Members

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Buildings
Russian Federation flag
Ratification
UNCCD annex
Annex V: Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)
UNCCD Subregion
Central and Eastern Europe (CEE)

Ministries

Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation

The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation is responsible for managing the country's natural resources and ensuring environmental protection. Its key duties include overseeing forests, water, and mineral resources; enforcing environmental regulations; monitoring ecological conditions; and developing policies related to climate and waste management. The Ministry also engages with international partners on environmental issues and ensures the sustainable use of the nation’s natural wealth.

Website
www.mnr.gov.ru/en/
Minister

Alexander Alexandrovich Kozlov

Alexander Alexandrovich Kozlov

National Focal Points

Sergey Vasiliev
Position
Adviser / Referent
Institution
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation
German Kust
Position
Science and Technology Correspondents: Principal Scientist
Institution
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences
Tatiana Kuderina
Position
Senior researcher
Institution
Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences

Voluntary LDN Targets

Since 2016, Russia has been participating in the UNCCD Target Setting Program

Status of LDN Target Setting in Russia
Key LDN-Related Indicators
Main Measures for Achieving LDN
Status of LDN Target Setting in Russia

Measures to combat land degradation are being implemented through federal programs. LDN-related issues are integrated into broader strategic initiatives, including land reclamation, forest restoration, agricultural land protection, climate adaptation, and the national action plan to combat desertification.

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Key LDN-Related Indicators

Increase in crop production - 135% compared to the 2014 level; protection of land from water erosion and flooding - 822.1 thousand hectares; creation of new jobs in agriculture - 114.7 thousand; protection of agricultural land from wind erosion and desertification - 1.2 million hectares; sand stabilization - 840.92 thousand hectares; restoration of degraded agricultural land - 415 thousand hectares.

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Main Measures for Achieving LDN

Key measures to achieve LDN: development of national monitoring of land degradation; strengthening measures to protect soils from erosion and salinization; forest restoration, including compensatory forest plantings; improvement of melioration and irrigation systems; development of low-carbon technologies in agriculture and forestry.

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Reports on the Implementation of the UNCCD

2018 Report
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2014 Report
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2012 Report
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2010 Report
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2006 Report
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Environmental challenges covered by the UNCCD

Desertification
Desertification and drought

Expansion of arid and semi-arid climate zones, increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts; reduction of water resources and a decrease in their quality, which affects the sustainability of ecosystems and agriculture; degradation of pasture lands, leading to a decrease in the forage base for farm animals.

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Soil erosion

Wind and water erosion, especially in the southern regions of the country; loss of fertile soil layer due to intensive agricultural use; insufficient protection of soils from erosion processes, which leads to their degradation.

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Salinization and degradation of agricultural lands

Secondary soil salinization due to ineffective irrigation methods and disruption of the water-salt balance; a decrease in the content of organic matter in the soil, which leads to a decrease in crop yields.

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Forest degradation and loss of vegetation cover

Deforestation and reduction of forest cover, especially in regions with high anthropogenic pressure; fragmentation of forest ecosystems and deterioration of their ability to recover; reduction of soil organic carbon stocks as a result of changes in land cover structure.

Causes of degradation and desertification

Natural Factors

  • Increase In Average Annual Temperatures, Decrease In Precipitation, Increase In The Frequency Of Droughts.

  • Water And Wind Erosion, Leading To Loss Of Fertile Soil Layer.

  • High Level Of Soil Salinization In Some Regions Of The Country Due To Natural Geological Processes.

Anthropogenic factors

  • Excessive Pressure On Pasture Ecosystems Can Contribute To A Decrease In Vegetation Cover And Deterioration Of Soil Conditions. The Practice Of Inefficient Water Use: Excessive Water Withdrawal For Irrigation, Which Leads To Soil Salinization.

  • The Practice Of Intensive Land Cultivation Without Taking Into Account The Principles Of Sustainable Use Of Natural Resources Can Lead To Soil Depletion And A Decrease In Its Fertility.

  • Uncontrolled Deforestation And Shrubbery, Including For The Purpose Of Providing Forage And Fuel Resources, Increases The Risks Of Soil Erosion And Degradation.

  • The Implementation Of Mining Operations And The Development Of Infrastructure Projects Can Have A Man-Made Impact On Land Resources, Contributing To Their Disruption And Pollution.

Recommendations for mitigating land degradation and desertification

1. Strengthening Measures For Sustainable Land Management:

  • Implementation Of Modern Technologies For Monitoring Land Conditions, Including Satellite Systems And Geoinformation Technologies.

  • Development And Implementation Of A Systematic Approach To The Restoration Of Degraded Areas.

  • Development Of Economic Incentives For The Responsible Use Of Land Resources.

Combating Desertification And Drought:

  • Implementation Of Measures To Protect Soils From Drought, Including The Development Of Drip Irrigation Systems.

  • Restoration Of Pasture Lands Through Rational Use Of Land.

  • Creation Of Protective Forest Belts And Increase In The Area Of Plantings In Arid Regions.

2. Prevention Of Soil Erosion And Degradation:

  • Application Of Soil Conservation Farming Methods, Including Minimum Tillage And Mulching.

  • Restoration Of The Fertile Soil Layer Through The Use Of Organic Fertilizers And Biotechnology.

  • Implementation Of Environmental Protection Measures On Slopes And In Regions With Increased Erosion Activity.

3. Improving Water Use Efficiency:

  • Introduction Of Water-Saving Technologies In Agriculture.

  • Improvement Of Drainage Systems To Prevent Soil Salinization.

  • Increasing Control Over Water Intake And Modernization Of Irrigation Infrastructure.

4. Development Of Forest Restoration Programs:

  • Implementation Of Programs For Planting Forests And Increasing The Area Of Forests.

  • Development Of Measures To Prevent Illegal Logging.

  • Support For Forestry As One Of The Key Factors In Stabilizing Ecosystems.

5. Strengthening Institutional And Legislative Regulation:

  • Improvement Of The Land Cadastre System And Monitoring Of Land Use.

  • Inclusion Of Land Degradation Issues In State Programs Of Socio-Economic Development.

 

Governmental plans to recover and combat these issues

  • Russia is one of the main UNCCD donor countries in the CEE and CA regions.

  • Russia to be actively involved in the G20 Global Initiative on Reducing Land Degradation and Enhancing Conservation of Terrestrial Habitats adopted in 2020 at the Riyadh G20 leaders’ Summit.

  • Participation in international initiatives: Russia has joined the UN Convention to Combat Desertification and actively participates in international projects aimed at combating land degradation and drought.

  • Development of national programs: work is underway to create and implement programs aimed at sustainable land management and restoration of degraded areas.

  • Legislative initiatives: new laws and codes are being approved to regulate the use of natural resources and to protect the environment.

  • State program "Efficient involvement of agricultural lands in circulation": in 2021, the state program "Efficient involvement of agricultural lands in circulation and development of the melioration complex of the Russian Federation" was approved. The main goal of the program is the systematic reproduction of soil fertility and the prevention of degradation of agricultural lands. The program provides for a set of measures aimed at preserving, restoring and increasing soil fertility, including agrochemical work, melioration and the introduction of modern agricultural technologies.

  • Interdepartmental cooperation and scientific and expert support: to coordinate efforts in the area of ​​combating land degradation, an Interdepartmental Scientific Expert Council was created, uniting representatives of various ministries, departments and scientific institutions. The Council is engaged in developing strategies and recommendations for achieving a neutral balance of land degradation, as well as integrating these issues into national programs for adaptation to climate change.

 

Conducted events

  1. Desertification control programs in Kalmykia. In the Republic of Kalmykia, where the first man-made desert in Europe arose in the 1980s due to intensive use of pastures, desertification control programs have been implemented for over 35 years. The activities include phytomelioration and pasture restoration aimed at preventing further land degradation and improving pasture management.

  2. The Priority 2030 project with the participation of Astrakhan State University (ASU). As part of this program, ASU scientists are implementing projects to combat desertification, including planting over 4,000 seedlings of drought-resistant plants in the Kharabalinsky District. The goal is to strengthen the soil and prevent further land degradation.