ИСТИНА

The healthy environment cannot be made better in poverty, and poverty cannot be eliminated without sustainable development and land use practice. Agriculture is one of the major drivers of land cover and biodiversity change in country. In Russia during the 20th century the rural population decreased and currently it comprises less than 30%. The main agricultural territory belongs to the steppe and forest-steppe zones, where 40% of agricultural production of the country is produced and major part of the rural population is concentrated. The analysis of the present status and trends of evolution of natural and anthropogenic landscapes systems relationships permits to study the long-term and short-term land use/cover dynamics. The practical results of presented ecologically sound “green” land use practice should help to reconcile social needs with the requirements of the environment and to avoid the unfavorable consequences of land degradation. Local solutions have to take into consideration local nature and economic conditions to elaborate sustainable land use policy.