Abstract
Background. The article presents a comprehensive analysis of the history of flora and vegetation studies within the city of Karaganda, one of the largest industrial centers in Central Kazakhstan. Materials and methods. It examines the main stages of the development of botanical and geobotanical research – from the first descriptive works of the early 20th century to contemporary urban ecological studies. The article highlights the significant impact of coal industry development, intensive urbanization, and increased anthropogenic pressure on the transformation of the natural vegetation cover of the region. Special attention is given to changes in the species composition of the flora, the reduction of natural steppe community areas, and the formation of synanthropic and introduced vegetation. Results. The results of scientific studies on landscaping, land reclamation, and biodiversity conservation in an industrial city are summarized. Conclusions. The conclusions emphasize the relevance of further comprehensive research on the flora of Karaganda, the need for regular ecological monitoring, and the development of scientifically grounded measures for the conservation and restoration of vegetation cover.