The Volga project : two years of cooperation between Milieukontakt Oost-Europa and Russian environmental organizations along the Volga

Central aim of the project was to contribute to the strengthening and professionalization of the environmental movement in the Volga river basin area, so they would be accepted as serious partners by public authorities and local industries. The project was also intended to raise the level of awareness about the pollution of the Volga river, internationally. Confrontational strategies in the form of public hearings were developed and adapted to local circumstances to deal with water pollution in the Volga river basin. One such hearing is presented to demonstrate the possibilities for public participation, in a discussion with all concerned parties. The report gives an overview of environmental NGOs in the Volga project and emphasizes the significance of the Volga project for local environmental NGOs. It discusses the importance and major objectives of environmental research, in order to understand the extent of the river's pollution. It also identifies major sources of pollution to determine the urgency of actions to ameliorate the water quality of the Volga. The report concludes with a set of recommendations referring to non-confrontational methods for participation in environmental decision-making processes, Dutch- Russian cooperation, and the development of organizational and management skills of the NGOs.