Natural Resource Zoning of the Far Eastern Macro-region of Russia

Abstract

A natural resource zoning of the Far Eastern macro-region within the boundaries of the modern Far Eastern Federal District (Okrug) has been carried out. The zoning is based on identifying territorial combinations of natural resources from the presence of two types of inter-resource links: direct and indirect links of resourcecontaining components in natural geosystems, and indirect links of resource-containing components through components of territorial socio-economic systems that are formed in the process of extraction and development of natural resources. The following algorithm for natural resource zoning was worked out and used. On the basis of physical-geographical zoning, a relatively integral natural geosystem is identified, in which resourcecontaining components are distinguished, including areas of land and forest resources. Next, geosystem interresource links are determined, including the links of certain natural resources with the largest ones. As a result, the territorial combinations of natural resources existing in this natural geosystem are revealed. After that, the inter-resource relations, formed in the process of extraction and use of certain natural resources through transport links and settlements, are determined. Taking them into consideration, the more complete territorial combinations of natural resources as the basis for natural resource areas are distinguished. In coastal areas, in-land natural resources can be interrelated with marine natural resources. This means that the maritime boundaries of such areas remain open.