From studying the properties and functions of land and soil to assessing their ecosystem services: a review

Abstract

The content of the article is based on the results of an analytical review of foreign and domestic scientific and applied research, as well as the author’s own developments on the specific features and the role of land and soil in the provision of ecosystem services. The latter are the benefits and goods that people receive as a result of the functioning and economic use of soil and land resources, contributing to the improvement of their well-being, as well as the sustainable existence of terrestrial ecosystems. The dualist role of land and soil performing, on the one hand, economic, environmental, sanitary and hygienic, territorial-organizational and other functions, on the other hand, being a recognized form of natural capital with an accumulated stock of value, is considered. It is proposed despite the physical unity of land and soil, when valuing them, be considered separately, determining the value of soil from the standpoint of their ecological functions, and the land – the spatial basis, life support and habitat, and also as an integral part of utility and profitability of land use. The possibilities of assessing land and soil ecosystem services are analysed on the basis of the concept of their common economic value and the prospects for applying its results in environmental management practice and statistical accounting of the natural capital.