AN EFFICIENT USE OF DEGRADED AND LOW-YIELDING AGRICULTURAL LANDS: PLANNING ASPECT

Abstract

Introduction. One applies a significant area of land with degraded and low-yielding soils for intensive agricultural use in Ukraine. It is economically impractical and environmentally unsafe. One of the tasks of sustainable development of the nation is to achieve a neutral state of land cover to stop the processes of land degradation and boost their productivity restoration. This fact requires the development of scientific and methodological approaches to the multifunctional land use to achieve a balance between the economy, society, and the biosphere. The purpose. The aim of the study is to develop methodological and practical recommendations for organizing the use of degraded and low-yielding agricultural lands, considering the conceptual goals of landscape planning. Results. Concerning the authors’ views, the efficient use of degraded and low-yielding agricultural land involves the formation of a system of land use that provides restoration, preservation, and maintenance of the natural capital of territories and corresponding ecosystem functions and services. In this context, one has discussed the expediency of landscape planning at the local level, as an essential tool for the sustainable management of land resources. One has proposed to make integrated decisions concerning the analysis of social and economic as well as landscape and ecological conditions of territories, defining nature protection objectives for the optimization of land use and landscapes, which are based on the assessment of sensitivity to existing and planned activities. Considering the analysis and assessment of landscape and ecological conditions, one has recommended carrying out land zoning, identifying types and subtypes of land use, and determining regulations for the use of areas with degraded and low-yielding soils. An important prerequisite for such an approach is public discussions with the involvement of experts in the field of nature use and protection. Conclusions. Landscape planning is of vital importance to solve the problems of the use of degraded and low-yielding agricultural lands, as it shifts from prevailing industry and functional approaches to ecosystems approach concerning making landscape management decisions on a sustainable development basis. Keywords: land use, degraded and low-yielding soils, landscape planning, land zoning, natural capital.