Integral Assessment of Anthropogenic Impact on the Baikal Natural Territory: Methodological Approaches and Typology of Municipal Districts

Abstract—The article develops a methodology for an integral assessment of anthropogenic impact with spatial resolution for the municipalities of the Baikal Natural Territory, taking into account the impact on the atmosphere, water, and forest resources; impact of agriculture; solid waste; disturbed lands, and objects of accumulated damage; as well as background impact. Taking into account the significance for the Baikal Natural Territory, the methodology for constructing an integral index for the first time, in addition to official statistics, was supplemented with calculated indicators of emissions from motor vehicles and small vessels, emissions from autonomous heating systems in rural areas and cities. For this, an algorithm was proposed for the first time, including determination of the number and area of buildings based on remote sensing materials, and the amount and type of fuel used, and type of installation based on surveys of the population and heads of settlements. Also, using satellite images, the areas of disturbed lands in all municipalities were calculated and the degree of hazard of their geomorphological position was determined. To determine the weight of indicators, the authors conducted a survey of experts representing the scientific community (specialists in the field of integrated assessments of certain types of impacts or environmental problems of the territory), the expert community (leading rating agencies), and the environmental management system of regions included in the Baikal Natural Territory. The integral indicator made it possible to construct a rating of municipalities and identify key factors in shaping the environmental situation. According to the integral index, five types of territories are identified, followed by subtypes based on the nature of anthropogenic impact on the environment. A high level of impact is typical of large cities and locations of enterprises, especially mining, where a full range of load components operate. An increased level is observed in cities, suburban municipalities with a high load from the life of the population, as well as in large agricultural areas with a developed mining. The average level is typical for a small number of rural areas and towns due to load from agriculture and forestry. A reduced level of impact is formed mainly in semiperipheral areas, where there is a load on forest resources, and some suburban areas with more developed agriculture. A low level of anthropogenic impact is typical for peripheral, sparsely populated municipal districts with a noticeable share of pollution from autonomous heating systems. A special role in shaping the environmental situation is played by large tracts of disturbed land, high volumes of solid waste, and objects of accumulated hazard left over from the Soviet industrialization period.