October 23 is the last day of the International Scientific Conference “Agro-ecological aspects of protective forest planting and integrated reclamation in adaptive landscape farming systems”.
We need non-standard solutions
For 3 days at the site of the Federal Center for Agroecological Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, scientists discussed the problem of desertification of territories. The platform has become a unique communication environment for both established professionals and beginners. In his welcoming speech, Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Special Representative of the Head of State on Climate Issues Ruslan Edelgeriev noted the importance of ongoing environmental work:
“Literally yesterday I reported to the president about the fight against desertification, about the work being done within the framework of international cooperation,” said Ruslan Edelgeriev. “Vladimir Vladimirovich wishes you and me good luck – this work is complex, difficult and I want to emphasize and assure you that we will not be left without the support of the federal center.”
Ruslan Edelgeriev called on the gathered scientists and industrial workers to seriously prepare for the future conference on desertification next year and make a qualitative leap in scientific support for this activity.
“At literally every event related to agriculture, the issue of desertification no longer stands alone but is considered alongside issues of climate change, the state of water resources, biodiversity conservation and land degradation,” he noted. – Nowadays, what we are doing now is not enough. It is necessary to approach these problems in a more radical, fundamental way, looking for non-standard solutions – climate change is changing conditions too quickly and we cannot go too far. We needed a starting material that could adapt to harsh conditions – withstand drought.”
Ruslan Edelgeriev emphasized the need for concrete proposals in accordance with the 10-20-30 year vision within the framework of recreational activities and the fight against desertification. He especially noted that positive results in the fight against land degradation and desertification can only be achieved if implemented continuously over a long period of time. In this case, it is necessary to focus on the assessment and development of domestic experts.
Forum participants were also welcomed by Deputy Governor of the Volgograd Region Vasily Ivanov, who conveyed wishes for fruitful work on behalf of Governor Andrei Bocharov.
The Deputy Governor noted: “It is important that the conference was held on Stalingrad soil in the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War.” – Despite difficult weather and climate conditions, the Volgograd region excellently completed the task of ensuring food security for the country and the region and gave good results even in dry years. Over the past 10 years, we have returned nearly 1 million hectares of land to circulation; in the production and sale of grain products, we operate at completely different volumes than before, which is certainly encouraging. We will carefully study and review all analytical data in the reports.”
Anti-desertification activities, comprehensive land reclamation, planting of protective forests and conservation of water resources, large and small rivers are one of the main tasks of the 10-year development program of the Volgograd region.
Vasily Ivanov emphasized: “Low water in the Volga and Don rivers affects not only the operation of the agro-industrial complex, but also the supply of food to the population. Therefore, for us these are the top and priority tasks.”
Taking into account the specific characteristics of the area
Systematic environmental work is being carried out in the Volgograd region. In 2021, on the basis of the Federal Center for Agroecological Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a center for combating desertification of territories was established, the task of which is to implement a system of measures to combat degradation and desertification of territories of the Russian Federation.
In 2024, the Center successfully completed the work of the most important innovation project “Unified National System for Monitoring Climate Active Substances” in the field of combating desertification. Joint work was carried out to monitor and evaluate the territorial state of the 14 constituent entities of the Russian Federation, resulting in the publication of national action programs aimed at combating desertification, taking into account the specificities of the regions.
Three centers have been established on the basis of the Federal Scientific Center: to combat desertification of territories, to select and produce seeds of tree and shrub species, to protect and restore small rivers and reservoirs. The center has 7 branches in the territories of the Republic of Kalmykia, Altai and Stavropol, Volgograd, Samara, Astrakhan regions of the Russian Federation. Director of the Federal Center of Agricultural Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences Alexander Belyaev gave a report to the audience in which he presented all aspects of the activities of scientists.
He emphasized: “Climate change on the planet and desertification are occurring at an alarming rate, significantly changing the living environment across almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation; rising temperatures, decreasing total precipitation and land degradation are what we face today.” “Therefore, the leading direction in the breeding work of scientists is to create new generations of varieties and forms, adapted to arid environmental factors while still maintaining high technological and consumer characteristics.”
At the Federal Center for Agroecological Sciences of the Russian Academy of Sciences, a lot of work is being done to create new varieties, forms, hybrids of crops and woody plants and introduce them into agricultural production of the Russian Federation. Thanks to many years of selection using traditional breeding methods, many field crops with high adaptive potential as well as new adapted crop forms have been created. On the basis of several nurseries, extensive research is being carried out aimed at introducing, preserving and expanding valuable genetic resources of tree and shrub species, including semi-desert plants used in revegetation and sand containment: dzhezgun, teresken, saxaul, tamarix and others.
It should be noted that to restore degraded areas and increase agricultural crop productivity, scientists assign an important role to molecular genetic technology. Such developments are a modern tool for creating new forms, varieties of woody plants and crops that are resistant to adverse environmental factors. The outcome of the conference will be the issuance of a resolution and an appeal to the country's government, the State Duma and the Federation Council for proposals to improve the agro-ecological situation in Russia.
