Development of the Natural Environment Statistics from the XIX to the XXI Century (A Brief Review)

This article was prepared to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the journal «Voprosy statistiki» (up to 1994 - «Bulletin of Statistics»). It deals with retrospect analysis of the background and milestones of establishment and development of Russian natural resources and environmental statistics (the journal delved into some of its aspects relating mostly to the modern stage). The material consists of two parts. First - contains the genesis of natural resources statistics using the example of land resources and land use, as well as forest resources and forest use. As for the accounting and statistical reflection of land resources and land use, this retrospective study covers the period from the XVII century and then in more detail from the XVIII century. The author assesses statistical recording done by the outstanding Russian statisticians Zhuravsky D.P. and Janson Y.E. on the special decree of Catherine II from 1765. The article reviews the fundamental characteristics of 1877-1878, 1887 and 1905 land censuses in the Russian Empire. The paper presents the main stages and features of recording and reporting (including census) activities in this field in the Soviet and post-Soviet periods. When introducing accounting and statistical reflection of forest resources and forest use the author focuses on changes in the departmental hierarchy of statistical units that led to revisions of approaches to accounting. There also is a detailed description of the original entry of data on standing timber. The paper references specific difficulties associated with the statistical treatment of forest accounting in the Soviet and modern period. The second part of the article addresses the details and specific features of the formation and development of natural environment protection statistics in the Russian Empire, the USSR (RSFSR) and the modern Russian Federation. It notes both the achievements made at a given stage and the shortcomings that have occurred. There has been a continuity in methodological developments and organizational arrangements, acquiring practical experience in implementing various methods of statistical observations and forms of statistical reporting (surveying). The article indicates that the quality of the relevant accounting and statistics depends on the performance of the general public administration related to efficient use of the resources and natural environment protection. The information on forms of statistical reporting in this field is organized covering both the system of federal statistics and ministries and departments of the natural resource/environment protection block. The article briefly overviews primary environmental data depicting the state and dynamics of Russian natural resources for 1976-1990, and in more detail for 1997-2017. Decreasing demand for quality data from governing bodies, the insufficient qualifications of those who work with the national documents that, for example, include specific environmental indicators, was among the major drawbacks of recent years. The author presented conclusions and proposals on improving information and statistical support of environmental management, maintaining and restoring natural resources.