VTB Bank and the Nature Protectors Fund have allocated 5.17 million rubles to support six environmental projects led by young conservationists following their second grant competition. The winning initiatives focus on researching rare bird species and developing ecological routes and infrastructure within specially protected natural areas. The results were announced at the 2026 Eastern Economic Forum by Pyotr Shpilenok, advisor to the VTB president – chairman of the management board and director of the Nature Protectors Fund.
The second round of the competition evaluated 30 proposals from specialists under the age of 35 working in protected territories across Russia. Individual grants reached up to one million rubles. Targeted financial support enables young professionals to conduct field research, conserve rare species, enhance the operational capacity of reserves, and build ecological infrastructure. All ten projects funded during the inaugural competition have been successfully completed, establishing a foundation to cultivate a new generation of professional conservationists.
Implementation of the six newly selected projects has already begun, with four initiatives located in the Russian Far East. One such project involves the construction of an ecological route – equipped with tourist infrastructure and informational signage – on the Likander Peninsula of Popov Island in the Primorsky Krai. The grant program originally launched in 2025, providing 11.6 million rubles to support initial efforts ranging from wildlife conservation to the formation of interregional anti-poaching teams.
In conjunction with the forum, VTB and the Tretyakov Gallery introduced a collaborative initiative connecting classical art with environmental preservation. The project utilizes landscapes painted by prominent artists to highlight the importance of nature conservation. As a continuation of existing corporate campaigns, the initiative demonstrates how classical painting addresses contemporary environmental themes. The visual centerpiece of the exhibition is a specialized blue-and-white engraving adaptation of Ivan Shishkin’s painting Morning in a Pine Forest.