Methods
The main method was a review of
publications by Russian scientists, as well as some works by foreign
authors (Belarus, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan) published in Russian language.
In 2018, we were the first with an article on the uncertainties of
applying the LDN concept in Russia, which included: diversity of
biophysical and socioeconomic conditions, diversity of drivers and
processes of LD, and the time period for establishing national LDN
baseline in Russia (Kust et al. 2018). Since then, the number of
LDN-related scientific publications has sharply increased with growing
diverse of topics and ideas for scientific discussion (Figure 1). By
now, more than one hundred LDN-related publications have been issued, of
which about 90% appeared since 2018. About 80% of them are published
in Russian, and only 20% in English.
The review of available publications allowed for analysis on the
following areas: (i) development of LDN terminology, (ii) LDN assessment
at the different levels, (iii) adaptation of transition matrix; (iv)
application of global and national LDN indicators; (v) application of
LDN framework for economic valuation of land, (vi) estimating LDN
Baseline, and (vii) application of LDN as an integral indicator for
sustainable land management.