The new eco-trail “Mysterious Du Island”, a two-and-a-half-hour walk across grassy hills offering sweeping lake views, serves as an outdoor classroom. Visitors learn about endangered species and rare plants whilst potentially spotting the wild animals that call Belarus's largest uninhabited island home. A newly installed radio guide system allows self-directed tours.

The strategy is paying off. Over 3,000 tourists have already booked trips. Reserve officials expect significantly higher numbers of visitors till the end of 2025.

More importantly for local communities, these new developments create economic opportunities beyond traditional tourism jobs. Local entrepreneurs are interested in suppling food and catering services, nature guides and artisans may benefit from increased visitor numbers. Meanwhile, a new motorboat skipper and a glamping administrator keep sightseeing tours smooth and the accommodation comfortable. 

This model reflects a growing understanding that successful conservation requires local buy-in, which often depends on economic incentives. When communities benefit directly from protecting natural spaces, they become stakeholders in conservation rather than obstacles to it.

The Osveja story also demonstrates how innovative accommodation can make nature accessible to groups usually excluded from wilderness experiences. Families with small children, elderly travelers, and city dwellers lacking camping skills can now experience wild nature environments without barriers that might previously have kept them away.

This democratization of nature access carries its own conservation benefits. Visitors who might never have ventured beyond urban streets return home with deeper appreciation for environmental challenges and stronger commitment to protection efforts. The reserve becomes not just a destination but an educational experience that creates advocates for conservation.