Looking at tourism as the driver for socio-economic development of the Chernobyl-affected districts

April 26, 2020

Photo: Sergei Gapon for UNDP Belarus

The administrations of the affected districts and the Polesie Radioecological Reserve and the youth from the Polesie State University promote a plan that could help revive tourism in the area. Much of the development and investments would be directed towards improving local hospitality services and tourism infrastructure.

The tourism recovery can help the economies of the depressive rural regions spring back to life, open new jobs, bring investments and technologies. It can also attract youth and encourage them to invest their talents and creativity into ethno and heritage preservation projects there.

An abandoned village swallowed by the flourishing vegetation and a view of the shiny dome of the Chernobyl sarcophagus over the breached reactor. Photo: Siarhiej Leskiec for UNDP Belarus

On the early morning of 26 April 1986, the fourth reactor at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded sending 5% of the radioactive reactor’s core into the atmosphere and upwind into Belarus, Ukraine and Russia.

The largest part of the radioactive material spread over a 30 km area from the plant leading to the creation of the 2,600 sq. km exclusion zone on both sides of the Belarus-Ukrainian border. The exclusion zone was deemed too unsafe for people to return; however, wildlife and nature have flourished, and nature has retaken what man once had.

A place where once stood a village. Photo: Siarhei Leskiec for UNDP Belarus

By driving away from the area, people unintentionally welcomed the wildlife to take over. Lynxes, badgers, bisons, boars, bears and even 300 Przewalski’s wild horses, who are not typical for Belarus’ fauna, quickly populated the landscapes – uniquely devoid of human presence. Many animals claimed crumbled and overgrown buildings as their new habitats.

The Reserve is a home to the largest population of swamp turtles in the world - 70 thousand. It is also a home to 59 mammals, 11 of which are listed as endangered species.

The exclusion zone became Europe’s largest nature reserve – a vivid demonstration of the impact that humans have on the environment.

The biggest horse farm in Belarus is located in the Exclusion Zone. It has 380 horses of Orlov Trotter and Russian Heavy Draft breeds. Photo Siarhiej Leskiec for UNDP Belarus

“Unlike Ukraine, who in 2011 opened Pripyat and Chernobyl towns, as well as its part of the exclusion zone for tourists, we didn’t rush to commercialize our part of the Reserve, but Chernobyl tourism can help earn money here in Belarus as well,” said Anatoly Bondarenko, the Head of the Chernobyl-affected Khoiniki District.

In November 2018 Belarus opened its part of the exclusion zone, “Polesie State Radioecological Reserve”, to organized tourist groups, who can visit bee and horse farms, bizons feeding grounds, as well as have short works around abandoned villages.

Inside a rural club in an abandoned village. Photo: UNDP in Belarus.