Role of environmental management in transformation of geosystems of Lena-Angara plateau in the end of XIX - beginning of XXI centuries

Abstract

The characteristics of the economic development process of the territory of the Lena-Angara plateau are considered for the time interval since the late XIX century till the present. Three stages of nature management are identified, during which the economic activity has influenced the spatial structure of geosystems: 1) end of the XIX-beginning of the XX centuries; 2) mid of the XX century; 3) end of the XX - beginning of the XXI centuries. The key area is the territory of the upper reaches of the Kulenga and Ilga rivers (left tributaries of the Lena river). Using socioeconomic analysis the dominant kinds of economic activities are determined, the consequences of which influence the transformation of natural geosystems. For the key area, a series of maps characterizing the specific landscape pattern of the Lena-Angara plateau for each of the selected periods has been compiled. A comparative analysis of the spatial organization of geosystems has been made, resulting in the conclusions about the discreteness of the transformed complexes owing to natural and socioeconomic factors. The area of natural and transformed geosystems has been accounted for each studied period. The permanent extension of the area of transformed geosystems is pointed out, and the causes of this process are determined.