Main threats to biodiversity:

• Overgrazing,

• Crop monoculture,

• Spread of plant pests and diseases,

• Lack of protected territories,

• Industrial pollution

• Demographic situation (out migration, health

• Loss of natural and cultural heritage

In Russia arid lands occupy 15% of the total terrigory, which is more than 250 million hectares. They are located in 11 administrative units: Republic of Dagestan, Republic of Kalmykia, Astrakhan, Volgograd, Samara, Saratov, Orenburg, Rosrov regions, Republic of Bashkortostan, Krasnodar and Stavropol krai.

All arid lands could be divided into 5 zones: forest-steppes – 8,1% (more than 138 million hectares), steppes – 4,6% (more than 78 million hectares), dry steppes – 1,2% (22 million hectares), semi-deserts-0,5% (8 million hectares) and deserts (more than 6 million hectares). Meadow-steppes and forest steppes are located at the longitude from 35 degrees East to 120 degrees East. Classical steppes are located at the latitude from 55º33’ degrees South and form the belt descending to Kazakhstan and Mongolia. In the European part of Russia there they extent from the North to the South for more than 1, 5 thousand km and are represented by different types. Usualy they are fragmented by patches of broad-leaved forests. In Western Siberia steppes alternate with pine forests, mixed aspen and birch groves. In the South of Middle and Eastern Siberia steppes are located in the intermountain depressions and at hillsides together with pine and larch forests.
Semi-deserts and deserts of Russia are located near the Caspian Sea and on the South of Tuva in the Ubsunur depression. Their total area is not great.

The diversity of higher vascular plants in arid zone is estimated over 6000 species. Floristic diversity changes significantly from the West to the East and from the North to the South. There is also the vast diversity of animals.

Steppes and forest steppes are transformed heavily by the human activity.

Priority regions for protection are: European sector of meadow steppes (strongly altered), South sector of European dry steppes and semi-deserts (Kalmykia and the South of Volga basin being habitats of saiga), Central Siberian and Transbaikalian dry steppes and semideserts (Tuva, Buryatia, Dauria).