Project goals and objectives:
The primary goal of the project is to demonstrate, by the example of the Ulla River basin, the role of ecological tourism as a means to protect landscape and biological diversity of river flood plains.
To achieve the goal the following objectives are to be met:
1. to establish a training center for practical organization of sustainable eco-tourism in the Ulla River basin;
2. to map and properly set up trails and routes for organized eco-tourism;
3. to set up a basic infrastructure for organized eco-tourism;
4. to organize the outreach work with the locals on the essence and objectives of eco-tourism, as well as on the role of the local population in this new business;
5. to encourage the development of handicraft industry and services for visiting tourists, thus providing extra earnings for locals;
6. to organize tourist guide training courses for local residents;
Expected outcomes:
1. the appropriate infrastructure, organization and information components have been set up to insure the sustainable development of eco-tourism in the Ulla River basin;
2. the pressure on ecosystems of the Ulla River floodplain has been reduced as a result of the declined flow of unorganized tourists, development of environmental trails, parking lots and recreation facilities;
3. the development of ecological tourism has created new jobs for the locals and accordingly brought increase in their income;
4. the awareness of the local authorities and population of the need to protect the landscape and biological diversity has increased