An administrative reform is going on in Russia, implying among other things transfer of a considerable part of power from the central government to the local selfgovernment bodies.

This refers to the full extent to issues of environmental protection and sustainable development at the local level. In this connection, the potential of the local authorities and their ability to address environmental issues is one of the most decisive factors of success.

Development and implementation of local environmental action plans is one of the tools indicative of the potential of local government bodies.

Their ability to identify priorities in a correct way and mobilize resources determines in the long run, whether the defined goals will be attained.

In this context, the role of the RREC appears to be substantial, because it provides the required methodological guidelines and information about the most successful international, first of all European, experience of environmental planning at the level of municipalities and local self-government bodies.

The work performed by the RREC in the field of environmental planning at the local level is aimed at providing assistance to local selfgovernment bodies, non-governmental environmental organisations and the business community, including the following types of services: consulting, methodological advice, dissemination of successful experience and best practices, exchange of information and training, creation and development of networks of experts and practitioners.

For a number of years, the RREC not only provides consulting to municipalities in different regions with respect to development of pilot projects and LEAP implementation by mobilizing the required means and resources, providing experienced Russian and international experts, but it also summarizes the available national and international experience in the field of target oriented planning and exchange of such experience.