Defense of the dissertation of Beketova Aidana Taishybayevna for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in the specialty «6D060900 - Geography»

L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, a dissertation defense for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) by Beketova Aidana Taishybayevna on the topic «Natural Resource Potential of Technogenic Landscapes in the Kazakhstani Part of the Southern Urals and Their Stability» by specialty «6D060900 – Geography».

The dissertation was carried out at the «Physical and economical geography education department» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University.

The language of defense is kazakh

Official reviewers:

Assylbekova Aizhan Assylbekovna – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Cartography and Geoinformatics, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, specialty: 6D060900 – «Geography» (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan);

Kaimuldinova Kulyash Duissenbayevna – Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor-researcher, Department of Geography and Ecology, NJSC «Abai Kazakh National Pedagogical University», specialty: 25.00.23 - «Physical Geography and Biogeography, Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry» (Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan).

Temporary members of the Dissertation Committee:

Kurepina Nadezhda Yuryevna – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Water and Environmental Problems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, specialty: 25.00.33 - «Cartography» (Barnaul, Russian Federation);

Zhensikbayeva Nazgul Zhanybekovna – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Ecology and Geography, S.Amanzholov East Kazakhstan University, specialty: 6D060900 – «Geography» (Ust-Kamenogorsk, Republic of Kazakhstan);

Kurbaniyazov Abilgazy Koptleuovich – Candidate of Geographical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Tourism, International University of Tourism and Hospitality, specialty: 25.00.23 - «Physical Geography and Biogeography, Soil Geography and Landscape Geochemistry» (Turkistan, Republic of Kazakhstan).

Scientific advisors:

Berdenov Zharas Galimzhanovich – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Professor, Director of the Institute of Natural Sciences, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, specialty: 6D060900 – «Geography» (Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan);

Marin Rahnev Rusev – Doctor of Geographical Sciences, Professor at the Department of Regional and Political Geography, Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, specialty: 11.00.02 – «Economic and Social Geography» (Sofia, Bulgaria).

The defense will take place on October 14, 2026, at 03:00 PM in the Dissertation Council for the training direction «8D052 – Environment» in the specialty «6D060900 – Geography» of L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University. The defense meeting is planned to be held offline and online.

Link: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/channel/19%3AIOgqdH1iX6tMkUfu2r5tuW2FmcwJuIeuOI4fYTKt3x81%40thread.tacv2/General?groupId=1866846c-a78f-432a-bf9d-f9595aca9d2f&tenantId=5a2fd781-9261-485a-af2b-6171d0efab73

Address: Astana, st. Kazhymukan, 13, educational building No. 3, meeting room (room No. 333).

Abstract (English): The relevance of this dissertation research is determined by the need for a scientifically grounded assessment of the state and dynamics of technogenically transformed landscapes under conditions of intensive economic development of territories with high natural resource potential. The Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals represents one of the most industrially developed regions of the country, where large mining and industrial complexes, urbanized territories, and infrastructure systems have been formed over a long period, exerting a complex impact on the natural environment. In the context of sustainable development, the study of the consequences of technogenic impact on natural geosystems becomes particularly significant. Disturbances of relief, soil and vegetation cover, hydrogeological regime, and geochemical balance lead to a decrease in the ecological stability of landscapes and to the formation of zones of ecological risk. For regions specialized in the extraction and processing of mineral resources, these processes are systemic and long-term in nature, which requires a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis from the standpoint of physical geography, geoecology, and geoinformation modeling. Scientific novelty of the research. For the first time, the current geoecological state of geosystems is considered as the result of the interaction between irrational use of natural resources and the genetic characteristics of landscapes under conditions of intensive industrial development and traditional land use. Environmental problems and situations of varying degrees of severity have been identified. The territory has been zoned according to the resistance of landscapes to technogenesis, taking into account the self-purification capacity of landscapes and the parameters of the biogeochemical cycle. Threshold toxic concentrations of a number of heavy metals in the soils of the study area have been determined. Scientific understanding of the mechanisms of technogenic transformation of the landscapes of the Southern Urals has been refined, and the forms of transition from local disturbances to regional environmental problems have been identified. Research aim: To conduct a comprehensive geoecological assessment of the technogenic transformation of landscapes in the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals and to provide a scientific basis for optimizing environmental protection and subsoil resource management. To achieve this aim, the following objectives were established: 1) To study the physical and geographical conditions governing the formation of natural-anthropogenic landscapes in the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals. 2) To develop and test a methodological framework for the study of technogenic landscapes. 3) To assess the natural resource potential of the region, taking into account the genesis, spatial distribution, and degree of development of fuel, metallic, and non-metallic mineral resources, and to identify the spatial patterns of their distribution at the level of elementary landscapes. 4) To conduct a geoecological analysis of technogenic impacts on the landscapes of the Southern Urals, identifying the main sources of pollution and the extent of disturbance to natural components. 5) To develop scientifically substantiated recommendations for optimizing nature management and subsoil resource use aimed at enhancing landscape-ecological stability and reducing the adverse consequences of technogenic impacts. The theoretical and methodological framework of the study is based on the concepts of F.N. Milkov concerning the structural-dynamic organization and morphology of natural and anthropogenic landscapes, their classification, and research principles; the theoretical provisions of V.I. Bulatov on the study of anthropogenic transformation of landscapes; the methods for studying technogenic landscapes developed by V.I. Fedotov; the approaches of M.A. Glazovskaya to the analysis of geosystem stability; the methodological principles of physical-geographical zoning proposed by I.P. Kadilnikov; the geoecological aspects of the study of the landscapes of the Urals discussed in the works of A.A. Chibilev; as well as the scientific developments of K.M. Dzhanaleeva in the field of geosystem-areal approach and Zh.G. Berdenov devoted to technogenic changes of ecosystems and the foundations of their sustainable development. The research employed methods of landscape mapping, comparative-geographical analysis, forecasting, and modeling of the state of natural complexes. Provisions submitted for defense 1) The physical-geographical conditions of the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals (relief structure, hydroclimatic regime, soil-vegetation cover, and landscape differentiation), combined with long-term mining and industrial development of the territory, form stable natural-technogenic geosystems with reduced landscape-ecological stability. Their development follows the patterns of spatial-temporal transformation of technogenic landscapes. 2) The integrated application of field physical-geographical research, geochemical analysis, and geoinformation mapping at the level of elementary landscapes makes it possible to objectively assess technogenic load, identify zones of ecological risk, and carry out an integrated assessment of the landscape-ecological stability of geosystems in the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals. 3) Optimization of environmental management and subsoil use within technogenically transformed geosystems of the Southern Urals should be based on a landscape-ecological approach that предусматривает differentiation of economic use regimes, prioritization of reclamation measures, and the implementation of geoecological monitoring as a key instrument for increasing the sustainability of natural-anthropogenic systems. The results obtained in the dissertation have been published in 12 scientific publications, including 4 articles in journals recommended by the Committee for Quality Assurance in Science and Higher Education of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, 4 articles in journals indexed in the Scopus database, and 4 papers in the proceedings of international scientific and practical conferences. The dissertation consists of an introduction, the main body comprising four sections, a conclusion, a list of references, and appendices. The dissertation comprises 178 pages of typed text and contains 37 tables and 17 figures. During the dissertation research, a comprehensive geoecological assessment of the technogenically transformed landscapes of the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals was carried out, which made it possible to identify the patterns of formation and functioning of natural-anthropogenic geosystems under conditions of intensive economic development of the territory. Based on the research conducted and the results obtained, the following conclusions can be drawn: 1. It was established that the highly dissected relief of the Southern Urals, continental climate, unstable hydrological regime, and high spatial heterogeneity of the soil and vegetation cover determine the conditions for the formation and spatial differentiation of natural-anthropogenic landscapes in the region. Twenty elementary landscapes were identified within the study area, differing in their formation conditions, soil and vegetation structure, and degree of anthropogenic transformation. It was established that the region’s historically developed specialization in the extraction and processing of mineral resources has resulted in the formation of persistent centers of technogenic transformation, primarily associated with mining and industrial hubs and urbanized areas. The results obtained provided a basis for the subsequent assessment of natural resource potential, anthropogenic pressure, and landscape stability under technogenic impacts. 2. A methodological framework for the comprehensive study of technogenic landscapes was developed and tested, combining field, laboratory, cartographic, and geoinformation methods. The information base of the study included remote sensing data, thematic maps, reference and archival materials, as well as the results of field observations and laboratory analyses. The developed algorithm provides for the sequential assessment of natural resource potential, anthropogenic pressure, the degree of transformation of natural components, and landscape stability under technogenic impacts. Testing the methodological approach in the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals made it possible to identify spatial differences in the studied indicators and to carry out their comprehensive assessment at the level of elementary landscapes. Based on the research results, a series of interrelated GIS maps was produced. 3. The assessment of natural resource potential showed that the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals is characterized by a high level of mineral resource availability and considerable spatial heterogeneity in their distribution. Based on an analysis of mineral deposits and balance reserves of fuel, metallic, and non-metallic mineral resources, the elementary landscapes were differentiated according to their level of resource potential. It was established that the highest mineral resource potential is associated with landscapes located in areas of concentrated chromite, nickel-cobalt, copper, and iron ores, whereas other landscapes are characterized predominantly by fuel, non-metallic, construction, and chemical raw materials. The natural resource zoning and the mineral resource potential map developed in the study made it possible to identify spatial patterns in the distribution of mineral resources at the level of elementary landscapes and to determine their role in shaping the contemporary structure of natural resource use in the region. 4. The geoecological analysis of technogenic impacts showed that mining and metallurgical industries, together with associated infrastructure, are the leading factors contributing to the degradation of natural complexes. Soil contamination by heavy metals, pollution of surface water and groundwater by toxic compounds, and secondary dust emissions from technogenic landscapes contribute to the formation of persistent areas of environmental degradation. In several industrial hubs, technogenic biogeochemical provinces were identified, characterized by the accumulation of pollutants within the “soil–water–plant–human” system. An integrated assessment of landscape-ecological stability showed that most of the studied geosystems are characterized by reduced or critical levels of stability. The most vulnerable areas are those with a high concentration of industrial facilities and disturbed hydrogeological regimes, where natural recovery processes occur extremely slowly or are completely inhibited. At the same time, areas with relatively well-preserved natural structures were identified that have the potential for ecological rehabilitation if technogenic pressure is reduced. 5. Scientifically substantiated recommendations were developed for optimizing natural resource use and subsoil resource management in the Kazakhstani part of the Southern Urals. These recommendations are based on a differentiated, landscape-oriented approach that takes into account the level of technogenic pressure, the degree of transformation of natural components, and geosystem stability. To enhance landscape-ecological stability, the following measures were proposed: reclamation of disturbed lands, reduction of dust impacts from waste dumps and quarries, establishment of sanitary protection forest belts, systematic monitoring of soil and surface water conditions, restriction of further technogenic development of the most vulnerable landscapes, and implementation of a GIS-based monitoring system. It was also proposed that the natural stability of landscapes and their capacity for recovery be taken into account when planning and operating mining facilities. Implementation of the proposed measures is aimed at reducing the adverse consequences of technogenic impacts, restoring disturbed geosystems, and ensuring more rational use of the region’s natural resource potential.

Dissertation

List of Scientific Works

Consultant's Review

Foreign Consultant's Review

Conclusion of the Research Ethics Committee