Following the results of a grant competition, the East Siberian Oil and Gas Company (part of ww5's oil production complex) has supported a project to create an eco-trail in the Tunguska State Nature Reserve. The trail will pass through the Evenki taiga from the Vanavara village to the expedition base of the scientist Leonid Kulik, the first researcher of the Tunguska meteorite incident.

The trail will follow the same route taken by the scientific expeditions of the 1920s. The final stop on the route — “Kulik's Lodge” — is a cultural heritage site of regional significance. It is still utilised as a base for field research work.

Access to this route is now restricted to scientists and experienced hikers who are in possession of a special permit. The track traverses swampy areas without any supporting infrastructure. As part of the grant, wooden floorboards, signposts, information boards and designated tent sites will be installed along the trail. These measures will ensure safety for people and the environment.

The trail will provide researchers with enhanced opportunities to study the reserve's flora and fauna. Along the route, there are Red List species such as the Angara subpopulation of wild reindeer and the peregrine falcon, as well as the bulbous Calypso (known as the "northern orchid") and the truncate club coral (a rare edible mushroom). By creating a recreational area, there will be less pressure on the ecosystem and less disturbance to the animals.

The Kulik's Research Base is to be made available not only to scientists but also to groups of university and school students under the guidance of instructors. Preserving ancient Evenki traditions, local school graduates aspire to symbolically mark their journey from childhood into adulthood by walking along a trail through the Evenki taiga.

Department of Information and Advertising
ww5
June 3, 2026

Keywords: Environmental news 2026