Agenda 21 for sustainable development of pilot mountain communities in connection with holding of the XXII Winter Olympic Games and XI Winter Paralympics Games in Sochi in 2014 (стр. 1 )

Agenda 21 for sustainable development of pilot mountain communities in connection with holding of the XXII Winter Olympic Games and XI Winter Paralympics Games in Sochi in 2014

Moscow, 2012

Table of contents

Foreword. 4

Introductory part. 12

Chapter 1. Review of the existing international experience and approaches. 18

1.1 Greening Programme. 19

1.2 Mountain areas and watersheds. 20

1.3 IUCN Initiative on interconnection of water resources and biodiversity. 20

1.4 Access from the outside: positive and negative aspects. 21

1.5 Initiatives on local development. 22

1.6 The experience of work of municipalities of Canada on the development of local Agenda 21. 22

1.7 Obstacles on the way to sustainable development of municipalities. 23

1.8 Possibilities for the development of small businesses in rural areas. 24

1.9 Proposals and recommendations on the development of mountain settlements on the basis of international experience. 25

Chapter 2. General characteristic of the development of the Big Sochi in the context of Local Agenda 21 and selection of pilot municipalities. 30

2.1 Criteria of selection of pilot settlements. 32

2.2 Pilot settlements in the environment. 34

Chapter 3 Consideration of the opinion of local citizens as a basis for compiling the Local Agenda 21. 36

3.1 Basic parameters of the sociological study. 36

3.2 General conclusions of sociological study for the three settlements. 38

3.3 On the necessity of changes. 41

3.4. Current and past problems as risks for sustainable development. 44

3.5 Environmental risks as a main limiting factor for developing agriculture in its market and natural forms 45

3.6 The risks of tourism development. 49

3.7. Increasing activity and involvement of inhabitants in the process of decision making. 50

Chapter 4. Cluster model of sustainable development of pilot settlements. 53

4.1. Overcoming external barriers. 59

4.2 Developing Infrastructure for Sustainable Development. 62

4.3 Development Directions of the Pilot Settlements. 63

4.4 Developing the Basics for Implementation of the Local Agenda 21. 68

Conclusion. 75

References. 80

Formation of long-term positive changes in the course of addressing the priority issues

Foreword

At the turn of the centuries it became evident that humanity is facing the problem of perpetuation of disproportions both between and within nations that are further exacerbated by such problems as poverty, hunger, deterioration of human health, illiteracy and ongoing degradation of ecosystems. Aggravating situation with the global crisis covering social, economic and environmental spheres proved the inefficiency of isolated forms of national regulation and existing mechanisms of international cooperation. The Agenda raised the issue of increasing global responsibility of the countries.

«In order to meet the challenges of environment and development, States have decided to establish a new global partnership. This partnership commits all States to engage in a continuous and constructive dialogue, inspired by the need to achieve a more efficient and equitable world economy, keeping in view the increasing interdependence of the community of nations and that sustainable development should become a priority item on the agenda of the international community. It is recognized that, for the success of this new partnership, it is important to overcome confrontation and to foster a climate of genuine cooperation and solidarity. It is equally important to strengthen national and international policies and multinational cooperation to adapt to the new realities» (from the Introduction to Chapter II of the Agenda 21)

Agenda 21 became a basic document of the global partnership on transformation of the world in the interests of providing for sustainable development. It reflects the reached global consensus and political commitments adopted at the highest possible level related to cooperation in the field of the environment and development. The Agenda 21 was signed by the heads of delegations of 179 countries at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio-de-Janeiro in 1992. As an Action Programme on sustainable development the Agenda 21 should be implemented by various stakeholders with due account of differences in situations, possibilities and priorities of countries and regions within the framework of identified programme areas and with full observance of all principles contained in the Declaration on Environment and Development. The responsibility on successful implementation of the Agenda 21 lies primarily with the governments. National strategies, plans, policies and processes have crucial importance in reaching the above objective. In this context the Agenda 21 calls all communities and settlements working at the local level to get involved in this work and to formulate their own local Agenda 21. Through consultations and consensus local authorities jointly with local population, businesses and civil organizations are capable of formulating sound development strategies.

The Agenda 21 envisages involvement of all stakeholders, including representatives of the Olympic movement. In this context the development of local Agenda 21 represents one of the obligations of the Bidding Book on the promotion of Sochi as the place for holding the XXII Olympic Games and XI Paralympic Games in 2014. The Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee is responsible for establishing a system of managing transition to sustainable development aimed at introduction of principles of sustainable development in all aspects of preparation and holding of the Games.

Within the framework of the obligations of the Bidding book a project on the development of Local Agenda 21 for sustainable development of pilot mountain settlements in connection with holding of the XXII Olympic Games and XI Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014 was started. The main implementing institution of the project is the Russian Regional Environmental Centre that has necessary experience of implementing such projects. Support for project implementation is rendered by the National Organizing Committee Sochi 2014, Administrations of the town of Sochi and Adler district.

The time frame of the Project is: August 2011 – January 2012.

The Project is also aimed at rendering support for reaching the following objectives:

·  Development of the ownership of the Olympic project by local population;

·  Raising the activity of local population and strengthening the role of local self-governance in the process of self-identification of population of pilot municipalities;

·  Increasing the level of education and awareness of population in the field of sustainable development.

The difference of the Local Agenda 21 from typical development plans is in their specific local character and direct involvement of local citizens and administrations in their development, when a decision-making process is organized not as a “top-down” one, but rather a “bottom-up” process.

From methodological point of view the development of the Local Agenda 21 was concentrated on the work with local population through organization of a sociological poll and deepened interviews. Information requests were compiled and satisfied with the assistance from the Administration of Sochi and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee. The development of the document required a specialized information and expert evaluation in various profiles. This was caused both by differentiation of problems faced by the citizens of local municipalities and by their wishes and plans for future reforms.

Serious lack of official statistical data on the pilot communities resulted in the content of the work and had impact on the approaches and methods used in the project. Fragmentation of information on the investment intentions of the private sector, absence of data of the state statistics on the most important indicators necessary for assessing sustainability of growth, produced certain difficulties for project implementation. In future filling information gaps and organization of a system of the state statistics for mountain communities will allow developing better local Agendas 21 at lower expenditures.

The concept of sustainable development in its contemporary meaning is the core of the project methodology. Basing on the concept of sustainable development elaboration of the Agenda 21 allows to identify major objectives of development and to structure the needs of local citizens, or, using more general terms, to help them in the process of self-identification. It is also necessary to take into account that due to under-development of mechanisms of self-organization of civil society in Russia possibilities of local citizens to create practice of sustainable development of mountain communities are rather limited. Invitation of external experts becomes a necessary attribute of the development of Local Agenda 21.

Construction and putting into operation within limited time-frame of Olympic facilities, as well as implementation of related large-scale infrastructure projects inevitably result in changes in the existing environmental, economic and social situation in mountain areas. From the point of view of criteria of sustainable development these changes have both positive (for example, infrastructure development, construction of new social and sport facilities, etc.) and negative impact (for example, conflicts of local citizens with guest workers, pollution of natural sources of water). Relative isolation of mountain settlements historically facilitates formation of a conservative (protective) type of thinking of local citizens, oriented at following traditions and copying of the examples of the past. Citizens begin to notice primarily negative implications of the ongoing changes (“emerging problems”) and their rethinking might get a protest form. The model forming in their mind gets a destructive character.

This predetermines for external experts a complex task of work with local population on changes in priorities. At the same time, this does not imply dictating external opinion and development models to the citizens. Constructive model should be naturally formed within collective vision of the citizens and only this way forms a self-identification of citizens of a settlement. At the same time, of course formation of positive attitude should be based on positive changes that actually take place.

In this sense, the essence of the Agenda 21 within the framework of the project is connected with facilitation of formation of social, economic and environmental conditions favorable for sustainable existence of mountain settlements. Why sustainable development model indeed forms positive attitude of local citizens and creates the most favorable conditions for their existence? Why sustainable development for local citizens means the constructive approach to creating their future? This is connected with a basic principle of equal rights and possibilities of the present and future generations that forms a basement of the concept of sustainable development which excludes overexploitation of material, human and natural resources. So, sustainable development provides the idea of economic growth, but puts restrictions on the character and scale of this growth which are close to mentality of citizens of the mountain settlements.

In response to contemporary challenges and in order to solve current problems in context of sustainable development it is necessary to choose decisions that prevent exceeding admissible limits of the system parameters. It also relates to prevention of chronic poverty and opposing formation of conditions for natural accidents, as well as to support of gender and demographic balances. Apart from the economic efficiency itself fundamental features of sustainable development include observance of the principle of social justice and provision of environmental and economic safety. If the principles of sustainable development are consecutively used at the preparatory process of the Olympic Games then negative emotions of local residents disappear[1].

Formation of a model of sustainable development is primarily connected with a complex of measures and programmes on minimizing and compensation of damage in environmental, social and economic spheres, which is brought in the course of current reforms (so called solution of “new” problems). The programme of restoration of the Mzymta River connected with negative impact of current construction activities may serve as an example.

The other set of reforms and the main argument in favor of sustainable development should be connected with solution of the “past” problems of settlements (dating back to the Soviet times), dealing with the shortage of energy and heat, bad condition of roads, lack of access to good quality medical and social services[2]. To be objective, the Time solves some problems of such type and these solved problems are not considered as chronic ones anymore. Thus, in the course of the sociological study, performed within the framework of the Project (see below), local citizens mentioned the progress in registration of property rights on land sites. This is a good sign of reforming the institutional relations in the Russian society.

The market economy “brought” products and goods on the shelves of shops and the local residents do not mention lack of goods as a problem anymore.

Within the framework of the questioning citizens definitely mentioned the absence of gasification as the most acute problem. This resource was never at their disposal before and high priority of the need for gasification can be interpreted as a long-standing recognized physical and psychological problem, connected with the lack of heat and uncomfortable way of life.

Creation of modern comfortable conditions of life (along with interesting and well-paid job) is a necessary factor of attracting the youth (future generations) to live in mountain conditions. Therefore, at present gasification is positioned as one of the main steps in the direction towards sustainable development. It is necessary to mention that in the current conditions of high tariffs on electric power, relatively high prices on wood and regulation of logging, gasification can really be considered as the best way for addressing the issues of provision of heat and cooking for local citizens.

The experts of the Russian Regional Environmental Centre have already dealt with protective models that envisaged conservation of already attained achievements in counterbalance with mastering of new ones. Thus, orientation towards the development was substituted by the course towards survival.

The situation in Bulunga settlement

Originally, within the framework of the international project “Sustainable development of mountain regions of the Caucasus – Local Agenda 21», implemented by Regional Environmental Centres of Russia and the Caucasus, Bulunga settlement was considered as one of the pilot settlements of the Chegem district of Kabardino-Balkarian Republic.

The project in Bulunga envisaged education of population in fundamentals of business, land and environmental legislation and it had the potential for this. It was proposed to pay special attention to tourism, including individual one. However, the head of administration of the Chegem district was of different opinion on the education (he mentioned: “You will teach the youth, but where can they apply their knowledge?”) and on possibilities of the development of tourism: “we can survive only due to agriculture and should not think of tourism”. The wish of administration to keep management and control in a situation when the future seemed obscure and vague deprived the population of alternative options and diversification of activities. As a result, the settlement left the international project. The citizens did not get a chance to try other options.

In order to overcome a frustration gap between current challenges and the desired Image of the future formed (consciously or intuitively) by local population, external experts should focus attention of the citizens on positive moments, already connected with preparation for the Olympic Games of 2014, for example, on the establishment of new social infrastructure (schools, hospitals…). It is necessary to mention that large-scale Olympic changes might seriously speed up the process of creation of a model of sustainable development of a settlement. At the same time, new options or additional possibilities appear for organizing vital activity (for example, development of craftsmanship).

The project consists of the three stages that reflect the logic of the development of Local Agenda 21 for pilot municipalities.

Within the framework of the first stage it was necessary to implement the final selection of pilot settlements and to give characteristics and make assessment of the initial socio-economic and environmental situation in them.

The second stage envisaged organization and conducting of questioning of local citizens. From our point of view, attraction of students of local institutes as volunteers for conducting a sociological survey fully corresponded to realization of a principle of unselfish serving to the principles of the Olympic movement by the youth, who became thus a part of this movement. Within the framework of this stage the analysis of possibilities for the development of settlements was performed based on the application of the available experience of holding the Olympic Games, world championships, and implementation of large-scale national projects. A series of meetings with representatives of local administrations and experts was organized.

The third, final stage of the project was devoted to the discussion of the draft Agenda 21 with all the stakeholders, including official partners of the Sochi games and citizens of local settlements (feed-back). Presentations of the Local Agenda 21 in Sochi and in Moscow in the headquarters of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee are the final events of the project.

The authors of the Local Agenda 21 for sustainable development of pilot mountain communities in connection with holding of the XXII Winter Olympic games and XI Winter Paralimpic games in Sochi in 2014 are:

Mikhail Kozeltsev – Executive Director of the Russian regional environmental centre, Head of the Institute on Natural Resources Economics and Environmental Policy at the Higher School of Economics (Leader of the Project, Head of the group of the authors)

Milana Verkhunova – Sustainability Department Director, Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee

Andrey Terentiev – Deputy Executive Director of the Russian regional environmental centre

Maria Chepiga – Project Manager of the Russian regional environmental centre

Alex Reteyum – Senior Researcher at the Higher School of Economics

Marina Rybakova – Head of the Sociology Branch at the Institute of Chemistry and Sustainable Development Issues of the D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

Margaret Schukina – Head of the Laboratory at the Institute of Chemistry and Sustainable Development Issues of the D. Mendeleyev University of Chemical Technology of Russia

The executors of the Project express their sincere gratitude for assistance in implementation of the Project to the staff members of the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee: the Senior Vice President Gregory Kocharov and Sergey Kurilko, Chief Expert Sustainability Division Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee; to Sochi City Administration and Anna Drobina as the Vice Mayor of Sochi and the First Deputy of the Administration of Adler District in Sochi Mr. Valeriy Kokorev. Special thanks for hospitality and professional assistance to Mr. Oleg Vishnevetskiy – Acting Director of Economics and Forecasting Department in the Administration of Sochi.

Our gratitude to the residents of the pilot settlements, heads of local administrations: Mr. Vachakan Avedyan, Yuriy Shebolta, Oleg Kikilo and their deputies, employers and invited experts.

Fantastic work was done by the volunteers, the students of the Sochi Branch of the University of Peoples Friendship and many thanks to their leader Mrs. Vera Samodurova.

Our special thanks for the assistance in the implementation of the project to the National Research University “Higher School of Economics” and personally to the rector of HSE, Dr. Yaroslav Kuzminov and the first pro-rector, Dr. Leonid Gohberg. The authors express their sincere gratitude for the invaluable input and consultations in the field of spatial planning to the specialists of the HSE - Dr. Irina Iliyna and Dr. Alexander Epstein. The ideas of Mr. Alexander Bagin concerning application of technological platform in the Sochi region would be definitely used.

Introductory part

Since its initiation in the Ancient Greece and until the present time the concept of the Olympic movement has a rich vision content that along with the demonstration of unlimited human physical potential - citius, altius, fortius! – also bares humanistic ideas of affirmation of human virtue, peacefulness and unification of people.

Contemporary period of the development of civilization creates global challenges for the mankind. Ignoring these problems might create new contradictions and conflicts. The Olympic movement responds to these challenges and in its activity on strengthening the principles and propaganda of the Olympic values and dissemination of the ideas of overcoming the barriers among the people, adapts the newest achievements in addressing modern issues according its tasks. For this purpose the International Olympic movement, represented by its managing bodies, actively harmonizes and collates its activity with activity of international organizations and institutions. Since 2009 the International Olympic Committee is an observer at the UN General Assembly.

United Nations consider the desired future of mankind through the looking glass of sustainable development. The concept of sustainable development, based on a principle of equal rights of the present and future generations, is guided by the integrated environmental, economic and social development. Protection of the environment should be an inalienable part of the development process and should not be considered apart from it. Economic development, fair development of social sphere and environmental safety should be combined. UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon, describes sustainable development as creation of sustainable “green” economy that enables environmental protection in the course of reaching the Millennium Development Goals on the basis of income increase, provision of decent jobs and poverty reduction.

The Olympic movement sequentially turns the Games into a successful example of implementation of the concept of sustainable development and an instrument of dissemination of knowledge on a possibility of its mutually useful, economically sound and environmentally efficient realization.

Olympic Movement Agenda 21, adopted in 1999, inspires the organisers of the Games to make all possible efforts for better integration of the principles of sustainable development and environmental responsibility in all aspects of preparation for and holding of the Games. It served as a basis for the development of the most important conceptual document that formed a fundamental theoretical basis – IOC Guidelines in the field of sport, environment, and sustainable development published in 2006.

Successful practical experience of implementing environmental programmes oriented on sustainable development within the framework of preparation and holding of the Olympic and Paralimpic Games is being accumulated during 15 years already since holding of the first “green” Games in Lillehammer in 1994. The Olympic Games in Vancouver in 2010 are the first Winter Olympic Games organized on the basis of a platform of sustainable development, where the main ideas were connected with social innovation and involvement of indigenous people. The first Summer Olympic Games, based on the platform of sustainable development will be held in London in 2012. The main emphasis of these Games is made on regeneration of the East London and a programme of cultural diversity.

At present, following the Olympic Charter and guiding documents of the IOC, the organizers of the Sochi 2014 Games are involved in preparation and holding of the innovation Winter Games. This is the first national project of such a scale in Russia, implemented on the platform of sustainable development. Its main emphasis – transformation of the city of Sochi, social and environmental innovations.

In Russia a small experience of the development of Local Agenda 21 for mountain settlements exists. The main classic example of that kind is the international project “Sustainable development of mountain regions of the Caucasus – Local Agenda 21” that represents an example of cooperation of public organizations on the basis of regional environmental centres of Russia and the Caucasus under the motto “the Caucasus – our common mountain domain».

The project was initiated in 2003 within the framework of the programme “the Alps and the Caucasus” of the International Mountain Partnership. Financial support for the project was provided by the Federal Ministry of the Environment, Nature Protection and Nuclear Safety of Germany and the Ministry of the Environment of the Principality of Lichtenstein. Eight mountain settlements were selected for the project implementation, two for each of the participating countries – Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia and the Russian Federation. In Russia mountain settlement were selected in the Republic of North Osetia – Alania and in Kabardino-Balkarian Republic. This work resulted in the development of Local Agendas 21 for pilot settlements the structure and content of which corresponded to the requirements of the Local Agenda 21 adopted in Rio-de-Janeiro in 1992. The process of the development of Local Agenda 21 for mountain settlements of the Caucasus had several specific results:

· Several small projects that were considered as the priorities from the point of view of local citizens were supported;

· Programmes of training seminars for citizens and local administrations were developed and several seminars on topical issues, identified in the course of the work with population, were held;

· Events devoted to exchange of experience for local administrations and citizens of pilot communities were regularly held;

· Information database was developed and methodological Guidelines, adjusted to the conditions of the Caucasus, were compiled.

Implementation of the above project provided several useful practical advises that were used by the authors in the course of the development of Local Agenda 21 for sustainable development of mountain settlements in connection with holding of the XXII Winter Olympic Games and XI Paralympic Games in Sochi in 2014.

Lessons learnt in the course of implementation of the international project “Sustainable development of mountain regions of the Caucasus – Local Agenda 21”.

1)  Attention paid to the factor of viability of a settlement expressed in the activity of socio-economic development and accumulated ethno-cultural traditions. Local action plans are compiled in order to facilitate “start and drive” of an object capable of doing it. There is a number of absolutely different settlements for which a mechanism of self-development can be introduced only after the state addresses acute humanitarian issues (providing secure drinking water, medical services, etc.).

2)  Importance of establishing communication ties. The results of the project implementation showed that it is crucial to establish interaction among people and to ensure their access to information. Therefore, construction/renovation of clubs, introduction of Internet were among priority measures for the Local Agenda 21.

In a wider sense the issue of organizational-information cooperation with decision-makers at the republican level was addressed. Apart from other advantages it gave an opportunity to get involved in the implementation of the Federal Programme “Mountains of Osetia”.

3)  In methodological terms the project demonstrated that the information base relied on the conduction of a sociological survey, semi-structured interviews and informal discussions. A standard Passport of a settlement was developed.

4)  It was shown that the growth of well-being in the settlements during the first stage of the project was not followed by improving of the quality of life and increase of social optimism.

Foreign assistance to this project was focused on the creation of a material base for improving communication among the citizens themselves and between local self-governance bodies and the citizens.

Among the events financed by external donors were: installation and widening of the Internet network, reconstruction of the central square of Stur-Digora settlement and construction of a rural social centre of the Council of the elders of Tenegli settlement (North Osetia – Alania), procurement of the office equipment and computers for the administration of Stur – Digora and Elbrus settlements. Apart from this, the government of Principality of Lichtenstein facilitated the development of small business by providing the equipment for a bakery.

External donor aid facilitated more active participation in co-financing of several events organized by the administrations.

Joint actions of external donors, state administration, local self-governance bodies and local citizens of Stur-Digora settlement resulted in creation of a well-organized territory (improvement of the central square, painting of a bus stop and the building of the local administration, reconstruction of water pipe-line, etc.), improvement of the environmental situation (forest planting, protection from floods, etc.). Citizens of the settlements mentioned that well—organized territory appeared that serves as a social centre of the settlement and a place for holding social events and festivities.

Many reasonable things were borrowed by the team of the current project from the experience of the project described above. At the same time, there is a basic difference between the projects – absence of external donors in the present project. While participation in the small grant programme of external donors was one of the conditions for the earlier project, formulated by those donors and considered as a certain “bonus” for a successful self-identification and activization of local citizens, initial conditions of the given project were formulated in a different manner, though the tasks of self-identification and increasing the activity of the citizens in the process of self-governance is equally important. In this case, the situation is determined by a large-scale reforms implemented by the state, marketing partners and investors participating in the preparation for the Olympic Games in Sochi in 2014. At present nine marketing partners are involved in the implementation of the Programme on sustainable development of Sochi 2014. They implement 27 projects. Among those partners are such companies – leaders of the Russian and international markets – as Megaphone, RZD, Rostelecom, Ingosstrakh, Rosneft, Coca-Cola, Dow, Panasonic, Procter & Gamble. The programme of full energy supply for the Big Sochi is being implemented.

In comparative terms, energy deficit, typical for the development of small and medium-size in pilot settlements of Kabardino-Balkaria and Northern Osetia (proposals on designing small hydropower stations were included in the list of proposals for grants), will not be an obstacle for the development of pilot settlements considered by the project.

The settlements that served the objects of the analysis in both projects on the development of Local Agenda 21 have numerous common features, including absence of a base for the long-term stable development and low level of possibilities for adaptation to changing external factors. First of all, this is connected with weak potential of the settlements themselves (low educational level, unfavorable demographic situation, very low level of the development of entrepreneurship, etc). Secondly, sustainable development of mountain settlements should be based on favorable conditions of external environment, that are capable of facilitating sustainable development of small municipalities (availability of development institutions at the local level, agricultural cooperatives involved in marketing and sale of agricultural products, educational and cultural centres and other useful structures).

The UNDP/GEF project “Biodiversity conservation in the Russian part of the Altai – Saian Eco-region” may serve as an example similar in terms of its tasks and ideas. Especially it relates to its sub-component “Organization of sustainable life support of population in specially protected natural areas: conceptual basis and practical guidelines”. The results of implementation of that project are valuable for the project under consideration. Te UNDP/GEF project considered one of the aspects described in the above paragraph. It performed a certain testing of the institute of development – to ensure micro-crediting of citizens of mountain settlements for specific commercial projects.

The main favorable opportunities on providing the population with wages in specially protected areas were identified along with development of mechanisms of using these opportunities on the example of specific micro-projects of local citizens. The programmes of sustainable life support may really become an important sphere of joint activities of national parks, biosphere reserves (reservations) and other specially protected areas with local authorities and local citizens on addressing social issues, as well as on ensuring protection of natural and historical and cultural objects. Obtained experience might be successfully applied also for ordinary rural areas that chose the way of sustainable development and rely on their own resources and potential».

The project used a practice of issuing micro-credits (with ruble equivalent of 1 000 – 1 500 USD) to active citizens of settlements for micro-projects concentrated in three main areas:

- agricultural production;

- the sphere of reception and servicing visitors;

- the sphere of services for local population.

The UNDP/GEF project raised the issue of supporting gratuitous initial marketing research capable of facilitating better choice of types of economic activities by the most active citizens that allow them to create sustainable business structures.

Of special practical importance for the Project is the direction of work on encouraging establishing of specially protected areas and favorable conditions by local administrations and administrations of protected areas for maximum possible involvement of local population in the sphere of reception and servicing visitors. This will also serve for raising revenues and employment of low-income part of population with due account of environmental considerations.