Grants Fund and WWF Russia supported the event.
Participants of the workshop
The representatives from the Komi Republic participated in the workshop as well including Silver Taiga PR specialist Olga Sazhina. They took an active part in the projects planning devoted to the social, economic and ecological development of the settlements of Arkhangelsk region.
Presentation of the project
The contest committee approved finally eight out ten projects. They got the requested amount to the full extent. The authors of two other projects can request for funding in other grant funds.
In its turn, Silver Taiga specialists believe that the Komi TSG activists need the government support as well. Similar workshops in Komi can propel our TSG to the higher development level.
Our Neighbors Have TSG Bodies Almost in Every Village
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorSilver Taiga representatives visited Arkhangelsk region to study the experience of the territorial public self-government (TSG) under Model River Mezen project.
TSG, active participation of the local communities in the life of their villages and district is the main condition for sustainable management of natural resources and the territory overall. That is why the permanent component of almost all Silver Taiga projects is the support for public self-government, self-organization of the rural communities. Unfortunately, the first TSG in Komi appeared well after the neighboring region. For example, there are 51 TSG bodies in Leshukonje district of Arkhangelsk region and only 2 TSG bodies in Udora district of Komi nowadays.
House-museum of the Olympic champion Vladimir Kuzin in Mezen district of Arkhangelsk region made by the local TSG
The experience exchanged of Leshukonje and Udora TSG representatives was informative and mutually useful. Introduction of Mezen TSG was held directly in the place. The group from Komi visited Mezen villages, where TSG bodies have been actively operating since 2000.
By the way, TSG is not the only form of self-organization. Mezen River project coordinator Nikolay Shilov told the participants of the round table meeting in Leshukonje about AgroUdora Cooperative, which is also a form of self-organization aiming at conservation of the river resources traditional use.
Participants of the round table meeting in Leshukonje
At the same time Silver Taiga representatives visited schools in Leshukonje and Mezen districts of Arkhangelsk region and presented them the banners about the Mezen River project.
The Mezen Day 2019 was also discussed during the meetings. As it is known Silver Taiga Foundation announced a competition of The Mezen Day 2019 projects. Territorial self-government and local administrations of Udora district of Komi and Leshukonje and Mezen districts of Arkhangelsk region can participate in the competition.
FROM IDEAS TO PROJECTS
| News by Just AuthorOn February, 8-9 the round table meeting Possibilities of the Territorial Self-Government (TSG) and Participation of the Local Communities in the Forest and Other Renewable Natural Resources Management was held under WWF Russia support. The representatives of the public self-government, NGOs and local authorities from different districts of Komi participated in the event. Moscow expert Ivanna Lebedeva gave an advisory opinion to the rural activists.
Moscow expert Ivanna Lebedeva
– TSGs in Komi have been functioning for several years already. Generally, TSG projects deal with the development of the villages. This meeting we devoted to the environmental projects, rural tourism development and participation of the local population in the development of their territory using the natural potential, – says Valentina Semyashkina, Silver Taiga Deputy Director.
The participants of the meeting shared their experience, such as organization of a textile studio, cooperation with the certified logging company, arrangement of an ethno and sports festival, etc. Besides, Nikolay Shilov, Model River Mezen project coordinator, told about ArgoUdora Cooperative experience in Udora district.
During the second day of the event the participants tried to develop their own projects. Moscow expert explained how to define a problem and a goal of the project correctly, how to prepare a description of the project, what objectives should be of the first order, how to arrange a timetable and a budget of the project.
Work in the group
As a result four meaningful projects were developed: traditional handicraft workshops in Ust-Kulom and Priluzje districts; an ecological path and a rest area in Priluzje district; an ethnopath around 5 villages in Udora district; Pomozdino village history presentation (Ust-Kulom district).
According to Ivanna Lebedeva all these projects have a fair chance of financing but there should be an expert project monitoring to achieve a maximal result.
Presentation of the future projects
Participants of the meeting
THE STEERING COMMITTEE PUT A HIGH VALUE ON HCVF PROJECT RESULTS
| «High Conservation Value Forests» project by Just AuthorThe Steering Committee of the High Conservation Value Forest project implemented by the Silver Taiga Foundation since 2008 held its annual meeting on 01 February 2019. The Committee consists of the representatives of Ministry of Nature of Komi, Ministry of Industry of Komi, such Russian environmental NGOs as Greenpeace, WWF and FSC. The target of the Steering Committee annual meeting is to assess the last-year project progress and agree on the plans for the upcoming year. During the long and interesting discussion the Steering Committee approved Silver Taiga annual reports for 2018, plan and budget for 2019.
The Committee put a high value not only on the amount of work done by the Foundation during 2018 but also on the investigations’ quality. According to the members of the Committee Silver Taiga should disseminate the gained experience not only in Komi but also in other regions using federal mass media.
The Steering Committee propose the Foundation to present HCVF Project results during the National Forest Forum planned for July 2019 in Syktyvkar. Moreover, it would be a good idea to involve forestry students to the voluntary activity of the Foundation as far as possible as there is a shortage of a qualified forestry staff in Komi.
Quite a number of questions were focused on the creation of Koigorodok Natrional Park, Osa and Karpogory Reserves and restrictions on Udora Reserve visiting.
The Mezen Day 2019 Location Will be Chosen by the Locals
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorSilver Taiga Foundation announce a competition of The Mezen Day 2019 projects.
Territorial self-government and local administrations of Udora district of Komi and Leshukonje and Mezen districts of Arkhangelsk region can participate in the competition. Silver Taiga Foundation will allocate a grant to the winner.
This year the event will be held on August 10. Terms and conditions of the competition are presented in the Russain version of the web-site.
For the first time The Mezen Day was held in Bolshaya Pyssa village, Udora district, on 12 August 2017 under Model River Mezen Project. The idea was supported by the local authorities. The representatives of Udora cultural and educational institutions participated in the event. Moreover, the local people from the neighboring Arkhangelsk region visited The Mezen Day as well. There were many thematic and creative grounds during the day. Besides, everyone could taste a fresh fish soup and traditional Udora food.
The Mezen Day 2018 was held in Glotovo village, Udora district, on 11 August 2018. The event was added by the contest of fishermen’s stories Syo Zbyl! (meaning “naked truth” in Komi) and an exhibition of Mezen boats made by the local craftsmen.
This year Silver Taiga Foundation suggest the locals to develop their own project of the event in order to set a tradition. We hope The Mezen Day will be continued even if the project is over!
Photo by Sergey Gordeev
YOUNG ECOLOGISTS FROM UDORA WILL PRESENT THEIR INVESTIGATIONS AT ISTOKI CONFERENCE IN MARCH
| «Model river «Mezen» project by Just AuthorSilver Taiga representatives together with Udora educational department and PA Centre of Komi are going to conduct the fifth in succession ecological conference Istoki on March 16, 2019 in Usogorsk village (Udora district of Komi).
According to the conference conditions, the schoolchildren from 7 – 11 forms participate in the conference. However, there are always younger children ready to take part in the conference. Last year, for example, the youngest participants were from the 4th form. There was a wide variety of topics presented by the schoolchildren last year. Among them were Mezen river diversion process, lamprey variety, traditional fishing gears, Udora district protected areas inventory. It should be noted that the report about the traditional fishing gears of Komi people was accompanied by the collection of the ancient fishing gears. There were also unusual works with the slope of literary studies. Two research works were devoted to Vashka and Irva rivers.
At first the Istoki conference was held under Model River Mezen project in Vazhgort village in autumn 2015 and it was the interschool event. Since 2017 it is of district status.
CONTRARY TO STEREOTYPES
| «High Conservation Value Forests» project by Just AuthorRespublika newspaper has published the interview with Silver Taiga Director Yury Pautov about long-term cooperation between the Foundation and Mondi Syktyvkar. The main issues of cooperation with the forestry companies are presented in the interview.
– The cooperation with the environmental NGOs are necessary for the industrial companies as they care about the future. When the companies have unsolved problems or are about to have such and they cannot solve them themselves they call experts and it brings good results for all parties involved into the process: local population, local authorities, NGOs, – says Yury Pautov in the interview. Read the interview (in Russian)…