Evgeny A Shvarts

Institute of Geography of the Russian Academy of Sciences · Center for Responsible Nature Resources Management

In the current geopolitical context, environmental factors continue to differentiate markets with environmentally sensitive end-users from regular markets. Taking into account the fact that domestic environmentally sensitive markets are emerging in the cities of the largest developing countries with a significant middle class (China, India), the ro...

Shipping in the Arctic, which is vital for the development of several key sectors of the Russian economy, is associated with a number of significant environmental risks. These risks can be mitigated both through further development of the system of generally binding international norms and standards and through the implementation of corporate envir...

The paper discusses the need of transition from traditional extensive forest management model to environmentally-optimized forest management in Russia. В статье обсуждается необходимость перехода России от традиционной экстенсивной модели лесопользования к экологически оптимизированному управлению лесами

The article analyzes modern international approaches to using natural-climate solutions (NCS) for decarbonization and achieving net zero emissions. It is concluded that the existing or planned implementation of state regulation in the field of NCS is clearly insufficient to unlock the potential of NCS in Russia as a possible leader in a promising n...

The article discusses the key problems and conditions for the successful development of the industry of nature-based offset projects (NBOP) in Russia. Taking into account the state and prospects for development of external markets for carbon units from NBOP (voluntary carbon markets, national carbon markets , implementation of projects under Articl...

The future development of forest industries in Russia, besides the country's geopolitical issues, could be seriously undermined by the depletion of forest resources available under the current model of forest management that mainly relies on clearcutting mature coniferous forests and leaving these areas for natural regeneration. The introduction of...

The article discusses the key problems and conditions for the successful development of the nature-based offset projects (NBOPs) in Russia. The conditions for the successful entry of verified carbon units from Russian nature-based offset projects into the global market were determined considering the state and prospects for development of global ca...

The article gives an idea of the modern international approach to use of natural and climatic solutions (NCS) for decarbonization and achieving carbon neutrality. It is concluded that the existing or planned implementation of state regulation in the field of NCS is clearly not enough to unlock the potential of NCS in Russia as a possible leader in...

В стратегии социально-экономического развития РФ с низким уровнем выбросов ПГ до 2050 г. (СНУР) сделана ставка на повышение поглощения парниковых газов лесами с текущих 535 млн т до 1200 млн т СО2 экв. к 2050 г. Исследование показало наличие существенных нормативных и управленческих барьеров на этом пути. К их числу отнесены отсутствие наработок в...

Introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism over the period from 2023 to 2026 together with corporate commitments to achieve carbon neutrality and carry out commercial decarbonization have markedly increased interest in assessing the potential of carbon sequestration by Russian forests as a possible way to achieve decarbonization and...

The purpose of this article is to assess forest’s role in the low-carbon development strategy of the Russian Federation (LDS). The LDS approved at the end of 2021 and the operational plan for implementation of the LDS (OP LDS) prepared in February-March 2022, make a key bet on increasing forest absorption in process of decarbonization in Russia. Ou...

The potential role of forests in achieving carbon neutrality in the Russian Federation by 2060 is analyzed. It is shown that the key rate in the Strategy for the Development of Russia with Low Greenhouse Gas Emissions (LCDS) on decarbonization by increasing the net absorption by forests from forest climate projects is insufficiently substantiated....

Environmental transparency became a necessary condition for managing relationships with stakeholders and attracting investments for extractive industries. The changing competitive environment and stakeholder demands are pushing oil and gas companies from various countries to disclose additional information on environmental management and environmen...

Introduction of the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism over the period from 2023 to 2026 together with corporate commitments to achieve carbon neutrality and carry out commercial decarbonization have markedly increased interest in assessing the potential of carbon sequestration by Russian forests as a possible way to achieve decarbonization and...

The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), launched by China in 2013 to increase economic and transport connectivity along the Eurasian continent and beyond, has posed unprecedented environmental and social risks, many of which are transboundary in nature. International legal tools contained in Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) can play an impo...

This paper analyzes the possibility to reduce the carbon footprint of exported products by imple�menting forest climate offset projects amid the introduction of the carbon tax on imports of high-carbon products, including those exported from Russia, by the European Union. The role of forests as absorbers of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions differs si...

This article examines the current state and drivers of environmental transparency in the Russian Mining and Metals sector. The study is based upon 2016–19 successive annual rankings calculated transparently, using publicly available information and a third-party-verified ranking system. Ranking results reveal a definite in-crease in the transparenc...

In connection with the introduction by the European Union of a carbon tax on imports of high-carbon products, including from Russia, the possibility of reducing the carbon footprint of exported products through the use of forest-climatic offset projects is being analyzed. A significantly different role of forests in the absorption of greenhouse gas...

На заседании Правительства Российской Федерации 28 января 2021 года обсуждена и одобрена Стратегия развития лесного комплекса Российской Федерации до 2030 года (далее — Стратегия) в новой редакции (предыдущая утверждена распоряжением Правительства Российской Федерации от 20 сентября 2018 года № 1989-р). Документ подготовлен в соответствии с поручен...

В течение ряда лет многие члены экспертного «лесного» сообщества — ученые, представители экологических неправительственных организаций, бизнесмены и др. — доказывали необходимость и эффективность развития экологически устойчивого интенсивного частного лесного хозяйства на землях сельскохозяйственного назначения. Происходящие последние десятилетия п...

Situation analysis demonstrates that several forest management models coexist in Russia. One of them is the model set by the Russian Forest Code (2006), it is likely to sustain at areas leased for large logging companies for the long term. Some initial signs of more intensified forest management are visible there. Another model is a typical extensi...

Abstract—Chromosomal (routine, C-banding) and molecular (mitochondrial cytb gene sequencing) data for Sicista of the betulina group from the northern (Valdai National Park), central (the main watershed of East European Plain), and southeastern (Upper Volga Basin) parts of Valdai and, for comparison, from the Moscow and Central Chernozem regions are...

The article discusses the evolution and current state of transparency of environmental performance data in the Russian Oil and Gas sector. We build upon our first-hand experience in a transparent , publicly available information and third-party-verified rating system. Based on 2014-16 successive annual ratings, we conclude that implementing "soft"...

As China aspires to become a global environmental leader, its potential to become so would be vastly bolstered by ratifying the Key multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs). When public concern has been voiced openly, China has demonstrated its readiness to seriously take into account environmental issues and risks, as evidenced, for example, i...

New European pine vole records from the Novgorod, Kaluga, Voronezh, and Belgorod oblasts were studied by sequencing of the mtDNA cytb gene (1143 bp) and by karyotyping (routine staining and G-banding techniques). The results enabled us to summarize chromosome variability of this species throughout Eastern Europe. In the sample studied, two geograph...

Международный экономический форум «Один пояс – один путь» («Экономический пояс Шелкового пути» и «Морской шелковый путь XXI века») прошел 14–15 мая в Пекине при участии глав государств и правительств почти 30 стран Европы и Азии, Эфиопии и Аргентины, а также руководителей ООН, МВФ, Всемирного банка и ВТО. Мегапроект Китая «Один пояс – один путь» (B...

China is moving ahead with the Silk Road Economic Belt, an ambitious infrastructure development agenda with the distinct promise of regional and sub-regional economic development. However, the initiative will create new environmental risks across the entire Eurasian continent, especially in countries with predominately poor records of environmental...

http://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/nRFzhUFPfKHJtATRTEZ3/full - around 40 free e-prints is still available! The article presents a complete species list of the modern mammal fauna and the zoogeographical analysis of the Valdai Lakeland (north-west of European Russia). The current state of the fauna therein is compared to the data reported by S.U....

Вводная презентация на специальной экспертной секции «Экологические вызовы и риски российско-китайского сотрудничества» на российско-китайской конференции РСМД (RUCN2016) по экологии Рекомендации специальной экспертной секции RUCN2016 по экологии: http://russiancouncil.ru/common/upload/%D0%A0%D0%B5%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%86%...

Рекомендации специальной экспертной секции по экологии. (приложение к презентации Е.Шварца и Е.Симонова на конференции) В 2015 г. Китай утвердил Комплексный план реформ по содействию экологическому прогрессу. За минувшее десятилетие Китай показывал одни из самых высоких темпов роста в мире, в то же время увеличивая нагрузку на окружающую среду. Нес...

The article analyzes preconditions, specifics, and results of the first Russian environmental rating of oil and gas companies. The Russian oil and gas industry, strategically important for the national economy, is also environmentally unfriendly and opaque. Companies lack adequate motivation to follow best international environmental standards and...

The purpose of the research is to compare and evaluate environmental responsibility of oil and gas companies operating in Russia, and the dynamics of relevant indicators in 2013-2014. The results of 2015 rating shows a certain increase in the average rating value, which testifies to the overall improvement of information disclosure by the majority...

The paper analyses methodological features and results of the first Russian oil and gas companies environmental rating. This rating is relevant because Russian oil and gas industry plays a key role in the national economy and at the same time it is unfavorable and nontransparent from an environmental point of view. Our study aims to provide a compa...

Boreal forest covers 1.2 to 1.6 billion hectares of land in Russia, North America and Scandinavia. This represents roughly a third of the remaining global forest. Although overall forest cover in the region remains fairly stable, major changes are occurring, particularly through natural forest being replaced by secondary forest as a result of human...

Huge cross-border projects that will be financed by new development institutes threaten to create dangerous differences in environmental standards ‘race to the bottom’. However, the problem can still be solved. http://bricsmagazine.com/en/articles/pure-growth-vitamins

This paper provides a comparative analysis of voluntary environmental standards in key Russian industries. Five Russian industries, namely the oil and gas, mining, power generation, forestry and financial sector, with a high economic and environmental impact were analysed in order to determine the degree of implementation of voluntary environmental...

The study aims to provide a comparative assessment of environmental responsibility of oil and gas companies operating in Russia. There is based on a comprehensive analysis of qualitative and quantitative corporate indicators in three areas: environmental management, environmental impact and information disclosure. Results of the rating indicate a h...

В настоящее время Правительством Российской Федерации рассматривается возможность существенного сокращения финансирования государственной программы «Развитие лесного хозяйства» на 2013–2020 годы. Это не может не вызывать обеспокоенность. В силу целого ряда причин финансирование лесного хозяйства объективно занижено, что приводит к существенным проб...

Реализацию амбициозного интеграционного проекта «экономического пояса Шелкового пути» планируется финансировать системой вновь создающихся новых «институтов развития» (в первую очередь - Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) и Банк BRICS (New Development Bank). Чтобы предотвратить «экологический демпинг» при реализации трансграничных проектов...

The report jointly designed by WWF-Russia and the Global Footprint Network contains data on the Ecological Footprint and Biocapacity of the Russian Federation. The report makes it possible to assess the sustainability of regional development and provides authorities and business leader with a toolkit to evaluate the effectiveness of sustainable dev...

Russian Business and Sustainable Development: Implementation of International Standards in Environmental Risk Management. Government environmental regulation in developing countries is often based on lower environmental standards and has high corruption risks. Common rules of global competition with respect to environmental indicators can be achiev...

Summary Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Russia has established more than 20 new national parks. Although the financial situation has gradually improved since 2000, many parks are still inadequately funded to perform their basic functions. Whereas initially they enjoyed little popularity as tourist destinations, recent years have see...

This study aims to identify environmental economic issues of Sino-Russian transboundary cooperation and to initiate a broad discussion with the purpose of finding solutions for the many acute environmental issues associated with economic cooperation between the two countries. It also aims to facilitate the cooperation between governmental economic...

Seit dem Zusammenbruch der Sowjetunion hat in Russland die Ausweisung von mehr als 20 neuen Nationalparken stattgefunden. Obwohl sich die finanzielle Situation seit dem Jahr 2000 stetig verbessert, sind viele der Reservate nur unzureichend ausgestattet, um ihrer doppelten Rolle von Schutz und Nutzung gerecht zu werden. Anfangs noch kaum als eigenst...

The purpose of this report is to serve as a post financial crisis handbook that will help both financiers and environmentalists in Russia to cooperate in establishing a ‘greener’ and less risky financial system in a similar manner to which this process is underway in other emerging markets such as China, Brazil and South Africa. The report provides...

Цель настоящего исследования — выявить эколого-экономические проблемы российско-китайского трансграничного экономического сотрудничества и инициировать широкую дискуссию для поиска решения множества наболевших экологических проблем в экономическом взаимодействии двух стран; а также содействовать сотрудничеству между экономическими ведомствами и эко...

IBRD-WB) о состоянии системы управления состоянием окружающей среды в Российской Федерации, выполненного при нашем активном участии. Выражаем благодарность коллегам по исследованию -В. Родионову, Б. Ревичу, С. Голубевой, С. Васильеву, А. Шеховцову, Е. Хмелевой и всем другим коллегам, идеи, обсуждение и критика которых были использованы при подготов...

This chapter provides an overview of how Russian environmental policy could act as an instrument to enhance Russia’s international economic competitiveness. In particular, the chapter identifies and analyses some core environmentally-related problem areas which currently constrain Russia’s international competitiveness. This chapter also provides a...

This chapter provides an overview of how Russian environmental policy could act as an instrument to enhance Russia’s international economic competitiveness. In particular, the chapter identifies and analyses some core environmentally-related problem areas which currently constrain Russia’s international competitiveness. This chapter also provides a...

The environmental impact of linear engineering constructions (LECs) as one of the major factors of landscape fragmentation imposing the real threat to the biodiversity is analyzed. On the basis of the concept of "polarized landscape" suggested by B.B. Rodoman, the nature of the environmental conflicts related to the development of different types o...

The Pan-European Ecological Network and phases of urbanization: A view “from the West” and a view “from the East” Еvgeny А. Shvarts World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) - Russia. Summary The article presents analysis of characteristics and efficiency of different approaches to territorial nature preservation depending on local infrastructure developme...

oльшую прозрачность при принятии решее ний в сфере управления лесами через более активную роль местного населения и неправительственных органии заций; • сохранить уникальное природное наследие и лесохозяйй ственный потенциал страны; • увеличить роль лесов в российской экономике. В новой редакции Кодекса ни о каком вовлечении общее ственности в упра...

The article presents analysis of characteristic and efficiency of different aproaches to territorial nature preservation depending on local infrastructure development - urbanisation phases. At stage 2-3 of urbanisation the highest effect for preservation of biological diversity and natural functioning of the natural ecosystem shall be achieved by m...

This was the first GEF project on biodiversity conservation undertaken in Russia. Preparation of this Project Document was accomplished through a project development phase, which lasted since 1993 till 1995. The project had major impact on development of new conservation policies and preservation of the Zapovedniki - system of strict scientific nat...

1997 года разрабатывался и принимался в условиях идеологического и политического доминирования бывшего Рослесхоза и крии зиса лесной отрасли экономики. В результате у разработчии ков и лоббистов принятия Лесного кодекса 1997 года не быы ло «партнеров для диалога». Формирование крупного цивии лизованного лесного бизнеса только начиналось, а в услоо...

На состоявшихся в феврале 2003 года парламентских слушаниях «Экологические проблемы лесов Российской Федее рации» позиция отраслевого органа — Лесной службы МПР — была ярко выражена в выступлениях ее представителей. Главным источником экологических проблем лесного хозяйства России называлось то, что лес мало рубят, а индикатор этого «безобразия» —...

The Russian Federation has a unique and highly developed system of especially protected nature reserves and is in many respects a pioneer in realising the concept "from islands to eco-nets" (SOBOLEV et al. 1995; OSTERGREN and SHVARTS 1998; SITTLER et al. 2000). The nucleus of the ecological network in Russia encompasses: 1) federal protected areas...

The feeding habits and foraging modes of six species of shrew (Insectivora, Soricidae) coexisting in the forests of the Russian Far East were investigated in order to quantify levels of niche overlap and elucidate the role of body size in ecological separation. Overlap in numbers of shared prey taxa was high and Lithobiomorpha, one of the most abun...

Zapovedniki are pristine ecosystems that restrict all economic utilization and are designed to act as areas for ecological research and "natural controls" for comparison to other land uses such as agriculture or resource extraction. The most recent threats to zapovedniki originate from the dissolution of the Soviet system and resultant economic ins...

The main principles of Dr.B. Rodoman's Polarized Landscape Conception and stages of urbanization are analyzed in this article. It is sustained, that the CIS and Russia, in particular, are capable to create economic and socio-political preconditions for spatial segregation of areas economically developed as well as natural landscapes through conserv...

The habitat occurrence and invertebrate prey distribution of nine species of shrew in the mid-taiga of central Siberia were investigated. Species richness ranged from 4–9 shrews per habitat. Sorex araneus and S. caecutiens were numerically dominant in all seven habitats (44 and 36% of the total catch, respectively) while Sorex minutus, S. tundrensi...

Abundance and food consumption of shrews in the European part of the southern taiga (Valdai district, Russia) were investigated. Average population densities of these animals were estimated 31/ha in dry boreal spruce forest, 179 in boreal Picea abies - Oxalis acetosella forest, and 224-258 in rich spruce forest. Food consumption in those habitats w...

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/3783280?sid=21105507442121&uid=3737720&uid=62&uid=3&uid=32251&uid=3739464&uid=32253&uid=2&uid=67

Abundance and food consumption of shrews in the European part of the southern taiga (Valdai district, Russia) were investigated. Average population densities of these animals were estimated 31/ha in dry boreal spruce forest, 179 in boreal Picea abies - Oxalis acetosella forest, and 224-258 in rich spruce forest. Food consumption in those habitats w...

Geographic ranges of mammals from territory of the former USSR were matched by use of IDRISI 4.1 software for mapping mammal species richness (all mammals and, separately, quadrupeds and bats). Plains landscapes are characterized by a regular increase of mammal species richness from tundra to forest-steppe zone, where the Budyko-ratio index of arid...

The policy of conserving endangered species by translocation to protected islands creates many problems, which are here analysed using the example of the European mink (Mustela lutreola). Ten years after the first release of European mink onto Kunashir Island (southern‐most of the Kuril Islands, located off the north‐east coast of Hokkaido), there...

Natural habitat preservation, i.e. the creation and management of Protected Natural Areas (PNAs), is one of the most important forms of biodiversity conservation. The most widespread types of PNAs in Russia are Zakazniks (State Nature Refuges) and Natural Monuments, but unlike Zapovedniks (State Nature Reserves) these types of Russian PNAs are litt...