On December 2, 2016 in sunny Sochi a closing ceremony of Nature Reserves System After 100 Years of Work forum took place. Employees of protected areas of Russia and FSU countries - Belorussia, Kazakhstan, Kirghizia, Uzbekistan, Armenia and Azerbaidzhan participated in the event, which was a symbolic beginning of the 100^th anniversary year of the nature reserves system. Anna Strokan, employee of the Environmental Education Department of the Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve and our representative on Sochi forum, told us about the perspectives of environmental education and main events of 2016.  

• Some reports covered the theme of environmental education. Were there any interesting innovations to use in the Commander Islands reserve?

• I would say, that there were a lot of vivid, useful and exciting reports especially on the workshop called Perspectives of Environmental Education in Specially Protected Areas. It is hard to choose the best of them. Some of the methods described by Voronezhsky Nature Reserve, Stolby Nature Reserve, Khakassky Nature Reserve or Land of the Leopard National Park can be adapted to use in the Commander Islands Reserve. Representative of the Zapovednoye Priamurie shared their interactive educational multimedia programs. Their know-how on salmon is very interesting for us. I would also like to distinguish report of A. R. Murzakhanov called Contribution of Security Service to Environmental Education. National Park Alania shared their experience of unusual exhibition format. It is impossible to mention everybody, otherwise the list may be endless.   

Director of Stolby Nature Reserve Scherbakov V. M. - one of the most outstanding spokesperson

• What were the milestones of Environmental Education Department work in 2016?

• During 2016 we organized several photo exhibitions in many Russian cities and towns, such as Moscow, Kaliningrad and Kirov. Some of them were open-air shows, some situated in museums. By the way, one of the exhibitions can be found today in Hermitage Garden in Moscow and will last till December 26. Many events and holidays were organized on the island and in other regions. It is very pleasant for us to see, that people follow our activity and continue visiting our event. It is definitely good news for us!

Other important event in 2016 was participation in Pristine Russia festival, which gave us a chance to tell a lot of people about our reserve, and participation in Ocean Day in Moscow Zoo, which became traditional for us. Moreover, in 2016 we took part in Sea of Life festival in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for the first time. Sea of Life was very popular and was highly praised by the citizens. Besides, in 2016 we developed a huge contact database, which means a new perspective for our development.

• Do you have some plans for 2017, which can already be disclosed?

• Environmental Education Department of the Commander Islands Nature and Biosphere Reserve is going to organize several exhibitions in some cities and towns of Russia. We stick to our traditional events, such as Marine Mammals Day, Sea Otter Birthday, Water Day; Birds Day and Ocean Day. We will take part in some of the festivals. We will surely organize some evens together with other specially protected areas to celebrate the centenary of the Russian nature reserves system.   

Chairperson of the environmental education workshop Elena Knizhnikova

• Do you think such forums and conferences are useful?

• International conference Nature Reserves System After 100 Years of Work gave us a chance to broaden our contacts and to share experience, part of which we will definitely use in the Commander Islands reserve. Such events help us feel the unity of this fellowship of the specially protected areas, which is essential for future development. I would like to thank all the organizers and administrators of the conference for this opportunity.   

Photos by Anna Strokan