WWF in Kamchatka: step by step

• WWF-Russia granted financial support to protect and monitor the snow sheep population within the boundaries of five conservation areas comprising the "Volcanoes of Kamchatka" Nature Park
• WWF-Russia granted financial support to map sea otter population and study its food chain on the Commander Islands to find possible reasons for the population decline in the region
• With support from Kinder®, WWF-Russia and Krontsky State Reserve held a workshop for representatives of the tourist industry of Kamchatka. The workshop was devoted to the code of conduct around marine mammals. In the framework of the same project, 1500 copies of a booklet were published containing the general information on how to behave in the proximity of wild marine mammals. Information stands that provide tourists recommendations on sustainable marine mammal watching were installed near the piers where tourist boats are moored in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatkatsky
• WWF-Russia launched a project to assess the state of key habitats of stone charr and develop recommendations on how to protect this endemic species

• WWF-Russia and Kinder® launched a project aimed at sea otter conservation in the Kuril Islands
• WWF-Russia presented the results of a case study on Russian king crab delivered to the United States. The study was conducted at the initiative of Orca Bay Seafoods. The assessment is the result of joint efforts of WWF-Russia, WWF-US, WWF-Japan, and WWF-Korea
• The Director of WWF-Russia's Kamchatka Office became a member of the Public Environmental Council under the Governor of Kamchatka krai
• WWF-Russia provided expertise to assess the scale and possible causes of environmental crisis off the shore of Kamchatka peninsula
• WWF-Russia signed a cooperation agreement with the Kamchatka krai Administration to join efforts to protect marine and land ecosystems
• WWF-Russia's experts participated in the assessment of 15 fisheries in Kamchatka as a part of the MSC certification process

• WWF-Russia organized an expedition to mt. Nikolka (Milkovo Distric, Kamchatka). The goal of the expedition was to gather scientific data on the local landscapes to establish in future a botanic reserve in the area
  
• WWF-Russia assisted in building a new facility for wild harvest processing in Atlasovo (Milkovo Distric, Kamchatka)
• With financial support from WWF-Russia, a research on streamer lines effectivenes during longline fishing operations was conducted in the Bering Sea and the Sea of Okhotsk. Experts reported at least 80% decrease in number of seabird attacks on longline when streamer lines were used. Observers reported that no endangered species were killed at the time when fishing operations were monitored
  
• 35% of total Kamchatka salmon catches are certified against Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) environmental standards
• 70% of white fish and salmon caught in the sea of the Russian Far East are certified against MSC standards
  
• Scientists and WWF-Russia staff members set two camera traps on a sea lion rookery in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for marine mammals population monitoring and studying

• WWF-Russia's experts assessed the data on seabed benthic communities of the western part of the Bering Sea
• Nature park "Volcanoes of Kamchatka" with support from WWF conducted a research on salmon stocks condition in the Ostrovnaya River
• Six salmon fishing companies were certified against the standards of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)
• WWF organized a workshop on Strategical Environmental Assessment (SEA) of the projects of regional development
• Public anti-poaching camp was moved to the Avacha River from the Bolshaya River in Kamchatka
• WWF-Russia supported financially the field training for the students of Kamchatka State Technical University (KSTU)
• WWF and KSTU have launched a project to put autonomous artificial salmon incubators to the test in the rivers of Kamchatka

• An educational ecological festival supported by WWF took place in Kamchatka
• WWF experts presented a method to assess optimal number of salmon in the spawning grounds based on the 60 years of scientific data
• WWF helped to assess the effectivness of streamer lines at longline fishery
• WWF and the touristic company "Kamchatka Guide" signed an agreement which will help to protect the most scenic places of Kamchatka
• WWF helped to assess the conditions of the sea otters population in the North Kuril islands
• WWF continues the cooperation with Kamchatka State Technical University (KSTU): with support from WWF, KSTU organized a field training for students, two students of KSTU went to Alaska to study salmon

• 10% of all salmon catches in Kamchatka are certified according to the standards of MSC (Marine Stewardship Council). The companies «Vityaz-Auto» and «Delta» have successfully passed the certification for humpback salmon, chum salmon and coho salmon fishing on the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and six large salmon rivers.
• WWF organized the field training for the KSTU students
• WWF and KSTU train graduate students to work as independent observers onboard fishing vessels

• The long struggle of WWF and other environmental organizations to limit drift-net fishing has resulted in a ban on the use of drift-nets in the Russian exclusive economic zone.
• WWF supports independent observers who assess the fishing activities of fishery companies as part of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification.
• WWF supports the work of public inspectors on the rivers of the Ust-Bolsheretsky district as part of a program to combat poaching of salmon.
• WWF organizes seminars for representatives of pollack fishing companies, members of the «Longline Fisheries» Association.
• WWF organizes seminars for entrepreneurs engaged in the production of goods from non-timber forest products in remote areas of Kamchatka.
• Traditional lectures were held at the Kamchatka State Technical University. Their theme has been «Salmon and the environment: preparation for the challenges set by climate change and regional development projects».
• With the support of WWF field identification key «Seabirds on the bottom longline fishery in the Russian Far Eastern Seas» has been published. The book is intended for a wide range of readers, but first of all it will be of interest to observers at fields, specialists in ecology, nature protection and fisheries.

• The restrictions on drift-net fishing, which WWF Russia has insisted on, have been partially included in the new fishing rules.
• WWF has renewed a project to reduce seabird by-catch in longline fisheries. Agreements on cooperation with fishermen have been signed. Seminars for managers of fishing companies and ship crews were held.
• Management of fisheries became the main topic of traditional lectures of scientists from US universities in the Kamchatka State Technical University.
• With the support of WWF Russia, a methodical manual «Assessment of the state of stocks and management of the marine fisheries» by a team of authors has been published.

• Scientists from California and Alaska universities have conducted a series of lectures on biodiversity for Kamchatka students and teachers.
• The first joint project of WWF Russia and the Citi Foundation has been launched. The project is aimed at helping communities that collect and sell non-timber forest products.
• With the support of WWF Russia, a methodological manual «Assessment the state of stocks and management of Pacific Salmon fishery in Kamchatka» by v. Karpenko has been published.

• WWF Russia, in conjunction with «Save salmon TOGETHER!» Fund and the North-Eastern Territorial Administration Federal Agency for Fisheries, organized a hotline to report on instances of poaching on the rivers of Kamchatka.
• WWF Russia and the «Save salmon TOGETHER!» Fund, have invited volunteers to monitor fishing activities in the Ust-Bolsheretsky district.
• Two fishing companies of the peninsula certified their fisheries on the River Ozernaya in accordance to the standards of the Marine Stewardship Council.

An international project on greening the process of extraction, processing, sale and consumption of products from Kamchatka salmon has been launched.

• With our support, the population of the Aleutian Canadian goose, a species that was on the verge of extinction, has been restored.
• First Public Council on salmon in Kamchatka has been established in the Ust-Bolsheretsky district. Its recommendations are taken into account in the management of fisheries.
• A number of seminars and training events to increasing literacy on legal issues have been organized for residents of remote from the regional center settlements.
• With the support of the European Union, a small grants competition was held. Its winners have implemented five human rights environmental projects.
• A program of field workshops for students of the Department of Water and Biological Resources of Kamchatka State Technical University has been developed. It is based on the principles of sustainable management of salmon stocks.
• A course of lectures and practical classes by teachers from the University of Washington, USA have been organized for Kamchatka students.

• A global campaign «Earth Hour» that is aimed at drawing people’s attention to the problem of global climate change was held. Many Kamchatka companies took part in the event.
• With the support of WWF poaching is actively fought. Its level is significantly reduced in the protected areas.
• With the support of the general public, WWF is campaigning against drift-net fishing of salmon, the most non-ecological and irresponsible mode of fishery.
• Children from all over Kamchatka have gathered at the Fourth Festival «Salmon Keepers», organized with the support of WWF.

• The project to restore the population of Aleutian Canadian geese can be considered successful: birds ringed in the Kamchatka nursery and birds released in the Kuril Islands have been spotted in Japan with offsprings produced in the wild.
• Massive and spectacular campaign «March of Parks» was held. Hundreds of schoolchildren and their parents, groups of nature protection organizations came to the streets of Yelizovo holding environmentally themed posters. The holiday was organized with the assistance of the Kronotsky Reserve.
• A campaign has been launched against drift-net fishing in Russian waters, the most non-ecological mode of fishery, leading to the death of marine mammals, birds and non-target fish species.
• A review of the legislation regarding helicopter flight and landing rules in protected areas has been done. All regulations for helicopter pilots are collected in a compilation and published together with GPS coordinates of protected areas in electronic format.
• Since 2008, Kamchatka has been participating in the Far Eastern competition of environmental journalism «Living Taiga», conducted with the support of WWF. Kamchatka journalists are worthy competitors to colleagues from other Far Eastern regions. The win and become laureates.
• A visit-center of the Koryak Reserve has been created and opened to visitors. The exposition hall and classroom are equipped with the latest technology and design ideas. Children’s ecological study groups have been created on the basis of the center.
• The «Oil spill of the world» campaign was held. The Kamchatka community has been presented with a photo exhibition. The pictures portrayed the consequences of oil spills in Norway, Finland, the USA and Russia. Collection of signatures in defense of the West Kamchatka shelf has been organized.
• For the first time in Russia, a lot of streamers have been made in a shop of the Kamchatka fishing company «Akros» — devices that reduce seabird by-catch during longline fishing for bottom fish.
• A web-camera has been fitted in the Valley of Geysers that broadcasts images of erupting geysers and inhabitants of the Valley on the WWF website and the site of the Kronotsky Reserve.

• With the support of WWF, an operational anti-poaching group has been established in the Kronotsky Reserve. The mobile brigade patrols the territory of the reserve and the South Kamchatka Wildlife Refuge. Dozens of poachers have been detained, many loops that were placed on bear trails have been removed, poaching camps and kilometers of fishing nets have been destroyed. As a result, the level of poaching in the territory of the reserve is reduced to practically zero.
• A nature protection team «Green Footprint» have been created, which included students from various Kamchatka universities. In winter, the participants listened to lectures on nature protection, and in the summer they work in protected areas — they clean paths, paint houses, and conduct eco-education work with tourists.
• Three Kamchatka fishing companies underwent pre-certification according to the standards of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). Work continues on the implementation of the principles of environmentally responsible fishing.
• A dialogue has begun with oil companies that intend to extract oil in the shelf area of Western Kamchatka. Exercises to eliminate oil spills were conducted on the Commander Islands.

• With the WWF support, a report on the impact of longline fishing on seabird mortality and an album on the nature of the Commander Islands has been published in English and Russian. In cooperation with the Wild Salmon Center and other non-governmental organizations, a large project is being initiated to conserve salmon biodiversity in Kamchatka.
• A permanent WWF office in the city of Elizovo has been opened, where a small but friendly team is now working.
• A Coalition «Save the Salmon Together!» has been created to implement the principles of sustainable exploitation of salmon populations. It included representatives of environmental organizations, indigenous small peoples of Kamchatka, and the Kamchatka Fisheries Union.
• From this year, children’s field ecological camps are created in the Bystrinsky Nature Park and the protection zone of the Koryak Reserve with the support of WWF.
• A stance on salmon hatcheries has been set, their role in restoring the number of salmonids and the potential negative impact on healthy ecosystems.
• Since 2006, WWF regularly supports the «Salmon Keepers» festival, which involves schoolchildren and students from different regions of Kamchatka.
• A project to support the traditional way of life of the indigenous peoples of Kamchatka has begun: in the northern towns workshops are organized for sewing national clothes, exhibitions are held, and channels for the sale of products are explored. A business plan for the rehabilitation of a reindeer-breeding farm in the village of Khailino has been developed.
• Since this year, WWF has been supporting annual environmental holidays in the «Nalychevo» Nature Park: Bear Day, Bird Day, Volcanoes Day. Cognitive quizzes, lectures and competitions take place in the central part of the park.

For joint work with fishermen, the KamchatNIRO and WWF program has delivered to the Petropavlovsk-Kamchatka a batch of streamers — means for repelling seabirds from fishing gears during the bottom longline fishery in the Kamchatka region. Since this year, about 30% of longline vessels use these devices to reduce bird mortality by at least 80%.

• WWF supports the project to revive the population of Canadian geese in Kamchatka.
• WWF provides border guards with a set of equipment for satellite monitoring, which allows them to effectively track sea poachers directly at sea.
• WWF has organized two expeditions to the Commander Islands. The sea zone was patrolled; satellite monitoring system has been tested; birds’ colonies and marine mammal rookeries have been surveyed; two films about the unique nature of the Commander have been shot. The equipment for the reserve protection staff and office has been purchased; training has been organized for the director and the eco-education officer.

WWF has succeeded in creating a special protection zone in the water area of the Avacha Bay, adjacent to the natural park «Nalychevo». Now rookeries of marine mammals and colonies of seabirds on Krasheninnikov Island and Cape Nalycheva are protected by the state.

At the annual session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in Helsinki, based on the documents prepared by WWF a decision was made to expand the nomination «Volcanoes of Kamchatka» — the nomination includes the «Klyuchevskoy» Nature Park.

• In the «Nalychevo» Nature Park, WWF opens a section of a trail to the Avacha Pass. It is equipped with information signs, convenient bridges, parking and camping places are organized, thermal springs are well-equipped, environmental cordons have been built.
• In the Kamchatka region, WWF begun the support of an analytical group for satellite monitoring within the fish protection system (FGUP «Sevvostrybvod»).
• First WWF friends club appears in Kamchatka — «Keepers of the Living Planet». Years passed and the club turned into an association uniting more than 20 clubs. Now more than 500 children annually participate in their work!

WWF is working to create a marine zone of the «Nalychevo» Natural Park and supports the activities of anti-poaching brigades to conserve salmon stocks.

WWF is engaged in protecting Kamchatka forests in specially protected natural areas: it supports natural parks, reserves, and participates in the creation of new natural reserves. Now specially protected natural territories make up a third of the entire territory of Kamchatka!

• With the help of WWF, a Center for Environmental Education has been built in the natural park «Nalychevo» and much work has been done to improve the park.
• WWF begins to equip Kamchatka with radio communication facilities. The program was called «Panda-communication». Residents of remote taiga settlements, fishermen, and reindeer herders receive free radio stations with one condition: daily transmit information about the ecological situation in the residence area. The use of radio stations has already saved lives of several people due to the timely call of sanitary flights.

In the framework of WWF’s «Living Planet» program, the governor of Kamchatka, Vladimir Biryukov, makes a «Gift to the Earth» — he promises to create new protected areas in the region. In 1999, WWF began work on the creation of regional natural parks in Kamchatka; and natural parks «Klyuchevskaya» with an area of 375,981 hectares and «Blue Lakes» with an area of 4702 hectares have been created.

WWF announces the launch of an international program «Living Planet», which unites the efforts of governments, scientists, entrepreneurs and individuals to carry out concrete actions called «Gifts to the Earth." Kamchatka is one of the first territories of Russia that has been included in the list of global ecoregions of the Earth.

WWF is working to protect the brown bear: a census has been carried out, a population management plan has been drawn up, and regulatory documents have been developed to ensure the implementation of the plan.

A state reserve «Koryaksky» has been organized with the participation of WWF.

WWF begins work in Kamchatka.