Conservation of Landscape Diversity for Regional Environmental Policy: the Importance and Application Problems

Abstract

The purpose is to show and substantiate the significance of the use in environmental programs of the indicator "preservation of landscape diversity," characterizing territorial changes in the context of the specifics of spatial and temporal trends in the development of the region and the features of its landscape structure. Materials and methods. The information base of the research was the materials of the Government of the Khabarovsk region, provided in the public domain, normative documents regulating the activities of economic entities in the field of environmental protection and determining the features of the environmental parameters of the development of the territory of the region. The methods of landscape analysis, expert assessments, statistical and bibliometric analysis, generalization and systematization were used in the work. Results and discussion. From the point of view of the geographical approach, the content of the concept of "landscape diversity", which was present in the environmental program of the Khabarovsk region to reflect spatial changes, is briefly presented. The significance of the criterion "preservation of landscape diversity" for solving the task of the same name as a priority for this territory is shown. It has been established that the ratio of landscapes protected in PAs to their diversity within the Khabarovsk region does not ensure the preservation of all categories of geosystems with increased economic activity. Conclusions. The necessity and problems of using the indicator "preservation of landscape diversity" in the environmental policy of the Khabarovsk region are considered. This is due to the concentration of natural complexes of a high hierarchical rank here, the uniqueness and at the same time a high degree of vulnerability of landscapes to anthropogenic impact due to increased economic activity, the imperfection of the network of protected areas.