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Andrey Suknev
has a background in economics and physical training. He
worked as the director of the Center of the Buryat Republic
Regional Tourism Support for many years. Andrey has also
been working with international organizations for the
protection of Baikal for more than 10 years. In order to
promote the development of tourism in the Baikal region he
introduced the concept of Bed and Breakfast accommodations
in private homes, and created a B&B address data base for
the whole region. He presented a project "The Great Baikal
Trail" at conferences in the US, South America, Africa, and
Europe. Andrey is one of the founders of the "Baikal
Trails" company; he is also a firm's consultant. Andrey is a
co-director of the Great Baikal Trail Association.
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Baldanov
Sergey, the president of the Federation of Sport
Tourism and Mountaineering of Republic Buryatiya (FSTMRB).
His background is in construction engineering, but Sergey
also works in the tourism field for more than 15 years.
He was one of the founders of FSTMRB, and led numerous high-altitude
expeditions to such famous places as the Pamir peaks, Altai
mountain range, Thyan-Shan and East Sayan Mountains. He
climbed mountains all over Russia and abroad, including
Pamir and Tyan-Shan mountains and the Alpes (Mont Blanc).
Sergey has been working as a mountaineering coach for children's
and youth groups for many years, and he was always engaged
in environmental education of tourists and local people.
In 2001 together with friends Sergey founded a firm "Baikal
Trails" to work on ecological tourism. Sergey"s hobby is
to find new trails and routes.
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Ariadna Reida
is a graduate of Irkutsk State University where she studied
biology and chemistry. Since 1993 Ariadna has been working
with non-profit Russian and international environmental
organizations. In 1995-1996 she led a project, “Volunteers
for Baikal-Lena Nature Reserve,” that included both Russian
and international volunteers in building trails and camp
sites in the territory of the Baikal-Lena State Nature
Reserve. In 2002 Ariadna received her Masters degree in
Environmental Studies from Evergreen State College in
Olympia, Washington. For the last several years she has been
working with organizations such as the Federation for Sport
Tourism and Mountaineering of Buryatia Republic, the
Tahoe-Baikal Institute, Baikal Watch, and Earth Corps of
Seattle. In 2004 she became a co-director of the Great
Baikal Trail Association (GBTA). Her duties include
organizing and leading exchange programs, oral and written
translations, promoting environmental awareness, and
administrative work for GBTA.
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Gary Cook is the Russian programs
director at the Baikal Watch Project at the Earth Island
Institute in California. Gary has a Masters in Economics and
Linguistics, is an expert in nature conservation and
ecological tourism and speaks Russian fluently. In 1991 Gary
and several collegues founded the Baikal Center for
Ecological and Citizen Initiatives – one of the first NGOs
in the Baikal region. He has also helped to start a campaign
to protect Baikal seals – nerpa. In the past 10 years Gary
has led many ecotours to Lake Baikal national parks. He has
also helped with the organization and running of different
exchange programs, educational tours, and conferences for
Russian specialists in natural resources management, nature
conservation, and biodiversity. Gary Cook is a consultant
for World Bank, the Russian Center for Biodiversity
Conservation, and other international organizations working
in Russia. Gary is an important supporter of the Great
Baikal Trail organization. |
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Igor Zadevalov
was born in 1961. He studied mechanical engineering and
has worked as an engineer for 5 years. He fell in love with
the mountains when he was 15. He climbed in the Tiyan Shan
and the Pamirs. Since 1992 Igor has worked with Andrey Suknev
and deals with eco-tourism on a professional basis. He is
a chief of children's club "LAT" (Laboratory of Active Tourism).
He has a lifeguard's certificate. He also has extensive
experience working in the Ministry of Emergency. Igor is
a specialist in river rafting and ski tourism. In "Baikal
Trails" company he is preparing tour guides.
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Mikhail Ivanov
studied at the Eastern-Siberian State Academy of Culture and
Arts, Cultural and Natural Resources Department and got his
degree as a manager of protected natural territories. He has
experience in developing and building environmental trails
in national parks and reserves. He is now working with the
Great Baikal Trail Association as web-page designer and
volunteer coordinator. |
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Julia Vologzhina
graduated from the East-Siberian State Academy of Culture
and Arts with a major in tourism management. Julia also has
experience in volunteer management and when she is not
working for GBT she teaches a course – "Organization of
Tourist Activity"– for students that specialize in tourism
management. Julia is currently developing social projects
for GBT that involve working with orphans. She is also a big
help to foreign volunteers who need visa support. Julia is a
very kind, responsible and beautiful girl with very sweet
character. |
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Elena Lagutina
graduated from Irkutsk State University, biology department,
with a specialization in botany. Elena has worked in the
Siberian Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry of Plants
as an ecologist and geo-botanist. She is a specialist in
environmental education and awareness. Elena began working
for the Great Baikal Trail Association (GBTA) as a
volunteer. Nowadays she is the coordinator of the GBT,
Irkutsk office. She also leads a youth club – Friends of the
Great Baikal Trail – in Irkutsk, and works as environmental
educator for the Children and Youth Center for Tourism and
Regional Culture. She is a reliable and integral member of
GBTA. |
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Natalia Luzhkova
is currently studying at Irkutsk State University, geography
department, with a specialization in resource management.
She speaks English fluently and in the summer of 2004 was an
official interpreter for GBT volunteer service projects.
Natalia is actively involved in the Friends of the Great
Baikal Trail youth club. She organizes and participates in
workshops and environmental games for school children.
Nowadays Natalia is responsible for communication with
potential foreign volunteers for GBT. Natasha (nickname for
“Natalia”) is a wonderful and responsible member of GBT.
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Alyona Maryasova
lives in Severobaikalsk, in the northern Baikal region.
Alyona’s family works in tourism and she has been involved
in nature conservation activities in the Northern Baikal
region since early childhood. She graduated from the School
for Tourist and Environmental Education and received a
certification as an “Ecological Tourism Guide”. In 2004
Alyona graduated from Irkutsk Pedagogic University with a
degree in history. Nowadays she continues the work of her
parents – to develop eco-tourism at Baikal. Alyona joined
the Great Baikal Trail project in 2003 and became a
coordinator for GBT projects in Northern Baikal in the
summer of 2004. Alyona is a lovely, open-minded and
open-hearted girl.
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