Approaches to biodiversity conservation in a managed steppe agricultural landscape

Aim. To monitor, assess and map regional biological diversity in the southern steppe agricultural landscape, which has a high proportion of arable land; to highlight types of key ecosystems for its conservation; and to develop cartographic models of the ecological framework at regional, basic and local scale levels. The study was carried out on the basis of field research, cartographic analysis and GIS technologies. The results showed that forest belts, island forests, river valleys, gullies, boundaries and fragments of degraded steppes on 7 % of the territory, which are little disturbed and not used in agricultural practice, perform the role of reservoirs of regional flora and fauna, buffer zones and transit corridors in the agricultural landscape. For more than 100 species of rare, relict and endangered species of vascular plants and terrestrial animals, they represent potential habitats. 8 types of habitats were identified corresponding to their ecology, geographical area and ecological valence. They are structured according to the environmental role played and priority of protection. Even in conditions of intensive and productive agricultural production, it is possible to preserve the high floral and faunal diversity of the steppe biome not only in protected areas, but also in the types of natural ecosystems studied as elements of the ecological framework. Ecological approaches and low-cost biodiversity conservation measures are proposed for each element identified. The approaches developed can be applied in the agricultural sector of the south of Russia in environmental protection programs and policies at the regional, municipal and local levels.