Landscape Zones Research Articles

Analysis of natural and man-made factors of landslide development in the Carpathian region using GIS

Purpose. Determination of the dependencies of spatial relationships between landslides in the Carpathian region of Ukraine and the factors causing them, taking into account the differences in geomorphological, geological, climatic conditions and natural and geographical zoning according to the landscape principle. Methodology. The morphometric analysis of the territory was carried out using QGIS tools to determine the slope angles and exposure; linear characteristics were calculated: distances to the river, road, and houses. Based on the image interpretation data, we calculated the total annual rainfall and average annual air temperature. The impact of the factors considered on landslide formation was assessed using multivariate statistical analysis: factor analysis and linear multiple regression. Findings. Studies on the impact of natural and topographical conditions and anthropogenic activity on the development of landslide processes have been conducted. Orographic and climatic factors play the most important role. Construction of business facilities results in a decrease in the slope stability in 14–19 % of cases. The analysed independed factors showed good consistency between the distribution of existing landslides and the parameters under consideration: the share of the total variance of the factors under consideration is 71–76 %, the coefficient of determination of the regression model is 0.7. Based on the results of geoinformation and statistical analyses, it is proved that differences in geomorphological conditions and human activity (construction of roads, economic facilities) are dominant in the formation of landslides in different landscape zones. Originality. It is established that there is a dynamic coherence between the spatial change in natural conditions and human settlement and activity, which interact with each other to create prerequisites for the development of landslides. Practical value. This study is important from the point of view of understanding and mitigating the cause-and-effect relationship of landslide development for certain territories, and the results obtained can be useful in developing land use planning strategies, infrastructure development, and planning new construction works.

Ландшафтно-экологическое территориальное зонирование (на материалах Акмолинской области)

Introduction. Modern human activities in nature are subject to increasing regulation and restrictions, which should be reflected in systems for the use of natural resources, primarily in agricultural production. The problem under consideration is of particular relevance for the regions of Northern Kazakhstan, since the natural landscapes of the region have been radically changed and transformed into natural and agricultural complexes with a disturbed landscape-ecological balance.From the point of view of modern natural science, the organization of the rational use of rural areas should be solved by applying a concept based on the landscape-ecological approach. The purpose of the study. Territorial zoning of the agricultural landscape to optimize the use of agricultural land based on the landscape-ecological approach. Research methods. Cartographic materials used as the basis for the creation of diagrams and design developments, obtained on the basis of data from the virtual information system of the land cadastre of the Republic of Kazakhstan and processed using the ArcGIS program. Research results. Based on materials from the steppe zone of the Akmola region of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an analysis of landscape conditions and ecological stability of agricultural landscape systems was carried out. Analysis of territorial landscape zoning allowed us to conclude that the predominant part of the field landscapes of the steppe eons of this region is occupied by natural-territorial complexes of watershed spaces and watershed slopes, and the most common form of relief is slope surfaces. Ecological zoning of agricultural landscapes in the Akmola region revealed that the most common agricultural landscapes are characterized by weak stability and unstable agricultural landscapes. The article proposes a methodology for territorial zoning of agricultural lands on a landscape-ecological basis in the conditions of the Akmola region. It includes the following procedure: drawing up a landscape map. identification of homogeneous ecological zones; agrolandscape microzoning. As a result of research at the research object, a scheme of territorial landscape-ecological zoning for land use of agricultural formations was compiled, which is based on taking into account the paradynamic landscape structure of steppe landscapes and the degree of their anthropogenic transformation. At the same time, relatively homogeneous landscape-ecological microzones were identified, within which the elementary landscapes of the steppe catena were differentiated according to measures that stabilize the stability of the agricultural landscape. Conclusions. 1. On the territory of the Akmola region, natural landscapes have been transformed into agricultural production modifications. with a low degree of sustainability, requiring measures to maintain landscape-ecological balance. 2. The methodology for territorial zoning of steppe agricultural landscapes should be based on taking into account the paradynamic landscape structure of steppe landscapes, i.e. its catenary device. 3. Application of the results of territorial landscape-ecological zoning in design developments for the use and protection of land will allow the selection of optimal directions that ensure the sustainability of agricultural landscapes.

Three millennia of salt production: Briquetage and salt structures on the east coast of Lincolnshire, England

While salt-making sites of Prehistoric, Roman and Medieval date have been known about for the best part of 200 years along the Lincolnshire Coast and Fenland, investigations have been patchy. The recognition that briquetage was connected to salt-making came early and a number of sites were revealed when sand was removed from beaches during storm events in the early 20th century. This led to spates of investigations culminating in the Fenland Project in the 1980s–90s. Since then, the deployment of LiDAR techniques to flood management by Government agencies has resulted in micro-topographical maps of the ancient wetland landscape adding to the general picture of the former wetland and enabling a fuller understanding of its extent and uses. Investigations in two landscape zones, each with seemingly different intensities of salt-making, has enabled comparisons to be made between the areas and an additional dimension of the industry to be investigated. However, there remains much to accomplish, including understanding the full extent of the industry now partially lost through post-saltern flood depositions and coastal erosion.

The Importance of Accounting for Landscape Position When Investigating Grasslands: A Multidisciplinary Characterisation of a California Coastal Grassland

AbstractGrasslands are one of the most common land‐cover types, providing important ecosystem services globally, yet few studies have examined grassland critical‐zone functioning throughout hillslopes. This study characterised a coastal grassland over a small hillslope at Point Reyes National Seashore, California, using multidisciplinary techniques, combining remotely‐sensed, geophysical, plant, and soil measurements. Clustering techniques delineated the study area into four landscape zones, up‐, mid‐, and down‐slope, and a bordering riparian ecotone, which had distinct environmental properties that varied spatially across the site, with depth, and time. Soil moisture increased with depth and down slope towards a bordering riparian zone, and co‐varied with soil CO2 flux rates both spatially and temporally. This highlighted three distinct controls of soil moisture on soil respiration: CO2 fluxes were inhibited by high moisture content in the down‐slope during the wet winter months, and converged across landscape positions in the dry summer months, while also displaying post‐rain pulses. The normalised difference vegetation index (NDVI) ranged from 0.32 (September)–0.80 (April) and correlated positively with soil moisture and aboveground biomass, moving down slope. Yet, NDVI, aboveground biomass, and soil moisture were not correlated to soil organic carbon (SOC) content (0.4%–4.5%), which was highest in the mid‐slope. The SOC content may instead be linked to shifts in dominant grassland species and their rhizosphere properties with landscape position. This multidisciplinary characterisation highlighted significant heterogeneity in grassland properties with landscape position, and demonstrated an approach that could be used to characterise other critical‐zone environments on hillslopes.

Influence of the Summer Changes in Large-scale Atmospheric Circulation on the Vertical Fluxes of Heat and Moisture in Russian Landscape Zones

Influence of the Summer Changes in Large-scale Atmospheric Circulation on the Vertical Fluxes of Heat and Moisture in Russian Landscape Zones

GEOECOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF LANDSCAPE ZONES OF TAVUSH REGION

The article analyzes the geoecological condition of the landscape zones of Tavush Region. Anthropogenic load on natural landscapes expresses the degree of intensity of anthropogenic negative impacts in a given landscape zone. And anthropogenic impact on landscapes is expressed by the nature of land use structure. According to the concept of B. Kochurov, ecological and economic balance of the area 1–6 points of expert assessment are used to determine the degree of anthropogenic load on the area. Areas depending on the type of land use receive a corresponding score and are grouped into appropriate groups. Using B. Kochurov's methodology and applying the cartographic tools of the ArcGis, we obtained the map of the anthropogenic load of the landscape zones and calculated the surfaces of the areas with the corresponding level of load in each zone expressed as percentages. Then we carried out a spatial quantitative assessment of the anthropogenic load of the landscape zones with the absolute and relative coefficients of the selected concept and the tools of the ArcGis. As a result of the research, the forest-steppe zone was considered an area of critical tension based on ecological and economic indicators, the forest and meadow landscape zones were considered tense and conflicting, and the sub-alpine and alpine landscape zones were conditionally favorable.

Features of the Distribution of Beaver Dams and Ponds along Small Rivers: The Volga-Kama Region, European Russia

In this paper, by using GNSS technologies, some features of the distribution and some morphometric parameters of dams and ponds created by the Eurasian beaver (Castor fiber L.) along ten rivers of the Volga-Kama region of European Russia were identified. Detected features depend on the geomorphological, lithological, and landscape features of these rivers and their basins. The significant role of river slopes, as well as landscape zoning, in the distribution of beaver dams and ponds along small rivers in the study region is shown. In the rivers under study, almost all beaver constructions are located on riverbed slopes of less than 3% (most often, less than 2%). In the south of the forest zone (the southern taiga of the Vyatka River basin), the majority of dams and ponds (about 90%) are located on slopes of less than 1%, while, within the uplands of the forest-steppe zone, this location varies depending on the length of the rivers. In general, the greater the average slope of the river (the greater the average elevation of the river basin), the lower, other things being equal, the degree of beaver transformation of such rivers. This feature is better expressed in the rivers of the forest landscape zone and less expressed in the rivers flowing in the forest-steppe zone. Analysis of the morphometric parameters of beaver dams shows statistically significant trends towards an increase in their average height, as the channel slopes increase. Statistically significant trends were also identified towards a decrease in the length of dams and the length of associated ponds, with an increase in channel slopes. It is noteworthy that the critical values of the slope for a statistically significant and relatively sharp change in these parameters are 1.45%, 1.07 (or 0.54)%, and 0.65 (or 0.47)%, respectively. The greatest average heights of beaver dams are confined to those rivers where their basins are composed of loamy rocks/soils (especially those that are poorly plowed), compared with “sandy” river basins. This may be due to the peculiarities of the ratio of surface and underground water runoff in these basins and, as a consequence, different intensities of snowmelt- and rainfall-induced flood flow. We assume that the above-mentioned features reflect the early stages of beaver expansion (population growth) in the studied rivers.

Agrosoil zoning of the land fund of Karabakh of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Agro-soil zoning of the land fund of Karabakh was carried out on the basis of taxonomic divisions (landscape-natural zone, agro-soil region and soil sub-district). When establishing taxonomic units, preference is given to the characteristics and properties of soils and territories acquired in the process of human economic activity. Soil subregions are identified as small taxonomic units that determine the agricultural value of soils. Among the characteristics of the territory that are important for agro-soil zoning, the conditions of micro- and nanorelief, surface slope, territory planning, drainage conditions, average annual number of microorganisms, etc. are taken into account. Within Karabakh, 3 landscape zones were identified, characterized by the predominance of the main zonal soil type: А- semi-arid subtropical low-mountain forest-shrub (mountain-meadow, mountain-meadow-steppe, mountain-forest brown); B - arid subtropical dry steppe submountain-sloping-plain (mountain-forest brown, cultivated mountain-forest brown, cultivated mountain chernozem, mountain-gray-brown, cultivated mountain-gray-brown, irrigated mountain gray-brown); V - dry subtropical semi-desert low-plain (gray soil, gray soil-meadow, irrigated meadow-gray soil, irrigated alluvial-meadow, meadow-swamp, swamp, salt marshes).

Tacheometric Survey and 3D-Model Building of Fortification Objects in the South of Western Siberia

Purpose. The most objective planigraphy of the earthen fortifications is one of the initial conditions for the reliability of the description of these objects and the subsequent analysis of their defensive capabilities. One of the most common devices for the instrumental surveys in modern archaeological research is a total station. The purpose of the tacheometric survey was to build 3D-models of the earthern fortifications of various types (cape settlements – Chultukov Log-9, ostrogs and redoubts (Umrevinsky, Salt Turn). The work at these objects included two stages – an instrumental survey of the monument and subsequent processing of the survey results with the 3D-models buildings and objects indication.Results. The tacheometric survey was carried out in various landscape zones (the Altai mountains, the northern forest-steppe of the Upper Ob, the steppe zone of the Middle Irtysh) within the river valleys of the Katun, Ob and Irtysh. The wide chronological framework of the sites (the Chultukov Log-9 settlement, the Umrevinsky ostrog, the Salt Turn redoubt) corresponds to the period from the beginning of the 1st millennium AD up to the first quarter of the 18th century and provide an opportunity for the most objective assessment of the tacheometric survey results.Conclusions. The result of the work was the building of the 3D-models of various earthen fortification objects (hillforts, ostrogs, redoubts). Both previously untraceable defensive structures (ditch), and the characteristics of the fenced areas of these structures, previously recorded in written sources, have been identified.

Edge effects and social behavior in three platyrrhines.

Social behavior is a key adaptation for group-living primates. It is important to assess changes to social behavior in human-impacted landscape zones to better understand the impact of anthropogenic disturbance on primate species. We investigated social behavior rate and type in three species of platyrrhines across 100 m anthropogenic edge and interior zones of a fragmented forest in Costa Rica, La Suerte Biological Research Station (LSBRS). Following results from other sites, we predicted that spider monkeys (Ateles geoffroyi), capuchin monkeys (Cebus imitator) and howler monkeys (Alouatta palliata) would show lower rates and fewer types of social behavior in forest edge compared to interior. We collected 1341 h of instantaneous focal data from 2017 to 2023 across the three monkey species. We found mixed support for our predictions, with spider and capuchin monkeys modifying some but not all aspects of social behavior across forest zones at LSBRS. Spider monkeys had lower rates of social behavior and capuchin monkeys performed different types of social behaviors in forest edge compared to interior at LSBRS. In contrast, howler monkeys did not modify social behavior. Two out of three platyrrhine species altered their social behavior when in anthropogenic edges, indicating behavioral adjustment when in human-altered habitat areas at LSBRS.

Characterization of soil health and nutrient content status across the North-East Maasai Landscape, Arusha Tanzania

Soil fertility management has been a great challenge to smallholder farmers in the Northern Tanzania, especially in the Maasai landscape. Therefore understanding the nutrient status become important to forecast productivity, promote sustainability, and propose an appropriate technique for crop productivity sustainability. The study examines soil fertility status of the Maasai landscape. Systematic approach known as the Land Degradation Surveillance Framework (LDSF) were used to identify soil sampling points. A total of 604 soil samples from two soil depth (0 – 30 and 30 – 50 cm) were collected for physiochemical properties analysis using Mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy. The chosen level for determining statistical significance, was set at P = 0.05. Results showed a significant differences (P < 0.01) for particle size distribution, SOC, EC, CEC, TN, pH, N, P, K, Ca, S, Mg, Mn and Zn across the landscape zones. It was observed that soil parameters such as pH (6.62 – 7.44), CEC (27.59 – 32.82 meq/100 g), and EC (90.12 - 121.93 µS/cm) were in the adequate and acceptable range while SOC (0.89 – 1.89 %) was observed to be in low amount. Other nutrients such as N (0.09 – 0.14 %), P (9.46 – 14.87 mg/kg), and K (175.91 - 293.5 mg/kg) were in inadequate amounts except for the S (12.9 – 15.43 mg/kg) which was in optimum, Ca (3117.5 - 4155.31 mg/kg) ranged between low to optimum, and Mg (556.95 - 603.26 mg/kg) was in excessive amounts. However, Mn (114.13 mg/kg – 128.95 mg/kg) was in excess. This study found that, there is a significance difference on soil fertility status across the landscape. Major soil nutrient fertility constraints found were N, P, Ca, and K for some soils. The study recommends that interventions to address the issue of soil fertility in the northeast Maasai landscape should consider the altitude issue due to variations in soil health and nutrient content.

Distribution of mercury in lakes of different landscape zones in the south of Western Siberia using the example of model objects along a meridional transect

The work presents data on the concentration of mercury in bottom sediments of lakes, which are characterized by the nival type of sedimentogenesis. The mercury content for bottom sediments of lakes sampled in the middle and high mountains of the Altai Mountains is on average 0.06 μg/g. Differences in mercury concentration values for high- and mid-mountain lakes have not been established. It has been established that, regardless of the type of sedimentogenesis in lakes of different landscape zones of the south of Western Siberia along the meridional transect, the distribution of mercury along the section is characterized by an increase in values up the section towards the bottom sediments-water boundary, where they reach maximum values.

Сartographic models of soil temperature fields in the steppe battles of Khakassia and Tuva based on joint analysis of temperature monitoring ground and satellite data

The aim of the study was to justify the possibility of using quantitative characteristics of the temperature regime of soils obtained by a joint analysis of ground-based and satellite monitoring to create cartographic models of typological units of soil-bioclimatic zonation of the Khakassia and Tuva steppe basins. Location and time of the study. The development of methodology for identifying the temperature fields boundaries was carried out in 2019-2022, using as a case example the soil cover typological units in the Altai-Sayan region, including the diversity of steppes of the Chulym-Yenisei and Minusinsk troughs, the Turan-Uyuk, Central Tuva, and Ubsu-Nur basins. Key areas were selected taking into account the principles of landscape zoning, which make it possible to recognize, classify and map landscape-differentiating factors, landscape components, the regional landscape structure in their entirety and its dynamic features. Methods. Ground-based automated monitoring of air and soil was performed using specialized temperature recorders DS-1921G “Thermochron”, taking into account indicators reflecting the genetic unity of climate types in the Altai-Sayan region. To carry out retrospective analysis, statistical processing and visualization of MODIS data, a software and algorithmic toolkit created by the Institute of Computational Technology of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Novosibirsk) was used: the software is based on a new technology for accessing the satellite data archive, implemented using the PostgreSQL DBMS with an additional module, designed for direct access to the file data archive without the need to first copy and convert the data format for the DBMS. Results. Based on a joint analysis of quantitative indicators of the air and soil temperature regimes, obtained using ground-based automated measuring systems and satellite data, a series of cartographic models were constructed: the latter reflect the temperature fields characteristics of typological units of soil-bioclimatic zoning of the Altai-Sayan region. The interpretation of the identification of typological units of the soil cover structure performed on the basis of a statistical analysis of the combination of boundaries and information content of the contours of the soil cover and the boundaries of temperature fields (day and night temperatures, as well as the difference in temperatures of two compiled series, calculated over a 16-year period). The novelty of the approach is based on the fact that cartographic models of temperature fields, constructed on the basis of quantitative temperature indicators, have information content sufficient for establishing relationships between the temperature regime and other characteristics of natural environmental objects, contributing to solving the problem of identifying and typologizing soil-ecological boundaries. Conclusions. Cartographic models of temperature fields obtained as a result of a joint analysis of ground-based and satellite data are sufficiently informative regarding the energy of soil-forming processes and can be used to assess soil thermal conditions in the inaccessible and hence poorly studied areas of the Altai-Sayan region.

УРОВНИ ЗАЛЕГАНИЯ, УСЛОВИЯ ПИТАНИЯ И ГИДРОХИМИЯ ВОДОНОСНЫХ ГОРИЗОНТОВ БЕССТОЧНОЙ ОБЛАСТИ ОБЬ-ИРТЫШСКОГО МЕЖДУРЕЧЬЯ (НА ПРИМЕРЕ СТЕПНОЙ ЧАСТИ АЛТАЙСКОГО КРАЯ)

Information about the groundwater of the drainless region of the Ob-Irtysh interfluve within the boundaries of the Altai Territory has been collected and summarized. The paper describes in detail ground waters of this area, which are currently gaining increasing importance in the water supply of rural settlements. The study used literary, stock, cartographic sources of information, and the results of expedition research. In Soviet times, large-scale works were performed for the steppe part of the region to search for and explore underground waters for the purposes of national economic consumption and irrigation, and monitoring was carried out. The Kulundinsky lowland and part of the Priobsky plateau are located in the drainless region. Groundwater has a diverse chemical composition which depends on the depth of the horizon, the lithological composition of the rocks, and other local features. Groundwater is replenished due to winter precipitation: in the warm period, precipitation is rare and almost all evaporate. During the year, the fluctuation of the groundwater level is one to two meters, for a long-term period – from two to three meters, depending on the natural features of the territory. Based on the studied data, a map-diagram of the depth of groundwater occurrence within the boundaries of landscape zoning areas has been compiled.

Lyme borreliosis in Ivano-Frankivsk district, Ukraine: a epidemiological and clinical characteristics (2000-2022).

Aim: To give epidemiological and clinical characteristics of the morbidity of Lyme borreliosis in Ivano-Frankivsk region for the period of 2000-2022 years. Materials and Methods: There were used annual reports (form №1) from the State Institution "Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine" and 200 of "Medical records of inpatients" (form 003/о) of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Infectious Diseases Hospital for 2000-2022 years. Results: The morbidity of Lyme borreliosis in the Ivano-Frankivsk region has been permanently increasing since 2000. Natural foci have been identif i ed, the number of which is increasing every year. There was noted late admission of patients to the Infectious Disease Hospital from the beginning of the disease, mainly at the stage of migratory annular erythema. There were almost no phenomena of intoxication and fever during the acute period. There were often observed the phenomena of hepatosis, joint damage and manifestations of the nervous system at the disseminated and chronic stages. Conclusions: All landscape zones of Ivano-Frankivsk region are enzootic regarding Lyme borreliosis. Over the last 10 years in the region there is a tendency to a sharp increase of Lyme borreliosis morbidity. The clinical peculiarities of the disease in Ivano-Frankivsk region are: the absence of intoxication at the stage of migratory erythema, the phenomena of hepatosis. During the second and third stages of the disease there are polymorphic symptoms: recurrent erythema, damage of the retina, joints, liver, nervous system.

WAYS TO İMPROVE THE GEOECOLOGİCAL POTENTİAL OF THE NATURAL-ANTHROPOGENİC LANDSCAPES OF THE NORTH-EASTERN SLOPE OF THE LESSER CAUCASUS

Purpose. The purpose of the research is to study the geoecological potential of the natural anthropogenic landscapes of the north-eastern slope of the lesser caucasus. Method. During the writing of the article, historical, cartographic, mathematical-statistical, comparative analysis methods were used. The northeastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus was chosen as the research object Result. In the article, the patterns of development of the landscapes of the north-eastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus, height differentiation, settlement of the territory and the location of settlements on the height belts, ways of improving the geo-ecological potential are explained. In the region under study, extensive information was provided on natural population growth, expansion of settlement areas, increasing influence of agricultural land, and anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes. Analysis of the distribution of urban and rural settlements by altitudinal landscape zones, the placement of the population, settlements and farms depending on the landscape-altitude-spatial differentiation of the territory, the formation of functional activity under the influence of natural geographical conditions. conditions were analyzed. Methods of an integrated approach have been studied in order to determine and assess the relationship between population settlement and the location of various economic fields with the formation of a more favorable natural-geographical environment in the flat parts of the area, depending on favorable conditions. relief, lithological, hydrological and hydrogeological conditions and the influence of these features on natural landscapes. Scientific novelity. The analysis of the distribution of urban and rural settlements by altitude-landscape zones was carried out, the location and functional activity of the population, settlements and farm areas, depending on the altitude-spatial differentiation of the landscape on the north-eastern slope of the Lesser Caucasus, were formed under the direct influence of natural-geographical conditions, the settlement of the population and It has been studied that the location of different farm areas is related to the more favorable natural-geographical environment. An analysis of the distribution and density of the population and settlements in the area by altitude zones was carried

Cultural landscape characteristics and zoning of traditional villages in Huizhou City

Traditional villages and cultural landscapes harbor rich historical information, representing a crucial agricultural heritage. This systematic categorization of these zones is essential for scientifically identifying their distinctive characteristics and values, thereby focusing protection efforts effectively. This paper focuses on Huizhou City, a typical multicultural area, examining its rich traditional villages and cultural landscapes through a comprehensive index system covering four levels and 22 factors. To categorize the city&amp;rsquo;s diverse cultural landscape, K-means cluster analysis is employed, resulting in the identification of five traditional village cultural landscape zones, namely the northern mountain valley, the central plain of the Dongjiang River basin, the south-central plain of the Xizhi River basin, the southern coastal area, and the eastern mountainous hills. Each zone exhibits different spatial patterns and landscape characteristics. While this paper offers a preliminary analysis, future research should integrate advanced data analysis methods to comprehensively examine the cultural landscape to guide dynamic protection strategies and facilitate the adaptive reuse of traditional villages.

Enhancing multifunctionality in European boreal forests: The potential role of Triad landscape functional zoning

Land-use policies aim at enhancing the sustainable use of natural resources. The Triad approach has been suggested to balance the social, ecological, and economic demands of forested landscapes. The core idea is to enhance multifunctionality at the landscape level by allocating landscape zones with specific management priorities, i.e., production (intensive management), multiple use (extensive management), and conservation (forest reserves). We tested the efficiency of the Triad approach and identified the respective proportion of above-mentioned zones needed to enhance multifunctionality in Finnish forest landscapes. Through a simulation and optimization framework, we explored a range of scenarios of the three zones and evaluated how changing their relative proportion (each ranging from 0 to 100%) impacted landscape multifunctionality, measured by various biodiversity and ecosystem service indicators. The results show that maximizing multifunctionality required around 20% forest area managed intensively, 50% extensively, and 30% allocated to forest reserves. In our case studies, such landscape zoning represented a good compromise between the studied multifunctionality components and maintained 61% of the maximum achievable net present value (i.e., total timber economic value). Allocating specific proportion of the landscape to a management zone had distinctive effects on the optimized economic or multifunctionality values. Net present value was only moderately impacted by shifting from intensive to extensive management, while multifunctionality benefited from less intensive and more diverse management regimes. This is the first study to apply Triad in a European boreal forest landscape, highlighting the usefulness of this approach. Our results show the potential of the Triad approach in promoting forest multifunctionality, as well as a strong trade-off between net present value and multifunctionality. We conclude that simply applying the Triad approach does not implicitly contribute to an overall increase in forest multifunctionality, as careful forest management planning still requires clear landscape objectives.

Gully Erosion Zoning in the Middle Volga Region

The article presents a new scheme of zoning of modern gully erosion in a large region of the Russian Federation. Automated landscape zoning by means of artificial neural networks was carried out in order to determine the natural and anthropogenic conditions for the development of the gully network. Erosion zoning was implemented on the basis of large-scale geoinformation mapping of gullies by the method of visual interpretation of high- and ultra-high-resolution satellite images for 2017–2021. The basins of small rivers (1314 in total) with an average area of 91 km2 are taken as operational-territorial units. 22688 gullies (including their holes) were identified in the study area, the average length of which is 65 m, and the total length of the gully network is about 1500 km. The density of the gully network averages 12 m/km2, reaching a maximum of 301 m/km2. The density of gully dissection is used as an indicator for the zoning of gully erosion, this indicator indirectly reflects the intensity of gully formation in geo-space. The dominant (84% of basins) are areas either with no gully dissection or having weak or very weak gully erosion. The main reasons for the widespread damping of gully erosion are related to changes in land use and in the climate system, as well as an evolutionary factor – the transition of many gully forms to the balka stage of development.

Agricultural landscape zoning of the Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine to develop organic gardening

The relevance of this study lies in the applied use of general scientific methods of landscape ecology in organic horticulture of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine. The purpose of the study was to develop a system of targeted agricultural landscape assessment of the territory to determine the prospects for the development of organic horticulture on the example of the right-bank part of the Western Forest-Steppe. To fulfil this purpose, the methodology of targeted agricultural landscape zoning of agricultural land was used. For this, maps and diagrams of the distribution of the main structural components and factors of the agrosphere, namely, landscapes and morphological structures of the relief, soil and vegetation cover, water chemistry, rocks, functional use of land and traditional areas of agricultural production, were used. The cartographic method and expert assessments of land suitability for organic horticulture were based on the study of 8 natural and anthropogenic factors that form the corresponding taxonomic classification of agricultural landscapes of the Forest-Steppe from 30 taxa. The spatial differentiation of the factors is determined by the relevant quantitative and qualitative parameters of orchard lands. The expert assessment of agricultural landscapes for organic horticulture is based on the percentage level of alteration of the natural structure of the land. A full-scale model of the target map of agricultural landscapes was developed to assess the prospects for the development of organic horticulture on the example of the central part of the Right Bank of the Western Forest-Steppe. The study area of 5,400 square kilometres was located at the intersection of three administrative regions, namely Zhytomyr, Kyiv, and Vinnytsia. The study identified 21 agricultural landscapes, the territories of which are homogeneous in 8 parameters. Their comprehensive regional perspectives for organic horticulture are rated from 11 to 21. It was proposed to define 5 categories of agricultural landscapes according to their suitability for organic horticulture: the highest (21 points), high (19-20 points), medium (17-18 points), low (15-16 points) levels of suitability and unsuitable (11-12 points). Half of the study area is covered by agricultural landscapes of high suitability for organic horticulture, 15% each of medium and unsuitable, and 10% each of high and low suitability. The targeted classification of land for organic horticulture on an agricultural landscape basis is the scientific and methodological basis for the widespread development of a new, environmentally sound type of agricultural activity in Ukraine