« NEWS FOR THE SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS OF NATURE RESERVES »

REVIEW OF THE ACTIVITY OF THE SCIENTIFIC DEPARTMENTS
OF THE RESERVES OF THE RUSSIAN STATE NATURE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE
IN 1999

In 1999 scientific departments were functioning in 81 out of 92 reserves of the State Nature Conservation Committee; 12% of the reserves had no scientific department. (Subsequently we will always give the percentage of reserves with scientific departments, unless otherwise stated). The staff of these departments comprised 497 researchers (including deputy directors of scientific research). The average staff of a scientific department, including the deputy directors of scientific research, has remained constant for the last 4 years already and amounts to 6 researchers.

During 1999 the full-time research staff increased by 26 persons. The most significant increase was exhibited by Kavkazsky (5 persons), Bolshaya Kokshaga (4 persons), Bryansky Les, Vishersky, Prisursky and Putoransky (3 persons). The full-time research staff was reduced by 5 persons in Oksky and by 2 persons in Laplandsky and Mordovsky.

The reserves with the largest scientific departments (more than 9 persons, excluding auxiliary and operating personnel) are listed in tab. 1.

Table 1. Reserves with the largest scientific departments.

In 41 reserves (51%) the staff of the scientific department was smaller than average. By the end of 1999, the scientific departments comprised only 3 researchers in 6 reserves (Denezhkin Kamen, Kostomukshsky, Magadansky, Tungussky, Khakassky, Khankaisky), 2 researchers in 10 reserves (Azas, Bolshoy Arktichesky, Voroninsky, Dzerginsky, Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Komsomolsky, Kuznetzky Alatau, Kurilsky, Orenburgsky, Rostovsky), and one researcher in 5 reserves (Vitimsky, Dagestansky, Pasvik, Polistovsky, Poronaisky). In other words, in 21 reserves (26%) the research staff of the scientific departments did not exceed three persons.

In 1999 the staff of the reserves included 145 PhDs and 17 Drs. Sc. Sixteen reserves out of 81 (Bolshaya Kokshaga, Vitimsky, Voroninsky, Denezhkin Kamen, Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Komandorsky, Komsomolsky, Kronotsky, Lazovsky, Orenburgsky, Pinezhsky, Polistovsky, Poronaisky, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina, Khingansky, Yugansky) had no researchers with a scientific degree. The staff of the following reserves had the largest number of researchers with scientific degrees: Astrakhansky — 10 persons, Voronezhsky — 9 persons, Kavkazsky and Tsentralno-Lesnoi — 7 persons each, Darvinsky, Prioksko-Terrasny and Taimyrsky — 6 persons each, Baikalsky, Kandalakshsky and Teberdinsky — 5 persons each. The heads of the scientific departments had no scientific degrees in 32 reserves (40%).

The scientific departments of 11 reserves (14%) had Drs. Sc. on staff (4 in Voronezhsky, 3 in Teberdinsky, 2 in Kavkazsky, and 1 in Kandalakshsky, Kerzhensky, Oksky, Putoransky, Taimyrsky, Tungussky, Tsentralno-Lesnoi and Shulgan-Tash.

Seventy-nine researchers (16% of the staff) from 42 reserves (52%) were graduands or graduate students in 1999. During that same year, researchers at 6 reserves defended 8 theses for PhD degrees (2 in Baikalsky and Oksky, 1 each in Voronezhsky, Olekminsky, Stolby and Tsentralno-Chernozemny). In three reserves (Voronezhsky, Kavkazsky and Teberdinsky) researchers defended theses for Dr. Sc. degrees.

By the end of 1999 the share of graduands and researchers with scientific degrees among the full-time staff, including directors and deputy directors of scientific research, comprised 39%, an increase of 2% over 1998. As for reserves with more than 4 researchers on staff, this number was the highest in the following ones: Prioksko-Terrasny — 86%, Nurgush — 71%, Astrakhansky — 69%, Taimyrsky, Tsentralno-Lesnoi and Shulgan-Tash — 67% each, Darvinsky — 64%, Nizhnesvirsky — 63%, Bassegi, Voronezhsky and Zhygulevsky — 60% each, Khopersky — 56%, Baikalsky, Barguzinsky, Bryansky Les, Daursky, Ostrov Vrangelya, Stolby and Teberdinsky — 50% each.

Most reserves published scientific materials (monographs, books, scientific articles, reports) during 1999, although 7 reserves (9%; Bolshoy Arktichesky, Dagestansky, Zeysky, Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Komsomolsky, Mordovsky, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina) did not. Of these reserves, researchers have had no publications for two years in Kaluzhskie Zaseki and Mordovsky, for three years in Bolshoy Arktichesky , and for four years in Dagestansky and Komsomolsky. Altaisky, Bureinsky, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Visimsky, Vitimsky, Vishersky, Polistovsky, Poronaisky and Sokhondinsky reserves had only one scientific publications in the regional book of the summaries of reports.

Twenty-six reserves (32%) issued monographs and books in 1999 (7 more than in 1998). Researchers of 15 reserves (19%) published articles in foreign journals, of 41 reserves (51%) in top domestic journals, of 27 reserves (33%) in foreign and international books (articles and brief reports),of 42 reserves (52%) in Russian books (articles and brief reports) (tab. 2). Researchers of 56 reserves (69%) published scientific articles and brief reports in regional books. The number of publications in each of these groups increased in 1999 as compared to 1998.

Table 2. Scientific publications by researchers at state reserves in 1999.

On average there were 2.1 scientific publications per full-time staff member of scientific departments in 1999 which is significantly more than in both 1997 and 1998 (1.3 publications). The reserves with most and least publications per full-time staff member of the scientific department are listed in tab. 3.

Table 3. Reserves with most (left-hand columns) and least (right-hand columns) publications per full-time staff member of the scientific department.

Notes: * — reserves with similar parameters in 1998;
          ** — reserves with similar parameters for three successive years.

The staff members of 79 reserves (97%) participated in scientific conferences and meetings in 1999: 10 more than in 1998. Researchers of only two reserves with scientific departments (Zeysky and Tsentralno-Sibirsky Reserves) did not participate in any scientific conference.

Thirty-six researchers from 22 reserves (27%) participated in foreign scientific conferences in 1999 (tab. 4); 87 researchers from 36 reserves (44%) participated in international scientific conferences; 112 researchers (twice as many as in 1998) from 54 reserves (67%) participated in Russian scientific conferences and meetings; lastly, 199 researchers from 65 reserves (80%) participated in regional scientific conferences and meetings. Researchers from 10 reserves (12%) participated in regional forums alone.

Table 4. Participation of the research staff of the reserves
in foreign scientific conferences in 1999.

In 1999, 74 reserves (91% of all Russian reserves) had contracts on scientific cooperation with outside research institutes. During the same year, 1,596 experts from outside research institutes worked within the territory of 70 reserves (86%) (tab. 5) (1.5 times more than in 1998).

Table 5. Experts from outside research institutes working in 1999 at State Nature Conservation Committee reserves.

Researchers from other scientific organizations and institutes not mentioned in tab. 5 (505 persons, or 32%) worked in 42 reserves. The reserves visited most by experts from this group were the following: Prisursky — 153, Kandalakshsky — 94, Ust’-Lensky — 25, Nizhnesvirsky — 19, Visimsky, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina and Khopersky — 18 persons each, Tungussky — 16, Kurilsky — 13, Kaluzhskie Zaseki — 12 persons, Tsentralno-Chernozemny — 11, Vishersky, Orenburgsky and Rostovsky — 8 persons each.

Overall, the largest numbers of outside experts worked in the following reserves: Prisursky — 154 persons, Kandalakshsky — 132, Tsentralno-Lesnoi — 106, Kronotsky — 92, Ust’-Lensky — 83, Kurilsky — 72, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina — 69, Visimsky — 58, Prioksko-Terrasny — 50, Tungussky — 47, Stolby — 37, Nizhnesvirsky — 36, Tsentralno-Chernozemny — 34, Pasvik — 28, Pinezhsky — 25, Khopersky — 24, Lazovsky — 23, Teberdinsky — 23, Kaluzhskie Zaseki — 22, Kostomukshsky — 22, Voronezhsky — 21, Khakassky — 21, Baikalsky, Bryansky Les, Orenburgsky and Sikhote-Alinsky — 20 persons in each.

At the same time, 11 reserves with scientific departments had no outside experts in 1999: Bolshekhekhtsirsky, Bureinsky, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Vitimsky, Dagestansky, Zeysky, Kabardino-Balkarsky, Kuznetzky Alatau, Ostrov Vrangelya, Sayano-Shushensky and Yugansky.

In 1999, 1335 college students had their field practice in 61 reserves (75% of all the reserves); this is 150 more than in 1998. Over 30 students had their field practice in each of the following reserves: Kavkazsky — 241 students, Prisursky — 87, Tsentralno-Chernozemny — 77, Kandalakshsky — 67, Volzhsko-Kamsky — 64, Tsentralno-Lesnoi — 61, Zhygulevsky — 50, Privolzhskaya Lesostep — 50, Teberdinsky — 38.

Thirty-eight researchers (8%) from 13 reserves (16%) received individual research grants in 1999.

The 1998 edition of Nature Chronicles was completed on time by 40 reserves (49%); 21 reserves handed it over with a delay of up to 9 months; the rest of the reserves, including those with scientific research staffs of more than 3 persons — Bashkirsky, Kabardino-Balkarsky, Kandalakshsky, Komandorsky, Nurgush, Ostrov Vrangelya, Privolzhskaya Lesostep, Putoransky, Tungussky, Khingansky, Tsentralno-Lesnoi, Tsentralno-Sibirsky, Chernye Zemli, and Shulgan-Tash — have yet to finish their Nature Chronicles for 1998 (as of 05.01.2000).

High quality and complete materials as well as a competent methodical basis, consistent research, superior processing, presentation and typography distinguished the Nature Chronicles of the following reserves: Taimyrsky, Voronezhsky, Tsentralno-Chernozemny, Darvinsky, Zhygulevsky, Bolshaya Kokshaga.

The high quality and quick submission of scientific documentation (plans, protocols, reports etc.) by the following reserves is also noteworthy: Astrakhansky, Baikalsky, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Voronezhsky, Darvinsky, Kavkazsky, Komsomolsky, Nizhnesvirsky, Khopersky.

The Management of Reserves considers the following reserves to have achieved the most noticeable success overall in activities connected with scientific research in 1999: Astrakhansky, Bryansky Les, Voronezhsky, Darvinsky, Daursky, Laplandsky, Oksky, Prisursky, Severo-Osetinsky, Taimyrsky and Tsentralno-Chernozemny.

In relation to the above:

1. I consider necessary a radical improvement in the scientific work of the Directors and Deputy Directors of Scientific Research of the following State Nature Reserves: Bashkirsky, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Vitimsky, Dagestansky, Kabardino-Balkarsky, Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Komandorsky, Putoransky, Tsentralno-Sibirsky, Yugansky.

2. Note that scientific publications, especially those in the aforementioned editions, are an essential criterion of the efficiency of the scientific departments and should be considered in any appraisal of the researchers. I suggest that special attention be paid to this criterion by the heads of the following state reserves: Bolshoy Arktichesky, Dagestansky, Zeysky, Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Komsomolsky, Mordovsky, Putoransky, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina, which had no publications in 1999, as well as: Bassegi, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Verkhne-Tazovsky, Denezhkin Kamen, Komandorsky, Sayano-Shushensky, Stolby, Khankaisky, Tsentralno-Sibirsky, Shulgan-Tash, where the number of the publications did not exceed 0.5 per researcher in 1999.

3. The heads of reserves should provide all possible support to researchers in their professional education, particularly the graduate students and post-docs, and encourage them to participate in scientific conferences, meetings, seminars and other such forums.

4. The heads of reserves should foster cooperation with outside research organizations and institutes.

5. I demand that the directors of Bashkirsky, Kabardino-Balkarsky, Kandalakshsky, Komandorsky, Nurgush, Ostrov Vrangelya, Privolzhskaya Lesostep, Putoransky, Tungussky, Khingansky, Tsentralno-Lesnoi, Tsentralno-Sibirsky, Chernye Zemli, Shulgan-Tash present their Nature Chronicles for 1998 within a month to the Department of Reserves.

6. I demand that the directors of those state reserves that still have not adopted a scientific-technical council (Altaisky, Baikalo-Lensky, Barguzinsky, Bashkirsky, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Bolshoy Arktichesky, Bryansky Les, Bureinsky , Dagestansky, Daursky, Denezhkin Kamen, Dzerginsky, Kabardino-Balkarsky, Katunsky, Kerzhensky, Komandorsky, Kuznetzky Alatau, Kurilsky, Magadansky, Mordovsky, Oksky, Olekminsky, Ostrov Vrangelya, Prioksko-Terrasny, Prisursky, Putoransky, Shulgan-Tash) present the appropriate documents to the Department of Reserves within a month for ratification.

7. I expect the heads of Baikalo-Lensky, Barguzinsky, Bashkirsky, Belogorie, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Bolshekhekhtsirsky, Bryansky Les, Bureinsky, Visimsky, Vitimsky, Vishersky, Volzhsko-Kamsky, Voroninsky, Dagestansky, Denezhkin Kamen, Dzerginsky, Zhygulevsky, Zeysky, Kabardino-Balkarsky, Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Kandalakshsky, Katunsky, Kerzhensky, Komandorsky, Kronotsky, Kuznetzky Alatau, Kurilsky, Lazovsky, Laplandsky, Magadansky, Malaya Sosva, Nurgush, Oksky, Olekminsky, Ostrov Vrangelya, Pasvik, Poronaisky, Privolzhskaya Lesostep, Prisursky, Putoransky, Rostovsky, Severo-Osetinsky, Stolby, Taimyrsky, Teberdinsky, Ubsunurskaya Kotlovina, Khankaisky, Khingansky, Tsentralno-Lesnoi, Tsentralno-Sibirsky, Tsentralno-Chernozemny, Chernye Zemli, Shulgan-Tash, Yugansky to develop a preliminary plan of research and send it for ratification to the Department of Reserves before August 1, 2000.

8. I demand that the directors of those state reserves that still have not presented protocols of the 1999 meetings of the scientific-technical council and the learned council (Baikalo-Lensky, Bolshaya Kokshaga, Bolshekhekhtsirsky, Bolshoy Arktichesky, Voroninsky, Dagestansky, Zhygulevsky, Kivach, Komandorsky, Kronotsky, Kuznetzky Alatau, Lazovsky, Ostrov Vrangelya, Pasvik, Prioksko-Terrasny, Prisursky, Putoransky, Rostovsky, Ust’-Lensky, Tsentralno-Sibirsky, Chernye Zemli, Yugansky) present the appropriate documents within a month.

9. I demand that the directors of Kaluzhskie Zaseki, Kuznetzky Alatau, Putoransky and Tsentralno-Sibirsky strictly adhere to the statutory form of the annual report.

10. I suggest that the current state of and prospects for scientific research in State nature reserves be discussed at a meeting of its scientific (or scientific-technical) council within two months.

Vsevolod Stepanitsky,
The Head of the Department of Reserves
State Nature Conservation Committee of the Russian Federation

| contents | top |