The current global environmental trend differentiated in economically developed and developing countries is considered. The main types of adaptation measures are shown. The challenges and windows of opportunities for Russia in the field of adaptation to climate change are analyzed, and the need for the development of a climate insurance system in the country is discussed. The most significant climate-related threats to Russia's strategic interests are identified.

The paper describes the main stages, methods, and lines of research of the species range of mammalian and bird species. The possibilities of applying different methods for estimating the number of mammals and birds to develop maps of the structure of their habitat are evaluated. The cadastral approach is discussed as the most important step in mapping the structure of the internal structure of species range. A justified division of the habitats’ structure based on different levels of the species abundance is proposed: optimum, medium, and pessimum. Particular attention is paid to the creation of maps of the ecological-geographical structure of the species habitat.

The aim of the study is to assess the quality of the zoning proposed in the draft of the Spatial Development Strategy. The assessment makes it necessary to identify the zoning principles (using a cartographic analysis) and the current situation, followed by the discussion and approval of the draft (observation included). As a result, a list of the main principles of zoning presented in the draft of the Strategy is formed, and an assessment is made of the importance of finalizing and approving this document in the light of the need for a grid of macro-regions. The study may be of interest for scientists, analysts, teachers (of both secondary and high school), and students.

The way for computing some spectral landform’s characteristics (SLCs) is described on the example of the territory of the South America. SLCs can be potentially used for terrain classification with regard to the topographic dissection character, and then for a terrain thematic mapping. Five digital models in the small scale are designed: maximum of the wave’s magnitudes, the importance of the given share of waves, the general direction of height fluctuations, the severity of this direction, and the general wavelength. The distributions of some characteristics are largely correlated with the canonical geomorphometric variables; however, this relation is far from functional, other SLCs being completely independent. The Kohonen neural network dividing the South America territory into 225 separate neurons is constructed. The neurons with the hierarchical clustering are combined into 4 more general groups. Each group is defined by a typical combination of five SLCs. The scheme of the South America terrain clusters which reflect the types of topographic dissection is constructed.

The purpose of this work is to determine the reasons for the creation of biosphere reserves and national parks in the Soviet Union. To do this, reports, scientific publications, and media presentations of scientists who participated in the creation of national parks and reserves are analyzed. The result of the study is that it is possible to trace the connection between the creation of national parks and the environmental movement in the Soviet Union. It is found that the acquaintance with the successful work of national parks in the United States and France also played a significant role. In the Soviet Union, the territories used for recreational purposes were to acquire the protection status; however, in the case of using nature reserves to create national parks, there was a departure from the principles of nature reserves. The creation of biosphere reserves was aimed at conducting environmental monitoring and identifying mechanisms for reducing anthropogenic pressure. Scientists have sought to unite biosphere reserves around the world into a single network so that they could monitor environmental changes at a global level. The practical significance of the paper lies in the fact that the experience of creating national parks and reserves in the Soviet Union can be used to improve conservation activities at the present stage. The study will be of interest to geographers, biologists, and ecologists involved in environmental monitoring and the development of recreational activities.

The paper considers the state-of-the-art of solar energy (one of the most promising sectors of the global fuel and energy complex) in Germany, a country that was the first to develop this particular energy branch on an industrial scale and that has been holding a leading position on the global solar energy arena over the past decade. An analysis of the origin and current state of solar energy in Germany, as well as the main trends and prospects for further development, allows us to conclude that Germany will continue to maintain its leading positions in terms of the number of solar energy facilities and will reduce its dependence on gas and coal generation, thereby ensuring its environmental and energy security.

The article focuses on the socio-economic and fiscal situation of the regions situated in the far Eastern Federal district and on the measures of state federal support. The study is based on the comparative and mathematical methods, on a large amount of quantitative information analysis. The author gives the formalized assessment of changes in the position of the far Eastern Federal district against the background of other macro-regions, considers its internal regional heterogeneity using the integral index of regional socio-economic development. Author also presents characteristics of the fiscal position of the far Eastern regions in the system of intergovernmental fiscal relations and grants' allocation. The results can be used for further sophistication of regional development tools.

The problems of implementation of federal target programs on the territory of the Republic of Crimea are considered. The paper is based on the actions which are part of implementation of the federal target program “Social and Economic Development of the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol till 2020.” Information used for the development of the scheme of placement of objects in the Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol is analyzed. Scenarios of the optimum transport and logistics schemes of cargo delivery to the territory of the Republic of Crimea are proposed.

The cluster approach is the most comprehensive, which makes it possible to consider the development of tourism in the interaction and interference of various factors. The Smolensk border region is characterized by the emergence of a business system of small and medium-sized enterprises, forming a tourist product. The main tasks for the effective functioning and further development of the local tourist cluster is to improve the quality and competitiveness of the tourist product, as well as the level of hospitality in serving tourists; to form a positive tourist image of the region and to promote its tourist brands through promotional materials; to produce conditions for the development of tourism infrastructure; and to attract investment in the field of tourism.

The methods of marker-assisted selection accelerate breeding potato varieties resistant to potato virus Y (PVY) by introgressing genes for PVY resistance (Ry) from wild potato relatives. The distribution of the Ry genes among the tuber-bearing Solanum species has been scarcely studied. Two markers flanking the genes for extreme resistance to YBK, Rysto and Ryadg, are validated by analyzing potato varieties investigated by the originators of these markers, and then are used to screen nine wild Solanum species. In addition to S. stoloniferum, the Rysto gene marker is found in S. papita, S. polytrichon, S. hjertingii, S. bulbocastanum, S. brachycarpum, and S. cardiophyllum. In addition to S. andigenum, the Ryadg marker is detected in S. demissum and S. stoloniferum. However, only in the case of S. stoloniferum and related species S. papita, the presence of the marker for Rysto gene correlated with extreme YBK resistance.

The paper considers the problem of garlic enrichment by essential elements. A comparative analysis of garlic bulbs grown in different climatic conditions and obtained in the experiment with root and leaf top dressing by Gematranol and selenites of sodium, potassium and zinc on the content of germanium and selenium was carried out. The investigations show that the concentration of germanium in 20 samples of two forms of 7 cultivars of winter garlic and 3 cultivars of spring garlic, grown up in different soil-climatic conditions (in Voronezh, Moscow, Tver regions and also in mountain conditions of the People's Republic of China) is very low and does not exceed 0.0042 mcg/g. It is found that leaf top dressing of winter garlic with Germatranol at a concentration of 0.15 g/l leads to an increase in the concentration of germanium in the tissues of bulbs to 0.02 mcg/g. The content of selenium in garlic bulbs depends on the place of plant cultivation, method of selenite application, and form of selenite. The greatest efficiency is observed when use is made of potassium selenite and sodium selenite with foliar top dressing, which allow one to obtain up to 0.47-0.58 micrograms of selenium per gram of dry matter.

We investigated the problem of obtaining healthy planting material of winter garlic in vitro from bulbils. The influence of the inflorescence age of winter garlic cultivars and the hormonal composition of MS basal medium on the morphogenesis of garlic bulbils in an in vitro culture is analyzed. It is found that when bulbils isolated from unopened inflorescences with a diameter of up to 25 mm are used to introduce winter garlic into an in vitro culture, one can obtain plants free from internal infections. It is proved that the cultivation of bulbils on MS medium supplemented with 2 mg/l BA and 1 mg/l NAA is accompanied by the formation of sprouts and eventually of plants with bulbils at the base. Adaptation of such plants to ex vitro conditions results in the production of single-clove bulbs, from which multi-clove bulbs of garlic is formed under open ground conditions.