Analysis of the non-productive land use in Lithuania

Abstract

The preservation of high-quality agricultural land and its proper use is a relevant task on a global scale. A specific problem is raised by the fact that agricultural land is a limited and a practically non-renewable natural resource. The use of land differs throughout the territory of Lithuania. Some areas are favourable to agriculture, while others are not. Less favoured agricultural areas include territories where agricultural activities are unprofitable due to low soil fertility, areas where the density of the rural population is lower than the national average, and areas where the viability of rural communities is decreasing. When planning the use of land, a priority must be given to the public interest, which also includes preservation and improvement of the land used for agriculture and forestry. It is necessary to harmonize natural (ecological) and agricultural systems, and on that basis it is necessary to economically and legally regulate the growth of production. Human agricultural activity must be adapted to the real natural conditions. Thus the environment would suffer minimum changes.The aim of the article is to conduct a systematic planning analysis of the non-productive land use in Lithuania and to develop a model suggesting the ways how to use the non-productive land.