Methodology of integrated land and water resources management

The problem of creating a methodology for integrated management of land and water resources as one of the important components of the methodology of sustainable development is considered. The existing methodological approaches to integrated land and water resources management are analyzed and their main shortcomings are revealed. The methodology of integrated land and water resources management is based on contour-reclamation and functional-cost management principles. Analogs of the first, contour-ameliorative, principle are chosen the basic provisions of contour-ameliorative agriculture and the basin principle of water resources management. This principle consists of the contour principle, according to which integrated land management is carried out in the contours of certain land plots, and water resources – in the contours of river basins or sub-basins, and reclamation principle, according to which integrated management is carried out by developing and implementing measures to improve social, environmental and economic indicators of land and water use, using the term "reclamation" in a broader sense (Latin melioratio – improvement). The functional-cost principle is chosen as the main principle of the methodology of integrated resource management. The foundations of scientific and methodological tools of integrated management of land and water resources in the form of algorithms of local, zonal and regional integrated management of land and water resources are laid. The obtained research results are recommended for research institutions, design and environmental organizations, as well as specialists who deal with the problem of identifying and implementing strategic priorities for sustainable development of land and water resources.