Currently, the Russian Federation is experiencing a decline in attention to the scientifically based formation of regional networks of specially protected natural areas (SPNAs) on a landscape–geographical basis. Despite the fact that territorial nature conservation has been regulated by the state and that government bodies in the field of environmental protection have been formed since 1989, systems of regional and federal SPNAs, differing from each other qualitatively and quantitatively, have developed in Russian federal subjects. The experience of creating SPNA networks in the steppe regions of the Russian Federation is examined using the example of one of most important ones in the country: Rostov oblast. The ideas for territorial nature protection there emerged in the early 20th century, and there are still great possibilities to modernize and optimize the nature reserve fund. It is shown that the nature reserve fund of any region should encompass the entire natural diversity of the territory and meet characteristics such as continuity and representativeness of the SPNA network. This article presents a brief history of environmental protection in the region. The main disadvantages of the current network of SPNAs in the region include a lack of landscape ordination of protected areas, the almost complete absence of geological and geomorphological features, and a lack of toponymic indications of SPNAs with reference to the geographical names of settlements and locations. Based on well-known schemes for physical-geographical and geobotanical zoning, eight environmental protection districts have been identified where technologies for designing SPNA networks are proposed, both as independent territorial nature conservation objects and as a part of nature parks and landscape reserves of a cluster type. The need for regular landscape and ecological monitoring of the state of SPNAs, as well as limitation and regulation of recreational and tourism loads, is substantiated.
A. A. Chibilev (Mon,) studied this question.