ECOLOGICAL AND ECONOMIC BASES OF RATIONAL LAND USE IN THE COUNTRIES OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (LANDSCAPE SCIENCE PRINCIPLES)

Rational land use is one of the key prerequisites for sustainable development in European countries amid growing anthropogenic pressure on natural landscapes.Land in Europe plays a multifunctional role, combining the spatial basis for economic activity, a natural resource, and an element of the landscape structure of territories.In this regard, it is particularly important to develop ecological and economic principles of land use based on a landscape approach and ensuring the coordination of economic efficiency with the ecological sustainability of territories.The article argues that landscape planning is one of the key tools for rationalizing land use in Europe.It ensures spatial optimization of land use, taking into account the natural differentiation of territories, the ecological capacity of landscapes, and their ability to self-regulate.It has been established that the ecological component of the European land use model is based on the preservation of biodiversity, soil protection, the formation of ecological networks, and the maintenance of ecosystem services.The economic principles of rational land use are implemented through a system of financial incentives, agro-ecological programs, compensation for ecosystem services,