History

photo of a young owlThe Altai Project began as a program of Sacred Earth Network in the late 1990s. In 2004, we narrowed our focus from Russia-wide environmental assistance to concentrate on this one unique region and moved operations to the Center for Safe Energy (also an EII project), where we remained until 2006.

In 2006, The Altai Project (TAP) faced several turning points, and each time we reaffirmed our dedication of time and resources for the protection of the Altai.

One of the more significant changes was that former Director Susan Cutting transitioned to our Advisory Board. Alyson Ewald became our Director, and we were joined by new Altai Project Coordinator Jennifer Castner, formerly Russia Program Director at Pacific Environment.

After incubating at the Center for Safe Energy for several years, we felt ready to move beyond CSE’s sheltering wings, and in January 2007, we became a full-fledged project of Earth Island Institute.