Landscape-geoecological framework of the Sunzha river basin

Introduction. The Sunzha River basin is located in the Eastern North Caucasus. It plays an important role in water supply for more than 1.5 million people living in an area of about 12 thousand square kilometers. The basin covers part of the territories of four regions of the Russian Federation (the Chechen Republic, Ingushetia, North Ossetia-Alania, Dagestan), as well as Georgia. The aim of the work is to study the main natural and economic boundaries and areas that form the landscape-geo-ecological framework of the study area, creating the basis for assessing the geo-ecological state of the entire basin. The objectives of the work were: mapping the landscapes of the Sunzha River basin, determining the key levels of physical and geographical differentiation, playing a leading role in the geo-ecological state of the basin, as well as implementing landscape-geo-ecological zoning. Results and discussion. As a result of the analysis of physical and geographical differentiation and landscapes of the Sunzha River basin, the main physical and geographical boundaries and ranks of landscape differentiation were identified. In addition to regional boundaries between physical-geographical countries and provinces, the landscape structure at the level of landscape types plays an important role. The altitudinal zonal structure of landscapes has been greatly transformed by long-term economic activity, resulting in the emergence of new types of landscapes and their anthropogenic modifications – mountain-forest-meadow, mountain-meadow-steppe, mountain-forest-meadow-steppe. Heterogeneous economic development of landscapes has led to the concentration of population in foothill-forest-steppe cultivated landscapes, while mountainous areas are relatively poorly developed. Based on the imposition of the landscape structure on the areas of development, seven landscape-geo-ecological regions have been identified, which differ in the following features: 1) landscape structure, 2) population density, 3) economic use of natural resources, 4) the presence of environmental problems and landscape disturbance, 5) development prospects. The boundaries between the regions are simultaneously large elements of the landscape-geo-ecological framework, expressed not only in the change of natural conditions, but also in sharp differences in living conditions and development. There is a distinct altitudinal-zonal change in conditions from the arid Forward Ranges to the intermountain plains (Chechen Plain), dissected lowlands (Black Mountains), mid-mountain basins and highlands. In addition, there is sector differentiation expressed in the emergence of spatially disjointed settlement areas (in the eastern part of the Black Mountains). Seven landscape-geo-ecological regions have been identified, the boundaries of which run along the main lines of the framework: Forward Ranges, Chechen Plain, Nazran, Black Mountains, Benoi, Mid-mountain intermountain-basin, High-mountain. Conclusions. Regional physical-geographical boundaries, landscape pattern and main development areas form important elements of the entire landscape geo-ecological framework. For the identified landscape-geo-ecological regions, the characteristics of the state and development prospects are given.