Natural capital: Russia is one of the world leaders in bioresources
According to Dmitry Chernyshenko, Deputy Prime Minister, Russia occupies one of the leading positions in the world in terms of renewable biological resources. At the same time, a strong scientific base has been formed in the country, specialized knowledge has been accumulated, and rare and competitive research solutions have been created. Izvestia analyzed which sectors of the economy exhibit Russia's competitive advantages most vividly, to what extent the existing system of state support contributes to the efficient use of renewable biological resources, and what strategic steps need to be taken in the coming years to maintain sustainable global leadership.
The country's resources
Hunting bioresources are among the key natural resources of the country, the press service of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment told Izvestia. Today, 228 species of animals classified in this category have been recorded within Russia. Some of them are distinguished by their rare range and predominant distribution on Russian territory. These species include sable, Siberian roe deer, musk deer, individual forms of red deer — maral and raisin, as well as Siberian ibex and wolverine.
"The abundance of most hunting resources is at a stable level with an upward trend. For example, the population of elk has increased by 61.2% since 2014 and amounted to 1.386 million individuals, roe deer — by almost 81% — 1.597 million, red deer — by 57% — 417.3 thousand, spotted deer has more than doubled to 58 thousand individuals," the ministry said.
The number of brown bears in the country has increased by 40% in 11 years, to almost 304 thousand, wolves — by 13%, to 62.5 thousand individuals, the department added.
The main priorities are the balanced development of the hunting industry, while increasing the number of game animals and protecting biological diversity. These guidelines are laid down in the long-term strategy for the development of the industry until 2035, the document of which is currently being updated by the Ministry of Natural Resources of Russia.
"In addition, the operation of the state information management system in the field of hunting and conservation of hunting resources (GIS "Hunting") on the GOSTECH platform has begun. It will make it possible to systematize the services of the industry, monitor the state of hunting resources, including depending on the effects of natural and anthropogenic factors, and much more," the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment reported.
Careful use
The country has significant natural potential, which provides it with a leading position in terms of renewable resources, Anna Larina, Associate Director of the Sustainable Development Ratings Department at Expert RA, noted in an interview with Izvestia.
In particular, we are talking about forests with a fund of over 800 million hectares, colossal water resources with the maximum number of rivers and lakes in the world, extensive reserves of aquatic biological resources, including valuable commercial fish species, as well as agricultural land exceeding 200 million hectares. The rich resources of the subsurface also play an essential role in this balance.
— To prevent the depletion of natural resources, it is necessary to use them rationally, create conditions for their renewal and self-healing. It is advisable to extract and process them using low—carbon, resource-saving and nature-like technologies," she noted.
According to her, a system of targeted government support plays an essential role in the development of a bioeconomy based on renewable bioresources and modern biotechnological solutions. It is implemented within the framework of existing regulatory documents and mechanisms, including financial instruments such as subsidies, tax breaks and quota allocation.
In the system of national guidelines for the development of Russia until 2036, environmental sustainability, technological primacy and the formation of a stable, developing economy are fixed as priorities of state regulation.
For example, the national project "Ecological Well-being" is aimed at protecting and restoring forests, switching to cyclical management models, reducing air pollution, eliminating unauthorized landfills and improving the health of water bodies.
—Since 2026, a new national project "Technological Support for Bioeconomics" has been launched, aimed at consolidating solutions in the field of biotechnology, renewable bioresources and the creation of new materials through the implementation of three federal projects," the expert recalled.
By 2030, it is planned to increase technological independence in the bioeconomy to 40%, almost double the output and increase the share of Russian biotechnologies in the domestic market to 55%, as well as expand the training of specialists. This requires government support, the development of science and technology, investments and qualified personnel.
Significant potential is also associated with water resources, Nadezhda Zatsarnaya, senior lecturer at the Department of Sustainable Development Finance at Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, told Izvestia. Russia has rich marine areas and inland bodies of water, and the volume of river runoff is about 10% of the world. Additional opportunities are provided by the development of reindeer and camel breeding for the meat and dairy industries.
— Siberia, the Far East and the Arctic are distinguished by unique ecosystems, where rare plants and microorganisms live, — the expert reminded. — This creates the basis for the development of biotechnologies, chemistry and medicine, but requires a reliance on science and a transition from the simple use of raw materials to the production of more complex and expensive products.
At the same time, there are limitations, Nadezhda Zatsarnaya is sure. Despite the large territories suitable for animal husbandry, the area of pastures is decreasing, including due to the economic development of land. This increases costs and complicates the conduct of traditional activities.
"To solve these problems, there are already programs in place to support the agro—industrial complex, farmers and research centers, as well as measures within the framework of food security projects," she noted.
In her opinion, it is important to shift the focus from the export of raw materials to deep processing and the development of biotechnologies in the future. This requires accelerating the implementation of scientific developments, the development of modern industries, the use of digital tools in natural resource management and the training of qualified specialists.
The Ministry of Energy forwarded Izvestia's request to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
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