Viktor Ivanovich Parfenov (b. 23.09.1934, v. Prudki, Pochinki District, Smolensk Region, Russia), botanist, ecologist. Academician of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (1986; corresponding member since 1980), Doctor of Biological Sciences (1975), Professor (1988). Honored Scientist of the Republic of Belarus (2000). Member of the liquidation of the accident at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
The main works on floristics, phytogeography, geobotany, ecology, systematics and evolution of plants. Created a modern Belarusian floristic school. Established patterns of growth and productivity of phytocenoses, features of the biology of plant species and populations in optimal and extreme conditions. For the first time, he theoretically and experimentally substantiated and solved the problem of a plant species at the boundaries of an area. He conducted a biosystematic study of individual species and genera of the Belarusian flora, studied the patterns of modern anthropogenic changes in flora and vegetation. He developed theoretical and practical bases for the protection of the biodiversity of the plant world of the republic and the organization of a system of protected objects. They proposed the principles of the ecologically optimal component of natural, disturbed and transformed ecosystems, substantiated new theoretical approaches to the evolution of higher plants, investigated the patterns of migration of radionuclides in natural and vegetable complexes.
Author of over 450 scientific papers, incl. more than 50 monographs and individual publications.
State Prize of the BSSR in 1972 for a series of works on the study of vegetation in Belarus, Prize of the National Academy of Sciences of Belarus in 2011 in the field of biology for the series of works “Moss-like as an integral component of the biodiversity of the plant world of Belarus” (co-author)
Awarded with the Order of Friendship of Peoples (1981), the Medal of Francis Skaryna (2009), the Gold Medal of the European Scientific and Industrial Chamber (Belgium, Brussels) (2013), the Diploma of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus (2014).