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Results (2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007)
Results of GBT’s 24 international summer volunteer projects in 2007: Our groups cleared, constructed, repaired and marked approximately 65km of trail. The majority of this year’s work focussed on constructing major structures (bridges and crossings, switchbacks, stone and wood stairways, etc). In addition, rest areas were set up, cairns installed, and information boards erected. Several trails were marked. Many projects were conducted jointly with groups of children. Litter was cleared and removed from the trail area during the course of most projects. In all projects, all volunteers (foreign, Russian and local) received instruction on various topics regarding ecology and environmental conservation. During the spring/summer season 832 volunteers took part – 647 Russians, 185 international volunteers After five years of GBT work, we can proudly point out that: There have been 94 international summer volunteer projects for building and reconstructing trails in the Irkutsk region and the Republic of Buryatia. There have been 1,945 volunteers from Russia (from Irkutsk, Angarsk, Ulan-Ude, Severobaikalsk, Usol’e-Siberskoe, Ust-Barguzin, Novosibirsk, Barguzin, Tanhoi, Omsk, Barnaul, Moscow, Saint Petersburg, Izhevsk, Voronezh, and other settlements), as well as volunteers from Germany, Australia, Austria, France, Switzerland, England, the United States, Holland, Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Finland, Scotland, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, Ireland, Hungary, China, and Mongolia. If you consider all our projects over the past five years, including our restoration of city parks and groves, the education programs for school children from settlements and city schools, our winter projects, public seminars, round tables, etc, over 3,000 people have been involved. Our future plans currently include:
The Great Baikal Trail Association prides itself in conducting projects that not only build trails with the help of volunteers, but that are also educational and have practical, positive results for all involved.
Summary of the 2006 Season: During the summer of 2006, some 402 volunteers took part in our projects, including 125 international representatives (from Germany, Australia, Austria, Franse,Switzerland, England, the United States, Holland, Italy, Belgium, and Mongolia), There were 197 Russian and 80 local participants. We built, cleaned up, reconstructed and marked out about 90 km of safe and comfortable trails. This year, we managed to build some especially essential, but complex structures, such as large bridges, wooden and stone stairways, in addition to building rest areas and constructing information boards. During our projects, volunteers collected litter and disposed of it at an appropriate dump site. High-schoolers participated in some projects as well. In all, we ran 22 projects in 14 different locations. In the 4 years that we have been around, the total number of people who have volunteered for the Great Baikal Trail has reached 1,487. We have built and reconstructed more than 475 km of trails and made numerous benches, bridges, stairways, turnpikes, switchbacks, and other trail structures. Our volunteer projects have become much more diverse, and include not only trail building but also the construction of stupas for Buddhist temples, helping local people to make hay for forage, building larger campsites, and demolishing old and useless structures in nature preserves. In a recent local survey, the GBT was already found to be the sixth most-visited ecological site around Baikal. Our organization also received national awards for the way we maintain ecological trails. It is to the credit of many volunteers and partner organizations that so much has been accomplished to such high international standards. And of course, our success is mostly due to the help of our volunteers! Without all of them, the GBT dream would not be possible. Thank you! Summary of the 2005 Season: During the 2005 season, work was carried out on 28 sections of trail. 604 volunteers participated, including 336 volunteers from Russia and 163 foreign volunteers from the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Tunis, Denmark, and Holland. As a result, 170 kilomteres of trail were built, reconstructed, marked, cleared and rehabilitated. Trail work included the construction of other necessary structures, such as switchbacks and stone and wooden steps, the overhaul of campsites, and the construction of bridges. Several unique projects involved renovating a visitors' center and reconstructing stupas (a type of Buddhist structure that contains sacred Lama relics). On many GBT projects, volunteers built and installed information boards, and collected and removed garbage. Children participated in several GBT projects. Educational work with tourists and local people took place on all of the GBT projects. Summary of the 2004 Season: During the 2004 season, work was carried out on 14 sections of trail. 345 volunteers participated - 174 volunteers from Russia, including 51 local people, and 120 foreign volunteers from 12 different countries, including Germany, the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, France, Canada, Israel, and Holland. As a result, 145 kilometers of trail were built, reconstructed, marked, and cleared. Summary of the 2003 Season: During the 2003 season, work was carried out on 6 sections of trail. 136 volunteers participated, including 87 volunteers from Russia and 49 foreign volunteers from 12 countries, including the United States, Great Britain, Belgium, Ireland, Canada, France, Germany, Spain, Slovakia, Tunis, Denmark, and Holland. Altogether, the volunteers worked 9522 work-hours. As a result, 70 kilometers of trail were built and reconstructed.
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