From 15 to 26 November 2007, Russian UNDP/GEF biodiversity conservation projects will conduct a joint study tour to Austria and Germany for government experts and protected areas managers. The study tour is supported by three UNDP/GEF projects: “Conservation of wetland biodiversity in the Lower Volga”, “Biodiversity Conservation in the Russian Portion of the Altai-Sayan Ecoregion” and “Demonstrating Sustainable Conservation of Biodiversity in Four Protected Areas in Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula” . The programme of the study tour focuses on cooperation among protected areas, government authorities, municipalities and business community. The objective of the study tour is to present the best European practices in the development of protected areas, strengthening their effectiveness and sustainability, and promoting inter-sectoral cooperation. The participants will visit leading Austrian and German National Parks, including the Danube Floodplains NP, Thaya Valley NP, High Mountains NP, Kalkalpen NP, Gesause NP, and Bavarian Forest NP. They will exchange experiences with European colleagues on implementing partnership projects, opportunities for regional cooperation, implementing nature conservation programmes and improving the operations of park authorities.