In 2021–2025 within the framework of the state research program “Natural resources and the environment" research was carried out scientific research aimed at gaining new knowledge about the patterns of environmental development in Belarus under the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors, addressing problematic issues related to the conservation and rational use of resources, and restoring damaged ecological systems. This article
briefly outlines the program, its focus, and its structure.

   The focus is on the most important performance indicators for the “Natural resources and their rational use” subprogram, which is part of the program.

   The key results of completed practice-oriented scientific research are presented, along with their practical application and development prospects. Trends in the development of regional fundamental research in the field of natural resource management and environmental protection for the near future are highlighted.

   Long-term changes in atmospheric circulation patterns by B. L. Dzerdzeevskii in the extratropical zone of the Northern Hemisphere and their relationship to global climate were examined. The nature of changes in each of the four circulation groups according to B. L. Dzerdzeevskii for the period from 1899 to 2019 was analyzed. It has been shown that long-term manifestations of changes in the duration of atmospheric circulation groups in the thermal regime are unstable. Based on statistical analysis, the relationships between the durations of aggregated circulation groups and global temperature and surface pressure anomalies in the sectors and latitudinal zones of the Northern Hemisphere during periods of dominance of different circulation groups have been evaluated. The article also examines the possible interaction between different types of circulation and the pause in temperature changes in the Northern Hemisphere during 1998–2013. Changes in the aerosol-gas composition of the atmosphere as a dominant factor in global climate change are considered. The energy imbalance in the climate system in the current century may also be related to changes in the processes of large-scale ocean-atmosphere interactions.

   The aim of the study was to analyze data on the moisture conditions of the territory of Belarus, obtained through assessments of various moisture indicators and to justify the choice of a moisture indicator for interpreting the characteristics of droughts in agroclimatic zoning.

   An analysis was conducted of atmospheric moisture indices for Belarus for the periods 1991–2020 (May – September) and 2000–2022 (May – June). It was found that a high correlation between various indices does not ensure a uniform interpretation of the characteristics of drought events. The values of evaporation calculated using various methods are presented and analyzed. Based on the conducted studies, it is proposed that the aridity index for May – June, which reflects the ratio of precipitation totals to evaporation, be used as an index for atmospheric moisture assessment at this stage of agroclimatic zoning. Aridity index values have been calculated for observation stations and agroclimatic regions; they have been evaluated taking into account adapted moisture gradations, and the characteristics of the aridity index distribution throughout the year have been identified.

   Comprehensive agroecological assessment makes it possible to rationalize the use of natural resources, identify opportunities for adapting agriculture to natural conditions, and find a balance between intensification and ecologization. The paper presents a methodology for the comprehensive assessment of the soil-agroecological potential of agricultural landscapes in Belarus, based on statistical analysis of their characteristics. The methodology is based on a geodatabase that includes agroecological characteristics of 1316 agricultural landscapes across the country. Sequential factor and regression analyses allow for a justified reduction in the number of variables, the development of regression equations for the yield of grain and leguminous crops for the period 1995–2024 with five-year intervals, and the calculation of the index of soil-agroecological potential of agricultural landscapes (ISAP). The highest potential is observed in the Grodno Upland, where it amounts to 112.6 index points, while the lowest is found in the Neshcherdo-Gorodokskaya Upland, with 55.0 index points.

   The article presents the results of a geoinformation assessment of soil vulnerability to water erosion on agricultural lands of the Novogrudok Upland. Based on a comprehensive consideration of relief, soil cover, climate and vegetation, areas with varying degrees of erosion risk were identified. The slope, vertical dissection, LS-factor and topographic wetness index (TWI) were calculated using the FABDEM Copernicus GLO digital elevation model (DEM) in ArcGIS 10.7 and SAGA GIS 7.8.2. Soil conditions were taken into account through the filtration coefficient and Vodogretsky coefficient; climatic indicators were taken into account through the rainfall erosion index (R-factor) and average of the maximum water reserves in snow before snowmelt for 2015–2025. The vegetation cover factor (C) is calculated based on the minimum values of the NDVI vegetation index based on Sentinel-2 space images. The integration of indicators in a raster model made it possible to obtain a map of relative risks and classify soils as weakly, moderately, and strongly eroded using thresholds for LS-factor, vertical dissection of relief and index TWI. It was shown that areas of increased erosion risk are confined to the central part of the uplands and its eastern slopes. The total area of soils subject to water erosion was 20,847.6 ha, with the maximum recorded in the Novogrudok district (9,630.0 ha).

   The article presents the results of a study of the hydrological regime, as well as hydrochemical and hydrobiological parameters of the Zelvyanskoye Reservoir during 2024, in order to support fish stocking activities in accordance with the biological justification developed in 2023. Changes in the hydrological regime were evaluated in relation to seasonal water level regulation. The quantitative and qualitative composition of phytoplankton was analyzed, including the identification of potentially toxic cyanobacterial forms. Based on the collected data, a set of measures was developed improve fish habitats, stabilize fish resources, and enhance the recreational value of the reservoir. The bioreclamation measures proposed by the authors, taking into account the reduction of the degree of overgrowth of the reservoir to a level that is necessary and reasonable, as well as control over the further development of macrophyte vegetation in it, are aimed at increasing the fish productivity of the water body and expanding the species composition of fish attractive to potential tourists, while simultaneously reducing the abundance of less attractive species. Given the characteristics of the fish habitat and the trophic capacity of the reservoir, as well as the recreational orientation of stocking, the following fish species are recommended for introduction: European catfish (in order to form a self-reproducing stock) and pike (to increase the number of predators).

   The paper examines the conditions of wastewater formation entering the municipal sewerage system, categorized by main sources of inflow: domestic wastewater from the population, wastewater from enterprises and organizations, and additional inflow (infiltration). The structure and formation conditions of various wastewater categories are analyzed in detail, along with factors and specific features of their entry into sewer networks. Additional water inflow into this system is classified as organized and unorganized. Based on data from the 1-voda statistical report (Ministry of Natural Resources) “Report on Water Use” for the period 2020–2024, an assessment was made of the volume of additional water inflow into the municipal sewerage system and its impact on the efficiency of municipal wastewater treatment facilities. It was found that the volume of additional water inflow in the analyzed populated areas ranges from 0.82 to 49.66 %. At the same time, when broken down by populated area by population equivalent, the average share of the annual volume of additional inflow by group varies between 20.97 and 24.54 %, which is a fairly large value and indicates a significant share of additional water entering the sewerage system of the populated area and wastewater treatment facilities. The factor analysis did not reveal a direct functional relationship between the amount of additional water inflow and the equivalent capacity of treatment facilities, as well as the annual volume of precipitation, which indicates that the volume of additional water inflow is dominated by organized additional inflow, caused by the imperfection of the accounting system for certain categories of wastewater entering the municipal sewerage system.

   This article presents a comparative assessment of the factors determining the spatial organization of Minsk’s suburban forests: the natural landscape structure of the territory and the city’s organizational influence on natural resource management within its boundaries. The predominant role of the latter is established, manifested in a consistent decrease in the intensity of natural resource management from the city outward and leading to a reverse trend in forest cover: from a minimum of 23 % in the immediate 20-kilometer zone to 44 % in the outer zone (40–60 km). The typological structure of the forests is determined, revealing that more than half are pine forests, which have a high health-improving effect and are favorable for recreational use. The article presents a ranking of the territory by the ecological and recreational significance of forests, based on their effectiveness in fulfilling sanitary, hygienic, water protection, and recreational functions for the city. Four zones are identified: near, middle, peripheral, and the Vileyka Reservoir catchment area. Priority areas for forest protection are identified for each zone. The study revealed the inadequacy of the previous management mechanism for protecting suburban forests, which envisioned the designation of a green zone around the city and the classification of its forests as Group 1 forest management, due to the abolition of this category. An alternative is proposed, which involves transitioning from formally defining the boundaries of the city’s green zone to planning it as part of the suburban zone planning project, with forest management regimes established in accordance with the ecological and recreational ranking of forests.

   The results of the bioclimatic comfort assessment of urbanized areas in Belarus using the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) are presented. For the period 2023–2025, patterns of thermal regime transformation in all urban settlements were identified by comparing them with background meteorological station conditions, based on reanalysis data and modeling of surface parameters (sky view factor, roughness). It was established that the spatial distribution of the index follows geographical zonality (increasing from northeast to southwest), which is disrupted within cities under the influence of land-use patterns. The study demonstrates a prevalence of comfortable conditions (41.0 % of the time) and the absence of extreme stress categories on an annual average; the intra-annual dynamics of the thermal stress structure are also presented. It was revealed that urban development increases UTCI values by an average of 1.3…3.4 °C, which extends the duration of comfortable conditions by 5.7 p. p. Furthermore, a modulation effect on extreme thermal stress was observed. For the first time, it is shown that in the temperate climate of Belarus, urban morphology currently affects the frequency and duration of heat waves during the summer period. The results demonstrate the specific impact of urbanization in temperate latitudes and can be utilized in urban environment planning.

   This article presents the methodology and results of GIS modeling of flow landscape-geochemical systems in the city of Bobruisk using ArcGIS Pro (ArcHydro module).

   The relevance of the study stems from the need to identify migration patterns of chemical elements in an anthropogenically modified urban environment where surface runoff is regulated by utility infrastructure.

   The goal of the study is to identify and map local watersheds within the city as a basis for analyzing flow landscape geochemical systems, identifying, interpreting and predicting anomalies of technogenic substances in urban landscape components.

   The research methodology included processing of digital elevation models (DEM), step-by-step identification of flow directions and accumulation, stream identification, vectorization, manual adjustment of catchment boundaries, linking the resulting polygons to the city's drainage network. Based on GIS modeling results, a map of original naturally conditioned local watersheds in Bobruisk city was created by automatic generation of watershed boundary. This map was integrated with the city drainage network to create a map of current catchment structures. It identified 11 watersheds forming the city landscape-geochemical system.

   The study presents the results of monitoring the chemical composition of atmospheric precipitation and snow cover at the experimental site of the Institute for Nature Management of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in Minsk in 2023. The volume-weighted mean concentrations in precipitation were 0.42 mg S/L for sulfur, 0.31 mg N/L for oxidized nitrogen, and 0.45 mg N/L for reduced nitrogen. In the snow cover during the winter period of 2022–2023, the corresponding values were 0.31, 0.35, and 0.22 mg/L. Atmospheric precipitation was characterized by predominantly neutral conditions (mean pH of 6.12) and reduced mineralization compared to previous years. A synchronous intra-annual variation of sulfur and nitrogen compounds was identified, indicating common emission sources. The influence of meteorological conditions on concentration variability was demonstrated, along with the significant role of local anthropogenic factors in shaping the chemical composition of snow cover. Comparison with data from EMEP monitoring stations showed that the concentrations of major components fall within the range observed in neighboring countries. A long-term decreasing trend in sulfur and nitrogen content was confirmed, despite interannual variability.

   The article presents the results of research on re-watered raised bogs in the Borisovo-Gluss peat district of the peat-and-bog region of large raised and low-lying bogs in the gently undulating ablation plain of Belarus. They included the study of their hydrological regime (high, medium, and low annual values of groundwater levels and the amplitude of fluctuations), hydrochemical regime (total mineralization of groundwater, content of anions and cations, redox potential, and acidity), general technical characteristics of peat (botanical composition and degree of peat decomposition, moisture content, ash content, and carbon dioxide emission and absorption). It was found that after environmental rehabilitation measures, raised-type bogs undergo two stages of restoration of their hydrological and hydrogeochemical regimes. The positive effects of reirrigation, carried out over an area of 2,600 hectares, were observed: a 2.4-fold reduction in ground-water table depth, a reduction in fluctuation amplitude, and a halving of the active horizon. Consequently, the upper layers of the peat deposit were saturated with water, leading to the restoration of the species diversity of the bog phytocoenoses. Currently, pine-dwarf shrub-sphagnum phytocoenoses predominate here, with a total groundwater mineralization of up to 28–57 mg/L and a general hydrological background similar to that of the natural raised bogs of Belarus. Carbon emissions have been replaced by absorption and accumulation in the peat deposit. Thanks to the measures taken, the established hydrological regime of the peatlands will help mitigate the local climate within both the adjacent forest and agricultural areas, as well as ensure a sustainable habitat for biological diversity.

   The article examines issues related to the operational features of the Osipovichi underground gas storage (UGS) facility, conditioned by the complexity of its geological structure. Over many years of operation, natural gas migration from the storage area into overlying horizons has been observed. In these horizons, the gas dissolves in formation waters and concurrently forms low-pressure accumulations, typically within control horizons. In this regard, the primary research focuses on analyzing the methane content in the water-dissolved gases of the control horizons based on geo-ecological monitoring data from the Osipovichi UGS and identifying areas of sporadic gas accumulations within the geological structure. The paper briefly provides information on the geological structure of the UGS facility, incorporating data obtained during its operation.

   Special attention is paid to the storage caprock and the control horizons within its limits.

   The results of geo-ecological monitoring regarding methane content in the water-dissolved gases of the storage’s control horizons are presented as graphs showing temporal variations and spatial distribution. The research findings are aimed at improving the operational efficiency of the Osipovichi UGS by involving low-pressure natural gas accumulations in the control horizons into industrial use.

   This article discusses the possibilities of using geoinformation technologies for three-dimensional modeling of the geological structure and calculating reserves of belt clay deposits. The study was carried out using the example of the site of the Haidukovka deposit in the Minsk region of the Minsk region, with an area of 5.76 km². Based on the analysis of archival drilling materials comprising 195 wells and topographic plans, a spatially linked database of geological data was formed, with a study detail of 29,538.46 m² per well. Digital models of the relief, roof, and bottom of the clay formation were built in the ArcGIS Pro environment using the 3D Analyst module. The surface difference method based on TIN models was used to estimate the volume of minerals and overburden. Quantitative estimates of the geometric volumes of clay strata and overburden have been obtained, and the features of their spatial distribution and ratios have been analyzed. The possibility of using three-dimensional GIS modeling is shown not only for estimating forecast reserves, but also for analyzing actual production and monitoring field development. The application of the surface difference method made it possible to determine the total geometric volume of clay strata within the landfill of the mining allotment, which amounted to 65.44 million m³, as well as the volume of overburden rocks – 23.0 million m³. The ratio of these indicators indicates favorable mining and geological conditions for the development of the deposit. The results of the study confirm the effectiveness of GIS platforms for solving the tasks of preliminary and operational assessment of non-metallic mineral reserves and can be used for design, scientific and educational purposes. The proposed methodology can be recommended for use in design and survey work, in planning the development of deposits of common minerals, as well as for educational and scientific purposes as an example of the integration of modern GIS technologies into the practice of geology and mining sciences.

   The object of the study is the underground waters zones of active and slow water exchange in the interfluence of Viliya Gozovka.

   The aim of the study is to forecast possible contamination of groundwater in case of leaks of radioactive waste (from the Belarusian nuclear power plant (BelNPP) from the place of their burial.

   Research method – numerical modeling of filtering and migration of underground waters.

   For the geomigration modeling of potential groundwater pollution in the inter-Viliya-Gozovka region, a cross-border numerical model of filtration and migration of groundwater on the territory limited by the rivers Viliya, Osmyanka, Losha and Gozovka has been created and calibrated. The model depicts the ground, Dnipro-Soga, Berezina-Dnipro, Brynev and Siluurian-Devonian aquifers. In the center of the modelled area is located the nuclear energy complex BelNPP. The numerical model of the object is implemented on the basis of the software ModTесh CJSC “Geolink” (Moscow). In the created model, the migration of radionuclides into water-bearing rocks was modeled and a quantitative assessment of the potential influence of the source of pollution on groundwater quality was made. Based on the results of geomigration modeling, projected maps of radionuclide activity in groundwater of the groundwater aquifer for 20, 50, 100 and 200 years, and for 300-year period – for groundwater of the groundwater, Dnieper-Sochi, Berezini-Dnieper and Brynev aquifers. The migration of radionuclides along rock plating is extremely slow. The maximum migration rate does not exceed 15.0–17.0 m/year. For 300 years, the source of groundwater pollution has not moved beyond the modelled catchment area.

   Currently, the most efficient method for extracting lake and peat-buried sapropel is hydromechanized excavation with hydraulic transport of the resulting slurry to drying sites.

   The main drawback of this method is the relatively low dry matter content of the sapropel slurry.

   Attempts to increase it have resulted in increased viscosity of the sapropel pulp and, consequently, increased energy consumption for its hydraulic transport through pipes. This article, based on published sources, analyzes various methods for reducing the viscosity of the extracted material. It has been established that the most promising approach is the development of technology and means for mechanically affecting the pulp. It is shown that the use of Geotube geotextile containers in combination with chemical reagents is a promising alternative to existing pulp dewatering methods. This paper also presents the results of laboratory studies on the kinetics of pulp particle sedimentation from carbonate and organic sapropel using the flocculants Bopak A and Aquacrystal+. It was found that the minimum dose of Bopak A flocculant (0.09 g/L) is optimal for carbonate sapropel, reducing the suspended particle concentration in the clarified zone from 30 to 0.26 g/L in 80 seconds (clarification rate of 99.1 %). To achieve the same concentration over the specified period of time, the Aquacrystal+ flocculant was added at a dose of 1.5 g/L. For organic sapropel, both flocculants in the studied dose range did not provide rapid sedimentation: the dry matter concentration in the clarified zone decreased to 7–8 g/L only after 24 hours. These results are explained by differences in the density and colloidal chemical properties of particles of different sapropel types.

   Chemical modification of cellulose-containing raw materials (sawdust and buried wood) with sodium hydroxide was carried out. Based on the analysis of the IR spectra of the original and modified wood, it was found that as a result of treatment with sodium hydroxide, a decrease in the intensity of the absorption bands of carbonyl groups in the area is observed and an increase in the intensity of the absorption bands of carboxylate ions indicates the interaction of the sodium ion with N-carboxylmethyl and N-carboxyl groups. An analysis of the intensity of the absorption band of carbonyl groups in the region of 1740 cm showed a high rate of interaction with the studied wood samples. After 60 minutes of processing, about 80 % of the active groups react. Thermolysis of modified wood samples was carried out at a temperature of 400–500 °C with the ratio of components 1 : 1; 1 : 0,5; 1 : 1,5. It has been established that at an optimal ratio of 1 : 1 components in the studied temperature range, activated carbon with a well-developed micropore system is formed. The adsorption activity of iodine is about 70% and is at the level of commercial analogues of wood.

   A method is proposed to involve unused waste of tobacco factories of Belarus - tobacco dust – in the production of an effective biological preparation of insecticidal action. The technology of preparation production consists in chemical processing of tobacco raw materials, during which biologically active compounds, including alkaloids, are transferred into the solution and secondary chemical processes of synthesis of melanoidin nature compounds with growth-stimulating effect take place. In field experiments high biological efficiency of the preparation against rapeseed flower-eater 69.2–70.7 % seed borer – 52.6–82.1, seed cabbage midge – 41.3–68.2 % was established. Its application provided an increase in oilseed yield of winter rape by 19.1–21.7 %, spring rape – by 17.4–19.3, and an increase in their oil content of 1.1–2.4 %.