Land degradation is one of the most pressing problems ensuring sustainable use of land. In order to provide a clear understanding of land degradation and its risks, as well as to implement unified measures for prevention of land degradation in Latvia, the Land Management Law came into force in 2015. It individually defines the concepts of land and soil degradation, thus separating them from each other, as well as clarifying the term “degraded territory”. However, despite these solutions in the regulatory framework of the land degradation, till now criteria for identifying land degradation have not been developed and approved, therefore their determination is very subjective and not comparable between municipalities and at the state level. The aim of the article is to develop and approbation degradation criteria for assessing land degradation in particular territory. In the article, based on the author's previous studies on the classification of land degradation, characterised one type of land degradation - the abandoned agricultural and forestry activity territory, as well as proposed subdivision of criteria classification into three levels – low, medium and high. As result of the study, it was concluded that the classification of degraded territories into three degradation levels is justified for the purpose of more objective identification and evaluation of land degradation.

Abstract. The main tasks of land consolidation are to eliminate land fragmentation and to facilitate farms of optimal size. One of the most important preconditions of land consolidation is forming of optimal size farmland plots in property and use, and land fragmentation, which has a major impact on both the operating conditions and other rural development processes. Land fragmentation bothers not only land management, but also increases transport costs. During the land reform in the rural areas, land plots in ownership and rented land plots are developed per several land units. The other factor contributing to the fragmentation of farmlands is the development of the land market, because it is not always possible to find land next to the owner's farmland for purchasing or leasing the land for the purpose of the land area increasing. In The Land Management Law, which was adopted in 2014 by the Saeima of the Republic of Latvia, which aim was to establish a legal basis for rational land use and sustainable spatial development, the agricultural land consolidation was emphasized. In the process of land consolidation an equivalent land exchange between agricultural landowners is carried out. Foreign experience shows that different values are applied, for example, in Germany the so-called relative value of agricultural land is calculated on the bases of land's qualitative assessments. Also in Latvia some activities have been carried out in the land relative assessment for the land consolidation needs. A pilot project on agricultural land relative assessment in 2016 was carried out for land consolidation needs under the guidance of the article's authors in cooperation with the State Land Service. The aim of the paper is to examine the method of land assessment and analyse its suitability for the land parcel exchange for the purpose of the land consolidation pilot project.

Abstract. Land is one of the most important natural resources; its use is determined by several factors, especially resources and infrastructure. Without proper land management and maintenance as well as after abandoning the land favourable conditions arise for land degradation. Land degradation processes are also found in road infrastructure, which are promoted by various risk factors. In order to ensure the sustainable development of land use, it is necessary to evaluate the causes of land degradation risk, identify the degraded areas and areas that are exposed to degradation risk, as well as identify the possibilities for their elimination. The main risk factors for land degradation in the management of state road infrastructure are: errors in determination of roads and abutting property borders as a result of land reform; land reservation for state road infrastructure development objects; non-cultivated land after completion of construction works; activity of beavers and expansion of invasive plants. The aim of the article is to evaluate the main types of land degradation in the management of state road infrastructure and to determine the risk factors. In the article the manifestations of land degradation and the risk factors in the management of state road infrastructure have been explored and summarized. The risk factors of land degradation have been classified according to the type of degradation.

Sustainable development of the national economy is based on the reasonable use of natural resources. Increase area of uncultivated agriculture land is one of the risk factors of land degradation in Latvia. Land degradation prevention measures, including restriction of invasive plant species, are carried out to fulfill overall interests of the society. In conditions of globalization, previously unknown plants purposely or accidentally propagate into Latvian environment, and their proportion is increasing. Many of these species are growing, multiplying and spreading rapidly in our climate, displacing native species, causing significant biological pollution and becoming dominant. Such aggressive species are called invasive. They have become a serious problem in natural ecosystems, creating problems for the protection of native plant species, preserving the visual value of traditional landscapes, and causing significant economic damage to the economy. The aim of research is to analyse indicators characterizing abandoned economic activity territory-spread of invasive plants, their limitation and elimination. Restoring brownfields can improve land use and quality of landscape.

Cultural and historical objects are an important part of our history bringing different evidence about the history of the nation. Dealing with the problems of sustainable development of the territories, it is essential to ensure sustainability of these objects to be able to evaluate them also in the future. In the Republic of Latvia, the aims and priorities of long-term sustainability are included in the Strategy of Spatial Development, where one of the three main objectives is defined-to ensure maintenance of Latvian originality, which includes various nature, cultural heritance and unique landscapes. Jekabpils is one of the cities of the Republic of Latvia, where there is a wide range of cultural and historical objects; they are mainly living houses and buildings of social significance having historical importance. Nevertheless, their condition is very different. The aim of the present article is to evaluate the condition and importance of the cultural and historical objects for promoting sustainable development of the territory of Jekabpils city. Within the range of the research, tracing and visual evaluation of the physical condition of the cultural and historical objects has been carried out according to the criteria suggested by the authors. Identity of the cultural and historical objects has also been determined. It has been stated that in general the condition of the cultural and historical objects is satisfactory and even good; still for about one fourth of these objects the physical condition is not satisfactory what often creates an impression of a degraded territory. Most part of these are living houses that are the property of physical persons.