The development of natural sites for tourism is attracting interest in an increasing number of countries today. Use of an area for "eco-tourism" preserves the ecological value of the site, as well as its historic integrity. Areas suitable for wilderness adventures, such as hiking, canoeing or cross- country skiing, can often attract tourists and photographers from around the world. "Eco-tourism" can bring foreign exchange into an area, while providing economic incentives for preservation of the area's natural features.

This issue of ECOLOGIA Newsletter features two different stories occurring in the Soviet Union. In one, Americans and Soviets use a camping expedition to discuss common environmental concerns. The other story discusses the problems of large-scale industrial development in an ecologically sensitive area, suggesting "eco-tourism" as a less risky method to take advantage of the area's natural resources.

• An Open Letter To The GREEN PARTIES AND MOVEMENTS OF THE WORLD!
• Background to the Katun River Project, U.S.S.R. : A Brezhnev-Era Holdover Opposed by Local, National and International Environmental Organizations
• Wilderness Exchange:Hiking Expedition in the Ukraine by Gerald P. Kruth Sierra Club - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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