Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Xavier Rotllan-Puig, Eva Ivits, Michael Cherlet
Summary: The article introduces the UN Sustainable Development Goal 15 indicator 15.3.1, which is based on three sub-indicators: Trends in Land Cover, Land Productivity, and Carbon Stocks. Using the R-based tool LPDynR to implement the Land Productivity Dynamics approach can provide a 5-class map showing declining to increasing land productivity.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Hao Li, Xiaohui Yang, Kebin Zhang
Summary: Global land degradation is a complex issue influenced by various factors. This study found that dynamic trends are more effective in objectively describing the status of land degradation, with short-term fluctuations indicating the long-term crisis is not completely reversed. Additionally, regional factors such as inter-annual rain variability and atmospheric fertilization play a significant role in driving the degradation processes.
GLOBAL AND PLANETARY CHANGE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
O. Bruzzone, M. H. Easdale
Summary: This study focuses on the temporal dynamics of vegetation using remote sensing data and time series analysis, identifying different patterns based on climate and spatial features. By analyzing archetypes of vegetation temporal dynamics, the research reveals the influence of climate and topography on temporal patterns in different ecosystems.
REMOTE SENSING OF ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiaoliang Shi, Xinyue Zhang, Shuaiyu Lu, Tielong Wang, Jiayi Zhang, Yuanpeng Liang, Jifeng Deng
Summary: The research on international dryland ecological restoration has shown a significant increase in publications, indicating strong development potential. This field is highly interdisciplinary, with ecology and environmental science as the core disciplines. China has made significant contributions to international dryland ecological restoration research, but the average citation rate is low. Dryland ecological restoration and protection is a current hot research field, focusing on dynamic changes, key driving factors, and the utilization of machine learning and data mining to solve complex problems.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hind Khalis, Abdelhamid Sadiki, Fatimazahra Jawhari, Haytam Mesrar, Ehab Azab, Adil A. Gobouri, Muhammad Adnan, Mohammed Bourhia
Summary: The drought episodes experienced by Morocco in the 1980s and 1990s had long-lasting effects, leaving some affected areas practically deserted and posing serious problems for environmentalists. This study analyzed changes in vegetation cover in the Rif region of Morocco between 1984 and 2017, contributing valuable data on the consequences of climate change and potential protective strategies for vegetation cover.
Article
Environmental Studies
Franklin Paredes-Trejo, Humberto Alves Barbosa, Gabriel Antunes Daldegan, Ingrid Teich, Cesar Luis Garcia, T. V. Lakshmi Kumar, Catarina de Oliveira Buriti
Summary: The Brazilian semiarid region has been affected by severe drought over the past three decades, leading to a decline in land productivity and posing a threat to food security and the local economy. The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification has suggested the use of Earth observation-derived vegetation indices to monitor land degradation. This study evaluates three UNCCD-recommended land productivity dynamic approaches in the region and identifies the most suitable methods for identifying degraded land areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Calogero Schillaci, Arwyn Jones, Diana Vieira, Michele Munafo, Luca Montanarella
Summary: Land degradation refers to the persistent reduction in the land's capacity to support life on Earth, which threatens ecosystem services. Sustainable Development Goal 15, 'Life on Land', aims to sustainably manage and recover natural ecosystems and restore degraded land. This study evaluated the performance of SDG 15.3.1, focusing on the proportion of degraded land in the European Union using alternative datasets and policy-relevant data sources. The findings revealed a higher extent of degraded land when using higher spatial resolution sub-indicators and a combined proxy of land degradation.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jonathan Reith, Gohar Ghazaryan, Francis Muthoni, Olena Dubovyk
Summary: Monitoring land degradation is crucial for sustainable development, and this study in Tanzania's Kiteto and Kongwa districts used local data and high-resolution imagery to assess the extent of land degradation. Comparisons with default medium-resolution data showed the importance of focusing on hotspot areas and implementing sustainable land management practices to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Frederique Montfort, Agnes Begue, Louise Leroux, Lilian Blanc, Valery Gond, Armindo H. Cambule, Ivan A. D. Remane, Clovis Grinand
Summary: Remote sensing observations like NDVI trends offer insights into land conditions, but lack comprehensive information on land degradation. Using Mozambique as a case study, this research examined factors underlying vegetation productivity to assess land degradation, finding that a majority of land productivity changes are linked to human activities.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoxin Chen, Yongdong Wang, Yusen Chen, Shilin Fu, Na Zhou
Summary: In this study, the land degradation in Balochistan Province of Pakistan over 21 years was analyzed using NDVI and remote sensing data. The study identified the driving factors of land degradation and restoration, and found that climate and human factors are the main influences. The results provide a scientific basis for ecological conservation and development in the region.
Article
Environmental Studies
Shuai Yuan, Lei-Lei Cheng, Jie Xu, Qi Lu
Summary: This study introduces the ecosystem service value (ESV) indicator, assesses the differences in connotation and evaluation methods between ESV and land degradation neutrality (LDN), and proposes an evaluation rule that integrates their advantages, in order to carry out an evaluation of LDN in Inner Mongolia. The results show that Inner Mongolia has achieved the LDN target.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Irina Ontel, Sorin Cheval, Anisoara Irimescu, George Boldeanu, Vlad-Alexandru Amihaesei, Denis Mihailescu, Argentina Nertan, Claudiu-Valeriu Angearu, Vasile Craciunescu
Summary: This study proposes a method using remote sensing data in a GIS environment to assess the intensity of land degradation and desertification processes. The methodology was tested in Romania and found that 7.76% of the area was identified as land degradation, 60.8% tended to improve, and 31.44% was stable. The study also found that land degradation and improvement areas were mainly located in drylands and natural protected areas.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lei Wang, Xiuqin Wu, Jianbin Guo, Jinxing Zhou, Liang He
Summary: The karst landscape in southwestern China has been a long-term carbon sink, and its ability to capture carbon showed a spatial-temporal pattern during the previous two decades. Human activity was the dominant factor in the development of carbon capture, and the climate characteristics of the karst area promoted the ability of vegetation carbon to serve as a carbon sink. Afforestation in the mountains was found to be the most effective way to increase the carbon sink. This study is significant for understanding regional carbon dynamics and guiding carbon capture policies.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Saleh Yousefi, Hamid Reza Pourghasemi, Mohammadtaghi Avand, Saeid Janizadeh, Shahla Tavangar, M. Santosh
Summary: Using machine learning models, this study found a pronounced downward trend in rangeland quality in the Alborz Mountains in Firozkuh County, Iran, with distances from roads and livestock density being the most strongly linked factors to degradation. The results indicate that rangelands in the study area face challenges of overgrazing and early grazing, necessitating new strategies to mitigate and prevent damages.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Gabriel del Barrio, Maria E. Sanjuan, Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Alberto Ruiz, Juan Puigdefabregas
Summary: This essay focuses on the thermodynamic causes of land degradation and proposes propositions such as the coupling of human populations with natural systems, the ecological state of land degradation, and the decrease in land degradation through maximizing interconversion between land uses. The author suggests regulating land degradation, monitoring ecological degradation trajectories, and enhancing interconversion between land uses as more effective approaches than attempting to eliminate land degradation altogether.
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Maria E. Sanjuan, Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Alberto Ruiz, Gabriel del Barrio
Summary: We analyzed the importance of climate oscillations and human-driven disturbances on vegetation biomass change in agroecosystems and their association with land use. By quantitatively treating these factors, we found that aridity is an indicator of vulnerability to climate warming, and resilience can be improved by reducing land use intensification. These findings contribute to a better understanding of Sustainable Development Goals Indicator 15.3.1, particularly its land cover and productivity trend components.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2022)
Editorial Material
Ecology
Roberto Lazaro, Sonia Chamizo, Santiago Soliveres, Gabriel del Barrio
JOURNAL OF ARID ENVIRONMENTS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nora Radi, Azziz Hirche, Abdelhak Boutaleb
Summary: Heavy metal and arsenic pollution of soil, resulting from abandoned mining operations, is examined at the Tamesguida copper mine in Algeria. Soil samples collected from the mine area were analyzed for their metal contents and dispersion. The results showed high levels of copper and arsenic in tailings and surrounding soils, exceeding world averages. Spatial distribution analysis indicated that metal contamination decreased with distance from the tailings, and the origin of pollutants was associated with previous mining activities. Pollution indices categorized the site as highly polluted.
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Jose Maria Gil-Sanchez, F. Javier Herrera-Sanchez, Javier Rodriguez-Siles, Miguel Angel Diaz-Portero, Angel Arredondo, Juan Manuel Saez, Begona Alvarez, Inmaculada Cancio, Jesus de Lucas, Emil McCain, Joaquin Perez, Gerardo Valenzuela, Jaime Martinez Valderrama, Mariola Sanchez-Cerda, Thomas Lahlafi, Jose Manuel Martin, Tamara Burgos, Jose Jimenez, Abdeljebbar Qninba, Emilio Virgos
Summary: Surveys based on indirect signs and camera trapping are useful for monitoring elusive mammals, but walking surveys for molecular data collection and footprint identification faced significant challenges in studying sand cats in the Sahara Desert.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Remote Sensing
Giuliano Ramat, Emanuele Santi, Simonetta Paloscia, Giacomo Fontanelli, Simone Pettinato, Leonardo Santurri, Najet Souissi, Emmanuel Da Ponte, M. M. Abdel Wahab, A. A. Khalil, Y. H. Essa, Mohamed Ouessar, Hanen Dhaou, Abderrahman Sghaier, Amal Hachani, Zeineb Kassouk, Zohra Lili Chabaane
Summary: This study used optical and microwave satellite data to monitor the water status of vegetation and soil in cultivated lands in Egyptian Delta and Tunisian areas. Environmental analysis approaches based on this data were conducted to develop practical and cost-effective methods for sustainable water use in agriculture. The study also introduced a novel drought severity index that combined optical and microwave data to capture drought patterns better than individual indices.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF REMOTE SENSING
(2023)
Review
Environmental Studies
Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Javier Ibanez Puerta
Summary: This paper reviews the use of System Dynamics (SD) models in studying Mediterranean grasslands over the past two decades. It also discusses the scientific background, relevant conclusions, and the development of analysis tools for detecting drivers and indicators of long-term sustainability in these socio-ecological systems.
Article
Agronomy
Habib Lamourou, Nisaf Karbout, Zied Zriba, Mohamed Ouessar, Mohamed Moussa
Summary: This study aimed to monitor various parameters during the co-composting of three organic compounds and determined the maturity of the compost on the 54th day. Multiple tests were used to ensure the compost reached a state of maturity and stability.
EMIRATES JOURNAL OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE
(2023)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lei Luo, Jie Liu, Francesca Cigna, Damian Evans, Mario Hernandez, Deodato Tapete, Peter Shadie, Athos Agapiou, Abdelaziz Elfadaly, Min Chen, Lanwei Zhu, Bihong Fu, Ruixia Yang, Shahina Tariq, Mohamed Ouessar, Rosa Lasaponara, Xinyuan Wang, Huadong Guo
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zaineb Ali, Amine Saddik, Bouajila Essifi, Brahim Erraha, Adnane Labbaci, Mohamed Ouessar
Summary: The Bayech basin in southwestern Tunisia is highly prone to flooding risks, characterized by wide and sometimes undefined riverbeds, resulting in disrupted flow regimes. The purpose of the web application ClimInonda is to provide readily available information on climate, environment, and land use data in the basin, using recent methods. The application consists of three components: front-end, back-end, and database, ensuring a user-friendly interface, seamless data processing, and reliable data storage. ClimInonda offers exploratory data analysis features and has received positive feedback from professional users, indicating its usefulness for decision making in arid and semi-arid Tunisia.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zaineb Ali, Noura Dahri, Marnik Vanclooster, Ali Mehmandoostkotlar, Adnane Labbaci, Mongi Ben Zaied, Mohamed Ouessar
Summary: Flash floods are a significant threat to arid and semi-arid regions, and this study aimed to map flooding risks in an ungauged basin using the hybrid fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (F-AHP) and the frequency ratio statistical methods. The results showed that downstream areas of the basin, as well as some upstream sites, are at high risk of flooding, with slope and soil type playing major roles in the risk assessment.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Hanen Jarray, Fadoua Hamzaoui-Azaza, Mounira Zammouri, Mohamed Ouessar, Manuela Barbieri, Raul Carrey, Albert Soler, Enrico Guastaldi, Samir Sahal
Summary: Water scarcity is a significant issue in southeastern Tunisia, where the only water source is from overexploited, salinized, and contaminated aquifers. This study investigates the hydrochemistry of the groundwater in the Jeffara plain and finds that the water quality is poor and unsuitable for drinking and irrigation purposes. Strategies for treatment and preservation of these valuable resources are needed.
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF THE EARTH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Javier Ibanez, Rolando Gartzia, Francisco Javier Alcala, Jaime Martinez-Valderrama
Summary: Groundwater degradation is a pressing issue in drylands, and a study in Southern Spain found that the Gualchos stream basin is at risk of aquifer salinization and increased water demand. If the current reservoir system cannot cope with the rising demand, the basin could face severe desertification.
Article
Plant Sciences
Emilio Guirado, Manuel Delgado-Baquerizo, Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Siham Tabik, Domingo Alcaraz-Segura, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: This study emphasizes the importance of considering past wetter climates and well-preserved aquifers in explaining the current distribution of dryland forests, which can guide restoration actions to avoid unsuitable areas for tree establishment in a drier world.
Article
Environmental Studies
Jaime Martinez-Valderrama, Gabriel del Barrio, Maria E. Sanjuan, Emilio Guirado, Fernando T. Maestre
Summary: This article discusses the diagnosis of desertification and the current situation of desertification in Spain. The Spanish National Action Program Against Desertification (PAND) was pioneering and accurate, but due to a lack of effective action plans, it failed to halt desertification effectively. The recent declaration of climate and environmental emergency by the Spanish government provides an excellent opportunity to update the diagnosis and unify desertification policies and actions.