We began a targeted study of the entomofauna of the Chelyabinsk and Kashtak forests in 2007, and in the period from 2010 to 2023 were carried out regularly from spring (May) to autumn (September), annually performing from 5 to 10 expedition trips. In addition, after the publication in 2017 of the second edition of the Red Data Book of the Chelyabinsk Region, we also conducted annual monitoring of the status of populations of protected, rare, and vulnerable species throughout the region. The purpose of this work is to highlight the main results of the study of protected, rare and some little-known insects living in the territories of the natural monuments «Chelyabinsk (urban) forest» and «Kashtaksky forest». The material was collected along regular routes and key areas, including water bodies (streams, rivers, ponds, temporary reservoirs) and coastal biotopes. The length of the routes, depending on weather conditions and specific tasks, ranged from 3 to 15 km. They covered almost all the most typical types of communities, incl. partially transformed by man. We used manual collection, catching using a mowing net, air and water entomological nets. The abundance was determined by adults by direct counting the number of individuals per unit area (within 1 hectare) or count strip. 18 regional Red Data Book species have been identified, belonging to 10 families and 6 orders: in the Chelyabinsk forest there are 12 species from 9 families and 6 orders, in the Kashtak forest there are 11 species from 7 families and 4 orders. These are three species of status category II (declining in numbers) – Anax imperator, Bombus maculidorsis, B. pratorum, 14 species of status category III (rare) – Ophiogomphus cecilia, Leucorhynia caudalis, Sago pedo, Ranatra linearis, Parnassius apollo, Bombus distinquendus, B. hypnorum, B. lucorum, B. muscorum, B. serrisquama, B. terrestris, B. veteranus, Megachila rotundata, Bombylius major and one species of status category IV (uncertain status) – Laphria gibbosa. We classified 26 species from 15 families and 7 orders as rare and little-known (little studied). We consider Anas parthenope, Aeschna isosceles, Decticus verrucivorus, Meloe proscarabaeus, Iphiclides podalirius, Pieris brassicae, Glaucopsyche alexis, Apatura iris, Limenitis camilla, L. populi, Euphydryas maturna, Vanessa atalanta, Aglia tau, Oeneis tarpeja, rare. Megarhyssa perlata, Rhyssa persuasoria, Conops flavifrons. Little-known species, the biology and ecology of which have not been sufficiently studied (not only in forest conditions) are Libellula fulva, Sympetrum pedemontanum, Scaphidium quadrimaculatum, Ostoma ferruginea, Peltis grossa, Raphidia ophiopsis, Coenonympha hero. The only possible inhabitants of the Chelyabinsk Forest are the Chazara briseis and the Coenonympha oedippus, but this seems doubtful. A considerable number of «Red Data Book» species indicates that today, despite experiencing significant anthropogenic impact, our forests are still reserves of biodiversity and provide the necessary conditions for life even for species included in the Red Data Book of the Russian Federation (2021): Anax imperator (category 5), Saga pedo (category 2), Parnassius apollo (category 2). Seven species living in forests are also protected in regions neighboring the Chelyabinsk region – in the Republic of Bashkortostan (3 species), Kurgan (6), Orenburg (2), Sverdlovsk (3) regions.