SAVE BAIKAL PROJECT
Baikal Lake is the largest top fresh water depot on our planet; it collects 1/5 of the world fresh water stock. It is 31 470 km² (that can be compared to the territory of Belgium). Baikal being more than 25 mln years old is the deepest lake on the Earth.
In the year 2013 in the framework of "Save Baikal" project the garbage disposal and Baikal lake purity supporting activities were hold within the 3rd environmentally friendly summer camp. The volunteers from France, Canada, Spain, Italy, Russia, Belgium and USA met in the camp to join their efforts. 85 tons of garbage and wastes were cleaned by 700 people in 2013. The participants concentrated their efforts on the natural reservation territory, banks of the Selenga River, hard-to-reach areas and Olkhon Island - totally 40 m² of the coast territory was covered.
Each summer Baikal coast service organizes different events aimed to save the pristine beauty and purity of the Baikal Lake. The repository deconstruction, waste segregation and sending it for the further processing are main activities for maintaining the stable ecological situation in the region, as well as raising awareness and
advocacy among local population. Important is not only to clean the territory from the longstanding waste deposits, but to make the indweller realize, that when leaving the lake, they have to take out much more garbage with, as they have brought.
Apart of above the Baikal coast service is in charge of developing the purity maintenance model in the region, getting in touch with processing plants and performing ecological research.
In 2013 the camp was hold in the period July 15 - August 15. During this time the volunteers were not only busy with Baikal coast cleaning, they had a chance to improve their language skills, learnt to play guitar, to dance Scottish folk dances and simply enjoyed communication with new friends. Every day at least 35 persons were busy in the camp. The time was well scheduled, every volunteer new exactly the scope of work and the tasks.
Alexika supports preservation of Lake Baikal and cooperates with Baikal coast service, annually providing the camp with the equipment required. It is known that the good rest at night results in effective work next day. In this why Alexika assists volunteers to recreate and keep commitment to clean the surrounding environment.
This year Alexika provided the tent KSL Vega 5 as a warehouse and Alexika Trek 2, Tengu Mark 10T, Alexika Rondo 3 Plus, KSL Pajero 2, Tengu Mark 11T, Alexika Freedom 2 Plus for living. The tent Alexika Victoria 5 Luxe served as a meeting pavilion in rainy days, where one could play chess or plan the next day rout. The kitchen was assembled under the Tengu Mark 14T and Alexika 6x5 tarps. While sleeping the volunteers could enjoy the blanket-sleeping bags Alexika Siberia Wide and self-inflating mats Alexika Trekking 60 and Travel 66.
Within the event a research was done. It investigated the illegal waste formation on the coast territory and in forests on the island and how it should be taken out of the national park zone. It appeared, that one of the key reasons was the indwellers and tourists unawareness of the waste management rules, the other one – inappropriate cooperation between the local authorities and the vendor, who is in charge of municipal solid waste in this region.
Every year Baikal attracts more and more tourists. About 700 thousand people visited it in 2013. The major part of the Baikal coast extends within the preserved area, which means the outdoor behavior rules have to be established as the highest priority. The correct municipal solid waste removal and illegal deforestation have to be taken under control.
In 2014 the Baikal coast service extends its boundaries and plans to hold three environmentally friendly summer camps -two out of which will be settled on different Baikal lakesides, the third one – at the Olkhon Island. All three camps will be focused on cleaning and promotional activities, as well as the in-depth research.
In case you have interest to join the volunteers and participate in the “Save Baikal” project, please feel free to contact us at: info@alexika.eu
