In the late of 1960s, with the initiative of Academician of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan Narzikulov M.N. and Professor Stanyukovich K.V., a department for environmental protection and rational use of natural resources was created within the Academy of Sciences. Candidate of Biological Sciences Sapozhnikov G.G. was appointed head of the department.
In October 1990, candidate of economic sciences Mukhabbatov Kh.M. was elected head of the department. In 1991, by decision of the Presidium of the Academy of Sciences, the name of the department was changed to "Department of Geography and Ecology".
The Department of Geography and Ecology had 5 laboratories equipped with modern equipment. The department organized numerous expeditions to all corners of Tajikistan.
In 1973, after the eruption of the Kherson glacier, a glaciology and meteorology laboratory was created as part of the department by a decree of the Council of Ministers of Tajikistan. Well-known glaciologists (Sokolov G., Finaev A., and others) worked in the department. The laboratory staff mainly studied the glaciers of the Pamirs, the mountains of Zarafshan and Turkestan.
In 1995, changes occurred in the structure of the Academy. The Department of Geography and Ecology, the Department of Genetics and the Council for the Study of Productive Forces were abolished, and a new structure was created on their basis - the Institute of Demography.
The abolition of the Department of Geography and Ecology led to the transfer of specialists in the fields of glaciology, waters and meteorology from the Academy of Sciences to other scientific institutions and universities.
In 2011, by order of the President of the Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, Academician M.I. Ilolov, the Department of Geography was re-established under the Presidium of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan.
In 2021, by the order of the President of NAST, Academician Farhod Rahimi, the name of the Department of Geography was changed to the Department of Geography and Remote Sensing under the NAST Presidium, which continues its activities to this day.
