Rapid extension of settlements in Kosovo has made major changes in land use and land cover. Migration of population towards plains has reduced the number of inhabitants in hilly-mountainous areas where low fertile soils are found. Significant part of agricultural land are changed from primary destination, and agricultural potentials are reduced. Urbanization in many cases is made in unplanned way, and in our study area in Drenica River basin are observed land degradation forms and other environmental transformations where in some cases the risk of flooding increased and floods appeared. This study about Drenica River basin will discuss aspects of the influence of morphology, water flows, and the land capability in the distribution of population, and will be a contribution to sustainable urbanization of settlements and agricultural land preservation. In order to accomplish the research are used satellite images, maps of different years, and the census data for the purpose of better coverage that has influence in the process of urbanization on soil resources in Drenica River basin (Kosovo).
Agricultural land is facing challenges due to different human activities. Accelerated urbanisation along with explosive economic growth has further worsened the shortage of agricultural land over the last two decades. Kosovo, a country with small areas suitable for agriculture is meeting challenges due to unplanned settlement extension, coal surface mining, parcelisation of properties, etc. This paper consists in an analysis of the agricultural land fund in Kosovo, in quality, production potential and food security for the population, but also the challenges facing Kosovo with this strategic resource. The article analyses three main factors that have made the biggest changes in agricultural land in Kosovo: the effects of settlement extension, coal surface mining and parcelisation in reducing the soil fund. Some of the effects have triggered significant socio-economic processes that have changed the rural environment. Other important risks of agricultural land in Kosovo are: pollution, landfills, frequent floods, etc.
The soil resources in Kosovo are facing challenges due to different human activities. Urbanization, along with economic growth, has further worsened the shortage of soil resources in Kosovo. In the last 20 years, Kosovo has undergone some social, political and economical changes which have made the population to migrate toward plains, where new settlements are formed, and other are extended. Soil resources are important for Kosovo's inhabitants, who are mainly focused on agriculture. Most of the Kosovo's terrain is mountainous, which means nearly half of the area is not suitable for agriculture. The Sitnica River basin lies mostly in Kosovo Plain where soils are characterized by high fertility with a great potential for agricultural development. The vicinity parts of the river basin lie in the hilly mountainous areas where soils have low fertility. Good natural conditions have made the River Basin the most densely populated area in Kosovo. Rapid extension of urban and rural settlements changed the land cover; agricultural lands were excluded from primary use, and the agricultural capacity is reduced with the increasing number of settlements on lands with high quality. Sitnica River basin was faced with uncontrolled urbanization, followed by the degradation of agricultural lands and land use changes, where floods occur in some cases or the flood risk is increased. In this case study, the Sitnica River basin will be analysed based on terrain morphology, soil and other natural resources, land use changes and will be a contribution towards sustainable urbanization of settlements in order to preserve soil resources.
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