Award Program
«Nature Landmarks»
Rules, qualification levels and requirements for NLP program participants
The «Nature Landmarks» Award Program (NLP — Nature Landmark Point) was established on January 11, 1997 — Russia's Day of Nature Reserves and National Parks. The program was created by amateur radio operator R2RDA (Alexander Varnikov) with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod Radio Club (KNR).
The program aims to promote Russia's Protected Natural Areas (PNA) among the amateur radio community, drawing attention to the preservation of the country's natural heritage through radio sport and field activities.
Reference data on PNA is provided by the All-Russian Research Institute of Ecology (VNII ECOLOGY). Logs are accepted for QSOs made starting from January 11, 1997.
The program is non-commercial and operates on a voluntary basis.
The number 91 is the key symbol of the program. The digit «9» replaces the letter «N», and the lowercase «l» resembles «1».
NL = Nature Landmark = 91, similar to «44» in the Flora Fauna (FF) program.
Activation Requirements
Minimum number of QSOs required for NLP district activation
| Activation Type | Power | Minimum QSOs |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Any permitted | 91 |
| QRPP (bonus ×2) | Max 5 W | 46 (46×2=92≥91) |
Activator Program
Visit PNA sites and make radio contacts directly from reserves and parks
Key Requirements
Physical Presence
The activator must be physically present on the PNA territory (within the QTH locator of the site) with equipment and antennas. Any remote use of the transmitter and/or receiver is prohibited.
ADIF Log Format
The log must be submitted in ADIF format (preferably UTF-8) with mandatory tags:
- OPERATOR or STATION_CALLSIGN
- Russian characters in WIN-1251 encoding are prohibited in RST_XX tags; UTF-8 is allowed
- Duplicate QSOs are automatically ignored
Photo Report (3 photos)
3 photographs must accompany the log. One of them must clearly confirm the location coordinates (GPS screenshot, PNA sign photo, QTH locator photo).
On-Air Announcement
The activator must announce the NLP district number/designation during each QSO, and optionally provide additional information.
Emission Modes
Contacts on any amateur band, including WARC (10, 18, 24 MHz). All digital modes (FT8, FT4, RTTY, PSK) count as one type: DIG. Using the same callsign on one band with different modes simultaneously is prohibited.
QRPP Bonus (≤5 W)
One QSO counts as two when power of no more than 5 W is confirmed. For a full activation, 46 QSOs are sufficient (46×2 = 92 ≥ 91).
Hunter Program
Make contacts with Activators from PNA sites without leaving home
Automatic Verification
Hunter contacts are verified automatically based on moderated Activator logs. No need to submit your own log.
Different NLP Districts
To earn awards, you need to make contacts with Activators from the specified number of different NLP districts (specific PNA sites).
Getting Your Award
Select the «Hunter» type in the «Awards» menu on nlap.ru, enter your callsign and select the desired filter. All awards are issued electronically (PDF).
SWL Program
For shortwave listeners
Submitting Observations
SWL sends the observation log to info@nlap.ru with mandatory NLP object number(s) for cross-referencing with the Activator's log.
Time Tolerance
The time difference for QSO must not exceed 2 minutes. Time must be specified exclusively in UTC format.
SWL Awards
Upon approval, the corresponding Hunter-level award is sent to the observer's email.
Report Submission Procedure
Step-by-step instructions for Activators
Prepare Your Log
ADIF format, UTF-8 encoding, OPERATOR/STATION_CALLSIGN tags
Take Photos
3 photographs, one confirming coordinates (GPS, PNA sign)
Upload to Website
Via your personal account on nlap.ru, filling in all form fields
Await Decision
The moderator reviews your report within 14 business days
Correcting Reports
Editing uploaded reports on the website is prohibited (including for administrators). To make corrections — delete the log and upload a new one.
Appealing Decisions
If you disagree with the moderator's decision, send a request to info@nlap.ru with the log number and reason for disagreement. A response is provided within 14 business days.
Notable Dates
Key dates in the history of nature conservation and the NLP program
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most popular questions about the program
PNA stands for Protected Natural Areas (OOPT in Russian). These are areas of land, water and airspace containing natural complexes and objects of special environmental, scientific, cultural, aesthetic, recreational and health significance.
NLP (Nature Landmark Point) is a unique activation object number in the program. An NLP district is a specific PNA (nature reserve, national park, wildlife sanctuary, etc.) registered in the program directory. The number 91 (minimum QSOs) = NL: digit '9' replaces 'N', and lowercase 'l' resembles '1'. NL = Nature Landmark = 91.
You need to be a licensed amateur radio operator with a valid callsign. Register on nlap.ru, choose a PNA for activation or start hunting for stations operating from PNA sites. Logs are accepted for QSOs made since January 11, 1997.
Activation means traveling to a PNA territory with a radio station and making at least 91 QSOs (radio contacts). You must be physically present on the PNA territory with your equipment and antennas, announcing the NLP number on air. Any remote use of the transmitter/receiver is prohibited.
1) Prepare a log in ADIF format (UTF-8 encoding) with the OPERATOR or STATION_CALLSIGN tag. 2) Attach 3 photographs, one of which must clearly confirm coordinates (GPS screenshot, PNA sign photo). 3) Upload via your personal account on nlap.ru. Note: Russian characters in WIN-1251 encoding are prohibited in RST tags; use UTF-8.
Stations with power of no more than 5 W (QRPP) receive double credit: one QSO counts as two. Thus, only 46 QSOs are needed for a full activation (46 x 2 = 92 >= 91). Low power operation must be confirmed by any unambiguous method.
No. During a single expedition, you cannot be both an Activator and a Hunter simultaneously, and you cannot make QSOs with yourself. However, an Activator may earn Hunter points by making QSOs with correspondents from other NLP districts, as well as with correspondents in the same NLP under a different callsign.
Contacts may be made using any permitted emission mode on any amateur band, including WARC (10, 18, 24 MHz). All digital modes (FT8, FT4, RTTY, PSK, etc.) count as one type — DIG. Using the same callsign on one band with different emission modes simultaneously, or on different bands at the same time, is prohibited.
Yes! Observers (SWL) send observation logs to info@nlap.ru with NLP numbers. Observations are cross-referenced with Activator logs with a 2-minute tolerance (UTC only). Upon approval, a Hunter-level award is issued.
Review takes no more than 14 business days from the upload date. The decision is displayed in the 'Status' field of the log journal on the website and sent via email. You can check accepted contacts in the 'QSO Search' menu. Editing reports is prohibited — to make corrections, delete the log and upload a new one.
Yes. You can send a request to info@nlap.ru with the log number and reason for disagreement, and provide additional materials. A reasoned response is provided within 14 business days.