The principle of legal differentiation of natural objects according to the purpose as the basis of rational nature management

The present article explores one of the principles of the natural resources law — the principle of legal classification of natural objects by the criterion of its purpose. The analysis of historical and current legislation of the natural resources law results in the conclusion that the domestic legislation is characterized by two approaches to classification of the natural objects: territorial features and functionally-oriented ones. The modern land, forest, mountain, and water management legislation is basis on the functionally-oriented approach, according to which the natural objects differ by their purpose in economic activities. The author analyzes the prospect of cancellation of the land categories and transition to the territorial zoning. Based on the analysis of the legal norms, the peculiarities of implementation of the principle of differentiation of the legal entities in various fields of the natural resource relations are shown.

legal principle, natural resources, natural object, rational nature management, land categories, zoning, water object, forests, mining law, differentiation of natural objects, purpose