The flora and vegetation of Sosnovets Island, the White Sea

The flora and vegetation of Sosnovets Island (White Sea Throat, Murmansk Region, Russia) has been studied and described in detail. This is a small island situated within the tundra zone, largely covered by a permafrost peatland with the presence of flarks, a palsa mire, and rock outcrops. Vascular plants of Sosnovets Island include 167 species and subspecies, of which 134 species and subspecies are considered native and 33 species are alien. The number of tundra species is higher and that of boreal species is lower than on the other White Sea islands; a few species with eastern distributions in East Europe are present; 6 protected species are recorded. Alien species were mostly transported from Arkhangelsk Region but partly from Central Russia; main pathways were forage, construction and gardens; one species (Alchemilla cymatophylla) was likely introduced as a polemochore. The vegetation of Sosnovets Island is represented by a complex of lichen, dwarfshrub, cottongrass-sphagnous and sedge-sphagnous communities of the peatland, which covers the major part of the island, as well as dwarf-shrub and lichen tundras, coastal vegetation, willow thickets, dwarf cornel (Cornus suecica) and secondary anthropogenic meadows and grasslands. A palsa mire, marshes with Calamagrostis deschampsioides, highly dissected peatlands with cloudberry-crowberry-lichen communities on elevated sites and cottongrass-sphagnous communities in depressions are the unique features of the island’s vegetation.Peer reviewe

Евразийские элиты: состояние и перспективы развития

В современных геополитических условиях проблематика исследований и выстраивания моделей элитообразования приобретает особую значимость. Со сменой мирового лидерства США расширяются институты нового мирохозяйственного уклада, создаются новые взаимосвязи и международные организации. Глобальная регионализация актуализирует предпосылки региональной кооперации и интеграции на евразийском пространстве, включая процессы развития Евразийской концепции элит. Евразийство как историко-философская и политическая теория приобретает новые очертания и толкования. Существенно возрастает геополитический и - экономический потенциал стран Евразийского континента, который обосновывает необходимость встраивания этих государств в систему сопряжения глобального и регионального международного сотрудничества, отвечающих объективным потребностям развития внутренних и внешних акторов и элит. Развивающееся евразийское пространство, в ареале которого формируются ведущие экономики мира как новые культурно-цивилизационные центры мироздание (Китай, Индия, страны АСЕАН, ШОС, ЕАЭС и др.), затрагивает практически все сферы жизнедеятельности населения планеты, провозглашая принцип четырех свобод - свободы движения товаров, услуг, капитала и рабочей силы. Совокупность указанных факторов свидетельствует, что интеграционные процессы выступают приоритетными в системе формирования новых моделей элитообразования. В рамках данной проблематики евразийское пространство может рассматривать в различных аспектах, как в узком понимании (Евразийский экономический союз, страны постсоветского пространства и др.), так и в более широком толковании, исходя из ареалов его развития (страны Шанхайской организации сотрудничества, Большое Евразийское партнёрство). Приоритетное внимание в работе уделено вопросам интеграционного развития Евразийского экономического союза (ЕАЭС) во взаимосвязи с государствами Содружества Независимых Государств (СНГ) и ШОС

Management of groundwater resources in transboundary territories (on the example of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Estonia)

Groundwater,  as a source of water supply, the most important mineral and geopolitical resource, , is often the only source of high-quality drinking water that is protected from pollution under conditions of increasing deterioration of surface water quality. Transboundary groundwaters are the focus of hydrogeological researchers for a number of reasons, including the reduction and pollution of water resources as a result of economic activities. The increased controversy between states over transboundary water issues has necessitated  the development of international legal documents on issues related to water conflict prevention and the sustainable use of fresh water. As part of the analysis of the problem of legal regulation of groundwater extraction from transboundary aquifers and complexes, it is proposed to consider this aspect on the example of Russia. The problems of regulation of rational use and protection of fresh water in the bilateral  treaties of the Russian Federation were revealed; a methodology for the management of groundwater extraction in the territory of the transboundary aquifer  was developed, the size, parameters, and factors influencing the formation of the transboundary zone have been determined (based on research and analysis of water intake activities in the border areas of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Estonia) were determined

Элиты в современном социальном пространстве

Цель настоящей статьи – исследование базовых основ научно-методического аппарата оценки качества элит, предложенного университетом Санкт-Галлена (Швейцария), и его использование для сравнительных измерений качественного состояния национальных элит Европейского и Евразийского экономического союзов на основе ранжирования, входящих в них государств. Основными шагами достижения цели являются процессы изучения: элит в современных социальных исследованиях, структурной оценки состояния элит, «барометра» как матрицы создания ценности, сравнительных характеристик элитного качества. Результаты теоретического анализа подтвердили исследовательский интерес к данной проблеме, которая может рассматриваться как с формально-концептуальных (политических) позиций, так и в условиях фактического формирования многополярного миропорядка (геоэкономического положения). Контуры указанных измерений отличаются историческими процессами, типологией государств и современных элит, являющихся неоднородными и разновеликими, что допускает определенные оценочные условности. Согласно приоритетным принципам формирования индекса качества элит и политико-экономической оценки воздействия элитного качества на общественное развитие, используется широкая комбинация разновеликих показателей, «доводка» которых осуществляется на основе экспертных оценок участников. Сравнительный анализ позволяет сделать вывод о субъективности и политизации, отдельных наиболее важных показателей. Поэтому предлагаемая методология нуждается в совершенствовании инструментария и использовании дополнительных оценочных компонентов, представленных, например, глобальными рейтингами по уровню процветанию, ВВП на душу населения и др

Modern Trends in the Field of Solving Transboundary Problems in Groundwater Extraction

The intensive exploitation of water resources negatively affects the ecological situation in many international water objects. The problem of a shortage of drinking water is aggravating, water bodies are subject to pollution by domestic and industrial wastewater, and the water quality in the basins of international water courses continues to deteriorate. This situation primarily requires legal regulation. Until recently, despite a significant number of existing international treaties on the use of transboundary waters, there was no universal international legal act to systematize the basic principles and norms of behavior of the states in this area. The most important direction for improving public administration in the field of use and protection of transboundary groundwater bodies is the development and expansion of international cooperation and the legal consolidation of the rights and obligations of states through the adoption of legislative acts on various levels. Modern international policy in the field of transboundary groundwater resources management is undergoing significant changes. The very concept of a transboundary territory in relation to groundwater extraction was adopted both in Russia and in Europe in the early 2000s. However, the main criteria for the definition of a transboundary territory have not yet been formulated anywhere. This gives rise to the need to define a transboundary aquifer in international legislation, as well as to limit the size of this aquifer. This paper is devoted to the analysis of approaches to the definition of “transboundary aquifer”, emerging problems in this area, the legal framework, and conflicts in the field of transboundary regulation of groundwater. The zone of responsibility in groundwater extraction at the transboundary territory of neighboring states is defined

STRATEGIC ISSUES GROUNDWATER EXTRACTION MANAGEMENT IN RUSSIA

Water is a key component of our environment; it is a renewable, limited and vulnerable natural resource, which provides economic, social, and environmental well-being of the population. The most promising source of drinking water supply is groundwater usage. Drinking and industrial groundwater is one of the most important components of the groundwater mineral resource base in the Russian Federation. Modern system of groundwater extraction management and state regulation is currently imperfect and has definite disadvantages, among them - lack of control over natural resources by the state, an old system of tax rates for the use of groundwater, commercialization stage of licensing, the budget deficit, which is passed on other spheres of the national economy. This article provides general information about the state of groundwater production and supply in Russia, negative trends of groundwater usage, some actions for the improvement in the system of groundwater’s fund management are suggested. The most important amendments of the law “About mineral resources” are overviewed, effects of these changes are revealed and recommendations for future groundwater extraction regulation are given

Possibilities of Using the Unitization Model in the Development of Transboundary Groundwater Deposits

Groundwater belongs to the category of strategic minerals, along with hydrocarbon resources, so the supply of drinking water will become one of the urgent problems of modern society. The management of groundwater resources and their protection is a very complicated task, especially in border areas where neighboring states jointly exploit aquifers. The problem of transboundary water resources management, in particular groundwater, has been considered at the international level for more than 30 years. However, despite the adoption of a number of conventions, agreements and programs, both at the global and in the format of interstate relations, an understanding for the approach of a universal solution to the transboundary water issue has not yet been formed. An attempt to study the possibilities of applying the principles of unitization on the example of transboundary oil and gas fields in comparison with groundwater cross-border deposits is made in the paper for the first time. As a successful example, the unitization agreement between Norway and the UK for the development of the Frigg field was chosen. It is established that unitization agreements concluded by states in the joint development of transboundary mineral deposits, actively used in regulating the activities of transboundary oil and gas fields, can be used as one of the possible models of international agreements on the extraction of groundwater in transboundary territories

Some Aspects of Groundwater Resources Management in Transboundary Areas

According to UN experts, by 2030, about half of the world’s population will suffer from a shortage of fresh water, which may cause future hostilities and conflicts. In this regard, extraction of such a valuable mineral as groundwater must be rationally managed. However, practice has shown that managing and protecting the groundwater resources is a very challenging task. As part of the analysis pertaining to the problem of legal regulation of groundwater extraction from transboundary aquifers and complexes, it is proposed to consider this aspect on the example of Russia. The problems of regulation of rational use and protection of fresh water in the bilateral agreements of the Russian Federation were identified; a methodology for managing groundwater extraction in the territory of a transboundary aquifer was developed, dimensions, parameters and factors affecting the formation of a transboundary zone were determined (using the example of research and analysis of water intake activities in the border territories of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Estonia)

First building engineers in architectural practice of St. Petersburg at the beginning of the 19th century

The emergence of the specialty of civil engineer in the first half of the 19th century had a significant impact on architectural practice in St. Petersburg. The differentiation of the professions of engineer and architect took place for the first time; both specialists began to participate in the design. The appearance of such engineers as Augustine Betancourt, Matvey Clark, Pierre-Dominique Bazin and Wilhelm von Tretter brought about changes in all areas of architecture and construction. New building structures and materials appeared, as well as methods for checking and calculating. Designing has become comprehensive, the activities of the Committee for Structures and Hydraulic Works led by Betancourt covered urban development, individual buildings and all types of utilities. The formation of engineering education took place, which brought up the next generation of Russian engineers.The article considers the most important aspects of the activities of Augustine Betancourt, who laid the foundations for engineering education in Russia; Matvey Clark, who created the first metal beams and trusses; Pierre Dominique Bazin, who continued the development of engineering education, as well as Wilhelm von Tretter, one of the founders of iron bridge construction in Russia