Home – Home – Jornals – Geography and Natural Resources 2025 number 4

The article presents estimates of the impact of the policy of “Russia’s Pivot to the East" on the development of Siberia and the Far East. Regional policy measures designed to create preferential economic regimes and attract people and investments to the eastern regions are described. It is shown that preferential conditions were created for the Far East, Siberia was on the periphery of the “eastern regional policy". The article analyzes the indicators of economic growth and structural changes in the eastern regions, the impact of sanctions on them. It is shown that the development of transport and logistics infrastructure in the eastern regions has become an important factor ensuring the reorientation of Russia’s foreign economic relations to friendly countries. The sources and structure of investment in fixed capital are considered. It is noted that the high share of investment in infrastructure and mining does not allow to ensure high rates of GRP growth in the eastern regions even at high rates of investment growth. The regional policy measures taken have not led to fundamental changes in the social sphere of the eastern regions. Population outflow persists, Siberia and the Far East lag behind the national average in terms of real incomes and wages, and unemployment remains higher. The qualitative characteristics of growth have not improved: the share of mineral extraction in the GRP structure has increased, and the share of high-tech and knowledge-intensive industries has decreased. The implementation of the “turn to the East" policy ensured the attraction of significant amounts of investment to the eastern regions, primarily to the Far East, and became an important factor in Russia’s adaptation to sanctions, but the expected breakthrough in the development of the eastern regions did not occur. Structural and social problems persist in the eastern regions, the solution of which in modern conditions through massive attraction of external resources to the eastern regions is unlikely.

The aim of the paper is to study the response of the spatial structure of the Russian economy to macroeconomic and global shocks in 1995-2022. The research methods are descriptive statistics, Theil indices and econometric analysis. The study shows that Russia’s economic activity is gradually migrating from east to west, from the periphery to the European center and from regions of resource specialization to regions where manufacturing prevails. The factors of spatial evolution are accumulated production and human capital, market potential and agglomeration economy; the directions and results of their work are determined by the market mechanism. No changes in the influence of factors due to the transformation of the external environment have been identified in recent years. State participation has a significant impact on regional business activity, but its contribution is limited and does not trigger the eastern vector of development. The spatial maneuver to the east requires a change in the existing trends in spatial development. To solve this problem, government initiatives should include large-scale financial and organizational support for a set of large projects with an economic growth multiplier localized mainly in the east of the country.

This article examines the stability of the institutional model for innovative economic development in mesoeconomic systems, known as the “Triple Helix Model," from the perspective of “wave" turbulence theory. It argues for the applicability of turbulence as a framework for describing processes within innovation markets. The analysis is based on regional statistics of innovative economic development in the subjects of the Russian Federation. The methodology includes multivariate statistical analysis (classification, factor analysis), time series analysis (spectral analysis), and cognitive modeling to represent and simulate system interactions in regional mesoeconomic systems. The research novelty lies in quantitatively demonstrating the significant importance, for innovative development, of having traditional industrial sectors within the federal subjects that are motivated to adopt innovations. An innovation impulse originating in the economies of these regional systems can trigger turbulent processes that lead to synergistic effects, ultimately establishing a sustainable path for innovative development.

The article analyzes the factors that contributed to the economic resilience demonstrated by Russian regions during the periods of crisis experienced in 2009, 2015, and 2020. The objective of the present study is to identify the universal factors that affect the resilience of regional economies to crises. This is of significant importance for the development of effective regional development strategies. The primary hypothesis assumes that structural features of the economy, including diversification and sectoral specialization, play a key role in ensuring shock resilience. The impact of other factors that have been examined in this study is contingent upon the nature of the crisis under consideration. In order to test the hypotheses, econometric analysis tools were utilized, with data from Rosstat and EMISS being employed. The findings indicated that the sectoral composition exerts a substantial influence on economic resilience. The impact of specialization in the extractive industries is contingent upon the nature of the prevailing crisis, while the openness of the regional economy serves to augment its vulnerability to crisis. The relatively high proportion of agriculture and the public sector in the economy has a stabilizing effect on the state of regional economies. The findings of this study indicate that economic diversification does not demonstrate a statistically significant relationship with resilience. However, it is hypothesized that it can have a mitigating effect on economic dynamics during a crisis. While the findings of the analysis indicate the presence of factors most frequently associated with the magnitude of the downturn in regional economies, it was not possible to identify statistically significant universal factors of resilience. The results obtained are applicable to the development of anti-crisis policies and regional development strategies. The conclusions emphasize the need to support diversification and innovation in order to enhance the adaptive resilience of regions, as well as the development of interregional ties and the institutional environment.

The purpose of this work is to assess the overall effect of the mutual influence of the “unemployed" status on self-assessed health by meta-analysis based on the analysis of foreign literature from 2015 to 2024. Meta-analysis is a universal quantitative method for combining data from individual articles and calculating the overall effect. For the first time in the Russian literature, it is used to analyze the relationship between the labor market and health. Based on the formulated search strategy, a database search was conducted. Screening based on the title and abstract and using keywords reduced the sample to 124 articles, as a result, 12 publications and 35 models presented in them were selected for quantitative analysis. Regression with random effects estimated the overall effect of the relationship between the status of “unemployed" and self-assessed health at OR = 1.76; this indicator was statistically significant. To reduce the heterogeneity of the model, a subgroup analysis was used, which confirmed that unemployment has a more negative impact on men and on Western Europeans. The calculation of the meta-regression showed that financial difficulties and deprivation increase the negative relationship between health and status in the labor market, and controlling the model for the age of the respondent reduces the negative effect of job absence. The study confirmed the existence of a possible publication bias, so the results of the work should be interpreted with caution. The obtained estimates will be used by the authors for comparison with the results for Russia, calculated using quasi-experimental approaches and based on models that account for the endogeneity between self-assessed health and labor market status. The comparison is a starting point for the formulation of employment strategies, taking into consideration the population health.

In modern geopolitical, demographic, socio-economic conditions, reducing mortality and, accordingly, increasing life expectancy are the main factors for achieving the leading national development goal of the Russian Federation - saving the population. Currently, Russia ranks 101st out of 195 countries in life expectancy. Interregional differences in the indicator within the country are also significant. Thus, among all the subjects of the Russian Federation in 2022, the Kemerovo Oblast ranked only 71st in terms of life expectancy of the population of both sexes, 69th for men and 77th for women. Life expectancy in the Kemerovo Oblast - Kuzbass has been lower for a long time than in the Russian Federation, the Siberian Federal District as a whole and in its individual subjects - Krasnoyarsk Krai, Novosibirsk, Omsk and Tomsk Oblasts. The lag of the Kemerovo Oblast from the Russian Federation for 1990-2023 on average per year is 3.14 years for both sexes, 3.43 years for men, 2.60 years for women. To successfully solve the set tasks of increasing life expectancy and reducing the differentiation of indicators, it is necessary to know what is the contribution of mortality by age and cause of death to the differences in life expectancy and the existing reserves for its increase. As a result of decomposition of the differences in life expectancy of the population of the Kemerovo Oblast and the compared territories, the following results were obtained: the greatest contribution is made by mortality from HIV infection, external causes, respiratory diseases, diseases associated with dangerous alcohol consumption in working age (especially at the age of30-44 years), as well as from diseases of the circulatory system at ages older than working age. The life expectancy reserves of the population of Kuzbass associated with the exclusion of the main classes of causes of death are 14.48 years for men and 9.98 years for women. Losses associated with infections (largely with HIV), external causes, diseases of the respiratory system, digestion, excessive alcohol consumption, are concentrated in the working age, with diseases of the circulatory system and neoplasms - in ages older than the working age. The results of the study are recommended for use in the development of federal and regional socio-demographic programs, in planning the activities of individual healthcare services and institutions, and for the rational use of limited resources, including financial ones.

The article presents the results of a study on the connectivity of regions of Asian Russia based on indicators of permanent migration of the population as a variety of interregional interactions. It is assumed that the presence of intensive migration exchanges between regions indicates the connectivity, as do their sustainability and stability over time. The study utilizes statistical data on interregional migration of the population of the Siberian Federal District, the Far Eastern Federal District and Tyumen Oblast for 2015, 2019 and 2023. The study calculates the intensity (velocity) coefficient of interregional migration flows between all pairs of regions of Asian Russia. After that the pairs of regions with the most pronounced values of migration exchange indicators were selected, and then groups of connected regions classified by geography (geographical proximity, common borders) were identified. The intensity of migration exchanges within those groups is higher than with territories outside. These groups are the Western and Southern groups in Western Siberia, Yenisey and Baikal groups in Eastern Siberia, and a group of regions of the Far East. The study shows general trends in the migration processes - a decrease in migration exchanges and the “Western drift" which means that the intensity of the westward migration flow is higher than the intensity of the eastward migration flow. It describes the interregional migratory connectivity according to the following parameters - intensity of migration exchanges, natural or institutional genesis of connectivity, symmetry or asymmetry of migration flows, forms of connectivity, sustainability of migratory connections. To assess the sustainability of interregional migratory connections, firstly, the study compares the values of migration intensity (velocity) coefficients over several years, secondly, it uses the data from the 2020-2021 All-Russian Census of Population regarding which regions the natives of certain territories of Asian Russia live in.

Sociological research is an effective tool for studying economic processes. The article presents the results of a survey of residents of six regions of the Russian-Belarusian borderland, collected in order to assess the impact of interstate integration on consumer preferences. Changes in foreign trade rules within the framework of the implementation of agreements between Russia and Belarus may affect the assortment, quality and price characteristics of the consumer market. This hypothesis is tested in the study. It was found that increasing the permeability of the border for goods and citizens provided an opportunity for Russians to purchase Belarusian food products within walking distance, i.e. close to home. This reduced the need to travel to the neighboring country. However, disproportions in prices and product ranges remain, which supports the past habits of citizens to travel to the neighboring country to make purchases. The devaluation of national currencies especially stimulates “food migration". Integration agreements made it possible to saturate the Belarusian consumer market with non-food products imported through the Russian Federation in transit. The conducted survey characterizes the consumer market in the border area, which, according to respondents, has formed over the past 10 years. The answers to questions about changes in the range, quality and price of products of local manufacturers, as well as Russian and Belarusian manufacturers in general, are presented. The factors that are significant for respondents when making a purchase decision are identified, the most important of which is the quality of goods. The main points of sale and brands popular with residents of the Russian-Belarusian border area are determined. Young respondents are more interested in domestically produced goods, prefer shopping trips to the capital regions of their countries, and rarely visit neighboring regions of a friendly country. In general, the results of the study indicate that the consumer market of Russia and Belarus is heterogeneous even in border areas, despite the long process of interstate integration and the removal of most significant trade barriers.

The development of cooperative stores is one of the alternatives to the socio-economic development of the exclave Kaliningrad Oblast and, as a result, one of the ways to improve the quality of life of its population. The purpose of the article was to analyze the role of cooperative stores, assess the prospects for their development in order to improve the quality of life of the population of the Kaliningrad Oblast. The hypothesis of the study is the following: residents of the Kaliningrad Oblast expect that the development of consumer cooperatives and the opening of cooperative stores in the region will improve the quality of life of the population. Based on a survey conducted by residents of the Kaliningrad Oblast (N = 481), an assessment is given of: the level of life satisfaction; the role of consumer cooperatives; the desires of residents of the region for cooperative stores to appear in their city or village; the expectations of residents of the Kaliningrad Oblast from the opening of cooperative stores in their city or village. The revealed values are compared with the average values for the Russian Federation as a whole. It was determined that residents of the Kaliningrad Oblast highly appreciate the role of consumer cooperatives in supporting a decent standard of living. The study concluded that the expectations of the region’s residents from the opening of cooperative stores are linked to the appearance of a high-quality product from a local manufacturer and the development of a city or village.

In the politics and economics of Russia and China, the factor of space is being re-evaluated: instead of being a “burden " requiring enormous costs to overcome in vast territories, it is becoming a key strategic resource for these countries. This is not happening automatically, but as a result of targeted state policy (spatial, structural, investment, infrastructure). The aim of this article is to identify the characteristics of state regulation of spatial development in the PRC, as well as to assess the possibilities of using Chinese experience in Russia. This experience involves a real transition from economic and commercial goals to a focus on increasing social value, based on people and their environment. China’s modernisation is based on achieving scientific and technological leadership and the harmonious development of its provinces and autonomous regions, as well as reducing disparities in the development of cities and villages. This confirms the author’s earlier hypothesis that China, through its strategic goals and practical actions, is implementing the development model that Russia and its most important macro-region, Siberia, should adopt. This article is the first part of a two-part series devoted to this issue. It explores the specifics of strategic planning in China and examines issues of state regulation in the country’s problematic macroregions - the Northeast and West. The second article, to be published in the next issue of the journal, will examine one of China’s model regions for spatial development (the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region) and formulate the “secrets to the success ” of China’s spatial development, against the backdrop of Russia’s untapped potential.

With the growing relevance of environmental issues in the energy sector, the issue of switching to renewable energy sources is becoming increasingly acute. Therefore, the use of biofuels may be relevant in areas with a developed timber processing complex. Despite the fact that its share in the total fuel consumption in Russia is no more than 1%, in some regions this figure reaches 10%. Interest in biofuels is associated with its environmental friendliness, the need to utilize production waste and, in some cases, low cost. The article presents an overview of the biofuel market in Russia with its main trends and prospects for use, an analysis of the dynamics of biofuel production and consumption. A comparative assessment of the economic efficiency of fuel pellets and chips in low- and medium-capacity boiler houses is given. It is concluded that the use of fuel chips is only justified in the vicinity of timber processing plants, while the use of fuel pellets is only justified in certain areas, such as isolated or protected areas. A possible solution to the problems of the timber processing complex in Russia that have arisen under the influence of sanctions may be an increase in domestic demand for biofuels.

The article examines the impact of socio-economic, institutional, and demographic factors on the level of cryptocurrency adoption worldwide. As the outcome indicator, the Global Crypto Adoption Index (2024) was used, covering 48 countries with the highest index values. The study applies principal component analysis to reduce the dimensionality of variables and to identify key latent factors: institutional and technological development, economic potential, quality of life, and socio-demographic profile. Based on cluster analysis, groups of countries with different models of cryptocurrency adoption were identified. The results show that in developed countries cryptocurrency adoption follows an investment-oriented model, in transitional economies it is constrained by institutional limitations, while in crisis economies it performs a compensatory function. The findings have practical significance for shaping national strategies of digital transformation and regulating the cryptocurrency sector.

This article examines the role of taxes in shaping and stimulating a circular economy. Particular attention is paid to the regulatory function of taxes. Tax regulation mechanisms aimed at reducing resource consumption and minimizing negative environmental impacts are examined. Fiscal policy instruments, such as differentiated taxation and special incentives, are analyzed to support enterprises implementing sustainable development and resource conservation principles.

This article examines the risk factors in the external and internal environments of corporations, identifies the features of a new stage in the development of industry markets associated with “asset management capitalism”, and reveals the specifics of algorithmic risk management strategies used by global investment market leaders, revealing the advantages and limitations of these risk management strategies for large companies.

Under climate warming, changes in the growth, vital condition and habitats of woody plants are predicted mainly on the border of their ranges. We studied the effect of the changing hydrothermal regime on the condition of pine forests growing on the southern border of the Pinus sylvestris L. range (Tuva basin). During the “warming restart” in the 21st century, the values of the pine growth index (GI) exceeded the previously observed GI maxima, due to the relative improvement in humidification conditions in the last decade. At the same time, the frequency and area of fires increased (the fire return interval decreased to 5 ± 1 years in fragments and to 3 ± 2 years in the whole territory). The number of viable undergrowth in the burning areas (on average up to 10 thousand/ha) is potentially sufficient for successful post-fire regeneration of pine forests. However, repeated grass-roots fires periodically destroy the undergrowth. Currently, an increase in air temperature combined with satisfactory humidification contributes to the growth of pine trees. Improvement of humidification is predicted under all climatic scenarios (SSP4.5, SSP7.0 and SSP8.5) in the studied pine habitats. However, the current level of burning (which leads to the destruction of undergrowth in the areas traversed by fire) threatens the preservation of relict stands of pine trees at the southern limit of its range. Under warming conditions, the preservation of pine trees in the south of its range is due to a combination of two factors - the dynamics of burning and humidification.

Changes in breeding, distribution and abundance of waders in a key area of the Bolshezemelskaya Tundra in 2024, characterized by a cold and prolonged spring, were analyzed in comparison with 2 previous warmer years. In cold 2024, incubation in waders started 2 weeks later than in 2022 and 2023 and was observed only in species belonging to the Arctic fauna type. The total nesting density of all waders in 2024 was lower in different habitat types than in the 2 previous years. Birds used habitats that were freed from snow cover at the earliest time for nesting. In these habitat types, nest density in 2024 was higher than in the warmer years 2022 and 2023. An increase in nesting density of Little Stint Calidris minuta (Leisler, 1812) and Dunlin Calidris alpina (Linnaeus, 1758) was observed in 2024 compared to 2022 and 2024, for which the study area is the southern part of the breeding range. The total abundance of waders in 2024, compared to 2022 and 2023, decreased by more than 2 times.

Rapid climate warming in the Arctic contributes to an increase in the number of fungal species. However, the long-term dynamics of alien mycobiota, especially in Siberia, has been studied fragmentarily. In one of the largest industrial centers of the Arctic - Norilsk city and nearby settlements located in Taimyr (Dolgano-Nenets) district of the Krasnoyarsk Territory, 78 species of fungi and pseudofungi (Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Oomycota) were collected on alien plants over a hundred-year period. Of these, 59 species are new to distict, 32 of which are noted for the Russian Arctic for the first time. Fungi are associated with 57 species of alien woody and herbaceous plants, eight of which are included in the Black Book of Siberian Flora. 50 species of fungi were found on woody plants and 38 on herbaceous plants. The richest mycocomplexes are associated with Populus tremula (seven species of fungi), Acer negundo and Prunus padus (five species each). Most of the alien fungi species (69.2 %) are taxa widespread in Siberian forests, which, thanks to alien host plants, were able to expand their range to the north, while 7.7 % are invasive for the entire territory of the Arctic and Siberia. The primary ranges of 24 fungi species are located in America, East Asia and Europe. All alien fungal species were brought to district unintentionally. The main vectors of dispersal are the development of transport infrastructure and the movement of transport, people and related goods during economic development of territories. The first results indicate the absence of a correlation between the number of aphyllophoroid fungi species with the age and area of cities, but a reliable relationship has been established with the number of residents. A detailed study of other territories will allow the development of a Black List of the Russian Arctic mycobiota.

The first data on the breeding biology of the Pacific Eider (Somateria mollissima v-nigrum) in the Asia were obtained using the example of the nesting population in the Apapelgin River (Western Chukotka). From 2018 to 2024, research was conducted to assess nesting density, phenology, and reproductive parameters of the eider. A total of 1,291 nests of this species were examined. The study presents data on the key parameters of the investigated nesting population: eiders predominantly nested in coastal lowlands rich in lakes, known as “laida.” The average nesting density was 26.8 ± 2.3 nests/kmІ, showing a declining trend over the years (RІ = 0.7). The average clutch size was 4.7 ± 0.1 eggs. The onset of egg-laying was influenced by the rate of snowmelt and the average temperatures during the last decade of May. The apparent nesting success across all years was 33.4 %, and the cumulative Mayfield Nest Success (MNS) estimate during the egg-laying and incubation periods was 0.37 ± 0.14. The egg volume in clutches decreased over the study period and was influenced by weather conditions at the beginning of the nesting season, the date of egg-laying, and clutch size. The obtained data were analyzed in comparison with similar data on nesting populations from the American continent.

The ecological and geographical differentiation and dynamics of the spring migration of passerine birds of the Putorana Plateau are analyzed. In 1988-2007, 8 points were surveyed on an area of 250 000 km². The route census method was used. There are 58 species in the fauna of the spring migration period. Birds fly along the coastal-edge strip along rivers or lakes in the northern, western, and eastern directions. The bird population density is 179-332, on average (n = 4) - 231 individuals/km². Significant amplitude of daily abundance indicators of species, asynchrony between phenological phenomena in different species and in individuals of the same species are characteristic. The time interval during which the first individuals usually appear is 4-12 days for different species, 6-9 days for most species, and 8 days on average. Early migrants, such as the horned lark, white wagtail, and brown thrush, usually appear on May 25 - June 4, May 22 - June 1, and May 27-June 2, respectively. Late migrants, such as the sand martin, funnel, common chiffchaff, and arctic warbler, usually appear on June 7-16, June 7-16, June 5-11, and June 10-18, respectively. For most species, the average duration of the entire spring migration is 9-12 days, and the main migration is 4-6 days. The configuration of the spring migration course is a combination of 2-3 waves of varying power, but always with one distinct maximum. Significant bursts of migratory activity of birds occur on days with the lowest air temperature and precipitation in the form of snow or rain. The comparative nature of the spring migration of closely related species in different seasons varies from complete synchronization of the waves of maximum migration to their absolute discrepancy.

The variability in the body shape of perch Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes: Percidae) and roach Rutilus rutilus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae) in syntopic populations with different relative abundance from two lakes and two reservoirs has been studied by geometric morphometrics methods. Along with the characteristic interspecific features, general and specific patterns of intergroup differences in two types of water bodies have been detected for populations of phylogenetically distant species. The range of species-specific multidirectional shape variability was 2.3 times less than parallel differences. It is likely that the specific interpopulation shape variability in perch and roach is associated with the relative abundance of these species, which differed in lakes and reservoirs. In adjacent water bodies of each type, the small range of interpopulation differences was found in species with high relative abundance in fish communities, while, on the contrary, the large range of interpopulation differences was found in species with lower abundance. Significant differences in body shape was identified for the populations of both species, which have lived relatively isolated for 13-17 generations in two adjacent reservoirs recently built (about half a century ago) on the river.

The altitude influence on the pigment composition of plants has been little studied in arid climate. In this work, we studied pigment content along the altitudinal gradient in Gobi, Mongolia. The altitude negatively correlated with climate aridity, which affected the leaf traits. Along the gradient, the thickness and density of photosynthetic organs decreased and the content of chlorophylls (Chl) and carotenoids (Car) increased, while the maximum nett-assimilation and the ratio of Chl a/b and Chl/Car did not change. A decrease in the nitrogen to chlorophyll (N/Chl) ratio with altitude was also revealed, which indicates a change in the ratio between RuBP carboxylase and pigment-protein complexes of thylakoid in the leaf. Despite the simultaneous changes in chlorophyll content and leaf thickness with altitude, the analysis of partial correlations showed that these parameters changed independently of each other. The path analysis confirmed that pigment content and leaf thickness are two independent ways of plant adaptation to habitat. We concluded that changes in the pigment complex of plants with altitude are required to maintain the photosynthetic capacity under changing climate aridity.

Based on a comparative analysis of 711 relevés and field observations, the authors compiled a scale of dynamic states of psammophylous grass vegetation in the Southern Nechernozemye of Russia. The following were chosen as the main criteria for their selection: the size of the total projective cover in communities, the presence of renewal of tree species (Pinus sylvestris and Betula pendula) and their age stage, life forms of pioneer species colonizing the primary substrate or substrate after disturbance. In habitats of 6 types, in which successions of 6 variants are realized (A - xerophylous cereal, B - moss-lichen xerophylous, C - undershrub xerophylous, D - forb-cereal xero-mesophylous, E - forb-cereal mesophylous, F - forb fallow xerophylous), 5 stages of succession were identified, ending with the restoration of forest communities. At each of the stages, certain dynamic states of vegetation are formed in the listed habitats. The associations of the floristic classification of the vegetation are represented by different dynamic states. According to the results of the study, psammophylous grass vegetation belongs to 3 stages of succession. Coenofloras of the samples of communities at the identified stages have statistically significant differences in total projective cover, floristic saturation, abundance evenness, and habitats - by individual environmental factors. General patterns of changes in the spectra of life forms according to I. G. Serebryakov were revealed in samples of relevés at different stages of succession: species of different life forms can act as pioneer species forming communities at the initial stage of succession; during the implementation of succession from stage 1 to 3, the proportion of monocarpic annuals decreases in community samples of all variants; the total diversity of life form types increases from stage 1 to 3. Considering the high commonality of the coenofloras of psammophylous grass vegetation of different syntaxa due to the wide representation of psammophilic oligotrophic species in their communities, as they invade and take root in the communities, the differences in the coenofloras are leveled. During the implementation of succession, a convergence of dynamic states occurs, leading to a decrease in their number over time as the oligotrophic pine or birch-pine forest is restored in the studied climatically homogeneous region.

In cryoaridic conditions of the South Chuya glaciation center (Altai Mountains) on the foreland of the Sophiysky glacier (2410-2500 m above sea level), primary vegetation successions were studied from the settlement of the first vascular plants, leafy mosses and ground lichens and the formation of simple groups to primary plant communities in deglaciated area between the modern glacier tongue to the terminal moraine rim of the mid-19-th century. Three stages of primary vegetation succession were identified, the species composition of vascular plants, leafy mosses and ground lichens, the main participants in succession, and dominant species were fetched out, and the features of primary vegetation were characterized. Ideas were obtained about the course of primary succession in cryoaridic conditions occurring in the upper part of the mountain-steppe belt of the South Chuya Range. It has been fetched out that over 150 years, a complex of plant communities similar to high-mountain tundras was formed in these cold and dry conditions. 126 species of vascular plants, 22 species of leafy mosses, and 6 species of ground lichens participate in the primary succession on the foreland of the Sophiysky glacier.

Successional transformations after fires in broad-leaved Korean pine and Korean pine-dark coniferous forests of Sikhote-Alin are considered at the population structural level. The principles and provisions of the systemic approach and the closely related concept of structural levels were adopted as the methodological basis. We consider successions as an integral biogeocenotic process and at the same time it is a differentiated process within which the specific development of elements of different structural levels (phytocenotic, population, etc.) is carried out. In establishing the basic content, driving forces and mechanisms of regulation of the succession process at the population structural level, well-known knowledge in areas of evolutionary theory. The article summarizes the results of long-term studies of the features of age-related development, growth rates, the rhythm of generation change, the dynamics of the indicators of the cenotic role and the number of leading population. In addition, changes in the species composition and stocks of viable seeds in the litter and soil during post-fire successions are considered.

For the first time, information about the algae of the Tapsa River is presented in the Tapsinsky State Nature Reserve of national significance. A list of algae has been compiled, including 103 specific and intraspecific taxa, which belong to 50 genera, 28 families and 6 divisions. It has been established that the algoflora is based on diatoms. 9 dominants have been identified. A comparison of the algoflora of the Tapsa River and the Hutinsky Nature Reserve was carried out. An ecological and geographical analysis of the algae of these watercourses has been performed. It has been established that the algoflora of rivers is represented by benthic species, with a predominance of indifferent forms in relation to the need and active reaction of the environment. 137 types of saprobicity indicators were identified in all the studied watercourses. The predominance of betamesosaprobionts and oligosaprobionts was noted. Geographically, cosmopolitan and boreal species dominated.

The article studies the manifestations of rhythm in the seasonal dynamics of apical growth of stems and axial shoots of Scots pine trees growing in areas with different forest growth conditions (forest cultures and natural regeneration under the canopy) in the forest park of Yekaterinburg. The analysis was carried out based on a comprehensive quantitative approach to the study of morphogenesis, including a comparison of morphometric and physiological data. Four stages lasting 1-4 weeks were distinguished in seasonal changes in growth characteristics. The seasonal dynamics of the growth rate is nonlinear, and accelerations are oscillatory. The period of acceleration oscillations is about one week, which corresponds to infradian rhythms. The amplitudes of acceleration oscillations and the growth rate increase at the first two stages, and decrease at the stages of additional and complete growth. It was found that the general appearance of the seasonal dynamics of growth rates and accelerations of stem and branches is similar. The differences between them are in the discrepancy between the start and end dates of individual growth stages, as well as in higher rate of stem growth. It was found that a decrease in the influx of assimilates and reserve substances into the apical part of the stem by removing branches of the two upper tiers of the crown leads to a decrease in the stem growth rate, but does not change its seasonal dynamics. It was found that seasonal changes in the stem and branch growth rate in Scots pine correlate with air temperature more strongly than in previously studied species. No connection was found between growth acceleration and air temperature. The revealed features of stem and branch growth indicate that the morphogenetic processes in them are of a similar nature.

In the third decade of the XXI century in St. Petersburg, phenological anomalies are most pronounced in the “Spring Revival” sub-season, both of its phenomena began to occur at a significantly early date, with great anticipation. At the same time, gray alder began to bloom especially early, as an indicator of the first stage of the “Spring Revival” sub-season. The second most powerful anomaly occurs at the second stage of the “Beginning of Summer” subseason and lasts almost until the end of the calendar year, including the “Pre-winter”. At the same time, the summer phenomena are ahead of schedule, and from the “Beginning of Autumn” sub-season, the phenodates abruptly change their sign to the opposite. All the phenological stages and sub-seasons of autumn began to occur at a late date. For the first time, in some years, the “Beginning of Autumn” sub-season came later by 12 days (2022) and 18 days (2024), and the second stage of the “Beginning of Autumn” sub-season in 2024 began 16 days later than the norm of the climate of the 30th anniversary of 1980-2009. The duration of the “Winter” season decreased by 2021-2024 by 9 days, and the summer season increased by 11 days. In the context of ongoing and increasing climate warming, the importance of phenological observations and the need for continuous monitoring are increasing. The role of botanical gardens as biodiversity conservation centers is increasing.

The analysis of long-term data (2005-2020) from phenological observations of 5 species of the genus Viburnum from the collection of the South Ural Botanical Garden-Institute of the Ufa Federal Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences: Viburnum opulus L., V. lantana L., V. dentatum L., V. veitchii C. H. Wreight (V. glomeratum Maxim) and V. sargentii Koehne. It has been established that for the beginning of vegetation, these taxa need a sum of positive temperatures above 0 °C (175-182 °C), while the local species V. opulus begins to vegetate first. The sum of positive temperatures from 235 to 278 C is required for the start of shoot growth, and 436-691 C for the beginning of flowering. The North American species V. dentatum blooms later than all other species in the Bashkir Urals. Complete lignification of shoots occurs earliest in V. dentatum at a total of positive temperatures of 2078 °C, later than in V. lantana (2601 °C), which can be explained by the geographical origin of these species. The Far Eastern species V. sargentii ends its vegetation earlier than all of the studied species, and the european V. sargentii ends its vegetation later V. lantana, and this is most likely due to the genetic characteristics of the species. The onset of the initial phases of seasonal development of Viburnum species (bud opening, the beginning of shoot growth, the beginning and end of flowering, the beginning of lignification of shoots) is greatly influenced by the sum of positive temperatures above 0 and +5 °C. At the beginning of the remaining phenophases (the end of shoot growth, complete lignification, fruit ripening and leaf fall), the influence of these temperature parameters, as well as the sum of temperatures above + 10 °C and the amount of precipitation, weakens. The duration of the growing season of species of the genus Viburnum in Ufa is 158-171 days. Over 16 years of observations, it was found that the timing of the beginning of vegetation, the beginning of flowering and the end of vegetation in the local species V. opulus became later by 5-8 days, the process of shoot growth in this species became longer by almost a month, and the lignification of shoots - by 2 months. Such dynamics indicates a change in climatic conditions in the Republic of Bashkortostan.

Improving the effectiveness of public administration in the field of environmental protection in the regions depends on the quality of implementation of environmental programs. An analysis of the development and implementation of these documents raises numerous questions regarding the low quality of implementation, which is due to a number of reasons of various origins. Based on the analysis of the results of our own research and conclusions reflected in the publications on the issue under consideration, a summаry of individual shortcomings in the development, implementation, and evaluation parameters of the effectiveness of programs is provided. The article presents a set of reasons for the low effectiveness of environmental programs; the use of content analysis made it possible to identify the most obvious of them. Fifty categories of reasons were identified. The latter were differentiated according to their content by 181 codes and analyzed in order to determine the share of the most significant reasons. It is shown that the lack of a unified methodology for assessing the effectiveness of programs does not provide an opportunity to objectively assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the set tasks to improve the environmental state of a territory. In 2025, environmental programs will be extended in most regions of Russia. It is pointed out that solving problems that affect the success of regional environmental programs creates the potential for improving environmental management systems and the ecological situation. The results obtained are important for improving regional environmental policies and developing appropriate programs.

The species diversity of geomorphological processes involved in reshaping the topography of tidal river mouth areas has been identified. The geodynamic situation in the lower reaches of almost two hundred rivers flowing into the seas and having tidal heights of 2 meters or more at their mouths has been analyzed. It is shown that the river mouth areas of the estuarine-delta type are distinguished by the greatest diversity in the succession of river sections with different morphodynamic river channel types. The study was conducted at various levels, focusing both on identifying general patterns of channel formation in delta and estuarine areas and on determining the leading processes that carry out modelling of coastal geosystems with the direct participation of marine processes. At the macrolevel, the main types of morphodynamic processes involved in the morpholithogenesis of river mouth areas at all stages of their formation were identified. At the mesolevel, the varieties of morphodynamic channel types identified within the areas themselves were determined. It is shown that the leading processes influencing the development of valley geosystems of tidal rivers are water-logging, slope slumping, suffusion, and sheet erosion on channel scarps and sides of erosion forms. A special group of processes not encountered outside the tidal river mouth areas consists of wave erosion from the developing tidal bore and sediment accumulation at the upper limit of the spread of tidal processes. In terms of the nature of manifestations and geomorphological processes that determine the modeling of tidal river banks, their reshaping is largely consistent with the development of banks in the lower reaches of reservoirs and, to a much lesser extent, with the formation of lowland river channels.

Sustainable development of the Baikal region requires a detailed analysis of the types of hazards and risks that can disrupt the unique ecological system of Lake Baikal and the natural landscapes of its water protection zone. This study focuses on analyzing social, natural, and technogenic hazards based on a risk-oriented approach. A general description of the territory and the main causes of natural, technogenic and biosocial emergencies in the Baikal region are provided. Each municipality within the territory under consideration is represented as a socio-natural-technogenic system characterized by a set of basic territorial risks, the analysis of which was performed taking into account statistical data on the number of hazardous events that occurred and the damage caused. The obtained basic risk assessments are the basis for determining the complex territorial risk, represented as a radius vector in a three-dimensional space of the socio-, eco-, and technosphere. The approach allows for a quantitative assessment of the contribution of each sphere of the socio-natural-technogenic system to the complex risk indicator and simplifies the graphical representation of the system under consideration. The highest complex risk values were obtained for the cities of the Baikal region (Bratsk, Irkutsk, Ulan-Ude, and Chita), where the primary hazard is associated with technogenic incidents. The elevated complex risk indicators for municipal districts are due to the high frequency of natural fires and floods, as well as seismic hazard. The assessment of complex territorial risks is the basis for predicting the sustainable development of territories under intense anthropogenic impact. The obtained results can be used in developing disaster risk reduction measures and socioeconomic development programs for the Baikal region.

Currently, the Russian Federation is experiencing a decline in attention to the scientifically based formation of regional networks of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) on a landscape-geographical basis. Despite the fact that state regulation of territorial nature conservation has existed in the country, and government bodies in the field of environmental protection have begun to form since 1989, systems of regional and federal SPNAs, differing from each other qualitatively and quantitatively, have developed in the Russian Federation subjects. The experience of creating SPNA networks in the steppe subjects of the Russian Federation is examined using the example of one of the key steppe regions of the Russian Federation, namely, Rostov oblast. The ideas for territorial nature protection in this region emerged in the early 20^th century, and there are still great possibilities to modernize and optimize the nature reserve fund. It is shown that the nature reserve fund of any region should encompass all the natural diversity of the territory and meet such characteristics as continuity and representativeness of the SPNA network. The article presents a brief history of environmental protection in the region. The main disadvantages of the current network of SPNAs in the region include the lack of landscape ordination of protected areas, almost complete absence of geological and geomorphological features, and the lack of toponymic indications of SPNAs with reference to the geographical names of settlements and locations. Based on well-known schemes for physical-geographical and geobotanical zoning, eight environmental protection districts have been identified, where technologies for designing SPNA networks are proposed, both as independent territorial nature conservation objects and as part of nature parks and landscape reserves of a cluster type. The need for regular landscape-ecological monitoring of the state of SPNAs, as well as limitation and regulation of recreational and tourism loads, is substantiated.

Based on the integrated use of field, remote and laboratory methods, the fire hazard of landscapes in the Tunka Depression (Southwestern Pribaikalie) has been assessed. The highest frequency of fires is observed in pine forests, confined to sandy massifs in the central part of the depression and the southern slopes. Based on statistical analysis, it has been found that the fire frequency in these forests is, on average, 1,8 times higher compared to forests of other types (small-leaved, cedar, and spruce). In more than half of the cases, fires in pine forests are accompanied by a high degree of damage to the tree stand with the formation of burned wood. Forests with a predominance of small-leaved species are susceptible exclusively to ground fires; their flammability is assessed as the lowest. Among them, the landscapes of the northern slopes are characterized by a complete absence of signs of fires during the study period. Using one-factor dispersion analysis, it has been revealed that with an increase in the NDVI values (improvement of the state of the vegetation cover) and a decrease in the MSI values (increase in the moisture supply of phytocenoses), the fire hazard of landscapes decreases. A linear dependence was found between the granulometric composition, which determines the water-holding capacity of soils, and the level of water stress, as well as the state of vegetation. An increase in fire hazard was noted in sites with a granulometric composition lighter than loam, resulting from a reduced ability of soils to supply sufficient moisture to biotic landscape components. The obtained results confirm the validity of using Earth remote sensing data in general and vegetation indices in particular in studying fire dynamics and assessing potential fire hazard.

The article considers the features of post-fire restoration of forest communities in the V.V. Raevsky “Malaya Sosva” Nature Reserve depending on the location, intensity, and age of the pyrogenic factor. Based on remote sensing data, maps of the spatial distribution of fire outbreaks were compiled using Landsat imagery. According to the results of field studies, reforestation in the burned areas of 2012 was recorded. It has been revealed that in the reserve’s pine forests, reforestation after fires occurs without a change in species. It has been established that in the first years after fires, despite their intensity, mass shoots of Scots pine appear in key areas. Natural regeneration is uniform in almost all areas. The NDVI vegetation index was calculated to quantitatively assess vegetation condition, and the MSI index was used to quantitatively assess plant moisture as a factor determining the level of fire resistance. High intensity of vegetation of forest stands is observed in areas where fires occurred more than 50 years ago. The lowest NDVI values were obtained at the test sites exposed to severe crown fires in 2012, which is consistent with geobotanical descriptions made during field observations. The test sites where plants were most provided with moisture bear traces of old fires, while the most elevated areas, where high-intensity fires occurred, are the driest, as confirmed by the MSI values from 1 to 1,2.

The article presents an analysis of the spatiotemporal differentiation of temperature characteristics in the Primorsky Range landscapes, obtained during 15 years of microclimatic observations. The work is based on data from automatic monitoring of air temperature and relative humidity at a height of 2 m from the surface, soil surface temperature, and soil temperature at a depth of 40 cm. The analysis of the microclimatic monitoring data showed that the close relationship between soil and air temperature regimes depends on landscape conditions. Within the study area, the main climate-forming factors at the local level are vegetation, orography, and distance from Lake Baikal. Open areas, compared to forested ones, are characterized by greater amplitudes of air and soil temperatures in both diurnal and annual cycles. The warming and cooling effects of Lake Baikal on the temperature regime of the adjacent territory are manifested no higher than 1000 m along the slope of the Primorsky Range. This study statistically confirms the relationships between air temperature series at study sites in similar landscapes. Several groups of sites can be identified, each differing in temperature regime; the number and composition of these groups vary throughout the year, depending on limiting factors. The results of the study, which identified patterns in the distribution of air and soil temperatures, will be useful for restoring missing data in shorter series and can subsequently be applied to reconstruct temperature regimes in areas not covered by the microclimate observation network. Furthermore, the identified patterns will serve as a basis for creating parametrization of processes in mountainous regions and scaling the results of global climate model calculations at the local and regional levels.

The species composition and isotopic characteristics of bone and dental tissues from zooarchaeological collections of Xiongnu sites (Early Iron Age) in Western Transbaikalia were studied. The presence of bones of small ruminants, cattle and horses among the sacred-burial utensils indicates a high proportion of the nomadic way of life in the life of the Xiongnu. At the same time, the remains of domestic pigs, wild animals and fish bear evidence of elements of a sedentary lifestyle, hunting and fishing. It has been revealed that the difference in the isotopic composition of carbon and nitrogen of the bones and teeth of the remains of small ruminants and cattle from the composition of the remains of horses suggests a differentiation in the conditions of their breeding. It has been found that cattle were grazed in dry steppe conditions, while horse pastures covered steppe and forest-steppe/forest landscapes. The heavier carbon isotope composition of the remains of pigs and dogs indicates the presence of C4-type plants (probably millet) in their diet. Based on a comparison of the values of the isotopic ratios of carbon and nitrogen in the bones and teeth of fossil ungulates and modern ecosystems, it was concluded that during the Xiongnu era, dry steppes dominated in the intermountain depressions of the southern part of Western Transbaikalia, and open landscapes were somewhat more widespread than at present. The Xiongnu sites in Western Transbaikalia (4^th century BC - 1^st century AD) date to the decline of the Xiongnu nomadic empire and are associated with the time of the climatic shift in Northern Mongolia and Transbaikalia towards aridity, which occurred at the beginning of the Subatlantic period 2500-1900 years ago.

The article examines current issues related to the development of the chemical industry in Irkutsk oblast as an integral part of the chemical complex of the Russian Federation. It was found that the chemical industry entered a consolidation stage in the 2000s. New economic ties were formed, new product markets were entered, and a transition to a qualitatively new technical and technological level was achieved. Interregional chemical clusters are actively being formed. All this has ensured the competitiveness of the region’s chemical complex in the Russian and foreign markets. It has been established that the main problems of the region’s chemical complex are: insufficient supply of domestic raw materials, high prices for raw materials and transportation costs, high level of production facilities depreciation, insufficient capacity of the domestic market, and a number of others. It is concluded that the chemical industry in Irkutsk oblast, although not playing a system-forming role in the region’s economy, occupies a significant share of industrial production and has a significant impact on the development of other industries. It is shown that chemical complex enterprises are city-forming for some areas of the region and ensure social stability. It has been revealed that the prospects for the development of deep processing of chemical products are constrained by low profitability and a limited product market. The pharmaceutical industry is an exception, where prospects are linked to the production of medicines based on regional scientific developments. It has been determined that there are opportunities in Irkutsk oblast to create innovative low-tonnage chemical production facilities at the former site of Usolyekhimprom LLC with the establishment of a Federal Chemistry Center. The prospects for the development of the industry are also linked to the implementation of new projects in the field of gas chemistry in the north of the region, the production of potash fertilizers, and the development of import substitution in the production of high value-added polymer-based products. It is also shown that the need to take into account the ESG-agenda will play an increasingly important role in the development of chemical production. The feasibility of developing comprehensive programs for the development of the chemical complex at both the federal and regional levels is substantiated.

The article identifies trends and features of the spatial development of the Trans-Siberian Economic Corridor within the Siberian Federal District (the territories of Omsk, Novosibirsk, and Kemerovo oblasts, Krasnoyarsk krai, and Irkutsk oblast). The economic corridor is considered as a set of municipalities at the levels of an urban district and a municipal area, formed along the Trans-Siberian multimodal transport route, the core of which is the railway. The study was conducted using statistical, cartographic, and comparative-geographical methods. Based on statistical and cartographic sources, several types of municipalities were identified in the Trans-Siberian Corridor, namely: regional centers, suburban municipalities (within urban agglomerations), and peripheral municipalities. Rural settlement zones and main urbanized areas in places of maximum population concentration were identified. Thus, the demographic potential of the Trans-Siberian Economic Corridor constitutes more than half of the population of the corresponding regions. By the industrial output, the region’s municipalities were ranked, and industrial specialization was revealed. The mutual influence of the development level, industrial specialization, the distribution of productive forces and the demographic situation and the transformation of settlement patterns were assessed. The geographical aspects of spatial development are expressed in the strengthening of two partially overlapping gradients of population and production concentration, namely: trunk-peripheral and central-peripheral ones. Agglomeration effects were found to predominate over trunk effects. The agglomeration effects are particularly pronounced in the example of the concentration of housing construction in regional centers and their suburban areas. This study, limited to the territories of the Siberian Federal District, provides an understanding of the spatial development of the most populated, economically diversified part of the Trans-Siberian Economic Corridor. Territorial expansion of the research will make it possible to update the geographical picture of the spatial development of the entire Trans-Siberian Economic Corridor.

The article reveals the sectoral and geographical structures of foreign trade turnover of Siberian regions with its bordering countries: China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia. It highlights the place of Siberia in the structure of the Russian economy, and the problem of distortion of its statistical indicators. The role of Siberia’s foreign trade on a national and global scale, as well as the dynamics of its share and value indicators since 2017 are analyzed. The geographical structure of Siberia’s trade turnover is revealed. The issues of the Russia’s role in its trade with China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia are touched upon. The share and value indicators of trade turnover, and commodity groups of exports and imports of each Siberian region with countries adjacent to Siberia, are calculated. A more detailed attention is paid to the leading regions in the structures of export and import. The features of the foreign trade structures of various Siberian regions are identified. The importance of foreign trade with China, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia for the regions of Siberia is revealed. The article touches upon the issue of the emerging competition between Siberia and Mongolia in the export of similar commodity groups to foreign markets, primarily coal, copper ores and concentrates. The routes of commodity flows between Siberia and neighboring countries are explained. The main border crossings in the trade turnover with the countries under consideration are identified. The issues related to China’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative are briefly touched upon. The article also considers issues of the future foreign trade turnover of Siberia with neighboring countries, such as the predicted increase in the role of China and Kazakhstan in Siberia’s foreign trade in the near term, and the instability of the prospects for trade between Mongolia and Siberia due to the narrow range of goods they supply. An analysis is made of the transformation of the geographical directions of the foreign trade structure on a national scale in the early 2020s using the example of the export of coal as the main cargo of Siberian railways. Specific cases of prospects for the development of Siberian foreign trade relations are predicted. The article concludes by examining the emerging need to diversify the geographical structure of Russia’s foreign trade.

The article systematizes the national-territorial units of state and municipal structure and other ethnic entities of Eastern Siberia, the hierarchy of which is presented as follows: republics - administrative-territorial units with a special status (former autonomous okrugs) - places of traditional residence of indigenous small-numbered peoples. An analysis of changes in the ethnic composition of the population of Eastern Siberia between the 2010 and 2021 censuses is provided at three territorial levels - macroregional, regional and municipal. Of the 10 groups of peoples identified by geographical location, an increase in the number and a rise in their share are observed only among the indigenous large and small-numbered peoples and the peoples of Central Asia. Russians and indigenous peoples predominate in the total population, the increase in the total share of which reflects the ongoing trend toward decreasing ethnic diversity. Based on the share of the Russian population in municipalities in 2021, the ethnic space of Eastern Siberia was divided into zones, identifying the Russian ethnic core, the contact zone of the Russian mega-core, and its internal and external periphery. It has been established that the dominant trend in the period 1989-2010 toward increasing polarization of the ethnic space into opposite components - the Russian ethnic core and its external polyethnic periphery, i.e. into “Russian” and “ethnic” districts and cities - has weakened significantly and has mostly exhausted itself in the period 2010-2021. This is largely due to the slowdown in growth (Yakuts) or even a decrease in the number (Buryats and especially Khakass) of indigenous large peoples. Therefore, a certain stabilization of the process of monoethnicization in the republics of the macroregion (with the exception of Tuva and partly Yakutia) can be expected.