Land Protection Measures Research Articles

Снятие плодородного слоя почвы недропользователем: концептуальные правовые вопросы

The legal qualification of the actions of the subsoil user on removal of the fertile soil layer is investigated In the article. These actions are the land protection measures and also are included in the complex of technical measures for land reclamation. In the process of work aimed at preparing the use of subsoil, it becomes especially important to understand the removal of the fertile soil layer as the responsibility of a special subject. Conclusion: it is necessary to develop the legal regulation of land relations in the area under study at the federal level so that the rules for carrying out such work become unified and as close in content as possible to the specifics of subsoil use in different situations. It is necessary to resolve the conceptually significant issue of the need and justification for the rule on obtaining a permit for work related to soil disturbance, which is in regional and municipal regulatory legal acts. The author substantiated her opinion that the rules for land protection are fully taken into account in the technical project and the land reclamation project, when its development is required by law.

Coordinated development of cultivated land use and ecological protection in cities along the main stream of the Yellow River in Henan Province, China

The protection and sustainable management of cultivated land are cornerstones of ensuring ecological balance. In implementing cultivated land protection policies, spatially defined land-use strategies can aid in the sustainable utilization of these land resources. Yet, recent agricultural activities have affected the water quality of the Yellow River and pose a significant challenge to the Yellow River basin. Many policy considerations have overlooked the ecosystem integrity. To address this oversight, we targeted cities bordering the main course of the Yellow River in Henan Province and constructed an ecological security pattern (ESP) defined by “five zones, one belt, multiple corridors, multiple points” to coordinated development cultivated land use and ecological protection. Ecological sources were identified via four ecosystem services (ESs) and the ordered weighted average (OWA) method. The ESP was built using the minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model and circuit theory, while cultivated land protection and natural development scenarios were simulated using the FLUS model. The results showed that the cultivated land protection scene under ecological security pattern restriction (ESPR-CP) was beneficial to the ecological environment. Prior to enacting cultivated land protection measures, developments within priority conservation areas should be restricted. Cultivable areas should be at the forefront of stringent land protection policies. In addition, cultivated land situated along key ecological corridors and pinch points should improve in soil quality while prohibiting conversion to other types of land use, and the conversion of cultivated land in barriers to green space should be promoted further. This study provided a theoretical basis for how the government may enforce the cultivated land protection policy while promoting ecological protection, and it is also relevant to other areas located on both sides of the river.

Spatio-temporal evolution and prediction of carbon storage in Kunming based on PLUS and InVEST models.

Carbon storage is a critical ecosystem service provided by terrestrial environmental systems that can effectively reduce regional carbon emissions and is critical for achieving carbon neutrality and carbon peak. We conducted a study in Kunming and analyzed the land utilization data for 2000, 2010, and 2020. We assessed the features of land utilization conversion and forecasted land utilization under three development patterns in 2030 on the basis of the Patch-generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model. We used the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model to estimate changes in carbon storage trends under three development scenarios in 2000, 2010, 2020, and 2030 and the impact of socioeconomic and natural factors on carbon storage. The results of the study indicated that (1) carbon storage is intimately associated with land utilization practices. Carbon storage in Kunming in 2000, 2010, and 2020 was 1.146 × 108 t, 1.139 × 108 t, and 1.120 × 108 t, respectively. During the 20 years, forest land decreased by 142.28 km2, and the decrease in forest land area caused a loss of carbon storage. (2) Carbon storage in 2030 was predicted to be 1.102 × 108 t, 1.136 × 108 t, and 1.105 × 108 t, respectively, under the trend continuation scenario, eco-friendly scenario, and comprehensive development scenario, indicating that implementing ecological protection and cultivated land protection measures can facilitate regional ecosystem carbon storage restoration. (3) Impervious surfaces and vegetation have the greatest influence on carbon storage for the study area. A spatial global and local negative correlation was found between impervious surface coverage and ecosystem carbon storage. A spatial global and local positive correlation was found between NDVI and ecosystem carbon storage. Therefore, ecological and farmland protection policies need to be strengthened, the expansion of impervious surfaces should be strictly controlled, and vegetation coverage should be improved.

Temporal and Spatial Differentiation of Cultivated Land and Its Response to Climatic Factors in Complex Geomorphic Areas—A Case Study of Sichuan Province of China

Analyzing the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of cultivated land in complex geomorphic areas is significant in evaluating the agricultural farming environment and formulating cultivated land protection measures. This study extracted cultivated land information based on multi-source remote sensing data, and analyzed the geomorphic differentiation of cultivated land distribution and climate response from 2000 to 2020 using the Gini coefficient, spatial autocorrelation analysis and geographic detector. The results show that cultivated land is mainly distributed in low-altitude hills and low-altitude small undulating mountains, and secondarily in low-altitude alluvial and proluvial plains and platforms. Moreover, from 2000 to 2020, the cultivated land in the high-altitude and high-altitude undulating mountains and medium and high-altitude undulating mountains in the Northwest Plateau of Sichuan showed an upward trend, while the cultivated land in the Sichuan Basin mainly increased from the north and south to the middle of the basin. In addition, the highest temperature has the strongest ability to explain the spatial heterogeneity of cultivated land. From the calculation results of the influence coefficient of a single climatic factor and the combined effect of multiple climatic factors, the main factors that affect the distribution of cultivated land are different in different geomorphological regions. Finally, it is proposed to formulate a long-term strategy for agricultural production to adapt to climate change in complex geomorphic areas in order to reduce the negative impact of environmental change on agricultural production.

Legislative provision of regulation in the field of land use and protection

The current state of legislative support in the field of land use and protection is analyzed. It is established that the legal framework in this area, especially with regard to the powers of executive authorities and local governments, is characterized by a lack of system, clarity and specificity, which is a significant obstacle to the practical implementation of land protection measures. It is proved that the improvement of legislative support in the research area should be carried out by systematizing the relevant powers of executive authorities and local governments, filling existing gaps, eliminating unnecessary layers and conflicts in laws and regulations. The need to eliminate the dispersion and duplication of powers of executive authorities and local governments in the field of land use and protection to improve the efficiency of their activities in this area by making appropriate changes and additions to legislation. To this end, it is proposed to concentrate norms on similar powers of different ministries, services, inspections, local governments and local administrations in this area in one legislative act, and to strengthen state control over land use and protection, regardless of category and form of ownership, to restore the State Land Inspectorate. Ukraine with the granting of appropriate powers.

Normative and law regulation of land protection in the process of land reform

The current state of the regulatory framework in the field of land protection is analyzed; such regulatory framework is designed to ensure the regulation of land protection measures in the agricultural sector of the economy. The declarative, fragmentary and unsystematic nature of most of the norms of national environmental legislation on land protection, along with the lack of adequate financial support, results in the low volume of actually implemented land protection measures. The latter, in turn, is the cause of a significant spread of degradation processes, deterioration of soil quality, reduced productivity of agricultural landscapes.It is proved that the only mechanism to ensure reliable protection of agricultural lands from harmful anthropogenic impact is land management, which provides improvement of land relations, planning and organization of rational use and protection of land at all levels from national to economic. The necessity of developing the National Program of Land Use and Protection as the main legislative act of strategic direction in this area is substantiated, making changes and additions to legislative acts on the content and structure of land protection measures, elaboration and approval at the legislative level of norms in land protection and soil fertility reproduction.

ECOLOGIZATION AS A BASIS OF STATE REGULATION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL LAND USE FORMATION

The article analyzes the ecological condition of lands and identifies the main problems of greening of land use in the Kharkiv region. Deterioration of the ecological condition of agricultural lands, weakening of their anti-erosion resistance, violation of the optimal structure of lands, reduction of the content of humus and basic nutrients lead to a decrease in land productivity. In general, the current state of environmental safety of lands is quite unsatisfactory, so it significantly reduces the quality and volume of agricultural production. A scientific and methodological approach to the state regulation of ecologically sustainable agricultural land use is proposed, which is aimed at preserving and reproducing the quality of land through ecological sustainability through a set of reclamation measures. Studies have shown that 38.1 thousand hectares of land in Kharkiv region need the creation of protective forest plantations, silting – 58.5 thousand hectares and liming – 82.0 thousand hectares. The proposed types of work must be performed on an area of 178.6 thousand hectares, including 35.72 thousand hectares - annually (for a period of five years). Execution of all these works requires significant financial costs, so it is advisable to carry them out in stages. The main source of reclamation work should be the state budget. In general, chemical reclamation measures should be financed by landowners and land users and only partially by local budgets. The above measures are in line with the principles of the draft Concept of the State Target Program for Land Relations and National Geospatial Data Infrastructure in Ukraine for the period up to 2030, which aims to identify and implement key areas of public policy aimed at improving land relations and creating conditions for sustainable land use, as well as the preservation of natural values of agricultural landscapes. However, the implementation of large-scale land protection measures, which require significant accumulation of funds, requires the development of regional land protection programs, which may include the above studies. Key words: agricultural land use, state regulation, sustainable development, ecologization.

ОСНОВНІ ПОКАЗНИКИ ОЦІНКИ ЗЕМЛІ ЯК НЕВІД’ЄМНИЙ СКЛАДНИК ЗЕМЕЛЬНОЇ РЕФОРМИ В УКРАЇНІ

The article investigates the main environmental problems of land use, characterizes the current level of land use in Ukraine. The basic economic indicators characterizing the state of land use are analyzed. The article analyzes the approaches to assessing the effectiveness of management and utilization of land potential of the country. The problems that have arisen in the sphere of land resources management and land management have been investigated and have led to the present difficult state. The current state of land resources is analyzed. The dynamics of land fund change was investigated, land protection measures were evaluated. It is established that the economic assessment of land should be carried out according to the following characteristics: land productivity; land use efficiency; yield per unit area. It is investigated the factors affecting the price of land and found that the price of land is directly proportional to the value of land rent. Theoretical aspects of land rent are investigated. It is proved that in the conditions of further reform of economic relations it is advisable to improve the mechanism of land lease and private ownership. A number of measures have been proposed to increase the responsibility of land users for preserving soil fertility and their ecological status. In particular, the introduction of a land passport, the formation of a competitive environment, greening use of leased land and other. The necessity to improve existing methodological approaches to determining the normative monetary valuation of agricultural lands is substantiated. Find out that increasing the objectivity of land valuation should be the basis for shaping the land market in Ukraine. The main arguments «pros» and «cons» the lifting of the land moratorium was considered and analyzed. It was found out that the decision to open the land market in Ukraine should be balanced and based on taking into account the main economic indicators of determining its valuation both in our country and in comparison, with the developed countries of the world. It is was convinced that the opening of the land market in Ukraine should be preceded by well-grounded changes in the legislation, clear calculations, and mistakes made by other states.

Study on the variation of arable land use and management countermeasures under rapid urbanization: the application of a gravity model in a regional perspective.

Scientifically determining the characteristics of arable land use in different regions is significant in promoting arable land protection. Most studies on the changes in arable land focus on an isolated analysis of the impact of urban development on arable land. Studies on the influence mechanism of regional spatial forces in different cities from the macro perspective are limited. A gravity model and ArcGIS spatial analysis methods were used to analyze the characteristics and driving mechanisms of arable land changes in different urban function orientations from the perspective of interregional economic interaction. We hope to provide guidance for the establishment of arable land protection in a similar city circle. The results indicated the following: (1) During the study period, the geographic range of arable land with strong dynamic changes (average annual change exceeding 1.5%) gradually widened from the core area to the surrounding area, while the annual change rate decreased. (2) There is a strong correlation between the change in arable land use and the scope of gravitational action. The dynamic changes in arable land in areas with strong gravitational relationships with the core area are strong, while in the weak gravitational areas that are less affected by the core area, the average annual rate of change is nearly below 1%. (3) In the 10-year study period, the overall changing trend of the radiation circle in the core area expanded. The gravitational value where the breaking point falls within its own administrative division is more related to the change of its arable land area, and the greater the gravitational attraction is, the more likely the correlation. In a city circle, it is essential to both protect arable land resources and promote coordinated economic development. Future research on arable land utilization in different city circles should consider overall area development. Different functional areas can be determined by calculating the gravitational value, then regional development potential and key development types can be determined, and arable land protection measures can be optimized based on these functional areas.

Environmental Policy and Land Management in Rural Areas of Ukraine

The research studies the issue of ecological stability of rural territories that is the most important component of the national environmental policy of Ukraine. A special attention is paid to degradation of arable lands as the main ecological problem of land management. On the example of Lviv region, the authors calculated the index of ecological nonconformity of current use of arable lands, proving a considerable excess of permissible ploughing of lands in the region. The carried analysis confirms that no measures were performed concerning land protection, including conservation that in the recent years. In this context it is necessary to improve land resources management on the basis of sustainable development. Integration is considered to be the main principle of land resources management. The research proves that solution of ecological problems of land management requires achievement of a set of coordinated targets concerning development of rural territories, land resources management and national environmental policy based on the principles of suitable development. The targets include: planning of land use outside settled areas on the landscape and ecological basis; land inventory; formation of the land bank of agricultural lands; development and support of alternative kinds of activity on rural area; development of an efficient mechanism to encourage performance of land protection measures; improvement of environmental responsibility of population and development of ecological education. The methodological basis of the research is the concept of sustainable development, which expects support for a continuous character of development in order to meet the current needs along with ensuring the needs of future generations. The fulfilment of the task requires examination of scientific works on the issue of sustainable management of land resources and an ecological component of rural territory development.

Optimization of land use in accordance with the general ekological criteria in contaminated

In the paper all the main positive and negative factors in particular the rational use and protection of land are analyzed. The system of common environmental criteria optimization of land use in terms of radiation contamination is presented. The order and sequence of application of common environmental criteria of optimal land use in terms of radiation contamination are determined. Rational use and protection of land large scientific-technical, social, economic, and environmental issue of our time, the solution of which depends achieve both economic and social goals of our society. This is primarily due to the exceptional role of land in the production of wealth, constraint, and the inability to replace land resources and anthropogenic environmental changes in large areas, causing activation of soil erosion, creating man-made landscapes, flooding, and flooding large areas of land pollution products and waste industrial production, radionuclides, chemicals. The feature of the land is also not the same quality and fertility of different plots, property continuously improved when used properly. The Chernobyl disaster a substantial part of the territory of Ukraine dangerous radiation situation, about 20% of the long term are the basis for the manifestation of small doses of radiation is created. This necessitates the analysis of areas of land for their suitability for agricultural production. Significant impact on agricultural production in many regions of Ukraine were consequences of the Chernobyl disaster. Thus, about 20% of Ukraine have a long-term basis for the display of small doses of radiation. Research methods of organizational systems, environmental, economic, and technological measures to ensure stable functioning of agro-ecosystems based radiation factor is carried out. In research still missing environmental and economic analysis of the relationship between the efficiency of land use and economic-economic factors, but some parts of this communication were studied in various aspects of individual experts (both soil scientists, surveyors, and economists). However, some previously developed land and security measures are based only on the results of fragmentary (in key areas) and the component (mostly soil and geo-botanical) studies. This approach to basic research in the field of sustainable land use, particularly in terms of radiation contamination, does not sound scientific foundations placement agricultural and industrial production, study land protection measures, is not conducive to the stability of the environment. Analyzing the system of generally defined environmental criteria optimization of land use should be noted that they are essential and should be used in the analysis of land use in terms of radiation contamination. It should only determine the order and sequence of their calculation. This will create a coherent methodology for optimizing land use in terms of radiation contamination. The order of calculation of main criteria defined on the PC provides: - Calculation of radionuclide transfer from soil to plants, taking into account the density of pollution. - Determination of eligibility agro-industrial groups of soils for growing crops, depending on the density of pollution. - Determining the fate of contamination of agricultural products relative to the control level, depending on the density of pollution. - Calculation washout of soils. A definite order and sequence of generally defined environmental criteria the optimum use of land in terms of radiation contamination allows to analyze the status of land use and recommendations for further land use. Methodological foundations are based on the current economic and mathematical methods and the use of electronic computer engineering, advanced research in the field of radiology, ecology, land use and so on. Key words: optimization, radiation pollution, land use, land protection, general environmental criteria.

Protection of land in the Republic of Serbia and ecological security with regard to strategic and legal frameworks

It is widely known that ecological and socioeconomic functions of the land are the basis for social and economic well-being. Despite this fact, land is still a relatively neglected natural resource, which can be concluded by analyzing the pressures on the land and the lack of systematic monitoring, which involves considering the situation and defining the program for its protection. In addition, insufficient allocations for solving these complex problems are evident, which, in addition to the inefficiency of the start-up, an-institutional and legal framework for land protection in the Republic of Serbia, ultimately lead to degradation of environmental security. Bearing this in mind, this paper emphasizes the need of adopting effective land protection measures in order to preserve ecological security, that is, an environmental management system that would reflect the tendency to eliminate negative environmental and human health impacts.

Assessing the effectiveness of sustainable land management policies for combating desertification: A data mining approach

This study investigates the relationship between fine resolution, local-scale biophysical and socioeconomic contexts within which land degradation occurs, and the human responses to it. The research draws on experimental data collected under different territorial and socioeconomic conditions at 586 field sites in five Mediterranean countries (Spain, Greece, Turkey, Tunisia and Morocco). We assess the level of desertification risk under various land management practices (terracing, grazing control, prevention of wildland fires, soil erosion control measures, soil water conservation measures, sustainable farming practices, land protection measures and financial subsidies) taken as possible responses to land degradation. A data mining approach, incorporating principal component analysis, non-parametric correlations, multiple regression and canonical analysis, was developed to identify the spatial relationship between land management conditions, the socioeconomic and environmental context (described using 40 biophysical and socioeconomic indicators) and desertification risk. Our analysis identified a number of distinct relationships between the level of desertification experienced and the underlying socioeconomic context, suggesting that the effectiveness of responses to land degradation is strictly dependent on the local biophysical and socioeconomic context. Assessing the latent relationship between land management practices and the biophysical/socioeconomic attributes characterizing areas exposed to different levels of desertification risk proved to be an indirect measure of the effectiveness of field actions contrasting land degradation.

Effects of environmentally friendly agricultural land protection programs: Evidence from the Lake Seyfe area of Turkey

The primary purpose was to investigate the effect of the Environment Friendly Agricultural Land Protection (EFALP) program initiated in 2006. More specifically, the study objectives were to determine the adoption levels of environmentally friendly practices, the extension activities being performed in the region, and to analyse the factors influencing the adoption of the program. Respondents were selected by drawing two stratified samples based on farm size. Cross tabulation and chi-square tests of independence were used to achieve the first objective of the study. Focus-group interviews were conducted for the second objective, and finally, a binary logistic-regression model was applied for the third objective. The findings showed that the adopter farmers used land protection measures extensively relative to the non-adopters, and the Ministry of Food, Agriculture, and Livestock of Turkey, provides useful extension services in the region. Farm size, irrigated land, income level, specialization area, cooperative membership, and travel frequency to large cities influence the adoption of the EFALP program. The conclusion is that the promoted program significantly influenced the protection of the land and other natural resources, and therefore, the regions implementing programs of this type must be extended to other environmentally sensitive areas of the country.

Hedonic Valuation of Land Protection Methods: Implications for Cluster Development

This study estimates a generalized spatial hedonic pricing model to assess how residential property values are impacted by inclusion within cluster developments and by proximity to various types of protected land. The estimated model simultaneously controls for the spatial dependence of residential housing prices and for the presence of spatial autocorrelation. The sample includes 4,008 single-family housing sales transactions within the non-urban portions of Larimer County in northern Colorado. The empirical framework accounts for topographical diversity across the study region, as well as distinguishing between several distinct types of publicly and privately protected land. The key findings of the study are: (i) proximity to national or state park land and to city or county open space has a significant positive impact on property values, while proximity to national forest land or to privately conserved land exhibits no significant effects; and, (ii) inclusion of a property within a cluster development decreases its value by 17 to 26 percent. These findings are robust to different estimation techniques and model specifications, which suggests important considerations for policymakers who design development rules and alternative land protection measures aimed at preserving open space in non-urban areas.

Hedonic valuation of land protection methods: implications for cluster development

This study estimates a generalized spatial hedonic pricing model to assess how residential property values are impacted by inclusion within cluster developments and by proximity to various types of protected land. The estimated model simultaneously controls for the spatial dependence of residential housing prices and for the presence of spatial autocorrelation. The sample includes 4,008 single-family housing sales transactions within the non-urban portions of Larimer County in northern Colorado. The empirical framework accounts for topographical diversity across the study region, as well as distinguishing between several distinct types of publicly and privately protected land. The key findings of the study are: (i) proximity to national or state park land and to city or county open space has a significant positive impact on property values, while proximity to national forest land or to privately conserved land exhibits no significant effects; and, (ii) inclusion of a property within a cluster development decreases its value by 17 to 26 %. These findings are robust to different estimation techniques and model specifications, which suggests important considerations for policymakers who design development rules and alternative land protection measures aimed at preserving open space in non-urban areas.

Land availability vs conversion by use type: A new approach for land take monitoring

The present study compares the percent composition of land take in eight (non-urban) classes of use in Rome (Italy) with the percent composition of the original landscape over three distinct urbanization phases (1949–1974, 1974–1999, 1999–2008), The observed class ratio of the percent composition of land take during each period to the percent composition of landscape observed at the beginning of each period has been proposed as an indicator of land consumption. The proportion of land consumed for pastures, mixed cropland, urban parks, arable land and vineyards was found to be higher than their percent composition in the original landscape. The reverse pattern was observed for woodland, olive groves and wetlands. Results suggest that significant changes in land consumption patterns occurred in Rome over the last sixty years possibly due to the different urbanization patterns (from compact to dispersed) and the increased effectiveness of land protection measures due to the development of the protected green belt surrounding the city.

Fish assemblage associations and thresholds with existing and projected oil and gas development

AbstractEnergy development threatens fish and wildlife resources worldwide. This study used constrained ordinations to show fish assemblage structure associated with oil and gas well densities in the Colorado River Basin, Wyoming, but well densities explained only 6.4% of assemblage structure when compared to other factors. Threshold Indicator Taxonomic ANalysis showed significant negative threshold responses by some species to small levels of development (<0.15 wells km−2), whereas positive thresholds were less distinct. Some native and imperilled species could be disproportionately affected if future oil and gas development proceeds in a manner that will impact aquatic resources. Although existing development has not substantially influenced regional fish assemblage structure, it appears to affect a subset of species. Understanding assemblage‐level responses to development can help land managers determine appropriate development levels, prioritise areas for monitoring associated with future development and identify where land protection measures may be needed to offset potential risks.

Natural Areas Protection at Its Best; Protecting the Tennessee Purple Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis)

The delisting of Tennessee purple coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) from the Federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) marks a major conservation milestone. Its removal from the ESA demonstrates the purpose of the law and how it is intended to work. It is a conservation success story that celebrates the recovery of a species once considered extinct but now protected in 10 Tennessee Designated State Natural Areas and on other conservation lands in Middle Tennessee. The rediscovery of the species and the protection of its five populations is the legacy of many dedicated people over decades. This effort utilized best science practices and important land protection measures in partnership with state and federal government, universities, and The Tennessee Chapter of The Nature Conservancy to accomplish a significant conservation goal. It is a testimony to conservation law that protects species at the federal and state level under the ESA and the Tennessee Natural Areas Preservation Act of 1971.

Barriers and solutions to China’s cultivated land protection

In 2008, China’s total area of cultivated land was approximately 121.7 million ha, accounting for 7.8% of the world’s total cultivated land; cultivated land per capita was 0.09 ha, only accounting for 38.2% of the world average. China’s cultivated lands were reduced by 12.31 million ha in the period 1997–2008; that is, a loss of 1.03 million ha per year. Although China implements stringent cultivated land protection policies and in some areas has achieved much success, the rate of reduction of cultivated land through rapid urbanisation, agricultural structure adjustment and ecological restoration has proved uncontrollable. Proposed solutions to China’s cultivated land protection include: 1) learning from the successful experiences of other countries; 2) reforming cultivated land protection measures; and 3) paying more attention to improving the quality of its cultivated lands.