The History of Economic Development and Anthropogenic Transformation of Sandy Lands in the Steppe Zone of Orenburg Oblast

Abstract

This work implements the analysis of the history of economic development and human-induced transformation of sandy lands in the steppe zone of Orenburg oblast. Stages of the evolution of sandy lands have been distinguished and characterized. They are determined by the dynamics of socioeconomic develop-ment of the study area. It has been found that, with the development of cattle-breeding and farming, the fre-quency of outbreaks of sandy land degradations gradually increased and began to correlate with periods of increased aridity and comply with the stages of the socioeconomic development of the society.