The student team, Tiger, established by the Amur Tiger Centre, has completed the first week of work on an eco trail Cape Severny in the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve in the Primorye Territory. The most difficult part of the 5 km trail is nearing completion.

The reserve’s director Dmitry Gorshkov visited the site to inspect the work of the student team. He said they have done a lot in just one week. They have dismantled old bridges and have almost completed the construction of new ones, and have cleared most of the trail. The route is designed not just for tourists. When there is a well-made trail, people use it as the most convenient and safest route, in which case they do not harm nature, such as by trampling plants into the ground.

During the first week, the work of the student team was well-coordinated and efficient, which is surprising considering it has just been set up. The students have carried out excavations along several sections of the trail. They have evened out the surface and removed stones that were sticking out of the ground.

Now they are working on one of the most difficult sections: an area of crooked oak trees. In this harsh climate of high humidity and constant winds, trees have to fight for survival; 80 year-old oaks are only two to three metres high, but their branches are closely intertwined and roots have a firm grip on the stony soil.

Old trunks and roots are being removed to make the walk more comfortable. In a few days, the team has covered over 50 metres of this difficult road, and has another 250 metres to go.

The main goal of the reserve is to preserve rare animals, including the Amur tiger. During the work, students from Far Eastern universities will learn more about the reserve’s activities, which will probably help them in their choice of job.

At present, the first student team is promoting eco tourism in the reserve and, accordingly, the Primorye Territory.