During on the field work of 2009–2020 years were obtained data on diversity, distribution and occurrence of lichens in the Republic of Dagestan including data on rare and endangered species. Based on them we recommend 24 species for inclusion in the new edition of the red data book of the Republic of Dagestan. Among them, 8 species are included in the red book of the Russian Federation (Leptogium burnetiae, L. hildenbrandii, Letharia vulpina, Lobaria pulmonaria, Nephromopsis laureri, Ricasolia amplissima, Tornabea scutellifera, Usnea florida), 16 species are rare and vulnerable in the region (Anaptychia elbursiana, A. roemeri, Chaenotheca hispidula, Circinaria vagans, Coniocarpon cinnabarinum, Enterographa hutchinsiae, Flavoparmelia soredians, Hypotrachyna laevigata, Inoderma byssaceum, Lecanographa lyncea, Lobarina scrobiculata, Pannaria conoplea, Parmelina quercina, Sclerophora farinacea, Seirophora lacunosa, Usnea articulata). Most of the species (20) were proposed to be included with «Vulnerable» category, 2 species (Leptogium burnetiae, Nephromopsis laureri) with «Near Threatened» and 2 species (Tornabea scutellifera, Usnea florida) with «Least Concern». Most of the lichens recommended on protection are epiphytes and concentrated in forest communities on the Coastal lowland (Samur river Delta), in mountain broad-leaved and mixed forests.

For the first time, an attempt was made to make a taxonomic classification of vascular spore Lycophytes and Pteridophytes of the Western Caucasus based on published phylogenetic data. The proposed classification of vascular spores represents a modern approach to the allocation of taxa of different ranks, which is based on monophilia as the main criterion. The article analyzes the inconsistency of information about pteridoflora according to the data of floral reports for the Caucasus and the region. The summary of spore vascular plants of the Western Caucasus is represented by 2   monophyletic classes, 7 monophyletic orders, 11 families, 31 genera and 74 species. Keys for defining families, subfamilies, genera, and species are provided. The problem is considered Pteridium aquilinum and Pteridium tauricum. New taxa are given: Pteridium pinetorum C. N. Page et Mill, Pteridium aquilinum subsp. brevipes, Dryopteris caucasica, Dryopteris pseudorigida (Christ.) A. Askerov, Dryopteris remota (A. Br. ex Döll) Druce

7 cenopopulations (CP) of a rare species of Crocus speciosus M.Bieb. in Khizi, Guba, Khachmaz regions of Azerbaijan are described, ontogenetic, demographic structure is investigated, the influence of climatic factors on morphometric variability is studied. In the ontogenesis of the studied species, 4 periods and 8 ontogenetic states were distinguished. It was revealed that except CP 1, all cenopopulations are completely, CP 3, CP 6 and CP 7 are transitional, and the others are young type. As a result of the analysis of the spatial and demographic structure of cenopopulations, it was found that the state of the studied cenopopulations is ambiguous. Individuals with the highest height were observed in CP 3 and lower in CP 1. The highest morphometric parameters of the generative organs were observed in CP 5–6. It was found that the most favorable conditions for C. speciosus are the subtropical climate, as well as alluvial-meadow-forest and mountain-gray-brown rich soils. The obtained results allow us to conclude that the altitude and soil-climatic conditions of the areas have a significant effect on the individuals morphometric characteristics of C. speciosus. The smallest anthropogenic impact was noted in CP 1–3, while CP 4–7 are under high anthropogenic pressure due to the expansion of infrastructure in the Caspian coastal zone.

The article describes the main stages of the formation of a system of specially protected natural territories in the Samara region from the end of the 19th century to the present. Due to the uniqueness of the natural complexes of the Samara region, the development of the protected areas system has always required special attention, and in recent years it has become a priority in protecting the region. Despite a rather long period, characterized by the absence of visible measures for the creation and control of protected areas (late 20 — early 21 centuries), in recent years the situation has tended to improve — several new natural monuments of regional significance have been created, protection zones have been formed at some nature monuments of regional significance . Currently, there are 214 protected areas in Samara Oblast, of which 211 are of regional importance.

Based on the results of field works by A.A. Golovlev in July 2017, data on new and noteworthy species for the lichen flora of the Prielbrusiy National Park are presented. The specimens were collected in the Adyl-Su River gorge, Elbrus district, Republic of Kabardino-Balkaria. In total 75 species from 44 genera are listed here with their localities and substrates, and novelties data. Eighteen species are new for the Prielbrusiy National Park, of which twelve were found for the first time in the Kabardino-Balkarian Republic (Aspicilia cf. laevata, Blastenia hungarica, Bryoria vrangiana, Cladonia cyathomorpha, Henrica melaspora, Lasallia rossica, Lecidea promiscens, Normandina pulchella, Parmelina tiliacea, Ramalina pollinaria, Rinodina trevisanii, Rusavskia sorediata). Henrica melaspora is reported for the first time for Caucasus, Cladonia cyathomorpha is new to the Russian Caucasus. Two species (Lecidea promiscens and Rinodina trevisanii) are reported for the first time for the Central Caucasus. The genus Henrica is reported as new to the Caucasus, and the genus Normandina is new for the lichen flora of Kabardino-Balkaria.

We studied variation of morphological characters, ontogenetic structure and vitality of six cenopopulations of Neotinea ustulata within the Kabardino-Balkar Republic in 2017–2019. The studies were conducted in the meadow plant communities under different conditions of anthropogenic load (grazing, recreation). The species presents low phytocenotic plasticity of morphological characters (I_p = 17–46%) and high variation of morphological characters (average value of CV_х¯ср is 22.90%) under changeable conditions of growth. The intensification of growth processes in the individuals with the maximum increase of the cenopopulation vitality (IVC= 1.03–1.08) is observed in the composition of undisturbed meadows. The portion of generative individuals is 60.4–65.2% in ontogenetic spectra, the weak seed reproduction and the low density of cenopopulations (3.38–4.62 ind./m²) is registered. Under the intensification of the anthropogenic load, vitality of cenopopulations (IVC= 0.92–0.95) is decreased; the portion of pregenerative individuals in ontogenetic spectra (77.4–82.7%) and the density of individuals (8.22–12.34 ind./m²) are increased within the meadow with low total projective cover.

In the Samara region to date, there is a need for a closer study of lichen flora. So far, there is no complete list of species of lichens in the region, but only some local territories, often isolated from each other. Although attempts to study this group of organisms have been undertaken for a long time, this issue has not yet been finally resolved. A positive aspect is the publication of the “Identifier of lichens in the Samara region”. In the work of V.G. Tsurikova and E.S. Korchikova presented the original key for determining leafy, bushy and mucus species, accompanied by color photographs that facilitate this determination. The publication also contains a sufficient complete description of lichens (151 species).