Plant conservation strategy in the mining region

Review Paper

Abstract

Conservation of biological diversity is one of the UN Development Goals. Since 1992, this concept has been fixed in international and national documents. The problem of preserving natural sites is especially actual in mining regions. The Kemerovo Region Plant Conservation Strategy provides a mechanism for creating a promising network of protected natural areas, preserving biodiversity, and developing nature-based technologies for restoring disturbed lands. From 2012 to 2023, the Kemerovo Region created the most effective system of protected natural areas, currently encompassing 34 unique natural sites, including 4 federal, 25 regional, and 5 local protected areas. 9 important botanical areas have been designated state natural preserves and monuments. The share of protected areas in the Kemerovo Region has reached 15.8%, placing it second among 10 regions of the Siberian Federal District. Along with successful in situ plant conservation, Kuzbass has developed nature-based technologies for restoring steppe, meadow, and forest phytocenoses on the rock dumps, demonstrating a new paradigm in reclamation of degraded lands. These technologies have undergone extensive observation of the dynamics of plant community indicators. Industrial experiments have demonstrated high efficiency in restoring floristic diversity and ecosystem functions. These technologies comply with best available technologies and have been approved in several Russian state standards. It has been noted that preserving the ecological framework in regions with high anthropogenic loads is possible with the assistance of regional bodies of the government, the involvement of industrial companies, and the participation of scientific and public organizations. To achieve this, it is necessary to develop and adopt a regional program for the conservation of biological diversity and the environmental. The lack of comprehensive environmental programs approved at the regional level is the main cause of biodiversity loss, ecosystem degradation, and environmental deterioration.