Around 500 cyclists and 40 kayakers - representatives of national ministries, the diplomatic corps, UN agencies, the cycling community in Poland, Lithuania and Belarus, as well as residents of the Hrodna region - explored the tourism potential of the Augustow Canal, riding 18.5 kilometers on bicycles and 6 kilometers on canoe along the picturesque historical sites of the unique hydrotechnical structure of the XIX century.

UNDP in Belarus invites media to cover the bike ride supporting the Sustainable Development Goals – Bike4SDGs 2017. This year the event is organized with the support of the Hrodna Oblast Executive Committee and will be held in conjunction with the Folk-Art Festival “The Augustów Canal in the Culture of Three Nations”.

An inclusive tourist site for bird watching has been opened on September 1 in the village of Zamasciany, Valožyn district. The opportunity for organized bird watching increases the chances of attracting tourists in the district.

The two-day festival “On a visit to Radzimichy", on August 26-27, was held with admirable scope. It helped to lay the foundations of historical tourism in the district.

The II contest of local initiatives "Be Healthy!" brought a lot of creative ideas. The contest was held in Homiel and Brest Oblasts in the first half of the year (the I contest was held in Mogilev and Vitebsk Oblasts). This time, 125 organizations claimed to receive funds from the European Union. Representatives of UN agencies, the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Belarus and civil society took part in evaluation of applications.

United Nations Development Program will support the National Coordinator for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and the Council for Sustainable Development on implementation of the 2030-Agenda

"Sporava hayfields" was held on the territory of the Republican biological reserve "Sporovsky". Within the traditional annual event the hand haymaking and peatland football championships were held.

A business consultant from the Czech Republic, Mr. Vladimir Brown, together with representatives of UNDP in Belarus and UNDP in the Czech Republic, visited small and medium-sized enterprises in the Viciebsk and Mahilieu oblasts from 31 July till 4 August 2017.

Belarus presented the National review on the Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development at the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council in New-York, USA.

The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, announced the following briefing: "Engaging Belarus on Human Rights & Democracy". The briefing will take place on July 21, 2017, at 10:30 a.m., in Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room G11. Live Webcast: www.facebook.com/HelsinkiCommission.

20 residents of Myadel district of Minsk oblast gained the opportunity of additional employment and involvement in economic activity in the sphere of phyto-production thanks to implementation of the pilot initiative within the project “Supporting the transition to a “green” economy in the Republic of Belarus” funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP.

Today the international business conference 'Innovations is the way to successful integration' started its work in Vitebsk. The representatives of business, local authorities and international organizations as well as foreign partners met in order to present high-end scientific developments and innovative projects in the sphere of entrepreneurship and to discuss the opportunities for enhancing cooperation and attracting foreign investments.

The resource center in the village of Kurshinovichi was equipped with the financial support of the European Union. It provides the conditions for the development of informal training programs, crafts, and serves as a local business consulting hub.

Minsk hosted “Green Cities” project inception workshop. The project is implemented by UNDP jointly with the GEF and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus. It is aimed at developing of green urban development plans. It will pilot green initiatives on energy efficiency in Navahrudak and sustainable transport in Polack and Navapolack.

The first school green roof has been сreated in the Mar'ina Horka gymnasium within the "Supporting the transition to a “green” economy in the Republic of Belarus" project, funded by the European Union and implemented by UNDP in Belarus in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus. The opening ceremony took place on 27 June and welcomed the representatives of the Minsk region administration.

The official opening of the Center of Mythological Tourism has taken place in Biarezinski Biosphere Reserve today. The center was created by the NGO “Country Escape” and Biarezinski Reserve within the "Supporting the Transition to a “green” economy in the Republic of Belarus" project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP in Belarus in partnership with the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Belarus.

The experts in the final conference under the joint project of UNDP and the Ministry of Taxes and Duties "Support to tax advisory services in Belarus" have expressed the confidence that taxpayers in Belarus will soon be able to benefit from the services of professional tax advisers.

On June 18, the International Charity Ethnic festival for people with disabilities "Music of Our Hearts", took place for the second time in a row in the village of Karevičy, Svislač district, in the farm estate "Falvarak u Rysya".

Complex system of used engine oils collection and recycling has been created in Barysaŭ and Kpupki rayons of the Minsk region. Both the local enterprises and residents will be able to contribute to the "green" project on waste processing. 50 new specialized points will ensure collection of used oils for their further processing. 6 of them allow local residents to get money for the disposed used oils.

On the 16-18 May 2017 a working visit of the governmental delegation from Belarus on the development of small business took place in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. Representatives of the Department of Entrepreneurship of the Ministry of Economy, the Council for the Development of Entrepreneurship of the Republic of Belarus, the Belarusian Fund for Financial Support of Entrepreneurs and the Bank for Development of the Republic of Belarus held a number of working meetings with subjects of the small business supportive infrastructure.

On 26 May 2017 a press tour to pilot territories of the European Union funded and UNDP implemented “Clima-East” project and the UNDP-GEF “Peatlands-2” project took place in Biaroza and Drahicyn districts of the Brest Oblast unveiling the latest results of the projects’ activities for the period of 2013-2017. The press tour focused on fighting the climate change, preventing soil degradation, peat fires and floods, utilizing peatlands’ biomass in energetics and construction sectors, preserving biodiversity.

The launch of the first Belarusian eco-friendly coolant production line has taken place at the JSC «Gomelhimtorg» today. The manufacturing capacity of the line will allow to produce 1,000 tonnes of the new product per year. The production has been launched by within the "Supporting the Transition to a “green” economy in the Republic of Belarus" project, funded by the European Union and implemented by the UNDP in Belarus.

9,000 rural citizens of Masty District (the Hrodna Region), including 735 people with disabilities, have got uninterrupted access to drinking water thanks to the system of remote monitoring of water production installed in the district. The automation of 31 water intakes of Masty District allowed to provide 31 villages with the year-round uninterrupted access to drinking water supply.

The opening ceremony of the energy efficient house took place in Hrodna. The building was designed to consume at least fourfold less thermal energy than any regular new residential house in Belarus.

The UNDP has presented its “green” projects implemented in Belarus at the XIV Republican Environmental Forum taking place in Viciebsk. The "ClimaEast" and "Supporting the Transition to a “Green” Economy in the Republic of Belarus" projects, funded by the European Union, took the central place in the exposition of UNDP at the forum.