Аңдатпа
Agricultural intensification in the steppe zone of Central Asia has increasingly exacerbated the tension between food security and the conservation of natural ecosystems. This study proposes an integrated landscape planning methodology for Kazakhstan by adapting the German Landschaftsplanung approach and the Chinese concept of “ecological red lines” to the conditions of post-Soviet land use. The focus is on the analysis of soil degradation and biodiversity loss. It is applied to the Ayyrtau district of the North Kazakhstan region, an area characterized by a heterogeneous landscape mosaic composed of arable land, a substantial share of degraded land, vulnerable steppe ecosystems, and woodlands. Using GIS analysis and remote sensing data, we identify nine types of landscape units, which are operational units for evaluating landscape functions and planning priorities. The result of this work is a map of the zoning of the planning area, which defines seven modes of eco-oriented management, ranging from strict protection to active agricultural production. The study demonstrates that the transition from an extensive monocultural system to a landscape-adaptive strategy can improve the spatial coordination between agricultural use and ecological protection, strengthen the regional ecological framework, and enhance ecotourism potential. For the first time, an integrated zoning system is presented, designed for use by local authorities as a decision support tool aimed at preventing land degradation.