The article describes the history of botanical geography formation, history of Department of biogeography and nature protection at St. Petersburg State University since 1918. The names of the most famous scientists associated with the department (N. I. Kuznetsov, N. A. Bush, A. A. Korchagin-botanist-geographer who headed the Department for more than 30 years, E. V. Rubilin, who headed the sector of soil science at the Department, et al.) remembered. The main areas of scientific research conducted at the Department are briefl y described: phytocenotic, botanical-geographical mapping and zoning, phytoindicational, paleobotanical. Prospects of Department development outlined. Expeditions, which involved members of the department and the students, are listed. Department graduates, working in diff erent cities of the country, made a significant contribution to the development of Russian science. Refs 25.