Land resources and their significance

Land resources - this is the entire territory, which is delineated by certain boundaries. They can be in use by various subjects of the country, but, nevertheless, are related to natural objects. The earth is a means of production, which is used in many branches of economic activity. Especially it is in demand in agriculture and forestry.

The world's land fund is 134 million kilometers. This is 26.3% of the entire territory of the country.

Land resources have a certain structure. 11% occupy arable land, meadows and gardens. That is, it is cultivated land. About 23% of the land is in pastures. Forests and shrubs occupy 30% of the world's land resources. Anthropogenic landscapes, that is, created by human hands, account for 3% of the total. There are also unproductive land, which account for about 33% of the land.

Land resources are distributed unevenly. For example, pastures occupy the most part in comparison with the cultivated lands. Especially it is typical for Australia. Russia, the United States, Ukraine, China, Kazakhstan, India and Canada account for the bulk of land used for arable land, orchards and meadows.

Forest tracts predominate in Russia, South and North America. The presence of low-productive lands is characteristic of Asia.

The structure of land resources can change. This happens for two reasons.

The activities of people leave their imprint on the distribution of these lands. A lot of land is allocated to arable land, gardens and meadows. They swing open, forests are cut down, swamps are dried, deserts are irrigated. So, over the last decades the area of cultivated land has increased by 360 million hectares. Some countries are reclaiming the land of the sea, using the coastal zone. This is the first reason for changing the structure of land resources.

It is also changing due to the deterioration of the quality of land. This happens simultaneously with their expansion.

Land resources of Russia are different in their qualities and properties (fertility, availability of minerals, forest and water massifs). In this regard, they are used, focusing on these characteristics.

Land resources in our country are divided into seven categories:

1. Agricultural land. They include all the land that is suitable for production, agricultural purpose.

2. Land allocated for settlements. They are located on the territories of administrative entities (cities, villages, etc.). Their main purpose is to build the buildings and structures necessary for the existence of settlements.

3. Land allocated for use in industry, transport and other related industries.

4. Territories of special value. These are reserves, a site of historical and cultural significance, recreational areas and others.

5. Forestry fund of land. These are lands covered with forests or designated for use in the field of forestry. They are of particular value in the raw material plan. Forest is necessary for many branches of the national economic complex. It is also a place of rest and an energy source.

6. Land resources occupied by water bodies. This includes also hydraulic structures and areas necessary for their full functioning. They satisfy household, drinking, health and some other needs of mankind. Such resources are also necessary for the full-fledged operation of many spheres of the country's economic activity.

The Committee on Land Resources exercises control over the use of all lands. Their rational consumption is very important for preserving the entire land fund and the surrounding nature as a whole.