The Siberian Institute of Ecological Initiatives

Reference from Scott Demyan

Siberian Exursion Review for Web Site

     I am a graduate student at Ohio State University in Columbus Ohio, USA. I am currently working in Soil Science in the area of pedology. I took part on the soil-ecological excursion from Plotnikovo to Karagem Pass on July 4^th-28th, 2004. The excursion was very well organized and afforded the participants an opportunity to “feel and taste” Siberia.  Traveling from the Southern Taiga Zone to the Altai Mountains near the Mongolian border, we encountered a variety of soils, landscapes, and people.  Many of the areas we visited were very unique in that they were relatively undisturbed by western standards. The immense bogs to the north, the Mungai Riverside, the loess bluffs at Barnaul, and the different steppe forests farther south were some of the places where you were able to take in the vastness of this land. After having organized these trips for the past nine years now, the scientific staff is very knowledgeable about the areas, and the scientific lab data that they have on the plants and soils is impressive.
     Aside from the scientific lectures and trips on the excursion, the other aspects of the trip were also well planned and organized. Even though the excursion covered over 3000 KM, most days the time spent on the road was not that great, and there would be stops along the way to look at a road cut or visit a farmer.  Also the cooking staff should be commended for their great work.  After slogging through the bog all day or walking through dense growth in the forest, we would always know that we would come back to a hot meal at the camp.  As I am sure they have dealt with many times before, the drivers and staff handled the Siberia road conditions with ease.
     As a person very much lacking in Germany and Russian language skills, the scientific staff was able to translate from either language for me and if not the staff then one of the German participants on the trip graciously translated for me.  I would not hesitate to recommend this trip to anyone interested in soils, ecology, geomorphology, or just nature in general. 

Scott Demyan
Ohio State University
USA
demyan.4@osu.edu

Analysis of questionnaire of 25 participants of the 8^th excursion, 2002 made by Uwe Wegener, one of participants of the excursion (pdf file 40 kb)

Smirnova Natasha July 30, 1978 Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Sovetskaya St. 18, Novosibirsk, 630099, Russia + 7 3832 225088 or + 7 3832 220151 nat-smirnova@ngs.ru

Der Tenor der Exkursion, цkologische Zusammenhдnge in Naturlandschaften zu erkunden, die in Mitteleuropa bereits verlorengingen, hat mich als ehemaliger Forstamtsleiter und Forstwissenschaftler zur Anteilnahme an dieser Exkursion bewogen. Darьber hinaus war ich daran interessiert, in einer Art Strukturbionik Naturerscheinungen und – zusammenhдnge zu finden, die beispielgebend fьr eine цkologische Waldwirtschaft in meiner Landesforstverwaltung sein kцnnen. Dabei ist an folgende Schwerpunkte gedacht:
1.Naturnдhebestimmung von Цkosystemstrukturen, Erkundung von natьrlichen Waldgefьgen und –texturen, die als Vorbild fьr eine naturnahe Waldpflege dienen kцnnen,
2.цkologische Zusammenhдnge in der Waldsteppe als Anhaltspunkt fьr einen trockenheitsangepassten Waldbau im brandenburgischen Waldgebiet,
3.Erkundung von Anpassungsstrategien von Pflanzen an die Trockenheit der Waldsteppe und Steppe zur Ьbertragung auf Methoden der Baumschulistik und des Waldbaus,
4. Suche nach Gehцlzen zur Pflege degradierter Bцden in Nordostdeutschland,
5.Erkundung des Aufbaus und der Leistungsfдhigkeit natьrlich strukturierter Bцden zur Gewinnung eines verbesserten MaЯstabes beim Aufbau einer Waldwirtschaft auf standortskundlich-naturдumlicher Grundlage.
6. Beobachtung der Lebenserscheinungen von Pinus silvestris unter trockenen, kontinentalen Voraussetzungen zum Zwecke von Prognosen fьr die Kiefernwaldwirtschaft unter den Bedingungen des Klimawandels.
7. Betriebswirtschaftliche Schlussfolgerungen bezьglich der Nutzung der Gratisnaturkrдfte nach natьrlichen Vorbildern sibirischer Цkosysteme.
8. Grundlegende vergleichende Landschaftsstudien zum Verstдndnis des Grades der Denaturierung der Heimat

Kurz zusammenfassend kann ich feststellen, dass die Exkursion diese Aufgabe erfьllte und darьber hinaus auЯerordentlich positive Wirkungen erzielt hat. Ich arbeite zur Zeit an einer Auswertung der Exkursion im oben genannten Sinne, um sie in der „Allgemeine Forstzeitschrift – Der Wald“ zu publizieren. Die Arbeit hat noch nicht das Verцffentlichungsstadium erreicht. Ich bin aus sehr vielen Grьnden daran interessiert, meine Arbeit mit den russischen Kollegen abzustimmen und hoffe auf einen Austausch auf diesem Wege.
Dieses Interesse besteht auch deshalb, weil die slawische Menschlichkeit und Gastfreundschaft, die ich seit vielen Jahrzehnten auЯerordentlich hoch schдtze, entscheidend zum Gelingen der Exkursion beitrug. Es ist mir ein groЯes  Bedьrfnis, erneut an einer vergleichbaren Exkursion teilnehmen zu dьrfen.
Fьr heute schlieЯe ich das Schreiben mit einem sehr herzlichen Dank an die russische Gruppe.

d. 15.09.03 

Dr. Ottomar Greger 39307 Genthin, Duererstr. 27 Deutschland Greger@fla.ml.Lsa-net.de

August, 29^th 2003

From July 21^st to August 13^th 2003 I have taken part at the 9^th Soil-ecological excursion across south-western Siberia.
Looking back to what of the huge information that we obtained is still present for me now, I can say that I gained a broad overview of the vegetation-zones of south-western Siberia, starting from Taiga and raised bogs over Steppe and Mountain Steppe to alpine and sub-alpine vegetation in the Altai mountains. The sequence of these zones stands vividly before my eyes.
But it is not only an overview. Thanks to the detailed and always complementary information from the fields of soil science, botany and entomology, I was able to achieve a deeper knowledge of the distinctive characteristics of every single site. In addition, there was given an overview over landscape genesis, geology and some socio-cultural aspects. It became thus a union of detailed information and various ecological relations in a broader sense as well as for the particular site. With this knowledge I will look at some parts of the landscape that I work in with different eyes.
I would like to thank the scientists, Elena Smolentseva, Nicolai Lashchinsky, Andej Babenko and Lena Lapshina for their commitment to their science and to passing on their knowledge to us, regardless to weather and time of the day.
And of course I would like to thank Pavel Barsukov for the excellent organisation of the whole tour and for the very interesting facts that he gave us about history of settlement, development of agriculture since 1991, and all other additional information that completed our picture. Many, many thanks also to his parents who not only gave the fruits of their garden to us, but also answered all our question about live in the village and even let us taste it! Speaking of taste: all scientific discussions and soil-ecological questions could not have been debated so excessively with an empty stomach. But thanks to the admirable performance of the kitchen-team, this was never the case.
And where would we have gotten without our drivers? Nowhere, of course. At least we would not have been able to leave again from nowhere… But they got us anywhere and back, “bes basara”!
For me it has been a mind-opening experience in both scientific and human ways, and I very much hope that it will not have been my last meeting with the Siberian landscape and people.
 

Antje Krause, Dipl.-Ing. Landespflege
privat:
Bayernstrasse 8
79100 Freiburg i.B.
antje_crispa@web.de

office:
Bezirksstelle fьr Naturschutz und Landschaftspflege
Werderring 14
79104 Freiburg i.B.
antje.krause@bnlfr.bwl.de

The Soil-Ecological Excursion is a remarkable event in the continuously growing 'excursion landscape' across Siberia. Excellent scientific guidance, impressively reliable organisation, advanced teaching approaches, fantastic sites and year-long practice of the organisers make it a wonderful experience. I'd like to recommend this excursion to everybody interested in Siberia's nature, landscape and soils, to everybody who'd like to enjoy and learn about stunning Siberian wildlife - and to people who'd like to see the most beautiful view over river Ob floodplain (near Barnaul) with their own eyes!
 

Franziska Tanneberger
Stralsunder Str. 46
17489 Greifswald

tanneberger@gmx.de

I participated in the Soil Ecological Excursion through portions of Western Siberia during the summer of 2002.
Our group consisted of 29 students and scientists, representing interests and expertise in botany, zoology, geology, soil science, and geography. This provided the foundation for outstanding scientific discussions, facilitated by the excellent team of Russian scientists. This, together with the variety of excursion sites, left nothing to more to wish for.
The Russian team consisted of a total of 12 people. Good organization of trip logistics and the warm atmosphere of human friendship quickly quieted any concerns one may have had before the journey. You can imagine that the good food, the Russian banja (steam sauna), and long nights singing around the campfire contributed to this feeling of warmth.
Mushrooms within the excursion area was my particular area of interest. Mapping the mushrooms in the Taiga, Tundra, Steppe, semi-desert, and on alpine meadows was a big challenge, but on the other hand, of great interest due to the scarcity of available information on mushrooms in this region. It was also exciting due to the great abundance of species, some of which I had never seen before. I also learned that the Russian customs concerning eating mushrooms were somewhat different than German customs. The analysis and interpretation of my Siberian collection will take me well into 2003, providing a great opportunity for me to remember one of my most beautiful journeys.

post address:
Dr. Norbert Amelang
Hansestadt Greifswald
Sachgebiet EDV, Bereich GIS
Postfach 3153
17461 Greifswald
email address: n.amelang@web.de
URL: http://www.uni-greifswald.de/~mycology.

In 2002 I participated in the 8^th pedological-ecological excursion through Western Siberia. This has been an unforgettable experience as regards the scientific program organized by Pavel Barsukov as well as its cultural and social framework.
The field trip led through unique and impressive landscapes: from the Novosibirsk Forest Steppe to the Salair Mountain, the Black Taiga and the Ob river terraces to the Altai-Mountains. Along this route – conducted by our competent Russian hosts - we could study different soil formations and the corresponding ecological system and plant species. The insights we got were especially valuable since wide parts of these territories are still wild and untouched by humans.
So it was fascinating to camp at the edge of the river terraces of the Ob – more than 40 meters above the river. Unforgettable too, was to drink from a dwell in the desert part of the Altai that had its source in ice of the Pleistocene. The Altai especially shows different zones of soil formations and plants: pinewood, semi-desert, and desert, as well as different relief-zones. Here, also we found pingo and the peculiar “drunken forest”.
The novel of this year's excursion has been a three-day trekking tour. Going up to the very heights of the Altai the camp was pitches at the edge of the glacier – this being also a chance to take a refreshing bath in one of its lakes…
The evenings at the campfire offered opportunity for lectures on various subjects and scientific discussions. These were quite productive since participants had very different backgrounds and came from different disciplines. Botanists, soil scientists, geoscientists etc. and students of ecology enriched debates likewise. But a lot was also to learn from lectures about the history of Russia, special problems concerning nature conservation, - and things like shamanism.
No less interesting have been the visits to the some institutes in Barnaul, the showing over the Botanical Garden, sightseeing in the bigger cities and in villages in Russia and the mongolian stamped Altai. An outstanding trip has also been the one to the old Kurgan at the plateau of the Altai. Besides unconditional worth of the excursion is the excellent cooking we could enjoy every day, the hospitality of the Russian and other typical conventions of the host country we got acquainted with.
The excursion has been an enriching and unforgettable experience for me. In every respect, it was worthwhile to participate.

Project manager in the fields of hydrgeology, ingeneering geology and contaminated sites
Von lieberman GmbH, office Halle(Saale)

(subsidiary company of.Sakosta Holding AG)
SchillerstraЯe 19
06114 Halle
Germany
E-mail: HendrikHollstein@web.de

on the south Siberian Expedition under the leadership of Dr. Pavel Barsukov lasted from July 28^th to August 8^th 2002. It had been very successful for the German, USA and Austrian participants.
Scientific aspects
During the expedition a lot of scientific aspects concerning vegetation were transmitted and discussed. More than 400 species of plants of the Siberian flora had been found and indicated under the leadership of Dr. Kolja Latshinsky.
Dr. Lena Smolentseva demonstrated in detail the soil development of different climatic and vegetation zones using the soil profile.
Dr. Dmitri Chernikh and Dr. Kolja Latshinsky explained the scenic and geographical aspects of the Altai region.
Dr. P. Barsukov gave important information concerning land use and agricultural development as well as the colonization of Siberia and the conditions of life nowadays.
The complex and overlapping character while transmitting the knowledge was typical during the excursion. It was a source of many impulses and ideas for dissertations and publications.
Organisation
The leaders of the excursion had prepared a detailed guidebook for all members of the tour, containing the temporal and geographical expiration as well as ecological dates, soil profiles and the expected species of plants. The termination of the excursion was very exact even in comparison with German conditions.
On most evenings interesting workshops, lectures and seminars took place.
The kitchen deserves a special praise. All meals were tasty, well digestible, healthy and showed a great variety of dishes. There was also a possibility for vegetarians to diet.
In the course of the expedition no indisposition coming from food occurred. The food was reasonable and well – directed and as for its quality better than in every hotel.
Experience the landscape!
The expedition was geographical and temporal organized in such a way, that all participants were able to experience the Siberian landscape. Part of this experience were the nights, spent in the tents, camp fires in the evenings, visits of Banjas and a good climate and understanding among all members of the group. The participants had the possibility to gain knowledge from observation never found in Central Europe.
Some wishes open:
To stay two days longer in the alpine region if possible.
The well-experienced Russian team should try to offer further routes with geo-ecological aspects across other regions of Siberia.
 

Main manager of National Park
Nationalparkverwaltung
Lindenallee 35
38855 Wernigerode
E-mail: wegener-nationalpark@fla.ml.lsa-net.de

I participated the excursion through W Siberia in 2002. It was my first visit to Russia and Siberia respectively and I would like to give some comments from a botanical point of view.
As a “gardener” my main scope was to gather impressions about the vegetation communities and there habitat conditions, to make plant collections to complete my floristic knowledge, to realize seed collections for the garden and to improve my general knowledge by personal practice.
In 2002, the excursion directs from Novosibirsk to the Karagem Pass close to the border of Mongolia, and offers a catena through the main landscape/vegetation types of western Siberia and the Altai, e.g. black taiga, forest steppe, steppe, mountain tundra, dry steppe and semi-desert, with special focus to the respective soil types. Unfortunately, a trip to the oligotrophic peat land of the western Siberian plain was not included in 2002.
For the European participants, one of the most impressive features was the vast extent of the landscape types. For the riverine vegetation for exemple, one can recognize undulating rivers and moving sand banks (with Cyperus fuscus, Dichostylis micheliana) which give the Middle European citizin an impression what had be in former times.
In Nicolai (“Kolja”) Lashinski we had a competent botanist from Novosibirsk Botanic Garden, who supplied us in excellent English with knowledge all around flora, vegetation and more, and it was really hard work to present Kolja a plant species hitherto not known to him. Thus, my personal species list comprises a total number of nearly 800 seed plants, ferns, mosses and lichens! I got a really detailed idea of W Siberia.
And be aware of the following: the excursion is very well organized, the cook staff known for delicious dishes, an excellent reader available, the scientific programme comprehensive and fundamental and especially the “plant hunter” is advised to be in good condition to follow all slopes.
Conclusion: Everybody seriously interested in Siberian landscape is invited to join the excursion!

Best wishes
Peter

Dr Peter Kцnig
Curator Botanic Garden
Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-University Greifswald
Grimmerstr. 88
D-17487 Greifswald
Germany
Fon: +49.3834.86-1130
Fax: +49.3834.86-1129
ePost: pkoenig@uni-greifswald.de

As a participant of the Soil-Ecological Excursion in 2002, I can strongly recommend this trip to anybody who is interested in the nature and culture of Siberia. During our journey from Novosibirsk down south to the Altai Mountains we followed a large transect covering all major bioms – from tundra to desert. All sites were carefully chosen in order to present the characteristics of both soil and vegetation and its interaction. Excellent and very motivated Russian scientists introduced us to each site and a guidebook summarised the facts and provided additional information.
Although this expedition focused on the natural ecosystems of the Altai, we also got familiar with its culture, customs and problems, which faces the region today. In respect to the logistics of this expedition, the participants could fully trust in the yearlong experience of the organisers. In fact, organisers, scientists, kitchen staff, drivers and the participants were a great team - a big advantage in all situations!
The whole excursion was just an incredible experience and I will never forget all the campfires, banjas and beautiful landscapes!
 

Andrea Burmester,
Student of Landscape Ecology and Nature Conservation at the University of Greifswald, Germany
Mailing address:
Steinstrasse 39
17489 Greifswald
Germany
A.Burmester@unesco.org
a_burmester@yahoo.com

I took part in the expedition to south-western Siberia in summer of 2002. It was really a great experience for me. I have learned a lot of facts in my studies about the boreal and aridic ecosystems of Russia, but never I had the possibility to see this.
In this expedition I could see a lot of it. Our Russian scientific guides gave us very good explanations about the climate, the geology, the soils, the vegetation and the relationship between all the features of landscape. But beside my scientific interest, it was a great experience for me to see a really wild landscape, which you cannot find nowadays in Middle Europe. So we visited a lot of untouched rivers, some primary forests, relatively undisturbed steppe communities and the high mountain regions.
And last but not least so excellent like the scientific program was the organisation and the food supply. It was really amazing, what the Russian kitchen team every day prepared for us under this difficult field conditions.
So, I have to recommend this expedition to all, who are scientifically interested in the impressive nature of Siberia. But You should also mention, that You have to go long distances on bad roads in old buses, that you will not have in the most camp sides a water closet and a shower and that you will meet sometimes a lot of midges. But nevertheless don’t hesitate to take part in this adventure! It will be great!

Dipl.Biol. Ulf Helke
BIOM - Bьro fьr biologische Untersuchungen und цkologische Studien Martschei
Wolgaster Straпe 41
17489 Greifswald

Tel: 03834/507029
Durchwahl: 03834/8309901
Fax: 03834/502971
e-mail: helke@arge-mm.de

Reference letter from Dr. Udo Kastenholz

Altai-tour 2003

As a participant of the soil-ecological excursion across the Western Siberian plain in 1999 (http://siberia-eco.org) I fell in love with the Steppe landscape of the Altaj mountains. I knew I would have to return one day to see more of the many fantasic landscapes of this remote region. So I was happy to find the announcement of the 2nd Altaj ecotour in 2003.
In particular during the trekking tours up to some mountains the impressions of untouched nature were occasionally overwhelming. To see the terraces of the river Katun, relictic and recent Pingos, Glaciers, Moraines, Permafrost, Solifluction terraces, undisturbed rivers and so many more interesting things is absolutely fantastic. Surely one of the highlights is the experience of spending two nights in about 3000 m altitude nearby a glacier, the camp in the middle of a meadow of blue-blooming flowers. The small size of the group (only six participants with quite different professions from Switzerland, Austria and Germany and four Russians) made it possible to get a very intensive feeling of traveling, far away from any tourism as we know it, and to became quite familiar with each other in a short time.
The organisation of the Altaj tour was really excellent, even better than I knew it from the fieldtrip some years ago. A big compliment to our guide Anton Barsukov, son of Dr. Pavel Barsukov, the organizer of the soil-ecological excursions. It’s owing to him that the ecologically interested one could learn a lot about geomorphological, climatic, pedological and biological coherences. But also participants more interested in cultural questions had intensive insights into the unique culture of the Altaj people in historical and modern times, espacially when we visitited an original Altaj museum or studied ancient petroglyphes on our way to the south.

Always friendly and in a good mood, our Russian hosts did everything to make the journey as comfortable as possible, because riding in jeeps on Russian roads is quite strenuous sometimes (thanks a lot to Pavel and Pavel, our drivers, for driving carefully and secure at all times - and for everything else, too). But a good meal and a hot “Banja” after a hard day really works miracles. The nights we mostly rested near a river or a lake, but always in breath-taking landscapes, no matter if it was on the Ob riversite, with its incredible panorama, besides the Teletskoje lake, out in the Steppe or up in alpine regions of the mountains. Last but not least a very special thanks of course also to Wassilja Barsukov, who cared motherly about our health and prepared all the tasty Russian dishes three times a day.

On the whole my message is quite simple: Siberia’s beautiful and extensive landscapes and the extraordinary warm hospitality of the Russians you travel with makes this unusual journey unforgettable to everybody who is interested in pure nature and open-minded to Russian culture.

Thanks for everything and “do swidanija”, friends!

Mailing adress:
Dr. Udo Kastenholz
Schmollerstr. 31
66111 Saarbrьcken
Germany

E-mail address
kastenholz@web.de

Reference letter from Mr. Urs Rhyner
Altai-Tour 2003

The Altai-Tour is an unforgettable adventure. It gives you the great opportunity to travel with local guides to remote and amazing areas that you can hardly visit as a normal tourist. The guide (Anton) provides you with information you can't find in any travel book.

The Altai-Mountains are impressive and its nature is wild and mostly unchanged by mankind. The expedition makes overnight stops at very nice places, close to rivers or lakes, where you can choose your favourite campsite and which scene you would like to admire first in the morning.

The crew provides you with everything you need and cooks simple but delicious meals. Due to a small group there is enough flexibility for your personal preferences regarding the schedule or program.

We visited old graves and paintings of the Altai-Culture, small villages and markets, and interesting geological sites. We did boat trips, mountain tours and a three-day trekking tour to a glacier, but most important and unforgettable: the Russian saunas!

If you like adventure, nature and other cultures, go on this tour, I can highly recommend it.

Urs Rhyner, student, Zurich.

E-mail address:
urrhyner@student.ethz.ch

Reference from Ms. Hildegard Meyer
Altai Tour 2003

My first contact with Western Siberia and its very sympathic inhabitants Anton and Pavel Barsukov was in summer 2001 when I worked with big pleasure as an ecologist in this wonderful part of the world. But working only, there was not time enough to really enjoy nature in Siberia. So I decided to spend my holidays joining the Altai tour 2003. And it was no mistake at all!

The Altai mountains are very varied. You can find landscapes, which are similar to the Alps, but few kilometers further on you will find steppe with sparse vegetation cover or open stone formations where you can read their history from. I would say, in comparison to the “gothic shaped” Alps the Altai mountains seemed to be made in “romanic times”, very massive giants with simple and strong forms. And their power touched me everywhere we walked.

Beside that the organisation of the tour was brilliant. While the participants were busy to build up their tends, the Russian stuff prepared everything for our comfort in the wild nature - meals, campfire and even Russian banyas (sauna) were organized, which gave us a new feeling of life after a trekking tour through the mountains. Anton knew a lot of geology and ecology including cultural features of the Altai. Therefore, the tour was not only an exciting adventure trip, but also a very interesting trip to ecological and cultural insights of this part of Siberia.

I would recommend this tour to all who would like to overcome their old picture of Siberia as a cold and inhospitable place and who would like to spend a wonderful time in pure nature whithout any tourism rave up in company with very friendly and joky people!

Thank you all for this wonderful and enriching trip!

Mailing address
Hildegard Meyer
Pramergasse 8-10/2/11
A-1090 Vienna
Austria

E-mail address
loiseleuria@yahoo.de

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