DEGRADATION OF AGRICULTURAL LANDS IN BURYATIA

This study examines the causes and extent of land degradation in the Republic of Buryatia, where a combination of anthropogenic factors (intensive plowing, unsustainable land use) and natural conditions (erosion, arid climate) has led to significant soil deterioration. The paper analyzes data on the reduction of agricultural land (by 32.5% from 1990 to 2021), the spread of erosion processes, and desertification. Special attention is given to the ecological and economic consequences of degradation, including decreased land productivity and threats to the region's sustainable development. Measures for land restoration and rational use are proposed, such as the implementation of adaptive landscape farming systems, increasing the proportion of perennial grasses in crop rotations, and afforestation for land reclamation. The necessity of maintaining ecological balance and reducing anthropogenic pressure on agrolandscapes is emphasized.