ASSESSMENT OF THE OPTIMALITY OF THE LANDSCAPE STRUCTURE IN MARIJAMPOLE COUNTY

Abstract

The article analyzes the change in the optimality indicators of the landscape structure of municipalities in Marijampolė county. The development of industrial zones, urbanized territories, decreasing areas of forests and agricultural plots affect the optimality indicators of areas. The aim of the article is to assess the optimality of the landscape structure in five municipalities belonging to Marijampolė county (Kalvarijos, Kazlų Rūda, Šakiai district, Marijampolė, Vilkaviškis district). The article applies the methodology for the optimality indicators of the general landscape structure developed by P. Kavaliausko, D. Veteikio, I. Šulcienės and G. Raščiaus, "Landscape Formation Methodology, Statistical data of the State Enterprise Agricultural Data Center and the National Land Service under the Ministry of Environment from 2011 to 2024. The study revealed that in 2024, anthropogenic landscape prevailed in the analyzed county (69,56 percent). The smallest part of the landscape was made up of the anthropogenic landscape type (5,59 percent). Natural landscape made up 24,85 percent. After analyzing the change in landscape types in 2011-2024, it was found that the area of natural landscape decreased by 0,03 percent, anthropogenic - decreased by 0,76 percent, and the area of anthropogenic landscape increased by 0,80 percent. The ratio of relatively natural and cultivated land in Marijampolė county (Rns) is equal to 1,47. The value of the relative distance of the landscape structure from the optimal ratio (Dr) is 1,10 the B2 optimality class was established, indicating that the landscape structure is optimal.