FORMATION OF AN EVALUATION CRITERIA SYSTEM FOR LAND CONSOLIDATION PROJECT IMPACTS UNDER LITHUANIAN CONDITIONS

Abstract

The article examines the issue of evaluating the impacts of land consolidation projects under Lithuanian conditions. The fragmented and small-scale land structure that emerged after the land reform reduces farm competitiveness and territorial efficiency; therefore, land consolidation is considered one of the key instruments for the rational development of land use. Although such projects are financed by the European Union and national budget funds, Lithuania still lacks an integrated system for evaluating their impacts. The aim of the study is to develop an evaluation criteria system for assessing the impacts of land consolidation projects adapted to Lithuanian conditions. The research applies systematic and comparative analysis of scientific literature, examining international land fragmentation indices, economic evaluation methods for investment projects, and models for assessing social and environmental impacts. Based on the results of the analysis, an integrated criteria system comprising structural, economic, social, and environmental indicators was developed. The results indicate that in Lithuania mainly structural indicators and partly economic indicators can be practically applied, whereas the assessment of social and environmental criteria is limited due to the lack of data. A two-level evaluation structure is proposed as a basis for developing a national land consolidation project assessment system.