Red Data Books: a tool for identifying and protecting natural areas of international importance Nikolay Sobolev 1, Liudmila Volkova 2 1 The Institute of Geography, RAS; The Transparent World NP; 2 The RAS Institute of Ecology and Evolution, RAS

Objective Saving natural biodiversity for ensuring the Favourable Environment and Ecosystem Services

Principle Saving biodiversity by protecting its most vulnerable components

Methodology Up-dated “Umbrella species” approach: Redlisting endangered and vulnerable species being elements of various functional parts within natural communities.

Methodology Several endangered and vulnerable species belonging to various functional parts of the same natural community indicate its good environmental state

Methodology Focus on differentiated habitat protection: Implementation of habitat conservation measures just since registration of a critically endangered species; Mandatory habitat conservation measures for endangered species; Habitat conservation for complexes of vulnerable species.

Methodology Establishing Red Lists on the level of making social and economic decisions

An example: The Emerald Network of Areas of Special Conservation Importance in European Russia

Species occurring in European Russia: Species of European importance vs. Redlisted in the Russian Federation Main groups of species SC BC Resolution N 6 (1998) Red Data Book of the Russian Federation Both lists Cyclostomata432 Pisces16275 Amphibians371 Reptilians6122 Birds Mammals Invertebrates37454 Plants

Solution Identifying the most habitats of species of European importance by presence of species redlisted in Russia and Russian regions