Today, on February 15, at the site of the Russian Investment Forum RIF-2018 in Sochi, Joint-Stock Company Northern Caucasus Resorts, Joint-Stock Company North Caucasus Development Corporation and Autonomous Nonprofit Organization Caucasus Nature Center signed a tripartite agreement on environmental protection cooperation before the Minister of the Russian Federation for North Caucasus Affairs Lev Kuznetsov.

The document was signed by the Director General of JSC NCR Khasan Timizhev, Director General of JSC NCDC Sergey Kharitonov and Deputy Director General of ANO Caucasus Nature Center for environmental activities Natalya Vavilova.

According to the document, the cooperation between the development institutions of NCFD and the environmental organization will be aimed at conservation of the unique biodiversity and natural complexes of the Northern Caucasus, promotion and development of environmental tourism, formation of ecological culture and attraction of public attention to environmental security.

‘As a management company of the North Caucasus tourism cluster, we have always emphasized that gorgeous, unspoiled nature of the Northern Caucasus and its unique ecological environment – are one of the most important factors in tourism attractiveness of the region. And our task is to preserve the territories where all our projects are being developed,’ the Director General of JSC NCR Khasan Timizhev said after the signing of the agreement. ‘With the engagement of the professional experience of Caucasus Nature Center – a young, but already a reputable environmental organizations, we can ensure more harmonious coexistence of man and nature; will be able to avoid contradictions between the interests of the development of tourism in the region and preservation of its biological diversity,’ he stressed.

North Caucasus Development Corporation has incentives that the investment projects implemented by it in the North Caucasus Federal District comply with all environmental and ecological standards. Without special attention to preserving the unique natural potential in the macro-region it is impossible to make plans for its successful economic development. I am sure that our cooperation will help preserve the nature of the Northern Caucasus for generations to come,’ the Director General of JSC NCDC Sergey Kharitonov commented.

‘Since its establishment in 2016, Caucasus Nature Center has formed and is successfully implementing a set of environmental projects aimed at preserving rare and endangered species of flora and fauna of the Northern Caucasus. During our work we have gained considerable experience in this field, leading scientists and experts were engaged, working groups have been created and effectively operate at the federal and regional level,’ Deputy Director General of ANO Caucasus Nature Center for environmental activities Natalya Vavilova said. ‘Within the agreement signed today, Caucasus Nature Center will be able to pass on their expertise and experience in wildlife conservation to its colleagues from JSC NCR and JSC NCDC for their integration in the development of the tourism cluster in the North Caucasus. Together we can make our resorts greener, by creating opportunities for environmental education of tourists and their ideological involvement in the protection of the unique natural environment of the Caucasus,’ she added.

Within the agreement on cooperation in environmental protection, the parties also signed a road map for 2018-2020. It identifies major joint environmental projects, including the restoration of Persian Leopard populations in the Caucasus, conservation of the Caspian seal, boxwood (Buxus colchica) and the European bison in the Caucasus. In addition, one of activity areas shall be the recreational development of all-season tourist-and-recreational complexes run by JSC NCR. In particular, the feasibility of establishing a system for the open-air cage complexes for keeping of animals, design of nature trails, equipment of a visit center where visitors can obtain information about rare and endangered species of flora and fauna of the North Caucasus.