Great Rivers of the BRICS Countries: Status and Problems  

Gennady S. Rozenberg, Doctor of biological sciences, professor, corresponding member of RAS, chief researcher, Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin of the RAS – Branch of the Samara Federal Research Center of the RAS (10 Komzina street, Togliatti, Russia), E-mail: genarozenberg@yandex.ru
Natalia V. Kostina, Doctor of biological sciences, senior research scientist, Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin of the RAS – Branch of the Samara Federal Research Center of the RAS (10 Komzina street, Togliatti, Russia), Е-mail: knva@pochta.ru
Galina E. Kudinova, Candidate of economical sciences, associate professor, senior research scientist, Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin of the RAS – Branch of the Samara Federal Research Center of the RAS (10 Komzina street, Togliatti, Russia), E-mail: GKudinova@yandex.ru
Anastasia G. Rozenberg, Candidate of biological sciences, research scientist, Institute of Ecology of the Volga River Basin of the RAS – Branch of the Samara Federal Research Center of the RAS (10 Komzina street, Togliatti, Russia), E-mail: chicadivina@yandex.ru

Background. Clean fresh water is a renewable resource, the value of which is con stantly increasing. The possibility of cooperation between the BRICS countries in solving water and environmental problems of the great river basins – the Amazon, Volga, Ganges, Yangtze and Orange – is considered. Materials and methods. They are compared by a number of geographical parameters (length, basin area, volume of water resources, etc.). It is shown that these rivers are similar to varying degrees in many parameters of anthropogenic impact(pollution, regulation, uncontrolled use, urbanization, etc.). The BRICS countries exceed the G7 countries in fresh water reserves by more than 2.3 times; In terms of fresh water con sumption per capita, the G7 countries are 10 times higher than the BRICS countries. Results and conclusions. Using the Volga and Yangtze as examples, a methodology for comparing the socio-ecological-economic systems of the basins is proposed. A conclusion is made about the need for such a comparison of the great rivers of the BRICS.

commonwealth of states, river basin, Amazon, Volga, Ganges, Yangtze, Orange, natural resources, fresh water reserves

Rozenberg G.S., Kostina N.V., Kudinova G.E., Rozenberg A.G. Great Rivers of the BRICS Countries: Status and Problems. Izvestiya vysshikh uchebnykh zavedeniy. Povolzhskiy region. Estestvennye nauki = University proceedings. Volga region. Natural sciences. 2024;(3):71–85. (In Russ.). doi: 10.21685/2307-9150-2024-3-7