SOIL DEGRADATION: MODERN PROBLEM STATUS
Summary
In the review the main types of physical (erosion, compaction, cealing, loss of soil organic matter) and chemical (salination, acidification, chemical pollution) soil degradation are de-scribed. The biological pollution of soil is discussed separately.

Special Project “Sustainable Development”
HOW TO AVOID THE RISK GROUP
COMPROMISE AS A MEANS OF SURVIVAL AND SOURCE OF INCOME

Elizaveta Minailova
Big Business Magazine

Summary
The round table “Sustainable Development – Global Trend of the 21st Century”, organized by the magazine Big Business in partnership with the Fund for Sustainable Development and Citi Russia, was joined by scientists, representatives of businesses (Citi and Alcoa companies) and non-governmental organizations. V.I.Danilov-Danilyan, Corresponding Member of the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke about understanding the term “sustainable development”; representatives of Citi and Alcoa companies that support environmentally responsible projects described their company’s policies and principles of promoting sustainable development; and a representative of the Expert Center of Management acquainted the audience with an assessment of investment projects and the business prospects of companies adhering to the principles of sustainable development. Representatives of the Fund for Sustainable Development presented concrete projects that are being implemented in the regions of Russia with support from these companies.
This article was published in the magazine Big Business, 2010 2010, 12 (77), pp. 54-62

MUNICIPAL POWER AND CIVIL SOCIETY:PROBLEMS OF DIALOGUE AND PROSPECTS OF DEVELOPMENT
Proceedings of science-practical Conference (Ulan-Ude, 2010,February,25)

Editors: V.B.Prokopiev (ed.in chief), B.Kh.Angurov, F.D.Mikhalev

Summary
The manuscript includes articles devoted to the issues of civil society development in the Republic of Buryatia, the reports of scientists, non-governmental organizations; political parties, local government and public administration are presented. The manuscript is destined as for specialists of non-commercial and non- governmental partnerships, as well as for wide circle of readers.

The manuscript is published: Ulan-Ude, Publishers Buriat State University, 2010, - 195 PP.
ISBN 978-5-9793

BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION:
FROM ECOSYSTEM TO ECOSYSTEM APPROACH
V. N. Bol’shakov 1, A. A. Lushchekina2, and V. M. Neronov2

1Institute of Plant and Animal Ecology, Ural Division, Russian Academy of Sciences,
ul. Vos’mogo Marta 202, Yekaterinburg, 620144 Russia
2 Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Leninskii pr. 33, Moscow, 117071 Russia

Summary
The possibility of implementing 12 principles of the ecosystem approach is considered with regard to the results of meetings of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and recent international forums. The importance of these principles for achieving the main goals of the CBD is shown, and the role of biosphere reserves in solving urgent problems of biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in adjoining territories of subjects of the Russian Federation is discussed.
Key words : Convention on Biological Diversity, ecosystem approach, principles and conditions of implementation, biosphere reserve.
This article was published in the magazine Ecology, 2009, № 2, pp. 83-90

ADDRESSING COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Kluchnikova E.M., member of the Committee for Economics at the Apatity City Administration , candidate for a degree at the Economics Studies Institute of the Kola Research Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences

Summary
The author of this article defines the role of the environmental factor (quality of living environment) in the context of the notion “quality of life” and describes the position of the environmental component in the concept “sustainable development”. There is also a study of environmental and economic challenges facing a specific community and of the reasons of the inefficient conservation policy of the local administration. Recommendations are provided to local self-government on how to develop a sustainable development policy.

BIOSPHERE RESERVES OF THE VOLGA RIVER BASIN (BROCHURE)

M.N.Brynskikh 1, V.M. Neronov 2, A.A.Lushchekina 2

1 Noncommercial partnership «Biosphere Reserves of Eurasia», Moscow, Russia,
2 Russian Committee for the UNESCO programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB), Moscow, Russia,

Summary

The brochure is developed by Noncommercial partnership «Biosphere Reserves of Eurasia» and the Russian Committee for the UNESCO programme on Man and the Biosphere (MAB) and published with the support of the UNESCO Moscow Office in the framework of the UNESCO/ Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia programme «Living Volga». 11 biosphere reserves of the Volga River basin took active participation in the development of the brochure. The biosphere reserves provided comprehensive materials about natural features and their activities within the World Network of Biosphere Reserves of UNESCO.

The brochure is targeted at local public, state and commercial organizations and mass media and is published for free distribution. This publication gives the description of the development of the UNESCO MAB programme from the First (Minsk, 1983) up to the Third International Congress of Biosphere Reserves (Madrid, 2008) for the first time in Russian language. The brochure includes information about the network of biosphere reserves in Russia, where 39 biosphere reserves have been established from 1978 up till 2010. The characteristics of 11 biosphere reserves of the Volga River basin, including schemes of their zoning according to requirements of the Seville Strategy and the Madrid Action Plan, and suggestions on their further sustainable development are presented. The map of distribution of the biosphere reserves on natural units within the Volga River basin is attached to the brochure.
300 copies of the brochure have been published and will be used as a constituent part of the second generation of the Volga Kits, which are planned to be developed with the support of the UNESCO Moscow Office within a framework of the programme UNESCO/ Coca-Cola HBC Eurasia «Living Volga».

IMPORTANCE OF THE DARVINSKY STATE BIOSPHERE RESERVE FOR BIODIVERSITY PRESERVATION IN THE VOLGA RIVER WATERSHED

Babushkin M.V., Kuznetsov A.V., Rybnikova I.A.
Darvinsky State Biosphere Reserve
Borok Village, Ploskovo Post Office, 162723 Cherepovetsky Raion, Vologodskaya Oblast

Summary
This article demonstrates the importance of Darvinsky Reserve as the focal point of biodiversity preservation across the whole watershed of the Volga River, which not only ensures the conservation of the vitality of the population nucleus of a host of insect, fish, bird and mammal species, but also ensures their expanded propagation and dispersal on surrounding regions.
The article was printed in the collection of papers of the First National Scientific and Practical Conference of Students, Graduate Students and Young Scientists with International Participation “Biodiversity Preservation in the Volga River Watershed and Adjoining Regions”. Cheboksary, 2010. p. 54-55

CHANGES OF THE BIOTIC COMPLEX OF THE COASTAL AREA OF RYBINSK RESERVOIR DURING THE PERIOD
FROM 1946 THROUGH 2009
Kuznetsov A.V., Rybnikova I.A.
Darvinsky State Biosphere Reserve

Summary
This article presents data of long-term observations of water level changes in Rybinsk Reservoir and their impact on the biotic complex of the littoral zone. The article was published in the collection of materials of the international conference devoted to the 100th anniversary of F.D.Mortukhai-Boltovsky “Aquatic Invertebrates”, Borok, 2010, pp. 153-158

CHANGES OF THE HYDROLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF ANGARA AND YENISEI RIVERS RESULTING FROM THE CONSTRUCTION OF A CHAIN OF POWER PLANTS
1N.D.Gaidenok, 2G.M.Chmarkova, 3S.G.Shapkayev
Krasnoyarsk Institute of Railroad Engineers (IRGUPS), Krasnoyarsk, Russia
2Siberian State Technical University, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
3East-Siberian State Technological University, Ulan-Ude, Russia
Summary
The authors conducted a comparative analysis of the hydrogeological characteristics of the rivers Angara and Yenisei before and after being regulated by the Angara-Yenisei chain of power plants and propose guidelines on regulating water modes in the reservoirs of the power stations.

CLIMATIC TRENDS AND MULTIPLE SCALR ANOMAKIES OF HEAT EXCHANGE BETWEEN OCEAN AND ATMOSPHERE IN DIFFERENT HACIFIC REGIONS NORTH OF
30° N
Ponomarev V.I., Petrova V.A., Dmitrieva E.V.
V.I. Il’ichev Pacific Oceanological Institute, FEB RAS, Vladivostok

Summary
Features of the climatic trends and multiple scale spatial and temporal variability of the heat exchange between the ocean and atmosphere in the Pacific north of 30° S are studied. Grided (2° х 2°) monthly time series (1948–2009) of the net sea surface heat flux from NCEP NCAR meteorological reanalyze are used. Differences of the climatic tendencies and anomalies of the heat fluxes in various Pacific areas including tropical-equatorial regions are shown.

Key worlds: Pacific north of 30°S, ocean surface heat balance, net heat flux, NCEP NCAR reanalyses, time series, intraannual, climatic, variations, trends

WHO WILL HELP THE “KING OF THE TAIGA”?
Y.A.Kuzina, editor of the journal Municipal Communities and Alliances
Summary
This article is devoted to the protection of the Amur tiger, whose future is arousing many concerns. This year material support provided by the United States Agency for International Development, the Fund for Sustainable Development, Russia, and the Green House Khabarovsk Philanthropic Public Organization was targeted toward improving tiger rehabilitation conditions at the Utes Rehabilitation Center.
This article was published in the journal Municipal Communities and Alliances, 2010 No. 3 (15), 12-13

Real men also cry
S.A.Pleshakov
Summary
Information about problems of Amur tiger conservation, about work of Rehabilitation Center for wild animals “Utes” in Khabarovsky krai and about people devoted their activity to solving this important problem.

CLIMATE REGULATING FUNCTIONS OF BOREAL FORESTS AND RIVER ECOSYSTEMS IN THE ARCTIC BASIN.
ADAPTATION AND RISK MITIGATION MEASURES
S.G.Shapkhayev
East-Siberian State Technological University, Ulan-Ude, Russia

Summary
The author assesses the impact of river runoff and boreal and sub-tundra forests on climate change and proposes measures to preserve natural water cycles on land as a stabilizer of climate changes in the Arctic.

PRIME GEESE CLUSTER SITES AND FLYWAYS AT THE VOLGA-ONEGA SECTION OF THE MIGRATION ROUTE

Kuznetsov A.V., Babushkin M.V.,
Darvinsky State Biosphere Reserve
Borok Village, Ploskovo Post Office, 162723 Cherepovetsky Raion, Vologodskaya Oblast

Summary
The authors present data on the routes and cluster sites of migrating geese located on the Rybinsk-Kostroma section of their migration route between the valley of the Volga River and Lake Onega in the south and Lake Lacha in the north. This information was obtained as a result of long-term field and stationary studies of the numbers of migrating geese flying in spring via the peninsula of the reserve. The article was written for the collection “Studies of the Dynamics of Migrating Bird Populations and their Trends in Northwestern Russia”, Issue 8, St.Petersburg, 2010, pp. 39-41

DISTRIBUTION AND POPULATIONS OF WHITE-TAILED EAGLE
(HALIAEETUS ALBICILLA) AND OSPREY (PANDION HALIAETUS)
IN NORTHWESTERN RUSSIA
Pchelintsev V.G., Babushkin M.V., Kuznetsov A.V
Darvinsky State Biosphere Reserve
Borok Village, Ploskovo Post Office, 162723 Cherepovetsky Raion, Vologodskaya Oblast

Summary
The authors of this article summarize and analyze own and literature data on the distribution and numbers of white-tailed eagle and osprey in Northwestern Russia. During fieldwork, they studied a large area of the Northwestern Region within the Arkhangelsk, Vologda, Leningradskaya, Novgorod and Pskov oblasts and the Republic of Karelia. Special attention is focused on the significance of the Darvinovsky Reserve as an important center of preserving and dispersing these species in the Northwestern Region of the country. During a number of helicopter surveys conducted in the lake region in Vologda oblast, nests of these species were identified. As a result, the patterns of territorial dissemination and numbers of white-tailed eagle and osprey were identified. The current population of the former in the Northwester Region is estimated at 260-270 nesting pairs and of the latter at 600 nesting pairs.
The article was printed in Vestnik Sankt-Peterburgskoro universiteta, Series 3, Issue 1, 2010, pp. 3-14

CURRENT STATUS OF ANIMAL POPULATIONS IN DARVINSKY RESERVE ASSIGNED TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION RED BOOK

Kuznetsov A.V., Rybnikova I.A., Babushkin M.V.
Darvinsky State Biosphere Reserve
Borok Village, Ploskovo Post Office, 162723 Cherepovetsky Raion, Vologodskaya Oblast

Summary
The authors present data of long-term stationary studies of insect and bird species inhabiting Darvinsky Reserve and assigned to the Red Book of the Russian Federation; and show the major population change trends and modern status of these species in the reserve and on adjoining areas. An abridged version of this article was published in the collection of materials of the “Zoological Studies in Russia’s Regions and Adjoining Territories International Scientific Conference”, Saransk, 2010, pp. 254-256

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
OF VARIATIONS OF CLIMATIC CHARACTERISTICS AND ICE PHENOMENA IN LAKE BAIKAL AND THE ARCTIC - BASED ON OBSERVATION ATERIALS

L.N.Kuimova1, V.N.Sinukevich, PhD1,
P.P.Sherstyankin, PhD1, N.I.Yakimova2
1Limnological Institute SB RAS, Irkutsk, Russia;
Irkutsk Interregional Territorial Department for Hydrometeorology and Environmental Monitoring, Irkutsk, Russia

Summary
Studies of abnormalities (isoanomalies) of air temperature over Eurasia [9] showed that the climate of the north Atlantic, where the cold Greenland and Labrador Currents and the warm Golf Stream converge, affect greatly the climate of the Baikal natural territory. This influence is also observed in studies of cores of Greenland glaciers [12, 2] and of results of deep drilling at Lake Baikal [1]. Modern climatic peculiarities and characteristics of the Baikal natural territory and the Arctic are discussed in this paper. The ice regime of Lake Baikal and changes of water level of the rivers of the basin are compared with field areas of marine ice in the Arctic based on the material of observations and the data published.

A TRAIL IN THE CEDAR AISLE

L.P.Shishmareva 1, V.M. Krasnopevtseva 2, A.Y.Suknev 3, A.V.Ustinov 4

1 Lake Baikal World Magazine, editor
2 Baikalsky Biosphere Reserve, deputy director for environmental education
3 BBT-Buryatia, chairman
4 MEGAPHONE Buryatia, general director

Summary
The project Cedar Aisle is carried out by Baikal Regional Association on Lake Baikal jointly with Baikalsky State Biosphere Reserve with financial support from the Coca Cola Company, UNDP and the Buryatia Branch of RFE Megaphone Company within the framework of the construction of the Great Baikal Trail. This project is devoted to building special trails for persons with limited physical abilities and, thus, making it possible for them to visit Lake Baikal, a World Heritage site.

This article was printed in the popular science magazine Lake Baikal World, 2010, No. 3 (27)

FUNCTIONS OF BIOSPHERE RESERVES

A.S. Mishin

Visimsky State Natural Biosphere Reserve, town Kirovograd, Sverdlovskaya oblast’, Russia
st.razina95@mail. Ru

Summary
The functions assigned on biosphere reserves by Seville strategy differ from functions of reserves (zapovedniks) of Russia. The sequence, contents and opportunity of carrying out of functions is considered. Improvement of the national legislation and the Seville strategy itself based on the world experience will allow to expand the implementation of the Seville strategy, to increase an overall efficiency of work of biosphere reserves, and to make the next step on the way to sustainable development of the nature and a society.

VISITING SPITSBERGEN ON A SAILING BOAT
A.E.Volkov
Fund for Sustainable Development, Moscow

Summary
This is a description of our experience of an environmental arctic cruise to Northwestern Spitsbergen through drifting ice on an old sailing boat Noorderlicht (Aurora Borealis) during which we became acquainted with High Arctic wildlife. We observed colonies of Kittiwakes, Guillemots and Little Auks, saw Arctic Foxes and herds of Spitsbergen Reindeer and spotted Polar Bears and their prey – Bearded Seals. The mountains and glaciers of Spitsbergen are calling us on a new voyage, this time to the shores of North East Land, a part of this wondrous archipelago.

This article was published in the journal Ecology and Life, No. 8(105), 2010, 64-71

FROM A BIRDFEEDER TO A VISIT TO THE MAYOR: TAKING ON A RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FUTURE

E.A.Bondarchuk, Fund for Sustainable Development , M.E.Rykhlikova, Moscow State University Institute of Environmental Soil Sciences

The article demonstrates the main results of four years Alcoa Foundation Program
“We Are in Charge of the Future” which has being carried out in the cities of Belaya Kalitva and Samara (Kirovsky District). The Program was designed and managed by the Fund for Sustainable Development in partnership with Alcoa’s industrial facilities in Russia (Alcoa Metallurg Rus (Belaya Kalitva) and Samara Metallurgical Plant, as well as local schools and NGOs. The article discribes social technologies implemented for involving students of local schools into the process of designing and implementing practical socially significant and nature conservation projects in their communities

The article was published in the journal Ecology and Life, 2010, No. 7,35-38

CONTESTS OF SOCIAL PROJECTS

Summary
Contests of socially significant projects were held with funding from a consolidated budget in Turka settlement in Pribaikalsky raion of Buryatia by the local NGO Turka and Buryatia Regional Association on Lake Baikal within the framework of the Ford Foundation project on Support of local communities in forest region to elaborate the models of communities’ sustainable development. Such contests are important long-term outcomes and also a continuation of projects of the Community Development Support Program (CDSP) that was carried out in this region by the Fund for Sustainable Development with financial support from the United States Agency for International Development. The author focuses on the importance of concluding multi-sector social contracts in communities to implement social programs.

AN ALLIANCE OF LOCAL COMMUNITY FUNDS (LCF) WAS FOUNDED IN LAKE BAIKAL REGION

Summary
A workshop Strengthening Interaction Among Baikal Region Local Community Funds (LCF) was organized by the Baikal Local Community Fund and the Buryatia Regional Association on Lake Baikal to discuss community development issues and the unification of philanthropic programs. This event also included a master class on multi-sector social contracts and the development of a draft agreement on founding a local community fund alliance in Lake Baikal Region.

POMORY PARTICIPATION IN TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN
LAKE BAIKAL REGION
Summary
The author of this article presents news about the development of tourism in the Republic of Buryatia, examines the adaptation of local communities to the creation of the Special Economic Tourism and Recreation Zone in Lake Baikal Region and stresses the importance of citizen self-organization and the role of the Baikal Pomory NGO.

For Baikal Media Consulting News Agency