Formation and Evolution of Basic Geographical Research in the Russian Far East

The stages of development of basic geographical research in the Russian Far East from 1971 to the present are considered. The main fields of scientific studies into the components of the landscape geosphere in the continent–ocean transition zone are shown, and an analysis is made of the natural resource management structures and socioeconomic aspects of the region’s development, including in the transboundary context. Fundamental theoretical and applied research results obtained by Pacific Geographical Institute, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences (PGI FEB RAS), are presented. The studies on the geographical forecast theory, dynamics of geosystems, and territorial economic structures that were originally formulated in the 1970s by A.P. Kapitsa, corresponding member of the Russian Academy of Sciences and the first director of the PGI FEB RAS, are still taking place at the institute. The most important contribution to the further development of the PGI FEB RAS has been made by P.Ya. Baklanov, academician of the RAS, who headed the Institute from 1991 to 2016. In the 1990s, new relevant fields of research, such as studies of the sustainable development issues, dynamics and stability of geosystems of different ranks, and forecasting changes in forest vegetation, appeared, which methodologically continued the forecasting and geographical topics. The study of the role of market-oriented reforms in the transformation of territorial economic structures, migration processes, and foreign economic and geopolitical factors in the development of the Far Eastern region and problems of coastal–marine and transboundary natural resources management began. At the same time, the geographical scopes of the studies covered not only the Russian Far East, but also adjacent regions of Russia, neighboring countries, and vast areas of the Pacific Ocean. The eastward vector of Russia’s contemporary development influenced geographical research in the Far East as well. To form a balanced system of socioeconomic development of the region, research focused on the functional zoning of its territory, master plans for the preparation of settlements, setting up the priorities for transboundary cooperation in the field of sustainable natural resources management, transboundary economic corridors, and the development of green zones in terms of the Northern Sea Route and the New Silk Road conceptions are especially relevant now.