of monitoring erosion processes-bookmark on typical parts erosion of the process network of ground reference points. According to the results of the conducted research was compiled scheme growing ravines in this area. The results can be used for optimization of the processes of nature in a Small bend of the Don river.

The purpose of this research is to assess the degree of auspiciousness of the human resources potential of the agricultural territories of Volgograd region, its territorial structure. The authors use the classical methodological approach of economic geography in conjunction with modern geographic information systems. The study includes three stages. The first is the collection and processing of statistical data on the main indicators of human resources of rural settlements such as number, density, age composition. The second stage includes the compilation of thematic maps for the selected indicators, the allocation of classes for the ranges of values of indicators and their spatial analysis. The third stage is the creation of an integrated map for a set of indicators with the allocation of territories according to the degree of auspiciousness of the potential of human resources. As a result, the main characteristics of the rural population of Volgograd region are identified. It has been established that most of the rural settlements belong to large rural settlements. Zones of increased and decreased density of the rural population are identified. According to the estimation of the age composition made by calculating the aging index, the rural population is in the stage of deep and very deep aging. Geoinformation mapping methods allow not only statistical processing of data, but also spatial analysis of the distribution of mapped indicators. The geoinformation analysis of the human potential of agricultural territories allows us to talk about the mosaic nature of its territorial structure, the alternation of territories with varying degrees of its development.

This paper presents the results of monitoring the current state of natural complexes and rarespecies of plants and animals in the special protection natural areas (SPNA) to conserve fauna and flora, listed in the Red Book of Volgograd Oblast. Bykovo municipal district of Volgograd region – “Tazhinsky estuary” and “Prishibo-Mogutinskaya system of estuaries” were selected as the object of the study. The initial materials of the study were the data obtained during field studies carried out from May to September 2021. The main purpose of the study has two components: an analysis of the current situation (the current status and number of rare species and natural complexes in general and in the area near the protected area (not more than 1 km) according to the study results) and identification of limiting factors and threats to each species and the natural complexes as a whole. The main methods used during the expeditions were continuous records of all vertebrates on long, multi-day automobile and hiking trails. At the same time, we searched for nests and breeding territories of birds in specific habitats and interviewed local people to identify habitats of large birds of prey and other rare species of birds. All rare species encounters were positioned with a Garmin Etrex 30x GPS receiver. Traditional geobotanical methods (ecologicalphytocenotic and ecological-floristic analysis of phytocenoses) and quantitative methods (analysis of the species composition of phytocenoses by pairwise conjugation and analysis of floristic and phytocenotic similarity of phytocenoses), and the main sample-area method were applied during the study to study the species diversity of plant communities. The results and digital mapping of the results of field studies have shown that the areas of special value for the conservation of fauna and flora listed in the Red Book of Volgograd region – “Tazhinskyestuary” and “Prishibo-Mogutinskaya estuary system” irreversibly degrade due to changes in the hydrological regime. These reclaimed estuaries have been very poorly filled with water in recent years, and in some years, have remained fully dry (this has been the case for the past two years). This leads to the progressive salinization of soils and the extinction of rare species for which these SPNAs were organized. Recommendations on possible changes in the regime of special protection, boundaries, and SPNA category were developed based on the analysis of the studies’ results. The additional survey of estuaries in late April-early May in a year with good moisture is required to decide on the future of SPNA.

Резюме. Цель. Анализ динамики численности населения и изменения доли пашни в структуре землепользо-вания отдельно взятой территории за несколько исторических периодов, с выяснением причин данных изме-нений. Методы. В ходе исследований были использованы экспедиционный, статистический методы, а также метод картографического моделирования и ретроспективного анализа. Результаты. Анализ результатов переписей населения позволяет говорить об общей отрицательной динамике в численности сельского насе-ления Волгоградской области в целом и бассейна реки Большая Голубая в частности. Ретроспективный и картографический анализ показали зависимость площади обрабатываемой земли от количества проживаю-щих на территории жителей. Кроме того, на заселённость территории существенное влияние оказывает пло-дородие почв. Выводы. Население бассейна реки Большая Голубая за последние сто лет стабильно умень-шалось, как в силу различных социально-экономических причин, таких как укрупнение сельских населенных пунктов, плановое уничтожение хуторской системы, переезд жителей в города, так и по причине сложных природно-климатических условий для ведения хозяйства: малое плодородие почв, высокая степень эродиро-ванности территории, плохая влагообеспеченность территории. Ключевые слова: бассейн реки, заселение, освоение, хутор, численность населения, методы географиче-ских исследований, пашня, землепользование.Формат цитирования: Вишняков Н.В., Семенова Д.А. Изменения в структуре землепользования как след-ствие демографических трансформаций сельских территорий Волгоградской области // Юг России: экология, развитие. 2016. Т.11, N3. C. 165-173. DOI: 10.18470/1992165-173. DOI: 10.18470/ -1098165-173. DOI: 10.18470/ -2016 Abstract. Aim. Analysis of the population dynamics and changes in the share of arable land in the structure of land use separate territory for several historical periods, and to determine the causes of these changes. Methods. Studies have used forwarding, statistical methods, and the method of cartographic modeling and retrospective analysis. Results. Analysis of the results of the population census allows speaking about the general negative dynamics in the rural population of the Volgograd region in general and river basin Bolshaya Golubaya in particular. Historical and CHANGES IN LAND USE AS CONSEQUENCE OF DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF RURAL TERRITORIES OF THE VOLGOGRAD REGION

The Volgograd Region is a promising region for the development of many types and forms of active tourism. The combination of unique natural conditions creates all the necessary prerequisites for the recreational development of the region, especially in the field of active tourism. The large size of the territory (112.9 thousand sq. km.) determines the development of the existing recreational zones and the creation of new ones, promising for the organization of tourism. In this article, one of the most promising areas for the development of active tourism in the Volgograd region is the Bolshaya Golubaya river basin, which is used as a model site for applied research work of the Department of Geography and Cartography of the Volgograd State University. When studying the recreational potential of the researched site, the method of expert assessments was used. The experts were tour operators for domestic tourism. According to the analysis of expert assessments, it is revealed that the development of recreational tourism in the study area is a promising area. Based on the analysis of natural conditions, recreational potential and expert evaluation data, the team of authors outlines the types of sports tourism and their features for development on the territory of the Bolshaya Golubaya river basin. Within the framework of the research, a model of sports and health tourism is created in the area under study, which includes weekend tours of various types of sports tourism. With the help of the ArcGIS10.0 software, this model of development of active tourism in the Bolshaya Golubaya river basin is presented in the form of a cartographic scheme that clearly demonstrates the location of routes of promising types of active tourism.