Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and Natural Resources 2022 number 3

We examine the basic prerequisites for the formation of green development and green economy embedded in the documents of the Club of Rome in the 1970s as well as in a number of publications of Russian and foreign authors. The various aspects of the green economy and green development identified by them, including geographical, economic, social, and environmental ones and their interconnections, are given. Green development is considered as such an economic development or development of a certain territory, in which the technogenic and anthropogenic impacts on the environment are minimized, and the biodiversity of its landscapes and, in general, its green vegetation is preserved. It is suggested that green development should be treated as the first stages in achieving the sustainable development. In order to implement certain incentives and governance, it is proposed to identify territories for green development. It is thought that one of their most important components is the existence of specially protected natural areas and their combinations, such as nature reserves, wildlife sanctuaries, national parks, protected areas as well as significant areas of wildlife. A green economy should become predominant, which ensures a rise in production with a reduction in energy consumption, and an improvement of the standard of living with a reduction in resources used and in technogenic pressure on ecosystems and biodiversity. Taking into consideration these criteria as well as approaches to the natural and economic zoning on the territory of Primorskii krai, five territories (zones) were identified, which hold promise for green development. The characteristic of the natural resource potential of the selected territories and of their existing specialization is provided, and the priority types of economic activities are determined, which are compatible with green development. The establishment of a special status - “the territory of green development” - is suggested.

We examine the evolution of the nature management systems in the historical context. An analysis is made of the crisis of the existing nature management models, an aggravation of contradictions and an increase in threats and risks at the beginning of the 21^st century. The modern trends in the development of effective nature management are discussed, namely low-waste technologies, technoecopolises, agroecopolises and green clusterization. We generalize and suggest conceptual prospects in the realm of effective nature management: the concept of a New Ecological Policy, and a new “ecopolicy of containment”. We explore the possibility of introducting the culture of nature management contributing to reinforcing the necessary rules and regulations - the binding force of the system of restrictions and prohibitions for humans in nature management, with due regard for the sustainability of natural systems. Emphasis is placed on a crucial need for changes in the mass-scale consumer stereotypes, for an increase of the number of green technologies and production, the furthering of ecological education and medical-ecological tourism; the importance of reorientation of the attitudes of the population from ecological-consumer to social-spiritual values, in accordance with the “Code of the Culture of Nature Management”. We substantiate the need for the integration of the economic determinism of nature management and the ecological-economic imperative of sustainable development on the basis of the noosphere approach.

The characteristics of the basic principles for solving the problems of interstate cooperation in transboundary river basins are presented. It is shown that in order to solve problems, it is necessary to have an idea of the patterns of functioning of these complexes under different economic policies of the states engaged in water use. Based on the long-term practices of interstate interaction, it was noted that the larger is the number of states intersecting a transboundary watercourse, the more difficult is the process of implementing measures of integrated water resources management. The main factors of development and exacerbation of water use conflicts in transboundary river basins are identified. An analysis of institutional and legal formats of interaction between states - water users has been carried out. The predominance of bilateral agreements and the lack of interest in the development of universal multilateral treaties were noted. From the standpoint of structural and functional integrity, the expediency of considering transboundary river basins from the standpoint of the basin principle is substantiated. It is concluded that under conditions of significant anthropogenic fragmentation of transboundary river basins, a quasi-integral natural-social geosystem of the regional level is formed. It is noted that taking into account the complexity and inconsistency of the “transboundary river basin” category, a universal approach is needed to solving the problems of interstate interaction, which makes it possible to combine the basic principles (limnological, institutional-legal and basin principle) into a single conceptual model. Such tasks can be successfully solved through the implementation of the main provisions of a systematic approach, the application of which will make it possible to determine the individual characteristics of a transboundary basin and synthesize them into a single whole, develop integrated water resource management schemes, coordinate joint actions of water-user states and move from private solutions of problems of interstate interaction to complex problems.

It has been defined that the clear spatial differentiation in the Far East is characteristic of the manifestation of the continentality and oceanicity interaction: minimal in the central areas of the continents and oceans and maximal in the transboundary ones. It has been established that the probability of origin and development of the related anomalous processes and disasters was included in the relation of continentality and oceanicity. Many peculiarities of the dynamic of the geosystems and anomalous processes were clarified. So, for example, the number and intensity of anomalous processes increase: the frequency of storms and storm surges grows up as well as the washway of the sea shores and submarine nearshore slope etc. intensifies. As a result, the strip of active interpenetation of the continentality and oceanicity emphasized currently by mottled alternation of the “strange” by origin forms, processes and formations (in the goltsy zone of the middle altitudes - formation of rock glaciers and cryogenic sorting of grounds and ice blisters and more in the valleys of mountain rivers) becomes displaced to the east, to the coastal zone. The repetition frequency of the extreme processes and their effect on the geosystems in the continental margin of the Russian Far East increase in recent decades. It has been established that the use of continentality and oceanicity characteristics allows us to determine the ecological risks and has the high potential of application in the solving of the urgent problems. It has been stated that the selection of the sustainable nature management strategy in the areas under consideration should make allowance for the existing risks and environmental restrains determined by them.

It has been established that the main factor hindering the development of agricultural production in Russia is soil degradation of agricultural landscapes, including chernozems - the country’s most important natural resource. It is concluded that the chief reason behind the deterioration of the genetic properties of soils is a long period of their extensive use. The changes in the political and economic systems of the country that took place at the turn of the 20^th and 21^st centuries also affected agriculture. A course was taken for the transition to intensive farming, for achieving maximum possible crop yields in small areas with high quality soils. To work out the methods of intensive farming within the chernozem belt of the Ural, it became necessary to preliminarily rehabilitate soil properties. In this regard, the study of the processes of restoration of the properties of degraded chernozems was the goal of this study. As a method of restoring soil properties, a largely forgotten agricultural method was used, which is a long-term fallow. The restoration of the main properties of chernozem was carried out simultaneously with the recovery of the species composition of vegetation and included three stages: the stage of “young” fallow (5 years from the time of withdrawal from arable land), “middle-aged”, or 12 years of stay in the fallow, and “old-age”, after a 25-year period of restoration of soil properties. At the end of each stage, the species composition of phytocenoses was studied and the chemical, biological and physical properties of chernozems were determined. It has been established that at the end of the period of stay of soils in the state of fallow, they almost completely restore their genetic properties, including those that ensure their fertility. Thus this agricultural method does not require capital expenditures for its implementation and allows the relevant goal to be achieved.

This paper presents results from determining the soluble and total forms of metals in natural environments of the Bazaikha river basin in the Krasnoyarsk agglomeration. It was found that the copper, aluminum and zinc concentrations in snow water filtrate exceeded the ecological standards for fishery waters. According to the increase in the proportion versus the background, the water-soluble forms of heavy metals in snow cover were arranged in the following series: Mn (1.14 mg/kg) < Cu (1.79) < Ni (2.38) < Al (3.25) < Fe (4.20) < Zn (4.46) < Sr (5.71 mg/kg). The content of mineral fraction in solid precipitate suggests a predominance of zinc-nickel-strontium aerotechnogenic pollution of snow cover as compared with the background. According to the increase in the mean concentration of metals, the mineral form of elements in solid precipitate were arranged in the following series: Cu (20.1 mg/kg) < Ni (46.8) < Sr (277.6) < Zn (386.6) < Mn (752.5) < Al (7457.7) < Fe (14 881.7 mg/kg). It was established that the concentration of copper and aluminum in the surface waters of the Bazaikha river exceeds ecological standards for fishery waters. In the order of increasing the mean content of water-soluble forms of metals in the surface waters of the river, the following sequence is obtained: Mn (0.001 mg/dm3) = Cu (0.001) < Sr (0.085) < Al (0.090) < Fe (0.091 mg/dm3), while in the order of increasing the mean concentrations of suspended forms of metals the sequence is arranged thus: Cu (0.002 mg/dm3) < < Mn (0.010) < Sr (0.132) < Fe (0.483) < Al (0.608 mg/dm3). It is concluded that most of the elements are transported by the river in the suspended runoff, which is characteristic for manganese, aluminum and iron. Almost 50 % of strontium and copper compounds in such redox conditions migrate in the water-soluble form. Geochemical coefficients as calculated from results of analyzing the collected samples show that in conditions of the Bazaikha rivershed there is a low degree of involvement of the metal masses under investigation in water migration processes.

Results from studying the flow of major ions in the water of the Amur river near Khabarovsk for the maximum water discharge in 2013 are presented. The effect of the regulated Zeya and Bureya rivers on the hydrological and hydrochemical regime of the Middle Amur is considered. An uneven distribution of the sum of ions across the width of the river was noted, with the greatest differences observed during the winter low-water period and the leas differences occurred during the spring high-water period. It was found that at the crest of the historical flood the differences in the distribution of the sum of ions across the width of the Amur did not exceed 26 mg/L, and the maximum value in the middle of the river (up to 82.8 mg/L) was higher than during the 1998, 2002, 2009 and 2019 floods. The yearly largest sum of ions (132 mg/L) was recorded as a result of the removal of dissolved matter from the flooded farmland and urbanized areas in December at the beginning of freeze-up. The priority influence of the Sungari river on the temporal and spatial variability in ion concentrations in the water of the Amur river is shown. An estimate was made of the ionic flow during the winter low-water period, spring flooding and historical flooding, the decline of which in September was accompanied by the greatest removal of salts (6644 thousand tons). Hydrocarbonate and sulfate ions, the calcium ion and, to a lesser extent, the potassium ion and chloride ion made the main contribution to the formation of the ionic flow. The maximum share of the ionic flow of anthropogenic genesis (sulfates and chlorides) is observed in May during spring flood, when snowmelt dominate in the Amur water runoff as well as of the hydrocarbonate ion and sodium ion in December, when salts are exported from moisture-saturated soils.

A combined analysis is made of the structure of the St. Petersburg mud volcano and the lake bottom surface surrounding it by using bathymetric, seismoacoustic, backscatter and water column data. A high-precision digital elevation model with a horizontal resolution of up to 10 meters was developed for the bottom surface in the area of the volcano. By analyzing the resulting model, it was possible to update the morphometric parameters of the underwater structure under consideration and prepare its detailed morphological description. It was found that the volcanic edifice consists of several ridge-like parts located on the wings of the Gidratnyi Fault and crossing it. A canyon-shaped and curved in plan 800-m wide valley was mapped to the south-east of the fault. A graphical representation of backscatter data with separation by types of sedimentary layers was created via comparison of the intensity of the reflected signal and expected mathematical model values. Based on the results of the data analysis, it was established that the mud volcano largely consists of clay with the possible inclusion of relatively large fragments (up to 10 cm). On the bottom surface around the volcano there presumably are also large fragments; however, fine-grained fractions (sandy, clays and silts) are dominant. A three-dimensional visualization of the water column data is presented for the study area with outcrops of gas in the form of two the detected gas flares with the observed heights of 800 and 700 meters. According to a statistical sample of the values of the reflected signal amplitudes, the intensity of gas release in the flares differs by approximately 7 times. The seismoacoustic data of the chirp profiler indicate the possible presence of gas hydrates.

This paper presents the results of a large-scale soil-geobotanical profiling of phytocoenoses at the contact of different environments in the Baikal region. We obtained evidence which is responsible for the spatial stratigraphy and trends in the formation of vegetation at the regional level of its organization. We identified the pattern of alternation of forest and steppe cenoses in conditions of extrazonality of steppes in the central part of the western shores of Lake Baikal (Priolkhonie) and in the middle part of the bottom of Barguzin depression. It was established that there are no clear floristic and cenotic links of vegetation with edaphic conditions where both steppe and forest communities occur on the same soils. Forestation of territories occupied by steppe cenoses is observed everywhere. Vegetation forming at the contact of forest-steppe and zonal steppe (Selenga river basin) is characterized by an alternation of forest and steppe cenoses according to topographic features with a clearly pronounced link with the types of soils characteristic for the zones at the contact between forest-steppe and zonal steppe. Forestation of steppe territories occurs within a zonal forest-steppe, and tree species encroach on the zonal steppe with the spatial expansion of the interzonal ecotone. In conditions of altitudinal zonality (surroundings of Davan Pass, Baikal Ridge), there occurs a gradual transition from one altitudinal zone to another - forest to subgoletz, and subgoletz to mountain tundra - due to invasion of tree species into the cenoses at the contact of the zones (interaltitudinal-zonal ecotones). Cenoses form on the same soil. Such investigation can serve as the methodological basis for indication of vegetation development in the Baikal region as a whole.

This article provides the description and maping of landscape complexes in Davsha Bay (Barguzin nature reserve) and an assessment of their disturbance caused by anthropogenic and pyrogenic factors. The landscape map chart of the territory was obtained by using Landsat images and an automatic classification by the method of maximum likelihood as well as the method of factoral-dynamic classification. As a result, we singled out four classes and ten groups of facies pertaining to the mountain-taiga Baikal-Dzhugdzhur and southern-Siberian classes of geoms. On southern and southwestern slopes of the second Baikal terrace there occur mixed forests of common pine, drooping birch, Siberian stone pine and larch on podzol soils. The western slopes and the first Baikal planation terrace are covered by low-quality larch forests characteristic for the pseudo-subgoletz subbelt as well as by Siberian stone pine-larch forests on poor sod-podzol soils. In conditions of sufficient humidity and well-drained soils on the steep north-western slopes and in the flat-interfluve portion of the ridges of capes there occurs a true dark-coniferous taiga of Siberian stone pine with the inclusion of Siberian fir and a mature shrub layer on burozem soils. The overwash zone is occupied by psammosteppes with the inclusion of plant species registered in the Red Data Book. In the surroundings of the village of Davsha, the 1961 and 2015 crown and ground fires damaged, to a different extent, pine and Siberian stone pine-larch forests in the northern part of the bay. Numerical scores of landscapes, the construction of the matrix and identification of the zones of possibilities and limitations of infrastructuring the various classes of trains showed the transport and engineering advantages of the creation of ecotrails of class 2 (hiking) and 3 (walking). With an increase in the flow of visitors within the village of Davsha, it is suggested that the class of trails should be increased from 3 (walking) to 4 (excursion) in order to decrease the anthropogenic impact.

Results from studying 13 lithological cores from the Kaliningrad Bay of the Baltic Sea are presented. In the cores, the textural features, the grain-size distribution of sediments, the natural moisture, the content of organic matter and vivianite mineral were determined. The study revealed a pattern characteristic of all cores concerning changes in the grain-size distribution of sediments in the depth of their occurrence: in the upper part (to a depth of 32-65 cm), there occur sandy (0.25-0.063 mm) sediments underlain by homogeneous, organic-rich silts (less than 0.063 mm) of olive shades. Changes in the other parameters were also observed in approximately the same layers. Thus, the organic matter content in the upper (0-65 cm) layer averages 6 %, and in the deeper silty sediments, 29 %. Moisture values in the upper layer vary from 45 to 90 %, in the lower - from 90 to 185 %. Formations of the vivianite mineral occur exclusively in the lower layers of sediments. Based on the identified changes in the sedimentary layer, two lithostratigraphic divisions are distinguished: the lower (I) and upper (II) members corresponding to different stages of sedimentation. The lower member formed during the period of predominance of the river flow and is composed of plastic, olive-colored silts identified as “sapropel formations”. They are classified as a mineralized type of sapropel with an ash content of 70 to 87 %. The thickness of the sapropel layer averages about 1 m. Sapropel formations were identified in all columns, which suggests that they have a large distribution in the sedimentary layer.

This article analyzes the modern agro-climatic potential of the Karachai-Cherkess Republic for the period from 1961 to 2020. It was found that the climate changes observed over 60 years within the flat temperate semi-humid and semi-arid landscapes contribute to an increase in agricultural productivity by improving the conditions of heat and moisture supply: the annual air temperature increased by 0.7 °C, the duration of the calendar period with an average daily air temperature exceeding 5 °C increased by 19 days, the sum of active temperatures increased by 7 %, and precipitation increased by 10 %. Accordingly, this suggests an improvement of the conditions for the growth and development of agricultural crops. Mountain landscapes with absolute altitudes of up to 2000 m show a rise of annual air temperature by 0.6-0.7 °C and of the precipitation amount by 5-11 %; as a result, an increase of the hydrothermal coefficient and humidity factor occurs. Noteworthy also is a tendency toward the softening of winters as well as an increase in average July temperature. Thus the mountain landscapes with absolute altitudes of up to 2000 m are facing favorable conditions for the growth and development of agricultural crops. In mountain landscapes with absolute altitudes (heights) over 2000 m, an increase in annual temperature by 0.4-0.7 °C is noted. A tendency toward milder winters and an increase in average July temperature in these landscapes are also observed; however, these landscapes show a deterioration in the conditions of moisture supply due to a decrease in precipitation and moisture indicators, such as the hydrothermal coefficient and the humidity factor; accordingly, there is taking place a deterioration of agro-climatic conditions.

An analysis is made of the development potential of various types of alternative energy in the steppe zone of Russia, one of the most promising territories in this regard. It is established that solar, wind and bioenergy and, in some cases, their exploitation are more profitable commercially as compared to the use of traditional energy sources. It is found that at the present time in the steppe zone of Russia (without steppes of Eastern Siberia), the share of alternative energy sources is becoming increasingly more significant. Its growth rate increases simultaneously with the interest of the regions in switching to environmentally adaptive energy supply systems. However, the industry is developing very unevenly and depends not only on natural factors, but also on economic and economic factors. The leading regions (Orenburg oblast and Krasnodar krai) and lagging regions (Voronezh, Novosibirsk and Chelyabinsk oblasts in which alternative energy and plans for its development are absent) were identified by analyzing the current state of the sector according to the level of development of alternative energy. The study also addresses the issues of further development of the industry and provides a forecast for each region. As a result, it was established that Krasnodar krai, Orenburg oblast and the Republic of Kalmykia will have a higher level of alternative energy development than the other regions of the Russian steppe zone. The results obtained are of practical interest for planning the development of alternative energy, substantiating investment policy, improving infrastructure development of the territory, and using natural resources in the regions of the Russian steppe zone.

For the first time, we provide a generalized description of the modern geomorphological structure - the landscapes of the Amut depression as one of the elements of the rift system of Northeastern Cisbaikalia. The main features in the relief formation of the depression are outlined, and the principal factors are determined. The study revealed a predominance of fluvial, lacustrine and cryogenic processes in the modern morphogenesis of the depression. Emphasis is placed on the study of the lakes. Modern methods of bathymetric surveys were used to determine the main parameters of the depressions of the major lakes in the depression: Amut, Malan-Zurkhen, Balan-Tamur and Churikto. It is established that ancient glaciers and tectonic movements were involved in the formation and configuration of the lake depressions. The current configuration of the coastal zone depends on the geological structure in which a special role is played by thermoabrasion and thermodenudation. Due to the fact that the study territory lies within the Dzherginskii State Nature Reserve with its principal mission to preserve natural systems, landscape investigations were carried out. A medium-scale map of the depression was compiled; it is based on Academician V.B. Sochava’s concept of geosystems with the use of classical methods of studying vegetation cover complemented with images taken by an unmanned flying vehicle, and with Earth remote sensing data. The salient features of the current status of the landscapes in the study area are highlighted. The main role in the structure of the landscapes is played by mountain-taiga and mountain-depression larch geosystems with mature moss-lichen cover. At higher hypsometric levels the area increases, which is occupied by subshrub-lichen sparse larch communities.

A geobotanical, soil and biostratigraphic study of the small islands of the Eugenie Archipelago was carried out. An assessment of the current state of their ecosystems has been made. The main factors determining the composition, structure, diversity and dynamics of soil and vegetation cover in the Holocene were multidirectional climatic fluctuations associated with variations in insolation which led to a restructuring of the atmospheric circulation and sea waters, and to sea level fluctuations. It is found that in warm epochs, forest cover increased, and broad-leaved forests with a rich diversity of species were dominant, whereas in cold phases tree vegetation became more sparse, with birch and alder predominating in its composition, and the share of broad-leaved species was greatly reduced. The anthropogenic impact was manifested in the appearance of weeds, the passage of fires, and the development of erosion and turbidity of the soil cover. The modern vegetation cover of the studied small islands of the Eugenie Archipelago consists of anthropogenically altered low-growing broad-leaved shrub-forb forests with lianas, shrub-subshrub phytocenoses, halophytic vegetation of beaches and petrophytic vegetation of coastal rocks. The soil cover is represented by zonal soils: brown soils, mainly with a thin and strongly skeletal profile. It was found that the main differences between the vegetation cover of the small islands of the archipelago and that of the large ones are: the dominance of grass and shrub vegetation, in particular, thickets of Gmelin wormwood and low forests due to the constant influence of winds. At the same time, conditions are created for the active development of humus formation and illuvial-humus processes, which ensures the formation of a deeply humified soil profile. The small area of the islands and the flattened relief determine more seaward conditions, which is reflected in the composition of plant communities, in the distribution of halophytic groups in the overwash zone, shrub-subshrub communities with shrub linden in the windward areas. A protected species of Japanese yew occurs only singly on the less accessible of the Pakhtusov Islands. Due to a significant share of forest vegetation, the lichen cover is dominated by epiphytic lichens; there occur epilithic species typical for open ecotopes on rocky outcrops, and halophytic species in the overwash zone.

Results from studying socio-demographic security of the regions of the Siberian and Far Eastern Federal Districts are presented. It is shown that most of the subjects forming part of the regions, according to the integral indicator, are steadily located at the level of tension. Two regions: the Republic of Tyva and the Jewish Autonomous Oblast - during the study period (2000-2019) belonged to the zone with a crisis level. Among the main threats affecting the decrease in the security indicator are low life expectancy, low birth rate, population migration, low per capita incomes of the population, and high crime. It was found that, according to separate indicators, among the regions of the Siberian and Far Eastern Districts, there is some differentiation that changes over time. According to the life expectancy indicator in 2019, a crisis level of security was recorded in 19 out of 21 subjects, slightly higher than a critical indicator of Tomsk oblast and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). A stably crisis level of security of the regions in terms of the birth rate was observed in Altai, Kamchatka, Primorskii and Khabarovsk krais and in Kemerovo, Amur and Magadan oblasts. According to this indicator, the Republic of Tyva is in the zone with the level of well-being. In terms of the indicator of personal security, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, Amur and Magadan oblasts and the Republic of Tyva are in the crisis zone, where as the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Omsk oblast are in the zone of stability. It is determined that one of the chief reasons for migration from the eastern regions is a significant differentiation of the per capita incomes; therefore, Republic of Tuva, Altai, the Jewish Autonomous Oblast Region and the Zabaikalskii krai have long occupied the leading positions according to this indicator.

An analysis of the HBV hydrological model parameters values and a comparison of the modelling efficiency have been made for small experimental mountain catchments located in the upper reaches of the Ussuri river (Primorskii krai, Russia). For each catchment the model was calibrated for individual years and, after that, for the entire observing period. The sets of parameters obtained were used in calculations based on independent data for periods not included in the interval of parameters optimization. A calibration of the model showed that an optimal set of the parameters values for one year can differ greatly from the parameters for another year within a single catchment. Appropriate values of the modeling efficiency for the entire observations period are provided with using sets of parameters calibrated for seasons with high floods caused by heavy rainfall. The periods of low and medium water flow are characterized by relatively high errors in calculating the water runoff, which decreases the overall efficiency and reliability of results in modeling the entire period of data availability. It is shown that for the simulation of a high runoff by the HBV model, it is sufficient to have two or three years of instrumental observations including measurements of one or two significant flood events. A formal transfer of model parameters from one small catchment to nearby similar objects is only possible for assessments of rainfall floods characteristics. In other cases, such an approach leads to an inappropriate structure of the model water balance components and causes errors in runoff calculations.

With an increase in energy consumption, more and more attention is being paid to nontraditional energy, including natural resources of thermal springs. Along with the problems of using thermal waters, their search is an important task. The experience of analyzing maps of plastic relief for the detection of thermal springs, obtained by using the example of the south of Kamchatka, is presented. Linear and ring-shaped zones of tension of the Earth’s crust were identified according to the maps of the relief plasticity. Of particular interest are the intersections of linear and ring structures. There arise zones of increased fracturing of rocks, within which active and extinct volcanoes and thermal springs are located. A map of promising sites is presented, the development of which in the near future will make it possible to solve the problems of energy consumption in an environmentally safe way, expand the geography of tourism and spa balneology. This will give an impetus to the development of the entire region as a whole. The experience of analyzing relief plastic maps in order to detect thermal springs can be applied throughout Russia in the future, including when searching for ore deposits.

The problem of forest degradation caused by high growth rates of population is considered by using the Anuppur District (India) as an example. It is shown that the study area is faced with a significant reduction in the forest area due to a rapid population increase and an enhancement of economic activities. In 1981, the area occupied by forests in Anuppur was estimated at 129 885 ha (the area of the district totaling 374 671 ha), whereas it decreased to 76 448 ha in 2011. For the same period the population increased from 418 731 to 749 237. We identified a feedback between the population and the status of forests in the study area. Many kinds of economic activities (agriculture, construction of settlements, motor roads and railroads, engineering structures, development of mineral resources in the forest zone, etc.) are carried out in an unsupervised manner, which leads to a reduction of forest areas, loss of biodiversity of forest ecosystems, and to other ecological problems. Recommendations are made for improvement of forest management in order to increase sustainability of forest ecosystems as well as to meet the needs of the economy and population of the district for various forest resources.