RATIONAL LAND USE AND ANTHROPOGENIC LANDSCAPE CHANGES: ECOLOGICAL-ECONOMIC INTERCONNECTION AND PROBLEMS OF ENSURING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

The article examines the problem of rational land use in the context of anthropogenic landscape changes, taking into account the ecological and economic aspects of sustainable development of territories.It is argued that land resources are not only the natural basis for the life of society, but also an important economic asset, the effective use of which directly depends on the level of rational land use.The essence of the concept of rational land use as a comprehensive land resource management system combining environmental expediency, economic efficiency, and social responsibility is revealed.The main types of anthropogenic landscape changes caused by human economic activity, in particular agricultural, urbanization, and technogenic transformations, are analyzed, and their impact on the natural potential of territories and economic indicators of regional development is determined.Particular attention is paid to the ecological and economic consequences of irrational land use, which manifest themselves in soil degradation, reduced land productivity, loss of ecosystem services, and increased financial costs for restoring disturbed landscapes.It has been proven that the short-term economic benefits of intensive land use lead to a decrease in their market value and a reduction in the investment attractiveness of territories in the long term.The article substantiates the role of rational land use as a factor in improving economic efficiency and environmental sustainability of landscapes.Landscape-