NatureBeST project: 300 participants improved their awareness about green technologies in tourism

The Foresight session “Ecotourism ReBoot” with 300 participants was held in Petrozavodsk on 13th of November 2019. Federal, regional and foreign experts discussed issues related to development of natural areas. The vice-head of the Republic of Karelia Alexander Chepick and Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Karelia for Economic Affairs Dmitry Rodionov presented their vision on the actual issues. Finnish experts Daisy Silvennoinen from CEDTENK and Hanna Koivula from SYKE presented information about green technologies in tourism developed in the framework of Russian-Finnish project KA5041 “Green Nature Based Solutions in Tourism to reduce negative impact on the environment (NatureBeST)” implemented in the framework of Karelia CBC programme. The lead partner of the Project is KRICPE at Petrozavodsk State University.

Daisy Silvennoinen and Hanna Koivula talked about the outcomes and findings of the project and modern solutions developed in the field of energy ie. heat supply, lighting systems, water supply and waste water management, as well as solid waste collection and disposal in Finland. Finnish experience has aroused much interest among participants. In particular, for participants it was important to know that only less than 3% of the waste reaches the landfill (which is the oldest form of waste treatment) thanks to the waste sorting and recycling system developed in Finland.