ISSUE ON LAND DEGRADATION IN KAZAKHSTAN

Abstract

The scientific article is dedicated to the pressing issue of land degradation, which is observed and studied by the global scientific community, including Kazakhstani scientists. The classification and study of the state of degraded territories are of paramount importance as they are linked to further monitoring of the problem, determining the financial costs of implementing protective measures, and promoting sustainable development of these landscapes. It has been established that more than 90% of agricultural lands in Kazakhstan are subject to degradation processes, and this indicator varies depending on the type of land and their spatial distribution. When monitoring pastures, data from the Terra and Aqua satellites were used to determine the degradation of pastures. Based on the results of comparing the degree of damage to pastures obtained by remote methods and on the basis of ground surveys, it was found that the reliability of the correct determination of a weak degree of damage corresponds to 75%, an average degree of damage - 85% and a severe degree of damage - 90%. The authors of the article propose a classification of Kazakhstan's lands according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and identify types of land degradation in Kazakhstan according to the «Wocat». The identified patterns of degradation processes in the territory of Kazakhstan are classified according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change levels. Directions for enhancing the sustainability of agricultural lands are determined based on classification criteria. The materials of this scientific research are recommended for use in land resource management and the development of agro-, phyto-, and agroforestry measures aimed at increasing the sustainability of desert agro-landscapes in Kazakhstan.