Determination of Land Degradation for Sustainable Development of Municipal Territories

Degraded land is land which has been damaged by either human-caused activities or has been devoid of any human activity resulting in low productivity and low economic potential unless special restoration measures are used. The aim of the study is to develop scientifically based proposals for identification of land degradation in order to classify and evaluate land degradation in Latvia and to develop the sequence of gradual prevention measures of this process. To achieve the aim of the study, information about types and features of present land degradation was summarized. Earlier studies in Latvia show that degraded land does not have one significant feature which would allow determining it as a "typical" degraded territory. The determination of degraded territories is a very essential part of territorial and land use planning which is strongly related to the implementation of sustainable development programmes and planning of further actions in all municipalities.