Ecosystem approach in nature conservation: Global experience and modern challenges for Russia

Finding solutions against the global biodiversity crisis is a key question in conservation biology. The ecosystem approach in biodiversity conservation is aimed at maintaining the connections and interactions between elements. The need for such an approach is dictated by the objectives of biodiversity management and natural resource conservation. Maintaining the integrity of communities and ecosystems helps protect species diversity and preserve ecosystem functions. To achieve economic and conservation goals, it is necessary to determine which ecosystems are vulnerable and which are sustainable. Such assessments are rapidly developed in world science, and the principles are considered in the methodology of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Ecosystems. The methodology is recognized as an international standard in assessing the ecosystem collapse risk due to decline in distribution, restricted geographic distribution with continuing declines or threats, abiotic degradation, disruption to biotic processes the cumulative impact of factors. The use of the IUCN ecosystem vulnerability criteria provides comparable assessments of the state of terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems. Assessment according to the IUCN criteria is a multidisciplinary scientific task, for the solution of which a variety of materials and analytical tools are used, including remote sensing data and mathematical modeling. The objective of the review is to reveal the principles of the methodology for assessing the vulnerability of ecosystems. The fundamental terms and concepts of the approach are considered, possible methodological solutions for assessment according to each criteria are discussed using forests as an example. Inclusion of this methodology in the practice of nature conservation in Russia will allow creating a national Red List of ecosystems. It will be the basis for determining regional and national priorities in the field of biodiversity protection and management decisions in nature management based on fundamental research.