ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIOLOGY

Building Intersectoral Partnerships for Results in Russian Forest Communities
(2004-2005)

Coordinators: Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
The aim of this project was to promote intersectoral partnerships and dialogue between logging companies, NGOs and the local governments and populations of logging sites. Special attention was devoted to analysing problems in the forest sector of the Russian economy, forest certification, sustainable forestry and forest management. Method: seminar-trainings were held with public participation and intersectoral partners (the Dvinskoi settlement and Maloshuika settlement in the Arkhangelsk region, Vologda and Belozersk in the Vologda region). Results: publication of journal articles; presentation of reports at conferences and seminars; offering of expert evaluation of the influence of the international system of certification of the FSC on the social processes in forest settlements.
Participants: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX).

Fostering Forest Certification Processes in Russia and North America
(2004-2005)

Joint project with the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies (New Haven, USA).
Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk and Antonina Kulyasova (CISR).
Goals: to analyse and compare the current state of forest certification processes in Russia and North America. Forest practices were investigated to make forest certification processes in both regions more effective in promoting sustainable forest management. The project focused on some of the largest forest products companies, working in the biologically richest forests remaining in the world. The primary goal of the exchange was to forge new partnerships between environmental activists, and basic and applied researchers in both countries so that the work of each would be strengthened. An additional objective was to strengthen environmental activists in both regions, making their negotiations and advocacy more effective, by arming them with the tools of social analysis.
Participants from CISR: Antonina Kulyasova, Irina Olimpieva, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by the Trust for Mutual Understanding (USA).

The Shogrash Stream Restoration Project in Vologda City as a Model of Interaction between NGOs and Citizens
(2004-2005)

Joint project with the NGO "Leader" (Vologda), secondary schools No 7, 29, 37 and boarding school No 2 (Vologda).
Coordinator: Antonina Kulyasova (CISR).
Goal - to create a model of interaction for NGOs and citizens using the Shogrash stream restoration project in Vologda city. Special attention was paid to information provided by citizens about the environmental conditions of the Shogrash stream watershed, its challenges and possibilities for development. Method: elaboration of a restoration project with the participation of citizens, NGOs, environmental state agencies, administrations, and businesses. Results: the involved population and the organisations interested in the restoration of the most socially and ecologically significant and problematic site of the columbine of the small Shogrash Stream, organised their protection and support of the normal condition, having formed the Shogrash Stream Coordinating Council.
Participants from CISR: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova.
Supported by the Russian Regional Environmental Centre (with support of the European Commission).
For more information visit www.ecocisr.spb.ru.

Analysis of St. Petersburg Ecological Movement Dynamics
(2004)

The project aimed to draw up an ecological note concerning the modern condition of ecological wing of St. Petersburg NGOs and their development perspectives. Methods: interviews, conversations, correspondence, analysis of e-mail and Internet sources.
Researcher: Svetlana Pchelkina.
Supported by the NGO Development Centre (NDC, St. Petersburg).

Shirokaja Russkaja Natura - Transformations in Russian Nature
(2003-2005)

Coordinators: Arja Rosenholm and Sari Autio-Sarasmo (University of Tampere).
This book project deals with the interdisciplinary analysis of relationships between society and nature in Russia (sociology, history, art and literary analysis, political science). The analysis is focused on historical and cultural meanings and values given to nature, conceptions of nature, and the relation between human beings and nature in Russian culture. The project was initiated after the conference "Discovering the Concepts of Nature in Russia: Means for Understanding Russian Culture and Environmental Policies" in Helsinki in November 2003.
Participants from CISR: Dmitry Vorobyev, Alla Bolotova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by the Kikimora Publications (Helsinki).

The Nature Reserve and the Village:
Conflict and Cooperation Strategies
(2003-2005)

The study aimed to trace the influence of transformational processes in post-Soviet society on the interrelations between local people (nature consumers) and park rangers (nature conservationists) on the everyday level. The study methods were: unstructured interviews and cognitive mapping.
Researcher: Tatiana Safonova.
Supported by the Heinrich Boell Foundation.

Globalisation and Localisation:
New Forest Management Practices in Russia in the 21st Century
(2003-2004)

Coordinator: Antonina Kulyasova.
Goal - analysis of transformations in the local community that result from changing practices in forest companies that operate in these communities. Attention was focused primarily on the success and failure of global practices of sustainable forestry and the formation of intersectoral partnerships. Method: case study. The field research included 24 interviews, conversations, and daily observation and material collection.
Participants: Svetlana Pchelkina, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova.
Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the CISR.

Social Constructions of Nature:
Soviet Geologists as Professional "Conquerors of Nature"
(2003-2004)

The research project dealt with analysis of historical and social constructions that underlay interaction with nature in Soviet society. How are models and schemas developed by the state realised and transformed in a society, in public discourse and in everyday life practices? The main methodological framework of this project was the methodology of discursive analysis. On micro and macro levels, different discourses on nature and on practices of interaction with nature were investigated. On the macro level, the hegemonic discourse of the Soviet state and its activities directed at the "conquest of nature" were analysed. The idea of the conquest of nature was an important ideology for the Soviet government. The struggle against the capitalistic world was realised together with the struggle against nature, nature was seen as an enemy. The analysis on the micro level was based on a case study of the professional community of geologists. Ways in which the environment is embodied, valued and experienced in an array of social practices in this particular social milieu were also analysed.
Researcher: Alla Bolotova.
Supported by the Institute for Advanced Studies on Science, Technology and Society (Graz, Austria).

Environmental Impact Assessment System and the Practice of Public Participation in the Russian Federation
(2002-2004)

Joint project with the Institute of Environmental Architecture and Planning of the Technical University of Berlin; the Institute of Sociology at the Otto-von-Guericke University (Magdeburg); the Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Moscow and Irkutsk); the Kuban State University (Krasnodar).
Coordinator: Johann Koeppel (Technical University of Berlin).
The main purpose of the project was to analyse the practice of ecological evaluation of management decisions. The accent was on revealing the effectiveness of public participation in decision making as well as the factors hindering or furthering public participation. Empirical data were collected from concrete projects (for example, the construction of oil pipelines, highways, sea ports) executed since the 1970s in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Western Caucasus and Baikal region. Information sources included interviews with the participants of the events and press and technical document analysis.
Participant from CISR: Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by the Volkswagen Foundation.

Dynamics of theљEcological Movement: TheљEco-Political Aspect (TheљVologda Region)
(2002-2003)

Theљaim of theљproject was to study theљpoliticisation of theљecological movement in theљVologda region as aљresult of theљchanging structure of political opportunities, theљimpact of regional civil forums on theљdevelopment of civil society, and theљrole of theљmass media in theљdevelopment of ecological and political activity (theљcase of regional TV). Theљresults of theљresearch were reported at aљconference.
Researcher: Ivan Kulyasov.
Supported by theљJohnљD. and CatherineљT. MacArthur Foundation and theљCISR.

Empowering Russian and American NGOs on Contaminated Territories to Address Issues of Future Sustainability
(2002-2003)

Joint project with theљMovement for Nuclear Safety (Chelyabinsk), theљRamapo College of New Jersey (USA), theљState University of New York (USA) and theљRutgers University of New Jersey (USA).
Coordinators: Michael Edelstein (Ramapo College), Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR).
Theљmain purpose of theљproject was to analyse public initiatives in Russian and US cities with adverse ecological situations (basically, in theљcentres of theљchemical and nuclear industry). Within theљframework of theљproject two research trips to Russia and theљUSA were organised. In theљcourse of these trips, Russian and American sociologists, psychologists and ecological activists were able to share their experiences.
Participants from CISR: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљTrust for Mutual Understanding (USA).

Promoting NGO-University Partnerships to Train Residents in Stream Restoration and Sustainable Forestry Practices in Russian Mill Towns
(2002-2003)

Joint project with theљDickinson College (USA).
Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR), Candie Wilderman (Dickinson College).
Theљpartnerships between NGOs, institutes of higher education, and state structures in theљUSA and Russia in theљfield of sustainable forestry and theљrestoration of streams were investigated within theљproject. Researchers described ways of strengthening NGOs' influence in theљRussian Northwest in order to carry out social changes in Russian cities where pulp and paper mills play anљimportant role in city infrastructure development. Theљconcept of American and European research centres interacting with theљpopulation, as well as to theљpossibility of creating such centres in Russian high schools were analysed. Two conferences were held to share experiences in theљfield of watershed and forestry protection. Aљnumber of articles were published based on theљresults of theљresearch.
Participants from CISR: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљTrust for Mutual Understanding (USA).

Public-Private Partnerships and Making Environmental Policy in Russia
(2002-2003)

Joint project with theљCenter for Civil Society Studies of theљJohns Hopkins Institute for Policy Studies (USA).
Coordinators: S.љWojciech Sokolowski (Center for Civil Society Studies), Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR).
Within theљproject, field research was conducted along with analysis of NGOs possibilities for influencing public policy in aљcontext of globalisation. Special attention was paid to theљprocess of ecological modernisation and forest certification of theљRussian forest industry according to theљForest Stewardship Council's system (FSC). As aљresult of theљproject several articles were published in English.
Participant from CISR: Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.

Reproduction of Lessons Learned in Building Streams Volunteer Monitoring Networks
(2002-2003)

Joint project with theљInstitute of Limnology of theљRussian Academy of Sciences (St.љPetersburg) and theљNGO "Nature School" "Ostrov" (St.љPetersburg).
Coordinator: Antonina Kulyasova (CISR).
Within theљframework of theљproject, theљcreation of aљpublic stream monitoring network in theљLeningrad, Vologda and Pskov regions was investigated. Theљpurpose of theљproject was to promote theљstrengthening of cooperation between state nature protection structures, theљpublic, and scientific and educational institutions, and to encourage theљpublic, schoolchildren in particular, to preserve streams. One of theљmain tasks was to organise methodological workshops on public monitoring of water bodies. In addition, aљconference and aљnumber of consulting seminars were held within theљframework of theљproject.
Participants from CISR: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљROLL Program of theљInstitute of Sustainable Communities and theљU.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
Read more (in Russian): http://www.ecocisr.spb.ru.

Soviet Geologists as Conquerors of Nature: Symbols and Senses of theљ"Natural" in theљProfessional Community
(2002-2003)

Within theљproject, theљhistorical transformation of interaction with theљenvironment in Russia was analysed using theљexample of theљprofession of geologist (considered "strategically important" in theљSoviet period). Theљresearch aimed to show how theљideological (and physical) conquest of nature took place in theљSoviet Union. Analysis of aљhistory of geological investigations in theљUSSR, biographies of geologists, and materials on geological field expeditions was conducted.
Researcher: Alla Bolotova.
Supported by theљJohnљD. and CatherineљT. MacArthur Foundation and theљCISR.

Laboratory of Social Changes: EcoNGOs in theљUSA
(2002)

Theљproject used field research and analysis of theљactivities of US EcoNGOs and their interactions with institutes of higher education and state structures in order to assess social change in society. As aљresult of theљproject seminars were conducted and anљarticle was published in English.
Researcher: Antonina Kulyasova.
Supported by theљInternational Research and Exchanges Board (IREX).

Preconditions for Ecological Modernization in Russian Mill Towns
(2001-2003)

Joint project with theљUniversity of Joensuu (Finland).
Coordinators: Jarmo Kortelainen (University of Joensuu), Antonina Kulyasova (CISR).
Theљpurpose of theљproject was to analyse preliminary conditions and opportunities for ecological modernisation in those cities of Northwest Russia where pulp and paper mills play anљimportant role in theљdevelopment of city infrastructure. Special attention was given to theљexploration of theљsocio-economic and ecological situation in theљtowns of Sokol and Svetogorsk. Outcomes of theљproject were published in English, and international workshops based on theљresults of theљresearch were held.
Participants from CISR: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљAcademy of Finland.

Citizen's Involvement in Environmental Decision-Making Process during Russian Transformation: Strengthening Community Based Research, Voluntarism, and Participatory Democracy in Russia
(2001-2002)

Theљproject aimed to consider special cases of involving theљpublic in decision-making in theљsphere of environment. Researchers described theљcases of strengthening local communities as aљresult of public initiatives and successful involvement of volunteers in environmental activity. As aљresult of theљproject aљnumber of articles were published in theљUSA.
Researcher: Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљJohnљD. and CatherineљT. MacArthur Foundation.

Nuclear Disarmament, Nuclear Security and Civil Society
(2000-2001)

Joint project with theљNGO "Green World" (St.љPetersburg), theљSt.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists, theљ"Citizens' Initiative" (St.љPetersburg), theљAssociation of Environmental Journalists of St.љPetersburg.
Coordinator: Alexander Karpov (St.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists).
Goal: investigation of theљpossibilities of public participation and interaction between NGO and enterprises of nuclear industry.
Participant from CISR: Svetlana Pchelkina.
Supported by theљISAR.

Ecological Villages in Russia, theљUSA and Canada
(1999-2003)

Coordinator: Maria Tysiachniouk.
Within theљproject field research was conducted, as well as analysis of ideologies, socio-economic mechanisms, and ecological practices in ecovillage functioning. Special attention was given to theљreasons for theљemergence of ecovillages and to theљprospects for their development. Evaluations of theљproject were published in Russian and English, presented at workshops, and discussed at international conferences.
Participants: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Initiative project.

Lifestyle of Participants of Ecological Movements: Everyday Practices Transformation: Gender Perspective
(1999-2001)

Theљresearch was focused on theљtransformation processes of daily practices of theљparticipants of theљRussian ecological movement. Theљaccent was made on gender aspects and theљcomparative analysis of theљparticipants' lifestyles and their ecological practices. Theљenvironmental movement was analyzed in aљcultural context; where people's daily actions are re-estimated in theљcontext of their influence on nature.
Researcher: Alla Bolotova.
Supported by theљEuropean University at St.љPetersburg and theљCISR.

Building Post-Communist Communities in Russia (TheљCase of "Tibercule" Ecovillage)
(1999-2000)

Theљaims of theљproject were: to reveal and analyze theљproblems connected with building communal life in "Tibercule" ecovillage; to find out theљreasons for people's affiliation to aљclosed social environment in theљconditions of developing democracy and theљmarket relations; to describe theљeconomic, social and ethical mechanisms of theљcommunity's development. Theљmethods of biographical interview, participant observation and theљanalysis of documents were used. Theљresults of theљresearch were contributed to theљproceedings of theљinternational conference.
Researcher: Antonina Kulyasova.
Supported by theљHeinrich Boell Foundation.

Building Sustainable Communities in Russia and theљUnited States
(1999-2000)

Theљresearch of sustainable development practices was conducted simultaneously in Russia and theљUnited States. Theљdifferences and common threads of sustainability initiatives in both countries were investigated, theљsame methodology and approach to theљdescription of case studies were used. Aљbook was published based on theљresults of theљresearch.
Researcher: Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљFulbright (Senior Scholar Exchange Program).

Contaminated Communities. Movement for Nuclear Safety in Chelyabinsk and theљVillage of Musliumovo
(1999-2000)

Coordinators: Michael Edelstein (Ramapo College of New Jersey), Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR).
Theљaim of theљproject was to study theљresource mobilization of theљMovement for Nuclear Safety in aљhighly contaminated community. Theљmethods of biographical interviews, participant observation and analysis of documents were used.
Participants from CISR: Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљprivate funds of Maria Tysiachniouk.

Decision-Making and Civil Rights: Public Monitoring System for St.љPetersburg and Leningradskaya Oblast'
(1999-2000)

Joint project with theљSt.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists and theљNGO "Green World" (St.љPetersburg).
Coordinator: Alexander Karpov (St.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists).
Theљproject was aimed at theљestablishment of aљpublic control system for theљpurpose of ensuring civil rights for participation in ecological and social decision-making. One of theљgoals of theљproject was theљmonitoring of human rights observation in this field and of changes in public activity. Another goal was to train theљrepresentatives of NGOs and public associations in methods and practice of decision-making.
Participants from CISR: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova.
Supported by theљ"Grazhdanin" ("Citizen") Foundation.

Fostering Successful Partnerships in Watershed Protection in theљUS and Russia
(1999-2000)

Joint project with theљInstitute of Limnology of theљRussian Academy of Sciences (St.љPetersburg), theљ"Clear Waters of Neva" (St.љPetersburg), theљRegional Youth Movement "EcoShield" (St.љPetersburg) and theљBaltic Fund for Nature of St.љPetersburg Naturalists Society, theљProgram "Save Our Rivers (SOR)" (USA), theљChesapeake Bay Foundation (USA) and theљTowson University (USA).
Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk and Antonina Kulyasova (CISR), JaneљL. Wolfson (Towson University).
Cooperative exchange project between scientists and representatives of non-governmental organizations involved in watershed protection from theљUnited States and Russia. Goals: to forge partnerships between citizen groups and expert scientists from universities and research organizations in theљUnited States and Russia to address water pollution problems; to assess and develop strategies to improve political opportunities for citizen involvement in watershed protection in Russia and theљUS. Theљcomparative sociological analysis of NGOs protecting watersheds in theљUS and Russia was conducted.
Participants from CISR: Antonina Kulyasova, Ivan Kulyasov, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљTrust for Mutual Understanding and private funds of Maria Tysiachniouk.

Gender Resources of Ecological Movement (TheљCase of St.љPetersburg)
(1999-2000)

Theљaim of theљresearch was to explore theљgender resources of theљpublic ecological movement and to investigate structural and situation restrictions on theљdevelopment of women's activities in theљmovement. Value systems, motivations for participation, and role and activity division, as well as attitudes towards theљenvironment and theљformation of ecological consciousness, were considered in theљcontext of gender. In theљcourse of work within theљproject, in-depth interviews with leaders of theљecological movement of St.љPetersburg were conducted. In addition, theљmethod of participant observation of ecological NGOs' activities was used.
Researcher: Alla Bolotova.
Supported by theљHeinrich Boell Foundation.

Informing Environmental Decision-Making: Environmental Impact Assessment in Russia and theљUnited States
(1999-2000)

Joint project with theљSt.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists, theљNGO "Green World" (St.љPetersburg), theљVolgograd State Pedagogical University, theљRamapo College of New Jersey.
Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR), Alexander Karpov (St.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists).
Exchange project between Russian NGOs and academics, and theљUS counterparts from theљRamapo College of New Jersey. Theљaims of theљproject were: to establish partnerships between NGOs and selected institutions of higher education for theљpurpose of training in theљareas of public participation in environmental impact assessment; to promote aљshared understanding of comparative assessment policy and practice between theљUnited States and Russia involving anљopportunity to exchange mutual ideas on how to improve theљimpact assessment process; to conduct aљcomparative sociological analysis of theљprocess of environmental impact assessment in Russia and theљUSA. Aљcomparative sociological analysis of case studies in Russia (St.љPetersburg, Petrozavodsk, Pestovo) and in theљUSA (New York - New Jersey) was conducted. As aљresult of theљresearch aљbook was published in both Russian and English.
Participants from CISR: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљTrust for Mutual Understanding and private funds of Maria Tysiachniouk.

Sustainable Development Practices
(1999-2000)

Joint project with theљSt.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists and theљNGO "Green World" (St.љPetersburg).
Coordinator: Evgenia Makhonina ("Green World").
Theљstudy was aimed at finding and describing sustainable projects in theљSt.љPetersburg region, using theљmethod of case study. Aљbook in both English and Russian was published based on theљresults of theљstudy.
Participants from CISR: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina.
Supported by theљCoalition Clean Baltic.

Building Sustainable Communities in Russia
(1998-2000)

Theљproject was aimed at promoting AgendaљXXI process in communities along theљNeva River (Chlisselburg, Kirovsk, Pavlovo, Ustizhora and Utka). Aљcommunity visioning and sustainable development indicators project for communities situated on theљbank of theљNeva River were initiated by theљ"Clear Waters of Neva" (St.љPetersburg) and theљCISR. Several analytical papers were written as aљresearch outcome of theљproject. Aљpractical guide on community visioning and indicators was developed.
Researcher: Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљRSS Program of theљOpen Society Institute.

Ecologization of New Religions in Russia: Tibercule Case Study
(1998-2000)

Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk, Antonina Kulyasova.
Theљresearch was aimed at analysis of theљrelationship between aљhuman being and nature (theљcase of aim of "Commune of Vissarion" - anљecological community "Tibercule"). Theљmethods of biographic interviews, participant observation, as well as theљanalysis of documents, were used in theљcourse of theљresearch.
Participants: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљCISR and private funds of Maria Tysiachniouk.

Social Aspects of Sustainable Development: Community of Families with Adopted Children (Kitezh Case Study)
(1998-2000)

Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk, Svetlana Pchelkina.
Theљaim of theљproject was to study theљexperience of theљorganization of anљorphanage, taking theљcase of theљsustainable village "Kitezh" in Kaluzhskaya oblast', Russia, as theљfirst model of anљalternative institution for child development in order to help orphans. Qualitative research was conducted using 22љin-depth biographical interviews and participant observation during theљexpedition (Decemberљ1998).
Participants: Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљCISR and private funds of Maria Tysiachniouk.

Local Communities, Traditional Cultures and Sustainable Development. Building anљEcovillage in Russia: Reuskala Case Study
(1998-1999)

Coordinators: Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Qualitative sociological research was conducted during two expeditions (February 1998 and October 1998) using theљmethods of in-depth biographical interviews and participant observation. Biographies were analyzed within their historical/cultural contexts. Theљgoal of theљresearch was to explore theљexperience of building aљsustainable community (taking theљcase of "Nevo Ecoville" in Reuskala, Karelian Republic, Russia), with theљultimate aim of introducing sustainable practices given theљcontext of deep economic crises in Russia.
Participants: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљCISR and private funds of Maria Tysiachniouk.

Promoting Public Participation in Sustainable Development through theљEfforts of theљThird Sector
(1998-1999)

Theљaim of theљresearch was to monitor and analyze NGO sustainability initiatives on theљnational, regional and local level in North-Western Russia, as well as to promote sustainable development in St.љPetersburg region using participant observation and sociological intervention techniques. Theљsociological analysis of theљmovement towards sustainable development in Russia with anљassessment of theљrole of theљThird Sector in this movement was made. Several articles and aљpractical guide for use by Russian NGOs "Designing Sustainability in Communities" was published.
Researcher: Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљJohnљD. and CatherineљT. MacArthur Foundation.

Constructing aљDirectory of Non-Governmental Organizations of St.љPetersburg
(1998)

Joint project with theљTransboundary Environmental Information Agency (TEIA, St.љPetersburg).
Coordinators: Nathaniel Trumbull and Elena Kobetz (TEIA), Erna Lahti (University of Tampere, Finland).
Theљaim of theљproject was to create theљfirst directory of St.љPetersburg non-governmental organizations which not only gives contact information, but also seeks to describe their activities. Theљgoal of this directory specifically was to help meet theљneed for information about St.љPetersburg non-governmental organizations dealing with environmental issues. AљDirectory of Non-Governmental Organizations of St.љPetersburg was published by St.љPetersburg Notabene Publishers and distributed to theљNGOs.
Participants from CISR: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљNorwegian Society for theљConservation of Nature, theљMinistry of theљEnvironment (Finland), theљNordic Council of Ministers.

Democracy in Action: Building Sustainable Communities in Russia and theљUnited States
(1998)

Joint exchange project with theљInternational Interdisciplinary Environmental Association (IEA, Assumption College, USA).
Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR), George McCarthy (University of North Carolina).
Theљaim of theљproject: to bring together various disciplines in order to enhance their individual knowledge of environmental issues through interdisciplinary dialogue and discussion; to inform theљeducated layperson about accomplishments, current concerns and future plans to create aљsustainable future in Russia and theљUnited States. Several panels were conducted as part of theљFourth Interdisciplinary Conference on theљEnvironment (was held on 7-10љJuly, 1998 in Washington, DC). International workshop was held on 26-28љAugust, 1998 in St.љPetersburg. Working papers of theљtwo meetings were published in January 1999.
Participants from CISR: Alla Bolotova, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљTrust for Mutual Understanding.

Promoting AgendaљXXI in St.љPetersburg Region
(1997-2000)

Joint project theљSt.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists, theљ"Green World" (St.љPetersburg), theљNGO Development Centre (NDC, St.љPetersburg), theљInterdisciplinary Center for Vocational Training at St.љPetersburg State University, theљTransboundary Environmental Information Agency (TEIA, St.љPetersburg).
Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk (CISR), Alexander Karpov (St.љPetersburg Society of Naturalists).
Theљaim of theљproject was to involve NGOs in AgendaљXXI and to establish aљnetwork of organizations interested in working on AgendaљXXI in the St.љPetersburg region. Three seminars for NGOs on "Local AgendaљXXI - Opportunities for Public Participation" were organized. On Juneљ30, 1998 anљintersectional conference entitled "Baltic AgendaљXXI - Mechanisms of Interaction between Initiatives in theљRegion" was conducted. Several sociological papers were prepared for publication.
Participants from CISR: Alla Bolotova, Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Svetlana Pchelkina, Maria Tysiachniouk, Dmitry Vorobyev.
Supported by theљNGO Development Centre (NDC, St.љPetersburg), theљSwedish Society for Nature Conservation.

Alternative Nutrition Practices in Ecological Ethics Communities
(1997-1999)

Coordinators: Maria Tysiachniouk, Antonina Kulyasova.
Theљproject was aimed at study of ideas resultant of nutrition practices and tendencies for changing nutrition behaviour in eco-ethical public communities in St.љPetersburg and Vologda. Theљresearch methods were: questioning, structural interviews, participant observation and analysis of documents.
Participants: Ivan Kulyasov, Antonina Kulyasova, Maria Tysiachniouk.
Supported by theљCISR.

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