On 28 August, the Tiger student team from the Far Eastern Federal University and the Primorye State Agricultural Academy concluded an environmental protection mission at the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve. Twenty-five young specialists, including future biologists, environmentalists, foresters, game wardens and veterinary doctors, spent two months improving the Cape Severny (Northern) eco trail.

Team leader Alexander Kozhushko said the students had completely upgraded the Cape Severny eco trail, which was built in 2007, while staying at Blagodatnoye.

“We covered marshy terrain with 1,040-metre long wooden planking, and we excavated and removed earth along an 800-metre section of the trail,” Mr Kozhushko said. “We also built four bridges of varying complexity and two stairways from the forest to the coast and from the Cape Severny observation deck to a spotted seal breeding ground. We also restored the observation deck,” he noted.

According to Dmitry Gorshkov, Director of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve, everything that had been planned, and even more, has been accomplished.

“I believe that we should continue this practice,” Mr Gorshkov said. “In the future, it will become easier to organise these events, taking into account the Tiger student team’s experience. The trail will have to be constantly maintained, and we are doing our best to conduct guided tours at the reserve and to make our experts feel proud of what they are doing. We have a lot to show, and we would like tourists to remember this area as one of the most beautiful landmarks in the world,” he said.

In turn, Deputy Director General and Director of the Primorye branch of the Amur Tiger Centre Sergei Aramilev said that many students want to continue down the road of nature studies and environmental protection.

“We hope that the two-month environmental protection mission will help train skilled experts who will sincerely love and protect nature,” he concluded.

While staying at the camp, the students received certificates and commemorative gifts from the Amur Tiger Centre of the Sikhote-Alin Nature Reserve and the Primorye regional division of the Russian Student Construction Teams public youth organisation.