Russian President, Vladimir Putin, approved the honorary title "The Distinguished Geographer of the Russian Federation"; the corresponding decree is published on the official website of legal information. The decree comes into force on the day of its signing, December 6th.
Earlier, Vladimir Putin ordered the government to establish Geographer’s Day on August 18th, as well as draft a decree establishing the title of The Distinguished Geographer.
“To establish the honorary title “The Distinguished Geographer of the Russian Federation”. To approve the attached regulation about the honorary title “The Distinguished Geographer of the Russian Federation,” the document says.
The honorary title "The Distinguished Geographer of the Russian Federation" is awarded to highly professional specialists in the field of geography for personal merits. Among them are the merits in geographical discoveries; in conducting scientific expeditions and research, as a result of which, new and extremely important information in the field of geography was obtained; in creating geographical catalogs, atlases, popular science publications, reference books, written in languages including those of the peoples of the Russian Federation; in the preparation and implementation of strategic planning documents to improve the deployment system of productive forces in the Russian Federation; in popularizing the achievements of the geographical science of the Russian Federation and in training qualified personnel in geography.
It should be noted, that the honorary title "The Distinguished Geographer of the Russian Federation", as a rule, is awarded no earlier than after 20 years since the start of professional activity; and to those, who already have awards.