The topic of the Summer School was chosen to raise young scientists’ awareness of topical issues in sustainable development on a broad-scale landscape level. The subject became particularly relevant in 2016 when the UN released its sustainable development goals to be achieved by 2030.

For the last 10-15 years the issue has been actively studied both in Russia and abroad as part of the broader subjects of landscape science and landscape ecology. However, approaches to the subject differ significantly. Scientists in other countries tend to study landscape as a socio-ecological system, with the most relevant issue in landscape sustainability being its capacity for resilience. In Russian geography and ecology, despite a rich tradition of geo- and ecosystem sustainability research, tracing back several decades, this particular aspect is yet to receive due attention. The School offers the opportunity to examine different approaches to issues in sustainable landscape development for the mutual benefit of Russian and international landscape science.