UNESCOUNITWINUNESCOCoordinating Committee of UNESCO Chairs of the Russian Federation
MeetingUNESCO Chair “Socio-Economic Models of the Biosphere Reserves”

June 5, 2026

Creation of a Scientific Coordination Council for Russian UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Discussed at Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources together with the UNESCO Chair “Socio-Economic Models of the Biosphere Reserves”

A working meeting was held at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, dedicated to the institutionalization and coordination of UNESCO biosphere reserves in Russia.

Creation of a Scientific Coordination Council for Russian UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Discussed at Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources together with the UNESCO Chair “Socio-Economic Models of the Biosphere Reserves”
Creation of a Scientific Coordination Council for Russian UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Discussed at Russia’s Ministry of Natural Resources together with the UNESCO Chair “Socio-Economic Models of the Biosphere Reserves”

A working meeting was held at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation, dedicated to the institutionalization and coordination of UNESCO biosphere reserves in Russia. The UNESCO Chair “Socio-Economic Models of the Biosphere Reserves” at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics was represented by Professor P.V. Terelyansky and G.E. Ordzhonikidze, Advisor to the Rector, Envoy Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, 1st Class. The Ministry was represented by Y.S. Kudryashova, Director of the Department of State Policy and Regulation in the Development of Specially Protected Natural Areas.

The meeting discussed the draft project for the establishment of a Scientific Coordination Council for Russian UNESCO Biosphere Reserves. The participants reviewed the draft Regulation on the Council which defines its status, functions, and working procedures. The Council's main task will be scientific and methodological support and coordination of the activities of Russian biosphere reserves, as well as the development of unified approaches to their certification, monitoring, and management.

Particular attention was paid to the principles of forming the Council's composition. It will include representatives of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Russia, the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia and their subordinate institutions, heads of the biosphere reserves, representatives of the federal subjects of Russia and the Russian Academy of Sciences, as well as other interested organizations. In its work, the Council will be guided by both Russian legislation (including the Federal Law “On Specially Protected Natural Areas”) and UNESCO international documents, in particular the Hangzhou Strategic Action Plan 2026–2035 for the World Network of Biosphere Reserves.

Following the meeting, the parties expressed their readiness for further cooperation. An agreement was reached to jointly work out organizational issues for launching the Council, which is intended to become an effective platform for dialogue between the state, science, and practitioners of protected area management.