Baikalplan e.V. - shto eto?!
It was in spring 1995 when members of the German environmental organisation BUNDjugend visited the Irkutsk Club of Cave Explorers Arabika. Actually, the Germans intended to get in contact with an ecological youth club. But what they found was a mixture of cavers, conservationists, and a social youth club on the lakefront of one of the most beautiful lakes of the world. A disused water tower on the verge of a development area serves as their domicile, their activities range from youth camps on the lakefront of Lake Baikal to great expeditions into the longest or deepest cave of the world, their leader is a geologist, archaeologist, shaman, and social worker in one, they are active within an area as big as Germany, not forgetting their expeditions to the Caucasus or Mongolia, to France and Alaska.
Both the members of BUNDjugend and Arabika had low language skills but, nevertheless, they got along with each other at first go, and since then each year a German group visited Siberia or members of the Russian club came to Germany. Friendships developed, joint projects were realised, and visions were devised. At the beginning the cooperation was more a touristy including sightseeing etc. but the field of interest has extended over the years. Now it's an exchange of thoughts and experiences without thinking of all the cultural differences, a joint fascination for the natural spectacle called Lake Baikal, and the wish to keep it like that for the following generations.
We want to inform the people in Western Europe and also in Russia about Lake Baikal, we want to tell them about the Lake's beauty, and at the same time call attention to the problems, advertise understanding, and to convey a picture of Siberia beyond 'cold', 'far away', and 'banishment'.
Furthermore, we want to make a contribution to a naturally compatible tourism development in the area of Lake Baikal, in order to give the people who live on its lakefront a perspective. The participation in the Great Baikal Trail project as well as the support of the backpacker hostel in Irkutsk will be one of our main tasks within the following years.
That's why a small group of enthusiastic people founded the Baikalplan e.V. in 2002.
If you want to get more detailed information, please look up the project descriptions and travel reports.
And what kind of people are working for the Baikalplan association? Not only about the question what, but who this association is. 
Without the collaboration and help of our trainees we would not have been able to realise several projects... 
We need money to realise our projects, too. Therefore we would be very pleased if you supported our work as a supportive member.
