In Pskov, on the platform of the Regional Resource Center for Volunteerism Support, a strategic session was held with volunteers of the Pskov region as part of the Eco-Saturday project. It was attended by representatives of the authorities, community leaders and entrepreneurs. Everyone from their group presented a project-vision of what a forest park should be like and what needs to be done there to create eco-space.

Goals of the strategy session

The strategic session was devoted to the implementation of the second stage of the Eco-Saturday project, which takes place in Pskov. Then this project in two stages will also be implemented in Samara, Moscow and Omsk.

Alina Rybina, Deputy General Director for Corporate Communications of the AO GC Titan, the expert of the Eco-Saturday project welcomed those who were present. She told that the main aim of the session was to see, by the example of Korytovsky forest park, what the infrastructure means from the point of view of the society, business and authorities.

Alina Rybina noted that she came to Pskov at the time when the construction of the Titan-Polymer plant started. She emphasized that there were a lot of active people in the city who wanted to make the city even better, such as participants in the Eco-Thinking project. "The green agenda has been important theme in Titan-Polymer's activity since the start of the plant, and we continue to form an activist group of people who have decided to be environmentally friendly," she said.

Elena Snegiryova, a Moscow entrepreneur and federal expert of the Eco-Saturday project, told that in 2017 she became familiar with the Eco-Saturday project, and added that the project actively involved experts and federal authorities responded. "Pskov was a launching platform, which supported the idea and the goal, the most important thing is not to intrude into nature, but to carefully integrate our life into it and leave a minimal trace in the environment."

Before the projects began, all three groups had the opportunity to express their ideas for creating eco-space in the forest park. The first speaker was entrepreneur Fedor, who noted that he lived and worked near the forest. He stressed the importance of reducing the construction area in the forest and added that no one took care of the forest. In addition, the forest does not have the best transport accessibility. He proposed to create a self-sustaining urban asset, to organize eco-recreation and eco-tourism in the forest, as well as to arrange the infrastructure for sports. Eco-activist Sergey Elizarov stressed the need to form a space that will take into account the interests of all categories of citizens - from children to pensioners.

Projects to improve the eco-space in Korytovsky Forest Park

Next, all groups were given time to compose their projects. Each group worked in terms of their function, defining key tasks, goals, and results.

The first to present their project, devoted to the organization of eco-space on the basis of Korytovski Park, were community activists.
Sergey Elizarov, who spoke on behalf of a group of social activists, noted that the goal itself was to automate society and all groups of citizens. According to the opinion of the volunteers, it is necessary to create an eco-space consisting of three parts - environmental education, physical activity and comfort. As part of environmental education, excursions can be conducted in the park, citizens' creativity can be developed, and rules for visiting the park can be developed and established.
Physical activity implies the creation of infrastructure for comfortable sports or physical activity. It was suggested to install the turnstiles made of natural materials and are not knocked out of the natural component.

The third part of the eco-space is the comfort of citizens. To this end, we should provide transport accessibility, which will allow getting to the park easily. Also Sergei Elizarov considers it is necessary to install toilets there, to ensure a comfortable stay in the forest.

"We would like people to feel that they are in nature," stressed Sergey Elizarov.

Entrepreneurs were the second to present their project. Elena Snegiryova spoke on behalf of a group of entrepreneurs, who noted that their group was divided into two camps.
"We agreed that ecology is a cool thing. Ecology should be accessible to the consumer and interesting for business," she said. In particular, an architect has been hired to present sketches of eco-space projects at Korytovsky Forest Park.
"Entrepreneurs consider it necessary to place benches, garbage cans and organize separate garbage collection in the park. When there is a minimum infrastructure - business and traffic of people will pull up," said Snegiryova. Ruslan Muradaliev, a member of the regional branch of the public organization "Delovaya Rossiya", noted that he was ready to get personally involved in the development project.
"The project is very interesting, because we do not have such an area in Pskov, where you can walk. We are ready to look for people and help in the development," he added.

Stas Osovsky, chairman of the Pskov regional branch of the public organization "Delovaya Rossiya" noted that the regional branch of the organization would help in the implementation of the project. "You can count on our help and support. This will be the first eco-space in Russia, I would like it to be in Pskov," added Osovsky.

The last to present their project were the representatives of the authorities, who identified the main problems and the main goal - the organization of ecological infrastructure. First of all, it is necessary to determine the status of this area, develop regulatory documents, and identify responsible persons and a working group for the conservation of biodiversity in this forest park. In particular, to attract ecologists, architects, biologists and other specialists. Representatives of the authorities consider it important to make a project that will maintain the image of an ecological city and attract tourists. At the same time there should be an encouragement from the city to create a favorable environment for business in order to attract more investors. The group of representatives of the authorities is sure that without investment it is impossible to develop this project.

Results of the meeting

Alina Rybina concluded by emphasizing that the proposed projects will become the basis for understanding eco-space to be presented at the forum in St. Petersburg in June. Alina Rybina noted that people came to the forest to breathe fresh air and relax in silence. “We can be helpful if we all get together and say that there is a unique piece of nature that can enhance the tourist potential,” said Alina Rybina. “We can organize entrance groups, make rentals and cafes around the forest.” Alina Rybina also added that the AO GC Titan is ready to attract federal experts in order to make Korytovsky Forest Park a unique place.

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