Land use and land transformation

Types and pattern of land use in the GDR are controlled both by the historical development and the strong influences of technological, social and political alterations during the last four decades. Owing to these factors and the favourable natural conditions the share of non-arable area is small. The two basic features of land transformation are land use alteration and intensification. Compared to other European countries the first process lies on the average. It is still remarkable because most alterations of land use drastically reduce the agricultural area. Intensification consequently is the main type of land transformation in all sections of regional development. In most cases the benefit of strong intensification serves to particular users. Therefore various by-effects arise like pollution, contamination, blocking and devastating of renewable natural resources. Under the auspices of long term rationalization land transformation must be accompanied by the development of a dense network of protective measures and reservation areas, and in addition by different types for multiple utilization of renewable natural resources. At present complicated systems of land use are in evolution.