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This paper presents an overview of main research activities and obtained results of Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKI RAS) in the area of Russia’s vegetation cover mapping methods based on satellite Earth remote sensing data. A historical overview of the main stages of the methodology development and specific features of automated methods of mapping vegetation cover from satellite data developed by IKI RAS is presented. A description of thematic maps that have been produced up to date based on satellite data for the territory of Russia, characterising spatial distribution of land cover types and arable lands as well as dominant tree species and growing stock volumes of forests is presented. Promising research and development areas in the field of vegetation cover satellite monitoring methods are analyzed considering new technical capabilities of remote sensing systems.