Opening of the first Ecological and Educational Centre and foot ecological trail in the village of Visokoye on 25 June 2009 became a starting project event in establishment of favourable conditions for ecotouristic service development in the Republican Landscape Reserve “Sporovsky” in the Bereza District (Brest Region). The key objective of the Centre is to inform tourists on specific features the reserve’s landscapes, flora and fauna, proposed touristic trails. Good technical base and information resources of the Centre are designed to facilitate development of ecotouristic services for foreign guests and increase attractiveness of the region for organisation of international tourism. The efficiency of the Centre’s activities and its popularity among tourists are supported by numbers. From July 2009 around 700 people made use of the Centre’s ecotouristic services. More than 30 guests came from Czech Republic, Germany, UK, Poland, and Hungary.

The example of Sporovsky was followed by other target reserves. In July 2009 with the support from UNDP/GEF project a similar centre was opened in the “Middle Pripyat” and “Luninsky” Reserve in the Luninets District, Brest Region. In December a centre was opened in the “Zvanets” Reserve in the Drogichin District.

Development of ecotourism would not be complete without active participation of local communities. Financial Support Program for Ecological Tourism Services in the “Belarusian Polesie” Region, initiated in the project’s framework, presented local people who are interested in development and promotion of ecotouristic services to take advantage of natural resources of the target reserves without nature endamagement and obtain a possibility of earning additional profit. Fifteen micro initiatives received financial support from the Programme. The initiatives targeted to enhance touristic accommodation and meals services, create local ethnographic museums and exhibitions, organise staging and rest posts at ecotrails in the reserves.

The established with the project’s support ecotouristic infrastructure demonstrates its resilience. There are all prerequisites to expect that activities on widening of the Polesie ecotouristic potential will be continued and after the project’s completion.