Land quality as a base of land use control

Abstract

The concept of «land quality» as a theoretical foundation for rational land use and control of land owners and land users is defined. It is shown that this concept contains such terms as «land quality» and «sustainable agriculture». It is determined that land quality evaluation should be integrated, as soil fertility factors are unreplaceable and equisignificant. This in turn requires determination of a considerable number of indicators and it means the corresponding expenses of money and time consumption. For this reason, indicators were chosen on a principle of «rational minimum and realistic maximum», namely maximum possible number of indicators, which belongs to real operating control of certain organizations, at the same time this number is minimal (narrowed) for a comprehensive ecological assessment of areas. The selection of indicators in order to evaluate land quality changes in the process of their usage is presented. Land evaluation gives us reasons to make informed decisions regarding identification and wide use of all reserves and potential possibilities of land resources, planning of rational land use and protection, increasing the responsibility of land owners and land users, a specially authorized body for land resources management meet the requirements for theoretical land use and prevention of their degradation. It is proved, that in Ukraine there is a critical need to introduce the measurement system that would promote the preservation and reproduction of land resources. The possible solution of this problem is the introduction of effective compulsions in soil-protective legislation through the implementation of evaluation and prediction system of land quality. For effective implementation of this system should be carried out open soil-protective policy in the interaction with other sectors for the environment protection and resource policy, it is necessary to increase the level of the population and users consciousness, based on the public understanding the need for compliance with the soil-protective requirements in all kinds of activities and stimulate information sharing between different states, conducting public researches and monitoring. Actions aimed at soil protection, will contribute not only to conservation, protection, restoration and improvement of the environment quality, but also the existence conditions for society and public health in whole. Modern approaches to the land evaluation in Ukraine are submitted.