June 23, 2026
Experts from the UNESCO Chair of Plekhanov University Developed Proposals to Improve Legislation for Russian Biosphere Reserves
On June 22, a working meeting of the research group of the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves" was held as part of the implementation of the Plekhanov University internal grant "The development of a regulatory model for Russia's Biosphere Reserves managment in the context of ensuring environmental sovereignty and the development of nature-based technologies".
On June 22, a working meeting of the research group of the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves" was held as part of the implementation of the Plekhanov University internal grant "The development of a regulatory model for Russia's Biosphere Reserves managment in the context of ensuring environmental sovereignty and the development of nature-based technologies". Following the meeting, the task was set to develop a concept for a package of proposals introducing local adjustments and amendments to land, urban planning, and environmental legislation. These steps are intended to create a unified and consistent legal model that will serve as the foundation for sustainable socio-economic development and the preservation of Russia's natural heritage.
From the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves," Professor and Co-Head of the Chair Dr. Pavel Terelyansky delivered a presentation. The Head of the Research Group, Associate Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration of Plekhanov University Dr. Olga Petrova, presented interim results and outlined the main research directions. Associate Professor of the Department of Economics and Management, Head of the Educational Law Laboratory Dr. Meir Surilov, shared the experience of institutional integration of UNESCO Biosphere Reserves in the Kingdom of Spain, where more than 50 reserves operate. Following the discussion, the experts reached a consensus on the need to prepare a package of legislative initiatives. The main goal of these proposals is to provide a more complete and systematic description of the functioning of biosphere reserves within the legal framework of the Russian Federation as one of the categories of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs).
Professor of the Department of Public and Municipal Administration of Plekhanov University Dr. Alexander Melikhov noted that the current legal status of biosphere reserves requires clarification to harmonize it with contemporary environmental challenges and the tasks of ensuring national environmental sovereignty. He emphasized that the current regulatory framework does not fully reflect the specifics of the zonal structure (core, buffer zone, transitional zone) and does not contain effective mechanisms for integrating nature-like technologies into the management processes of these territories.