Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk earns Vernadsky Foundation award

Moscow hosted the Vernadsky National Ecology Award ceremony.

Gazprom Transgaz Tomsk won the competition in the Green Initiatives nomination for the Revival of the Lebediny Wildlife Reserve as an Ecological and Educational Center of the Altai Territory project.

The reserve is located near the Urozhainoye settlement (Sovetsky District, Altai Territory) where small lakes that are ice-free in the winter time due to bottom springs keeping water temperature at +4…+6 °C are located. It lets whooper swans winter on the lakes.

Since 2013, as arranged between Gazprom and the leadership of the Altai Territory, charitable funds have been directed to the reserve for creating conditions necessary for birds wintering.

Over a three-year period, the reserve area has been improved, with security around the unique natural site ensured, fencing installed, and information displays about inhabitants of Lebediny set up.

This year, a new sightseeing platform was built and technical improvements were made. As a result, the reserve was included in multiple tour itineraries.

During the last several years, the number of swan species has increased from 200 to 500. Ornithologists discovered bird species that had never lived there before. The reserve staff plans to continue developing Lebediny as the Siberian ecological and educational center.