Evaluation Criteria and Algorithm for Calculating the Environmental Quality Index of Rural Areas

In the context  of the implementation of the state program for the integrated  development of rural areas, the issue of assessing the quality  of the environment  of rural areas remains particularly  relevant  in order to determine  priority areas of development  and allocation  of budget  funds.  Until  now, there  was  no such  methodology, at the  same  time  there  was  a methodology  for assessing the  quality  of the  urban  environment, which  is not  applicable in rural territories,  since it does not take  into account  the specifics of their development. The  article presents a methodology  for calculating  the quality  of rural areas. The  authors emphasize  in their research the relevance of the development  of this methodology, as it will allow to assess the quality of rural areas and on its basis to propose directions for improving the policy of state regulation  within  the framework  of existing regulatory legal acts.  The authors identified the key areas of rural environment  development, 11 assessment groups and the assessment is carried out by 30 indicators for each object of assessment. A point system has been developed  for the transition  from absolute values of indicators  by indicators  to a single calculation  system.  As part of the assessment, integral indices are also formed  that allow assessing the quality of the environment  at the level of the whole country, individual regions, municipalities  and settlements.  At each level of assessment, it is possible to identify key areas of improvement, work in which  will ensure maximum effect for the growth of the quality of the rural environment  at various levels of management.