Actual problems of biodiversity conservation in the central Russian Plain forest-steppe

The relevance of the study is determined by the critical state and negative trends in the development of remained fragments of meadow steppe and upland oak forest ecosystems in the Nizhny Novgorod region, located in the center of the Russian Plain. The paper’s aim is to substantiate the activities required to conserve biological diversity on the northern border of the meadow steppes. It targets to assess the current state of endangered ecosystems of the forest-steppe zone of the region, to analyze their role in maintaining species diversity in the Nizhny Novgorod region, to substantiate approaches to the organization of nature management and territorial protection of the forest-steppe nature, ensuring the conservation of biodiversity. We provide the results of perennial surveys of meadow steppes and upland oak forests in 1982 – 2019, and analysis of these ecosystems as habitats for wildlife species listed in the Red Data Book of the Nizhny Novgorod region. Meadow steppes on the northern border of distribution are shown to encompass currently only 0.36% of the former area. Furthermore the modern area of old-growth upland oak forests of the region comprises 0.3% of the former one of broad-leaved forests. We have discovered 33.3% of wildlife species listed in the Red Data Book to associate with the zonal ecosystems remaining in the Nizhny Novgorod forest-steppe; and argued the necessity of a comprehensive solution to the problem of biodiversity conservation in the forest-steppe zone as well. Territorial protection of rare wildlife species and remained fragments of zonal ecosystems should be combined with elements of restorative economic impact. A complete prohibition of economic activities in protected areas is not advisable. The need for special programs for the restoration of certain lost elements of the biological diversity of the forest-steppe is discussed.