UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of the Biosphere Reserves"
Historical Background
The establishment of the UNESCO Chair "Socio-Economic Models of Biosphere Reserves" at the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics was approved on February 20, 2025, by the UNITWIN Programme Team. The Chair is headed by Dr. Ivan Lobanov, with Professor Pavel Terelyansky serving as co-chair.
The Chair's areas of work focus on issues that have been under development since 2021, dedicated to studying and formulating recommendations for the optimal integration of biosphere reserves into the socio-economic structure of the state.
The initial research findings were presented at a meeting of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of the Russian Federation on February 2, 2022. The pilot project "Index of Institutional Integration of Biosphere Reserves (IIBR ranking)" was also presented at the International Environmental Forum in Ufa in April 2023. There, a preliminary agreement was reached on joint research with representatives of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve "Bashkir Ural."
In March 2025, the research group at Plekhanov University held an online meeting to form an inter-university and inter-agency working group on the pilot project's subject. This was done in collaboration with The V.I. Vernadsky Nongovernmental Ecological Foundation, representatives of six Russian biosphere reserves, the "Roszapovedcenter" of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources, and the "Nature Heritage Protection" Fund.
Directed by
 Ivan LobanovPh.D. in Law, Rector of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics |
 Svetlana MalkarovaPhD in Sociological Sciences, Director of the Plekhanov Russian University of Economics Branch in the UAE, Vice-Rector of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics |
 Pavel TerelyanskyDoctor of Economic Sciences, Ph.D. in Engineering, Professor |
Objectives of the Chair
Promote the values of the UN and UNESCO to ensure peace and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Address socio-economic development and biodiversity conservation challenges along the South–South and North–South–South axes through inter-university cooperation.
Develop international, federal, and regional programs for socio-economic development and biodiversity preservation.
Study issues related to improving quality of life amid new social and economic realities in the context of global climate change.
Promote a gender-sensitive approach in events focused on gender equality, highlighting the activities of women entrepreneurs, researchers, and women in legislative, executive, and judicial branches of power in the Russian Federation.
Coordinate youth volunteer and public associations that include qualified, highly motivated specialists to promote the integration of biosphere reserves into the socio-economic structure of society.
Develop international, federal, and regional programs for socio-economic development and biodiversity preservation.
Study issues related to improving quality of life amid new social and economic realities in the context of global climate change.
Promote a gender-sensitive approach in events focused on gender equality, highlighting the activities of women entrepreneurs, researchers, and women in legislative, executive, and judicial branches of power in the Russian Federation.
Coordinate youth volunteer and public associations that include qualified, highly motivated specialists to promote the integration of biosphere reserves into the socio-economic structure of society.
Mission of the Chair:
- Develop recommendations for the optimal integration of biosphere reserves into the socio-economic structure of the state.
- Coordinate international and transboundary research groups using the computational and organizational resources of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics.
Main Activities:
- Develop and maintain the International Institutional Integration Index of Biosphere Reserves (IIBR ranking) to assess the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 12, 13, 14, 15, and 17).
- Create an international open internet portal UNIDATA (as part of the multilingual website of the Chair) based on the data centers of Plekhanov Russian University of Economics to support interdisciplinary research at the regional, national, and global levels.
- Organize comprehensive interdisciplinary research on issues of socio-economic integration of biosphere reserves, improving quality of life, and empowering local communities and indigenous people.
- Organize and conduct annual thematic workshops in Russia with the participation of both Russian and international experts, as well as experts from relevant UNESCO committees.
Global Partnership
The comprehensive work plan of the Chair was developed within the framework of the Lima Action Plan for the UNESCO "Man and the Biosphere" (MAB) Programme and its World Network of Biosphere Reserves, and includes:
- Expanding cross-border and intergovernmental cooperation to form an international expert community for scientific research aimed at developing comprehensive solutions in the field of socio-economic modeling to support biodiversity;
- Developing academic and educational programs aimed at strengthening network cooperation between universities, government, and non-governmental organizations within the framework of the "green" economy;
- Research in social, economic, organizational, legal, and ethical issues related to the development and preservation of biodiversity (including involvement of youth scientific communities).
