Addressing the Russian National Strategy for biodiversity conservation the work under thematic programs agrees with main principles of the ecosystem approach and includes the following objectives:

• Conservation and restoration of natural ecosystems, maintenance of their environment forming functions;
• Maintenance of natural processes underlying development of natural ecosystems;
• Conservation and restoration of the ecologically balanced social-cultural complexes;
• Conservation and restoration of the abiotic environment.

The following ecosystems are of key importance while realization of the CBD thematic programs:

• Forests - the most important factor supporting biosphere processes, including prevention of adverse climatic changes, renewable source of raw material. In Russia forests always were one of the basic components of the national wealth.
• Steppes and forest-steppes - the main source for agricultural products and the most vulnerable, being under extinction natural and semi-natural complexes. Extensive farming followed by landuse structure changes, pollution e.t.c. lead to their severe transformation. Biodiversity conservation of natural ecosystems and stable natural-cultural complexes of the arid zone is an indispensable prerequisite for future wellbeing.
• Mountains cover approximately a quarter of Russia's territory: they occure in 43 out of the 89 administrative units. Mountain ecosystems play a unique role in the maintenance of global biodiversity, are characterized by an extremely high species and ecosystem diversity, inluding endemics, give home to a variety of historical-cultural complexes with unique traditions and resources utilization practices, but at the same time are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic influences.
• Marine and coastal ecosystems and habitats are home to many rare and disappearing species of plants and animals included in Red Book of Russia. At the same time they are subject to strong technogenic impact.  
• Peatlands occupy over 20% of the territory of Russia. They provide the variety of ecosystem services including maintenance of biological diversity and regulation of the global carbon and water balance. Peatland ecosystems support high species diversity, are now changed significantly and requires special attention for conservation and management.
• Russian agrobiodiversity is not only the valuable nature heritage but a source of the majority of agricultural products and profits for the most fragile social group – peasants accounting not less than 30% of the total population. Agricultural lands accounts in Russia for about 222 mln.ha (1999). They possess exclusively rich and valuable biodiversity making a significant share of European agrobiodiversity. Status of the Russian agrobiodiversity is very important for the stable and long-term conservation of many species and ecosystems.

• Arctic including polar, tundra and forest-tundra ecosystems is a key region for maintenance of national interests and sustainable development of the whole circumpolar region. Russia is responsible for the Arctic biodiversity conservation and sustainable livelihood of indigineus peoples of the Northern Eurpasia.  In our days populations of many Arctic plants and animals, habitats and ecosystems are in critical condition and require urgent protective measures at the federal level.