Potential of Ecosystem Services in Adaptation to Climate Change in Russia

Russia has enormous potential for ecosystem services to adapt to climate change. The scope of services provided and their effectiveness vary depending on natural zones, climate-related hazards, and adaptation objects. The greatest potential for ecosystem services is found in specially protected natural areas (244.3 million ha) and protective forests (284.6 million ha). Estimates of the value of protective ecosystem services are at least 6–8 times higher than the value of the extracted resources. The accumulated experience made it possible to launch a project to create a protective forest belt stretching 8000 km from Rostov oblast to Buryatia. For the first time, ecosystem services were included in Moscow’s adaptation plan. It is necessary to effectively use the existing potential for adapting Russian regions.