Article
Ecology
Adam Kimberley, Danny Hooftman, James M. Bullock, Olivier Honnay, Patricia Krickl, Jessica Lindgren, Jan Plue, Peter Poschlod, Anna Traveset, Sara A. O. Cousins
Summary: Increasing landscape connecting elements cannot compensate for large-scale grassland area loss, leading to significant declines in both structural and functional connectivity. Generalist species are negatively affected by connectivity, with structural connectivity having the strongest impact, while functional connectivity determines the presence of grassland specialist species in focal grasslands.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Saeed Mhanna, Landon J. S. Halloran, Francois Zwahlen, Ahmed Haj Asaad, Philip Brunner
Summary: Armed conflicts have negative impacts on the environment, particularly land systems. The current understanding of the relationship between Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) and armed conflict fails to fully grasp the complexity of their dynamics, which could threaten food security and sustainable land/water resources management in conflict zones. A new methodology that combines remote sensing products, machine learning techniques, and quasi-experimental statistical analysis has been developed to better understand LULC changes in the Orontes River Basin (ORB) between 2004 and 2022, offering insights into the impact of conflict and refugee settlements on land use patterns.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yong Piao, Yi Xiao, Fengdi Ma, Sangjin Park, Dongkun Lee, Yongwon Mo, Seunggyu Jeong, Injae Hwang, Yujin Kim
Summary: Understanding changes in landscape patterns can be achieved through an understanding of land use/land cover (LULC) changes. Previous studies have monitored LULC changes in North Korea but not at a local scale. This study used multiple LULC products, a random-forest algorithm, and Landsat satellite data to classify LULC with a high accuracy. Based on the classification results, landscape indices were used to quantify and monitor landscape pattern changes. The results showed an increasing trend in built-up and forest areas, a decreasing trend in cropland, and an increase in landscape fragmentation in Pyongyang.
Article
Agronomy
Yolanda Sanchez Sanchez, Antonio Martinez Grana, Fernando Santos-Frances, Joan Leandro Reyes Ramos, Marco Criado
Summary: This study analyzed changes in land use in the Jerte Valley, Spain, over the past 40 years, indicating a slight decrease in wooded areas, an increase in crop cultivation at higher altitudes, and negative impacts from major environmental disturbances. The study also found that land use development led to larger but more isolated landscape units, emphasizing the importance of using landscape metrics to inform decision-making for conservation and management efforts.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ali Azareh, Elham Rafiei Sardooi, Hamid Gholami, Amirhosein Mosavi, Ali Shahdadi, Saeed Barkhori
Summary: The study projected the trend of land-use and landscape changes for 2030 by analyzing remote sensing data and different periods of landscape analysis. The results showed significant degradation of rangelands and forests due to conversion to agriculture and construction, as well as a declining trend of lakes' water bodies. The increase in agricultural lands and overuse of groundwater wells upstream of lakes are considered factors contributing to these changes, posing a severe threat to human health and ecosystem services.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Forestry
Ying Ding, Huihui Feng, Bin Zou
Summary: This study summarizes the impact of land use and cover change (LUCC) on hydrological processes. Remote sensing technology provides continuous spatial data on land cover and hydrological variables. The effects of LUCC on hydrological processes can be evaluated using correlation analysis, multiple regression methods, experimental watershed approaches, and trajectory-based approaches. However, quantitatively separating the actual components of the influence of LUCC is challenging due to the complexity of geographical systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jagan Nath Adhikari, Bishnu Prasad Bhattarai, Maan Bahadur Rokaya, Tej Bahadur Thapa
Summary: This study evaluates the land use/land cover dynamics between 2000 to 2020 in the central part of the Chitwan Annapurna Landscape, Nepal using Landsat images. The results show an increase in developed areas, mixed forests, and Sal dominated forests, and a decrease in riverine forests, barren areas, croplands, and grasslands. These findings can be used for wildlife habitat protection and future change forecasting.
Article
Environmental Studies
R. Yonaba, M. Koita, L. A. Mounirou, F. Tazen, P. Queloz, A. C. Biaou, D. Niang, C. Zoure, H. Karambiri, H. Yacouba
Summary: Sahelian landscapes in northern Burkina Faso have undergone rapid changes in the past decades, influenced by population growth, climate hazards, and land degradation. This research analyzed land use/land cover patterns, assessed seasonal vegetation dynamics, and predicted future changes using remote sensing and neural network modeling. The results indicate a significant increase in cultivated areas by 2030 and 2050, emphasizing the need for sustainable land management practices to balance agricultural production and natural resource conservation.
Article
Ecology
Johanna Haussler, Remo Ryser, Ulrich Brose
Summary: This study combines trophic network models with spatial network models to investigate the impact of nutrient supply and landscape structure on biological invasions and invasive spread. Results indicate that nutrient supply affects invasion success, with random landscapes facilitating invasive spread.
Article
Geography, Physical
Alexandra Gemitzi
Summary: Land change modeling is a complex GIS procedure aiming to predict future land cover changes, contributing to the design of interventions that preserve ecosystem services and mitigate climate change impacts. The land change model for Greece identified four dominant land cover transformations from 2001 to 2011 and projected future land cover changes up to 2030, indicating that historical trends will continue with sustainable scenarios accelerating woody vegetation expansion.
GISCIENCE & REMOTE SENSING
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Fida Ullah, Jincheng Liu, Muhammad Shafique, Sami Ullah, Muhammad Nawaz Rajpar, Adnan Ahmad, Muhammad Shahzad
Summary: The goal of this research is to use remote sensing to evaluate the impact of the Chashma Right Bank Canal on land-use/land-cover changes and cropping patterns in Dera Ismail Khan District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The findings reveal that the canal has significantly altered the land-use/land-cover of the study area, leading to favorable changes in land-cover and cropping patterns.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Studies
Azher Ibrahim Al-Taei, Ali Asghar Alesheikh, Ali Darvishi Boloorani
Summary: Multi-temporal land use/land cover (LULC) change analysis is crucial for environmental planning and resources management. However, existing global LULC datasets lack consistency on a regional scale and have limited time coverage. This study developed a high-quality multi-temporal LULC mapping approach using Landsat imagery and a random forest classifier. The results showed accurate performance and identified the most important features for LULC mapping. Severe LULC changes were observed in the Tigris and Euphrates rivers basin, particularly in certain areas where land degradation and dust storms emission are pressing issues.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Matthew C. Hansen, Peter Potapov, Amy H. Pickens, Alexandra Tyukavina, Andres Hernandez-Serna, Viviana Zalles, Svetlana Turubanova, Indrani Kommareddy, Steve Stehman, Xiao-Peng Song, Anil Kommareddy
Summary: The conversion of natural land cover into human-dominated land use systems has significant impacts on the environment. Global mapping and monitoring of human-dominated land use extent via satellites provides an empirical basis for assessing land use pressures. Results highlight the need for planning efforts to preserve natural systems and associated ecosystem services.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Flavia Freire Siqueira, Dulcineia de Carvalho, Jonathan Rhodes, Carla L. Archibald, Vanessa Leite Rezende, Eduardo van den Berg
Summary: The study investigated the role of Small Landscape Elements (SLEs) in landscape connectivity within the highly fragmented Atlantic Forest. It found that in these landscapes, the position of SLEs was more important than their respective areas for enhancing landscape connectivity.
FRONTIERS IN ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Studies
Mohsin Ramzan, Zulfiqar Ahmad Saqib, Ejaz Hussain, Junaid Aziz Khan, Abid Nazir, Muhammad Yousif Sardar Dasti, Saqib Ali, Nabeel Khan Niazi
Summary: This study investigated the temporal variability in urban microclimate in Lahore city, revealing an increase in built-up areas leading to a rise in temperature, with predictions showing further increase in LST. These changes have detrimental effects on local and global climate, emphasizing the need to address the issue, especially in developing countries.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paulo J. Murillo-Sandoval, Jamon Van den Hoek, Thomas Hilker
Article
Forestry
Paulo J. Murillo-Sandoval, Thomas Hilker, Meg A. Krawchuk, Jamon Van Den Hoek
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paulo J. Murillo-Sandoval, Kristina Van Dexter, Jamon Van Den Hoek, David Wrathall, Robert Kennedy
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paulo J. Murillo-Sandoval, Emma Gjerdseth, Camilo Correa-Ayram, David Wrathall, Jamon Van den Hoek, Liliana M. Davalos, Robert Kennedy
Summary: This study evaluates land cover changes associated with the Colombian conflict in the Andes-Amazon region between 1988 and 2019. The results show that during the post-conflict period, the conversion from forest to agriculture accelerated, especially in municipalities with lower population. Forest cover surrounding conflict events decreased significantly during and after the conflict, while agriculture expansion was most substantial in the post-conflict period, particularly in municipalities with lower population.
GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE-HUMAN AND POLICY DIMENSIONS
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Celio de Sousa, Lola Fatoyinbo, Miroslav Honzak, Timothy Max Wright, Paulo Jose Murillo Sandoval, Zargou Elijah Whapoe, Jerry Yonmah, Emmanuel Temitope Olatunji, Jerry Garteh, Atticus Stovall, Christopher S. R. Neigh, Rosimeiry Portela, Keith D. Gaddis, Trond Larsen, Daniel Juhn
Summary: Liberia, the center of the Guinean forests in West Africa, has witnessed significant forest degradation and species extinction. This study used Landsat and LiDAR data to assess forest change and fragmentation in Liberia, revealing a decrease in forest cover and severe degradation in key primary forest areas. These findings are crucial for informing more sustainable forest management policies.
CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE
(2023)
