Aim. Identifying the changes and factors in the allocation of China's major farming industries by analyzing statistical data for PRC provinces from 1990 to 2018.

Methodology. The analysis of data on the dynamics of the territorial concentration of agriculture is based on the calculation of the index of localization of sown areas of crops by provinces, autonomous regions and cities of central subordination. The dynamics of the sown area of China's main agricultural crops in 1990-2018 was analyzed: rice, wheat, corn, soybeans, rapeseed, peanuts, sunflower, sugar cane, sugar beet, tobacco and tea, as well as aggregated data on root and tubers, other vegetable and fruit crops.

Results. The analysis showed that the regions in the north and south-east of China differ in narrower specialization. In the whole country, the production of fruits, vegetables, cereals and peanuts was characterized by the lowest level of territorial concentration.

Research implications. The results of the study allow us to conclude that China is increasingly integrating into the global system of agricultural areas, while these changes in the location of the main branches of agriculture significantly affect the transformation of the entire global system. Changes in the specialization of PRC farming at the national and regional levels can in positive and negative ways effect China’s import of Russian agricultural products.

Aim. Analysis of the current distribution of mountain tundra in the South Urals, determination and cataloging of areas occupied by mountain tundra communities to assess the possible threat of their extinction in the 21^st century.

Methodology. A visual search for potential locations of alpine tundra communities in the Southern Urals was conducted on satellite images from open mapping services (Yandex, Google) in maximum resolution. The principal peaks and ridges were subjected to detailed survey (Bolshoy Taganay, Urenga, Zyuratkul, Bolshaya Suka, Uvan, Zigalga, Yagodny, Mashak, Kumardak, Nary, Kuyantau, Iremel, Nurgush), and the locations of alpine tundra were identified. In a geographic information system, the obtained data were combined with a digital elevation model in order to calculate the area of alpine tundra. The species composition and the principal types of mountain tundra communities were identified through the utilisation of the route reconnaissance survey.

Results. The present study demonstrates that alpine tundra communities are pervasive in the Southern Urals mountains, spanning latitudes between 53.7 and 55.4°N across a minimum of 37 peaks (comprising 12 mountain ranges and massifs). The largest alpine tundras in terms of area are located on the Zigalga, Nurgush ridges and the Kuyantau and Iremel massifs. These areas represent 80% of the total area of mountain tundra in the Southern Urals (at least 546 ha). The areas comprising alpine tundra, which collectively encompass less than 20 ha, are situated on the ridges of Bolshoy Taganay, Zyuratkul, Urenga, Nurgush, Yagodny, Bolshaya Suka, Nary, Mashak, Kumardak, and the individual peaks of Zigalga. The total area of alpine tundra on these ridges is estimated to be at least 140 hectares, which represents approximately 20% of the total area of all alpine tundra in the Southern Urals. A comprehensive catalogue and map of the contemporary distribution of alpine tundra in the Southern Urals have been compiled. The locations where mountain tundra has undergone a significant decline over recent decades and is likely to continue this trend in future decades have been identified.

Research implications. The findings of this study can be utilized to develop models of climatogenic transformation in high-mountain ecosystems of the Southern Urals, and subsequently used to monitor their condition under a range of climate change scenarios in the future. 

Aim. Assessment of the light pollution impact on the vegetation cover in the Vorobyovy Gory nature reserve.

Methodology.  The principle investigation methods were the following: system geoecological analysis (including characteristics of natural landscapes and anthropogenic load), geobotanical observation (changes in species composition, abundance and phenophase of terrestrial plants) and instrumental measurements of the illumination intensity measured by luxmeter. To monitor the transformation of the grass vegetation cover, 8 test sites were laid: background and light pollution testing sites. Comparison of identical species of the nature reserve flora in neighboring illuminated and unlit areas (10×10 m) within the same landscape tract fragments was carried out.

Results. The study showed that the effect of light pollution on the natural vegetation cover affects its structure, species abundance as well as rhythms of their development. Geobotanical study of plant species composition at these sites allowed us to identify 21 plant species of different sensitivity to the level of illumination of their habitats. These species may be used for further monitoring of light pollution impact on vegetation cover (Ficaria verna, Campanula sp., Vicia sylvatica, Anemone ranunculoides, etc.).

Research implications. Geobotanical methods for light pollution monitoring are proposed.

Aim. Development of software products for modeling and forecasting gas emissions at different stages of the life cycle of municipal solid waste landfills, as well as during waste combustion.

Methodology. The work uses: a systematic approach to modeling the processes of interaction of waste disposal facilities with the environment, calculation and modeling of gas emission processes based on existing methods, information technologies for programming algorithms for calculating specified gas emission parameters with the receipt of a software product.

Results. The use of information technologies based on known methods made it possible to develop convenient programs for express assessment and forecasting of gas emission processes at municipal solid waste landfills with graphical and geographical visualization of the results.

Research implications. The developed software products contribute to solving the urgent problem of assessing and forecasting routine and emergency gas emission processes at municipal solid waste disposal facilities. The programs presented in the article allow optimizing the application of known methods for calculating pollutant emissions during the operation of facilities, as well as during waste combustion.

Aim. This study seeks to identify both the opportunities and challenges for tourism development in the Mediterranean city of Mersin based on opinion of local residents.¹

Methodology. The study is based on data of two sociological surveys, various literature sources, and the author’s own observations. The opinion of local residents is evaluated through two sociological surveys conducted among Turkish citizens and the Russian-speaking residents of the city of Mersin from December 18, 2022, to February 5, 2023, and from April 4, 2023, to July 16, 2023. The empirical data consists of 245 anonymous questionnaires: 143 were completed by Turkish citizens in Turkish, and 102 by Russian-speaking people in Russian.

Results. The findings indicate a generally positive view among locals regarding the prospects for tourism development in Mersin. Key potential benefits identified from tourism development include the creation of new jobs for locals (53.5% of respondents), enhancement of the city of Mersin's image (46.5%), and improvement of services available to both tourists and residents (46.5%). Despite this shared optimism, notable differences in opinions were observed between the Turkish citizens and the Russian-speaking community. The study revealed five main obstacles for tourism development in the city: infrastructural (underdeveloped tourism infrastructure), environmental (sea and beach pollution (especially with plastic); litter on the streets), economic (inflation; underinvestment of tourism; lack of a tourism development strategy), socio-cultural (language barrier, both Russian and English) aspects as well as legal challenges (changes in legislation, e.g., in requirements for getting a temporary residence permit for foreign citizens).

Research implications. The outcomes of this study offer valuable insights into the preferences of the Russian-speaking tourists and the factors impeding tourism growth in Mersin. These findings may assist in boosting both the inbound tourist flow and the local tourism market. Additionally, the results may be applicable to other tourist destinations aiming to enhance or maintain tourist traffic from Russian-speaking countries.

Aim. To determine the possible participation of agricultural production in ensuring the development of tourist destinations in the Bukhara region in order to possibly attract additional tourists and increase the time spent by tourists in the Bukhara region.

Methodology.  Based on systematic observations and statistical information, modern tourist traffic to the Bukhara region has been studied, and the existing main tourism facilities that determine modern tourist traffic with specifics for the Russian user have been evaluated. Based on the calculation of the coefficients of localization of agriculture, possible directions of agrotourism have been identified to increase the traffic of tourists and the number of days of stay. The regional specialization of agriculture was calculated to identify potential destinations in the development of agricultural tourism in the region.

Results. The growth of the participation of the tourism industry in the economy of Uzbekistan has been established against the background of global trends. The patterns of the most important tourist traffic in the Bukhara region (time aspect) are revealed: an increase in the importance of local tourism and an increase in the number of arrivals from Russia. The leading role of the Bukhara region in agricultural production with high growth rates in the last decade is shown based on calculated coefficients of localization of agriculture and per capita production of agricultural products in the regions of Uzbekistan. The specialization of the districts of the Bukhara region in one of the most tourist–attractive areas of agriculture - fruit growing is analyzed in more detail. The most diverse fruit production areas are Zhondorsky, Romitan, Peshkunsky and Shafirkan districts. The main trends in the development of tourism in the districts of the Bukhara region have been identified based on the formation of new directions and routes combining several areas of tourism.

Research implications. A modern assessment of the tourist flows of Uzbekistan (domestic tourism and foreign tourism) is given. The bottlenecks of tourism in the Bukhara region have been identified. New routes have been proposed, including elements of religious, ecological and agricultural tourism. 

Aim. To reveal scientific and methodological techniques for creating and teaching geoecological disciplines in bachelor's and master's programs based on long-term methodological developments of Cryolithology and Glaciology Department of the Faculty of Geography of Lomonosov Moscow State University.

Methodology. The author's methodology for studying, assessing and mapping the permafrostecological state of flat and mountainous permafrost areas is presented, based on landscape methods: landscape-indicative and landscape-structural. The advantages and disadvantages of the method of point expert assessments and one of the techniques for their improvement are shown. The conceptual provisions of the stability of cryogenic and high-mountain geosystems to mechanical disturbances of the surface are presented. The main assessment factors of avalanche danger and risk for recreational facilities in the mountains are listed.

Results. The concepts of "geoecology of the cryolithozone", "stability of northern geosystems", "crisis geoecological situation" necessary for the geosystem approach to geoecological problems are formulated. The factors of cryogenic processes activation at different mapping scales and hazard & risk factors for high mountain areas are analyzed. A graphic-analytical method for comparing factor scores against the background of an interval scale in “quality centers” is shown. Examples of original practical tasks are demonstrated. The procedure for the integrated assessment of the lithocryogenic stability factors of landscapes to the manifestation of undesirable cryogenic processes is disclosed along with the factors of their bioresource value in order to obtain quantitative indices for ranking landscapes according to the degree of vulnerability to development. A number of significant permafrost maps compiled on a landscape basis are listed.  Examples of original practical tasks are demonstrated.

Research implications. The multifactor integral assessment methodology is in demand in engineering-geographical research, particularly during pre-project stages of land development, ensuring the reliable operation of engineering structures in the cryolithozone while maximizing environmental preservation. The methodological techniques are of practical interest for training specialists in natural sciences on environmental studies of the cryolithozone and mountainous regions.