Opinions & Interviews

BREST, 21 January (BelTA) – Belarus’ protected areas need to tap into tourism business more actively to attract more tourists, Belarus’ First Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Protection Iya Malkina said replying to a question from a BelTA correspondent.

"For quite some time Belarus has invested substantial budgetary resources in the development of protected areas. We can say that Brest Oblast is a leader here. It money is invested, there should be some impact. We need to look at the protected areas in the context of tourism opportunities. This is very promising. It will contribute to the development of infrastructure, attract foreign currency into the country,” Iya Malkina noted.

There are eight reserves of the national importance in Brest Oblast. They operate 36 tourist and excursion routes and nature trails. In 2015 they hosted more than 7,000 visitors. The local environmental fund "Sanctuaries of Brest Oblast" raised $700,000 in international assistance last year. The funds were invested in ecotourism.

In addition, international grants are used for the technical needs of the protected areas. For example, as part of the EU/UNDP project Clima-East, which aims to address climate problems in Belarus, about Br7.8 billion has been allocated to clear wetlands in the Zvanets reserve. The environmental center in the Pribuzhskaye Polesie reserve is being renovated within the framework of another project "Supporting the transition of the Republic of Belarus to the green economy”.

Iya Malkina is in Brest for the session of the Brest regional committee of natural resources and environmental protection. The First Deputy Minister considers the work of the agency in 2015 as satisfactory. She noted that in 2016 more efforts should be invested in cleaning up untidy land, attracting investment by environmental organizations.