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.