Classification and fragmentation of natural-anthropogenic landscapes for the purposes of the balanced spatial organization of territory

Abstract

Active antropogenic impact on natural complexes has resulted in dominance of “naturalantropogenic landscapes” (NAL) in Belarus. They include both elements of natural components and outcomes of antropogenic activity. NAL follow in their development first of all to natural laws. At the same time attributes of their functioning and dynamics are closely connected with social and economic circumstances. Economic activities of the population in different branches of a national economy essentially alter structure of land use. The direction of economic activity is a main indicator of classification of NAL in Belarus. Furthermore, classification of NAL is a source for detection of fragmentation of landscape structure. The system of classification units of NAL includes three ranks: class - subclass – species (vid). The highest unit of classification - a class NAL – is defined according to such indicator as the main direction of economic activities in different branches of national economy. We defined forest, agricultural, recreational, protected, urban and typical for a zone of the mixed forests – agro-forest class of landscapes. The proportion of various land use type is an indicator to determine subclass of PAL (arable, forestry-arable and so on). The species of a landscape considers a type of economic activities within natural complex. The set of species is defined (arable secondary-moraine, forestry alluvial terracing and so on). The degree of fragmentation of natural-antropogenic landscapes is calculated on the basis of developed classification. For assessment of fragmentation of NAL the following coefficients were used: an index of division, coefficient of complexity, a degree of similarity, a level of fragmentation of landscape contour. The research has been made using CorelDraw10, ArcView GIS 3.2, Excel software, that has allowed to receive complex parameters, which characterize contours of different land use (quantity, average size and the relative abundance within a contours of NAL). The number of maps has been made. The areas with various degree of fragmentation are defined (maximum, high, satisfactory, and minimum). These results are a source of data for creation of development strategy for territory. Classification of natural-antropogenic landscapes and assessment of their fragmentation gives diverse information which can be used for development of alternatives for an optimum improvement of each species of NAL. It forms a basis for the balanced organization of territory.