Locations
Just an hour’s drive from Minsk, the Naliboksky Republican Landscape Reserve is a hidden gem rich in wildlife, historical landmarks, and stunning landscapes. For years, this pristine wilderness was a well-kept secret, frequented only by small groups of nature enthusiasts.
However, in recent years, visitor numbers have surged, sparkling a demand for new solutions to balance the comfort of visitors with the preservation of delicate ecosystems.
Belarus is home to 1,354 protected areas, covering nearly two million hectares -around 9% of the country’s total landmass.
Nature reserves offer enormous possibilities for ecotourism, allowing visitors to experience the wilderness while supporting wildlife conservation.
When managed effectively, ecotourism can stimulate local economies, create jobs, and foster a deeper commitment to protecting the environment.
With the backing of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Naliboksky Reserve is on a transformative journey toward ecotourism resilience. The reserve intertwines conservation efforts with enriching visitor experiences and educational opportunities, while simultaneously enhancing infrastructure and fostering active community engagement. In doing so, Naliboksky is pioneering an innovative strategy for sustainable and resilient ecotourism in Belarus.
Blending conservation with tourism
Over a decade ago, Naliboksky took its first steps toward ecotourism with the building its first ecological trail. Since then, a series of ambitious green projects have strengthened conservation efforts while making the reserve more accessible and appealing to visitors.
In 2016, Belarus’ first and only grouse nursery was established in the reserve with UNDP support. The initiative, backed by the EU, has played an important role in reviving populations of capercaillie and black grouse.
Another milestone was the restoration of meadows to improve conditions for herbivores, including the European bison, a species listed in Belarus’ Red Book.
In 2020, the reserve welcomed 151 tarpan horses from the Netherlands, which help maintain grassland ecosystems by naturally controlling overgrown vegetation.
This action helps maintain open meadows, which are essential habitats for numerous plant, animal and bird species. By keeping the landscape open and diverse, tarpans support the growth of a variety of grasses and wildflowers, attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. These pollinators, in turn, enhance biodiversity, ensuring the continuation of vibrant ecosystems.
Moreover, by trampling over certain areas, tarpans create small soil disturbances that are perfect for seed germination, further contributing to plant diversity. Their grazing patterns promote nutrient cycling, as their droppings enrich the soil, fostering a fertile environment that benefits both flora and fauna.
The tarpans’ numbers have since doubled, a testament to the success of this rewilding effort.
While these conservation initiatives boosted local biodiversity, they also opened new opportunities for ecotourism, offering visitors a unique chance to observe wildlife in its natural habitat.
New trails, kayaks, and off-road adventures
Recognizing the need for better visitor management, Naliboksky joined the UNDP-led project developing ecotourism to promote green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth.
By 2024, the reserve had introduced a range of new services designed to enhance the visitor experience while minimizing environmental impact.
Thanks to UNDP’s support, ecotourism in the reserve is now year-round endeavor.
To ensure the trails remain accessible, UNDP provided a powerful power tiller, equipped with brush and snow blower attachments. This machine now stands ready to tame the overgrowth of summer and clear the drifts of winter, ensuring the path remains open, no matter what the season is.
A Win for local communities
By attracting visitors, ecotourism is boosting the local economy. With UNDP support, Naliboksky has launched the region’s first ecotourism cluster, linking the reserve with guesthouses, cultural centers, museums, and social service organizations.
One example is the Volozhinsky Territorial Center for Social Services, which joined the cluster in 2023. Its partnership with the reserve began earlier, organizing excursions and outdoor programs for seniors and people with disabilities.
A standout initiative has been an inclusive cycling event, enabling people with disabilities to explore the reserve’s wonders. This year, the center welcomes seniors with dedicated weekday tours, broadening access to nature's embrace for people of all ages and abilities.
Meanwhile, the guesthouse “A Hut on Isloch” offers traditional Belarusian cuisine and organizes kayak tours along the reserve’s scenic waterways.
This collaborative approach allows businesses and organizations to offer combined experiences - from guided hikes and wildlife tours to the local cuisine and cultural excursions. As a result, local enterprises and organizations are seeing higher visitor numbers and increased revenue, while tourists enjoy a seamless, immersive experience.
In just three years, the reserve’s ecotourism revenue has doubled—from 35,000 Belarusian rubles in 2021 to 70,000 in 2023.
Charting a Course for the Future
To sustain this growth, Naliboksky is continuing to develop new tourism products, expand partnerships, and enhance conservation efforts.
The Naliboksky Landscape Reserve stands as a model of resilient ecotourism where conservation, infrastructure and community work as one.
Together with local and national partners, UNDP remains committed to supporting Belarus in developing ecotourism in its nature reserves. From introducing innovative solutions to designing new financing and management mechanisms, UNDP targets new approaches to enhance the resilience of tourism, including innovative financing and effective nature management models.
The 'Ecotourism development to promote green transition to inclusive and sustainable growth' project is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Belarus in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus and with financial support from the Russian Federation.
