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To identify the main types of hydroecological restriction on the use of water resources and their spatial patterns in the Ural and Tobol river basins within the steppe zone.A comprehensive assessment of the water‐environmental situation in the regions of the studied basins studied was carried out on the basis of the calculation of water‐environmental stress – the ratio of water intake and free flow (average long‐term flow minus ecological). To assess the environmental restrictions on water use, data from the State reports, “On the State and Protection of the Environment" were used. Exposure to the risk of flooding of settlements was analysed according to information from the registers of settlements at risk of flooding (flooding). Analysis of the dynamics of channel processes was carried out using Landsat satellite images. For the rivers of the Tobol River basin, an approach based on taking into account the nature of channel transformations in the sectors of the state border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan was used.As a result of the research, the main types of hydroecological restriction in the transboundary basins of the Ural and Tobol were identified. In particular, the key factor limiting water use is the availability of a guaranteed volume and adequate quality of water resources. Hydrological restrictions associated with the negative impact of water include the risks of flooding of settlements during the passage of spring or summer floods, as well as intensive riverbed transformations (in the Ural River basin).The Ural and Tobol river basins (within the steppe zone) are characterised by the development of a rather complex hydroecological situation in some areas. Taking into account the long cycle of low water content in these rivers, the general hydroecological situation has aggravated in recent decades, the primary problem being that of guaranteed provision of water resources of standard quality. As a result, an urgent task is to develop an algorithm for a comprehensive assessment of hydroecological restrictions on water use and their consequences for the population and economy of the regions of the steppe zone.

Aim. To conduct a geographical analysis of the network of specially protected natural areas in the Russian‐Kazakhstan transboundary region and identify promising areas of international cooperation in the field of protection and conservation of natural geosystems. Material and Methods. The study was built on the basis of statistical processing of state statistics of Russia and Kazakhstan and on geoinformation analysis of open data on population and materials obtained from official geoinformation portals containing information on specially protected natural areas of both countries. Results. The authors have established and mapped border protected natural areas of federal/republican significance in the Russian‐Kazakhstan region. By means of GIS technologies, "zones of influence" of key nature protection areas were determined by constructing centroids of protected areas and Thyssen/Varzar polygons. Population levels of the territories within the obtained zones was calculated. Promising transboundary specially protected territories have been identified. Mechanisms for drawing attention to the problems of nature protection are proposed. Conclusions. The results of the analysis of the parameters of the population of the territory near the most significant protected areas in the border zone of Russia and Kazakhstan are of practical importance in the integration of specially protected natural areas into the socio‐economic development of the regions using the experience and traditions of the local population and taking into account their interests.

Aim. The problems of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of nature management and environmental safety are considered. Possible directions for the development of cooperation both at the interstate and interregional levels of border territories are presented. Purpose is to analyse the current state of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan in the field of environmental management and environmental safety. Material and Methods. The main results were obtained using a systematic approach through field geographical research, comparative historical and comparative typological analysis, etc. Materials regarding water resources, reservoirs and statistical indicators of the dynamics and structure of water use were used. Results. The main problems in the field of nature management and environmental safety of the two countries were identified. The prospects of interstate cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan at the interstate and regional levels on transboundary environmental problems and sustainable use of land and water resources, protection of wildlife are identified and substantiated. Based on a retrospective analysis of the experience of interaction between the two countries and possible prospects for cooperation, concepts and directions for the development of strategic partnership in field of cross‐border nature management and environmental safety of transboundary water bodies, and the conservation of migratory species of wildlife are proposed. Conclusions. The modern post–virgin space is confidently transforming into an agro‐export one – an analogue of the virgin one at a new technological and climatic stage with an export orientation in the face of new challenges. The further development of this space should be based on the optimisation of agriculture and water use, taking into account the preservation of natural diversity.

The issues related to transboundary reservoirs in the state border zone of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan are analysed and their typology is articulated. Issues concerning the legal definition of the concept of "transboundary water body" in the legislation of the two countries are outlined. As a result of comparative decoding of differenttime images of remote satellite sensing of the earth, border sections where the course of rivers change were identified.Aim. To analyse and classify transboundary water bodies on sections of the state border of Russia and the Republic of Kazakhstan and identify problematic situations.Material and Methods. The study of these transboundary water bodies was carried out on the basis of both the analysis of interstate agreements on the delineation of the border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan, the use of cartographic methods and the analysis of retrospective satellite images.Results. Inconsistencies in the level of legal definition of the concept of "transboundary water body" in the legislation of the two countries are shown. Transboundary water bodies on the state border of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan have been identified and classified. Based on a retrospective analysis of satellite images, problematic situations arising from changes in the location of water bodies as a result of channel deformations of transboundary rivers and fluctuation of lakes have been identified.Conclusions. According to the results of this work, all waterbodies located in the state border zone along its entire length have been identified. A typology of these has been carried out and the length of boundary watercourse sections has been established. Using the example of the transborder Ural River, the situation of the section of the river along which the state border lies is shown with an analysis of the changes in the channel and their dynamics.

Aim. The aim of this study was to conduct an analysis of long‐term changes in the number of sturgeon populations and its relationship with the fishing regime and the current state of the Ural River basin, as well as develop measures for the conservation and restoration of their resources.Discussion. Six sturgeon species inhabit the waters of the Ural River basin: Huso huso Linnaeus, 1758; Acipenser gueldenstaedtii Brandt & Ratzeburg, 1833; Acipenser persicus Borodin, 1897; Acipenser stellatus Pallas, 1771; Acipenser nudiventris Lovetsky, 1828 and Acipenser ruthenus, 1758. The degradation of the geosystems of the Ural River basin and the Caspian Sea due to changes in the hydrological regime, increased exploitation of oil and gas fields, as well as poaching has led to a decrease in the number of sturgeons. Moreover, the areas used for the development of petroleum hydrocarbons and the development of related infrastructure coincide with the main areas for feeding and migration of sturgeon and other commercial fish species. The Ural River is the only one in Europe with unregulated lower and middle reaches, thanks to which, until the 90s of the last century, favourable conditions were maintained for the natural reproduction of sturgeon and other fish species. In world practice, the development of commercial sturgeon breeding and reproduction of livestock in regional natural reservoirs provide a promising direction for the preservation of the unique sturgeon gene pool. At the same time, the principal role in the formation of the number and species composition of sturgeons, is given to natural reproduction. In the Ural River Basin, there are opportunities to restore the sturgeon population through a combination of natural reproduction and artificial farming.Conclusions. Despite a slight increase in the occurrence of sturgeons in recent decades, the state of their populations requires special conservation measures. It is necessary to develop joint measures for the protection and reproduction of fish stocks at the interstate level.

Aim. The aim of the research was to determine the relationship of winter wheat grain yields with meteorological parameters, the determination of the dynamics and current level and the selection and scientific justification of adaptive agricultural technologies.Material and Methods. Retrospective analysis was undertaken of meteorological conditions and gross winter wheat harvests by standard methods of correlation and regression analysis. The strength of the connection between the data of individual arrays was determined, as well as the identification of joint variation of productive and factorial features by pairwise comparison of their time series.Results. Six joint variations of time series of productive (gross grain harvest) and factorial features (hydrothermal conditions of vegetation periods and structural indicators of crops) with medium and high closeness of correlation, expressed in the form of multiple regression equations, were revealed.Conclusion. The results of the studies indicate a close direct relationship between gross grain harvest and yield from the harvesting area (r = 0.79), which in turn is inversely dependent (to an average degree) on the sum of the active air temperatures of the entire period from sowing to harvesting (r = 0.64). Из осадков различных периодов вегетации преимущественное прямое влияние на урожайность зерна оказывают осадки холодного периода года (r = 0.49) и всего активного периода вегетации от начала парования до уборки (r = 0.39). Of the precipitation of different periods of vegetation, the predominant direct effect on grain yield is exerted by precipitation during the cold period of the year (r = 0.49) and the entire active period of vegetation from the beginning of fallow to harvest (r = 0.39). The effect of amounts of precipitation for certain short periods of vegetation is much lower. Under current conditions, the stability of winter wheat grain production will be determined by the adaptability of agricultural technologies to the increasing aridity of the climate, which significantly worsens the moisture supply of plants.

Aim. To analyse the consequences of the virgin lands (1954‐1963) agrarian‐social megaproject, and of current land reforms. To elaborate contributions to the Russian post‐virgin land space development strategy.Material and methods. Historical records and sources, field geographical observations data and survey information have been used. The convergence principle, cartographic, comparative historical and comparative typological analyses, expert assessment and the logical method of generalizations have been applied.Results. A notion concerning the cumulative consequences of the largest agrarian‐social megaprojects, such as the Virgin Land campaign of 1954‐ 1963 and land reforms in Russia and Kazakhstan in the 1990s, has been developed. The actual socio‐economical and ecological problems of post‐ virgin land areas have been examined. A differentiated assessment of the self‐reconstruction potential of the steppe is given. The value of a system of formed steppe cores is demonstrated through the example of post‐ virgin land space in the Orenburgskaya oblast and a series of recommendations on these rational utlisation of these cores is proposed.Conclusion. The post‐virgin land space in Russia is characterised by a series of acute agroecological and conservational problems, such as poor development of adaptive animal husbandry and fodder production and priority accorded high risk dry crop farming. The realisation in practice of agronomy extensive approaches based on irreversible natural resources mobilization and on soil consumptive commercial crops expansion are accompanied by topsoil degradation. Under current conditions, the conservation and restoration of title (key) steppe biological objects and the more effective realisation of post‐virgin land space developmental potential both require urgent strategic initiatives by the Russiann Federation Government.

Aim. The aim of the study is to group municipalities by the volume (or scale) of municipal economies.Materials and Methods. On the basis of indicators of the volume of agricultural, industrial products, retail trade, investments, the cluster differentiation of municipal districts was carried out. According to the prevalence and combination of indicators, the sector is divided into 8 cluster groups: highly developed industrial, highly developed commercial, industrial and agricultural, commercial and agricultural, trade and logistics, agroindustrial, agricultural, depressed underdeveloped and single large oil producing.Results. According to the results of clustering, certain peculiarities were revealed: more highly developed districts gravitating towards administrative urban centers and major transport arteries. In the west and east of the mesoregion, two axes of advanced development have formed: the South Ural and Altai‐Siberian.Conclusion. In considering the forest‐steppe and steppes of the Urals and Siberia, they were compared with other natural zones that are part of the subjects of the federation studied. Depressed areas are concentrated in the centre of the mesoregion: in the Kurgan region and in the north of the Omsk region, and also gravitate towards the state border with Kazakhstan.

Aim. The aim is to show the relevance of the convergence of basic science in order to solve global environmental problems. Discussion. Solving the problems of critical areas of the biosphere which requires the combined efforts of various sciences and fields of knowledge is considered as an objective prerequisite for convergence. This article was written on the basis of the findings of our own long-term studies of the steppes of Northern Eurasia and central Arctic landscapes on relic loess-ice lithogenic basis, compared with historical and literary data. From the standpoint of steppe studies, two critical areas of the biosphere are distinguished: steppe zone of Eurasia and tundra of the Arctic which are justified as axes of convergence. The steppe studies are considered as a center of convergence around these axes with the possible formation of a new superdisciplinary field of knowledge and practice, steppenomy, in perspective. Nature-like technologies based on the principle of the co-creation of man and nature, aimed at overcoming the crisis phenomena in ecosystems and attaining high stability and productivity, are considered as an innovation product of the steppenomy. Conclusion. The spread and development of pasture ecosystems in various climatic zones is one of the priorities of constructive co-creation of man and the biosphere. An increase in tundra productivity and creation of “beef belts” in the steppes of Eurasia are regarded as a constructive analogue of Tselina, recreating grass ecosystems as a neo-hyperzonal phenomenon on tens of millions of hectares. In addition to contributing to the solution of the food problem, the pasture arrangement of the last territorial reserve under convergent scientific support will contribute to the global ecological restoration of the Earth’s unique ecosystems.