First lesson of the educational project Eco-School for Modern Media was held in Omsk

The first lesson of the project in the format of a press-tour was devoted to specially protected natural areas of the Omsk region and domestic eco-tourism development. 

The first lesson for the project participants was held 300 kilometers away from Omsk – in the State Nature Reserve of regional significance called Yekaterinenskoe isolated terrain feature (Tara District). More than 20 people participated in the trip – mass media representatives, eco-bloggers and students.

Chairman of the Omsk branch of the Russian Union of Journalist Andrei Motovilov:

The Eco-School’s curriculum includes not only educational lessons and master-classes held by professional journalists, but also trips to specially protected natural areas and nature reserves of the Omsk region. For example, during the first lesson the participants walked a 2.2 km trail through an old-growth forest. They learned about rare plants and fauna of this territory, learned about local problems that can be solved thanks to the trail. Since it lies through the reserve, special protection arrangements are introduced within the territory to preserve this unique piece of wilderness.

Yekaterinenskoe is a territory in the north of the Omsk region that requires special attention from the society and mass media. In 2010, there were regular cases of illegal pine cutting. Due to the fact that this problem was covered by the mass media and local residents expressed their concern, the forest was saved and given a special protection status.

After the trip the participants attended a local branch of the Tourist Information Center and discussed the opportunities of the domestic tourism.

Natalia Semyonova – a journalist of Channel 12:

After returning to the city, we, journalists, are going to tell people about this trail. This will probably boost the domestic tourism development and tours to areas outside the city will be launched. Our region does have unique natural areas that most people do not know about and cannot get to on their own. For this problem to be solved, there needs to be demand. And today I can see an opportunity to address this issue due to the activity of the mass media.

The next session of the educational project will be held at the end of September.

We would like to remind you that the Eco-School for Modern Media project has been operating since 2022 and is aimed at raising the professional level of journalists and bloggers covering ecology and environmental protection topics. The project is organized by the Omsk Union of Journalists, and the general partners are GC Titan and Gazprom Neft.

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