Main Areas of Scientific Research at the Department of Soil Erosion and Conservation: Current State and Prospects of Development

Abstract

The Department of Soil Erosion and Conservation has developed the following main scientific areas: “Assessment of Erosion Processes in Soils of Various Bioclimatic Zones,” “Study of Fundamentals of Sustainable Land Use,” and “Ecological and Economic Assessment of Soil and Land Degradation.” It is proposed to develop both the existing areas of scientific research with a certain correction of their names and problems (“Analysis and Modeling of Erosion Processes in Soils, Taking into Account Soil Erosion under Climate Change Conditions,” “Development of the Concept of Sustainable Land Use in the Context of Food Security,” and “Ecology, Economics, and Sociodemographic Features of Land Use under Conditions of Climate Change and Soil Degradation”) and new areas that have some research history at the department “Development of Principles of Soil Protection” and “Development of Methodological Foundations of Land Reclamation.” The necessity of creating a holistic concept of soil protection is considered in particular detail. This concept should include the formulation of legal (legislative and regulatory–methodological) principles of soil protection, as well as the development of assessment criteria under which soils should be protected and the development of soil protection systems (primarily systems protecting from erosion processes) under different bioclimatic and administrative-territorial conditions.