Research On Developing Unified Passports for UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Supported by Plekhanov University Internal Grant

Plekhanov Russian University of Economics has supported an application from the research team of the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves" through an internal grant. The research topic is "The development of a scientific and methodological approach to the formation of a unified passport of the UNESCO biosphere reserve (on the example of specially protected natural areas of the Russian Federation)".

The head of the research group is Lyudmila Kolesnikova, PhD in Economics, Associate Professor of the Basic Department of Chemistry of Innovative Materials and Technologies. The work is based on the concept of the Index of Institutional Integration of Biosphere Reserves, proposed by the deputy head, Professor Pavel Terelyansky. The research is carried out by the chairman of the UNESCO Chair, Ivan Lobanov.

The main objectives of the study include the following areas of activity:

• the comprehensive analysis of geodata, economic indicators, ecology, social sphere, demography and statistics necessary for an objective description of biosphere reserves;

• the creation of a unified scientific and methodological framework for the characteristics of Russian biosphere zones, ensuring the integrity and reliability of the collected information;

• the determinination of an optimal structure of the unified biosphere reserve passport (UBRP), containing a complete set of information blocks.

This scientific initiative is aimed at improving the mechanism of interaction between the state and the UNESCO Man and the Biosphere Programme regarding the protection of natural resources and the enhancement of the quality of life in specially protected areas of the country. The approach makes it possible to accurately analyse the current state of biosphere reserves and to identify threats related to human activities. The implementation of the project will create a tool for monitoring and forecasting ecosystem changes, increase the efficiency of management decision-making and contribute to the preservation of Russia's natural heritage in accordance with UNESCO's international standards.