The European Baykal—Regional Development Inspired by the European Landscape Convention

The main idea of the NLSF project is to organize a territory of comprehensive sustainable development, based on tourism in Przhevalskoye of Smolensk region. The project was inspired by the European Landscape Convention and additionally motivated after an onsite working meeting of experts, local actors, and politicians from Russia and Germany, among others the authors of this article. The location was chosen due to the high-quality landscape and human potential, sufficient proximity to Moscow and because of the will of the local actors, to overcome the depression, which escalated these last decades—a typical phenomenon in rural areas. Even if areas are considered by foreigners as beautiful or even outstanding, depression can be striking due to missing employment opportunities. The base of the project is a package of innovations by authors, partly approved by the Council of Europe. The article will present the concept for valorizing the landscape, protecting the natural environment by at the same time creating a sustainable local economy based on innovative landscape approaches, like layouts of Europe and Russia, landscape passports of birthdays, script-game scenario, etc. The active involvement of residents, the use of best foreign practices and direct participation, primarily of Germany, will be further developed.