Multi-scale land cover dynamics of semiarid scrubland in Baja California, Mexico

The study aimed to assess the changes that have occurred in land use and land cover within the Maasai Mara landscape using remote sensed data from 1997 to 2017; examine the elephant distribution in relation to land use and land cover changes within the Mara landscape and to determine changes in elephant home ranges in relation to Land use and cover changes in the Mara landscape. In examining the land use and land cover changes on the elephant ranges and distribution, an integrated methodological approach was employed in which the changes that have taken place within the study area over a period of 20 years was determined by analysis involving a 10-year changes in land use and land cover using three epochs from 1997, 2007 and 2017 to generate six land use classes. The Maasai Mara Landscape (MML) supports one of the richest wildlife populations remaining on earth but over the last century, has experienced transformation notably through conversion of former rangelands into croplands. Elephants have both temporal and spatial requirements, which if not provided, render them vulnerable to the land-use practices. The study assessed land use and vegetation cover changes that have occurred and their effects on the elephant movements and distribution within the MML using an integrated methodological approach. The analysis revealed changes in land use and land cover classes over a period of 20 years for the three epochs, from 1997, 2007 and 2017. Elephant’s distribution has been restricted to areas of high vegetation densities within specific habitats hence accelerating the rate of habitat destruction and degradation due to their high densities. These changes have drastically reduced forage for elephants necessitating them to travel longer distances out of their home range in search for food. Human beings have caused land use and cover changes which have detrimental impacts on the ecosystem and ecosystem services. The Maasai Mara landscape supports one of the richest wildlife populations remaining on earth but over the last century, it has experienced land transformation notably through conversion of former rangelands used mainly for tourism and production of grains such as wheat. Land outside the national parks and the reserve is important to the future of elephant existence in Kenya. Little is known about how human occupation on these landscapes negatively affects elephants (Loxodonta africana) habitats, movement and ranges. This has been confirmed by the current continuous demarcation/fencing of land in most areas in Narok County. Elephants like other landscape species, have both temporal and spatial requirements, which if not provided, will render them vulnerable to the land use practices of people. The study aimed to assess the changes that have occurred in land use and land cover within the Maasai Mara landscape using remote sensed data from 1997 to 2017; examine the elephant distribution in relation to land use and land cover changes within the Mara landscape and to determine changes in elephant home ranges in relation to Land use and cover changes in the Mara landscape. The paper describes the different changes that have taken place within the MML and how these changes have affected elephant populations, their trend and distribution within the MML. In examining the land use and land cover changes on the elephant ranges and distribution, an integrated methodological approach was employed in which the changes that have taken place within the study area over a period of 20 years was determined by analysis involving a 10-year changes in land use and land cover using three epochs from 1997, 2007 and 2017 to generate six land use classes. The study found out that there were significant changes of various classes across the years. Forest, water and open shrubs coverages decreased from 1997 to 2017. Classification noted a serious problem within the study area of continuous increase of bare ground coverage across the study years. Elephant populations have been increasing within the area .at an annual rate of 2.69%. The animals are distributed all over the landscape. Distribution of elephants has been restricted to high densities within a specific habitat hence accelerating rate of habitat destruction and degradation due to their high densities within a specific habitat. These changes have reduced drastically foliage for elephants thus necessitating them to travel longer distances in search and as a result increases elephant home ranges.

Introduction: Landscape changes can be monitored using geotechnologies through land use and land cover management over time, which helps identify and understand transformations in the landscape and supports decision-making processes. This study aims to analyze land use and cover change in the Portal do Sertão Identity Territory, Bahia, and to relate the possible causes that have currently induced such changes. This territory, located in the Caatinga biome, has its economic activities mainly concentrated in the primary and tertiary sectors. Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were employed to monitor changes in land use and cover in this territory from 1985 to 2022, using images from the MapBiomas Collection 8.0. During the study period, there was a reduction in the area used for agriculture and livestock and a significant increase in urbanization, with an urban area growth of more than 380%. Additionally, water bodies also expanded, mainly due to the construction of the Pedra do Cavalo Hydroelectric Plant in 1985, which resulted in a larger flooded area. Forest formations, although fluctuating over the years, were negatively impacted by agricultural expansion and urbanization. Therefore, the use of geotechnologies such as RS and GIS proves to be an effective tool for environmental monitoring, enabling the identification and management of land use changes and contributing to the mitigation of environmental impacts. Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate land use and land cover changes in the Portal do Sertão Identity Territory, in order to identify the possible causes currently driving these transformations. . Theoretical Framework: Remote Sensing (RS) is a science that maps Earth’s surface targets using sensors without direct contact. It is an essential tool for understanding and monitoring land use and land cover changes, providing critical information for decision-making from multiple perspectives. Its integration with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) enhances the spatiotemporal analysis of processes such as environmental and territorial degradation. The concept of "Identity Territory," developed by SEPLAN-BA, considers sociocultural, economic, and geographic factors for territorial organization. Institutionalized by state decrees, it divides Bahia into 27 territories to promote regional public policies. The articulation of RS, GIS, and the Identity Territory framework offers an effective approach to understanding and managing land use changes in the Portal do Sertão. Method: This study analyzed land use and land cover changes in the Portal do Sertão Identity Territory, composed of 27 municipalities in Bahia, aiming to understand the possible driving forces behind these changes. Satellite images from the MapBiomas Brazil Collection 8.0 were used for the years 1985, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, and 2022. A GIS environment was used to reclassify the images into four classes based on the MapBiomas classification: Forest Formation, Agriculture, Urban Area, and Water Bodies. The total area per class was quantified for each year, and land use transition maps were generated for spatial analysis. Results and Discussion: The analysis revealed that between 1985 and 2022, the Portal do Sertão Identity Territory experienced significant transformations in land use and cover. There was a notable reduction in agricultural and livestock areas and a sharp increase in urban development, particularly in Feira de Santana and neighboring municipalities, driven by industrialization, public policies, and real estate expansion. Forest cover fluctuated, while water bodies increased following the construction of the Pedra do Cavalo Hydroelectric Plant in 1985. These changes reflect processes of urbanization, rural exodus, and territorial reconfiguration influenced by economic, social, and infrastructural factors. Research Implications: This research provides essential technical and spatial support for territorial planning in the region, assisting local governments and institutions in making more informed decisions based on historical land use patterns. The findings highlight the importance of integrated public policies focused on territorial planning, environmental preservation, and housing, especially in light of rapid population growth. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the literature by analyzing the drivers of land use change using open-access data from MapBiomas. Its significance lies in the integration of Remote Sensing and GIS to investigate land use trends in the Portal do Sertão over the past decades, providing strategic insights to support public policy development and more effective territorial planning.

Dynamics of ecosystem services (ESs) in response to land use land cover (LU/LC) changes in the lower Gangetic plain of India

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is an important ecological security barrier for China and, indeed, for all Asia. Land use and land cover changes in the plateau not only affect the ecological environment and regional development of the plateau itself but also affect the stability and economic development of ecosystems in eastern China and other parts of Asia. This paper is based on an examination of the achievements of land use and cover change in the TP and a reanalysis of data including that of Climate Change Initiative Land Cover from 1992 to 2015; land use data provided by the Resource and Environmental Science Data Center of the Chinese Academy of Sciences for 1995, 2000, 2010 and 2015; and statistical data from Qinghai and Tibet. The paper analyzes the overall characteristics of land use and land cover changes in the TP and the spatial and temporal processes and their driving forces of land use and land cover change in typical regions and land types. This research is important not only for land change science and global change research but also for the promotion of the plateau and its adjacent areas. In recent decades, research has shown that the land use and land cover structure of the TP is stable, and the proportion of first-level land use type change was less than 7% from 1992 to 2015. Most of these changes are single time changes, with multiple land change occurring only in 1.85% of the total change area. The quality of land cover has been improved in areas where no land type change occurred. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) showed an increasing trend in 24.45% of the area and a decreasing trend in only 1.31% of the area. The area of cultivated land, forest, grassland, wetland, and construction land on the plateau has increased, whereas bare land, glacier, and snow cover area has decreased. In most parts of the TP, the quality of alpine grassland has improved; however, in some areas, it has degraded at a local scale. Most of the woodland has recovered well after phased changes. Prior to 1980, there was a rapid increase in cultivated land area, but this has since become stable with only minor increases. However, the utilization intensity of cultivated land has increased significantly in recent years. Construction land has expanded significantly, and the recent growth rate has accelerated since 2010. Both the increasing speed of change and the construction land area in Qinghai Province are higher than in Tibet. There has been a general trend of a slight decrease in bare land change. In densely populated areas in the Yellow River-Huangshui River Valley and the One-River-Two-Tributaries area, land types that are closely related to human utilization such as construction land, cultivated land, and artificial woodland have undergone obvious changes. In pastoral areas, such as the Northern Tibetan Plateau and the Source Regions of The Three Rivers, overgrazing and ecological construction have significantly affected land cover. In the Qomolangma National Nature Preserve, land use types are diverse; changes are complex; and land cover is more sensitive to both climate change and human activity. There are limitations to the study of land change in the plateau, such as the difficulty of meeting the needs of ecological construction with existing data and the lack of in-depth understanding of the process of land use change and its environmental effects. Field monitoring and remote sensing techniques must be strengthened in order to clarify the process of land use intensity change and its impact on the ecological environment of the TP. These improvements will better serve the construction of an ecological security barrier and the sustainable development of the region.

Land use and land cover (LULC) changes have been one of the most important and persistent factors recently causing changes in the Earth’s land. The present study aimed to detect land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Baluchistan, in Southwestern Asia, which is shared by the three countries of Iran, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, using satellite remote-sensing products. To this end, the global land cover classification provided for a period of 13 years from 2001 to 2013 by the MODIS Land Cover Type product (MCD12Q1) was used. The changes and dynamics of different land cover classes were investigated using net change analysis and cross-tabulating matrix analysis methods. The net change analysis showed that the most area of Baluchistan is covered by the barren or sparsely vegetated land cover (about 82%) and the shrubland (about 16%) classes. The dynamics analysis of different land cover classes also indicated that there were almost mutually inverse relationships between the different land cover classes in Baluchistan. Such mutual relationships were most common between the following pair classes: shrublands—bare and non-vegetated lands; grasslands—bare and non-vegetated land classes; croplands—bare and non-vegetated lands classes; and shrublands—grasslands. The most unstable land cover classes in this territory were forests, Savannas, and grassland classes. Also, the analysis of land cover changes in the period 2001–2013 provided no clear and accurate evidence of desertification and land degradation at this spatial scale in Baluchistan.

Forest and wood land ecosystems in Tanzania occupy more than 45% of the land area, more than two thirds of which made up of the Miombo woodland. The main form of land use in the Miombo region has long been shifting and small-scale sedentary cultivation. The lack of infrastructure and prevalence of deadly diseases such as malaria and trypanosiomiasis have long limited extensive clearance for cultivation, livestock farming and settlements. However, due to positives changes in the socio-economical, political and technological setup in miombo region, the types and intensity of land use are now changing. This paper discusses preliminary results from a study conducted with the aim of contributing to the understanding of dynamics of land cover and use changes in miombo woodlands of eastern Tanzania. The study area comprises four villages around the “Kitulangalo Forest Reserve”, 140 km west of Dar es Salaam on either side of the Morogoro-Dar es Salaam highway. Landsat MSS satellite images of July 1975, Landsat TM satellite images of July 2000 were used to assess land cover changes between 1975 and 2000. Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), questionnaire survey and checklists for key informants were the major methods used for collecting socio-economic data. The land cover/use class of woodland with scattered cultivation has recorded the highest percentage of change between July 1975 and July 2000. While all other classes have registered positive changes, only the closed woodland class has had negative change meaning that this class has been decreasing in favour of other land cover/use classes. Recent land cover and use changes are drastic in the study area. These changes have been triggered largely by varied factors including mainly increased population density and subsequent economic activities. Economic activities including charcoal business, shifting cultivation, opening up of improved highway and pastoralism in the study area have greatly contributed to deforestation and woodland degradation. In light of these findings, there is need for: (1) Adequate land use planning and survey of village lands so as to avoid exacerbation of land use conflict and environmental degradation in the study area. (2) Agrarian reforms to eliminate open access regimes to natural resources. (3) Enforcement of fiscal policies related to the extraction of natural resource products such as timber and charcoal so as to reduce pressure on woodlands. Keywords: land use – cover change – Kitulangalo – miombo woodlands

The pace of change in land use and cover in Ethiopia depends on three main factors that cause pressure on agriculture land: resettlement programmes, population growth and increasing agricultural investments. Gambella is one of the regions of Ethiopia that attracts large-scale agricultural investments that extensively drive land use and cover changes in the region. The aim of this study is to examine the rate, extent and distribution of various land use and cover changes in Gambella Regional State, Ethiopia, from 1987 to 2017. The analysis is mainly based on Landsat 5 and Sentinel 2A satellite images and fieldwork. Two Landsat Thematic Mapper and a Sentinel 2A image were used for determining the maximum likelihood of land use/cover classification. The results show that farmland decreased by 26 km2 from 1987 to 2000; however, during the last two decades, agricultural land area increased by 599 km2, mainly at the cost of tropical grasslands and forests. We found that areas cultivated by smallholder farmers increased by 9.17% from 1987 to 2000. However, small-scale farm activities decreased by 7% from 2000 to 2017. Areas cultivated by large-scale state farms totalled 202 km2 in 1987; but by 2000, this large-scale state farming had been completely abandoned by the state, and as a result, its land use has decreased to zero. Despite this, in 2017 large-scale farming increased to 746 km2. In addition, Gambella National Park, which is the nation's largest national park and ecosystem, was also largely affected by Land Use and Land Cover changes. The conversion of savannah/tropical grasslands to agricultural farmland has caused varied and extensive environmental degradation to the park. The Land Use and Land Cover changes in the Gambella region are discussed on the basis of underlying socioeconomic factors.

Over the past two decades, Addis Ababa has witnessed a relentless transformation in its land use and land cover. Primarily driven by the conversion of agricultural land through extensive expropriation in the city’s expansion areas. The study explores the dynamic land use land cover changes and associated land expropriations from peri-urban farmers in the rapidly growing Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The study utilized a time series of global land cover and land-use change datasets (GLAD) covering the years 2000–2020. Moreover, empirical data is gathered through a household survey conducted among 349 systematically selected expropriated farmers across four sub-cities of Addis Ababa. The findings underscore a profound shift in the city’s land use and land cover over the past two decades. The built-up area emerges as the predominant land cover, witnessing a substantial increase of 25.28% (13,150.30 ha) over the past two decades. Concurrently, agricultural land and vegetation cover decreased by 15.92% and 9.35%, respectively, indicating a significant outward expansion of the city. This expansive growth, driven by the city’s rapid development, has resulted in extensive land expropriations primarily affecting peri-urban farmers. The expropriations were mainly for housing, investment, industrial parks, and infrastructure development. Thus, we urge the city administration to carefully manage the horizontal expansion of built-up areas at the expense of the agricultural land and vegetation cover. Finally, we recommend holistic and sustainable development strategies, developed collaboratively with local communities and planners, to safeguard the long-term wellbeing of city residents.

The relationship of land tenure, land use and land cover changes in Lake Victoria basin

This study investigates land use and land cover changes in the Teiči Strict Nature Reserve, Latvia, from 1982 to 2023 and models potential future changes based on four legislative scenarios extending to 2064. The research aims to assess the effectiveness of existing conservation zoning in relation to historical and projected changes in land use and land cover, addressing the ongoing debate between fixed and adaptable conservation strategies. The study employs remote sensing imagery, geographical information system data, and land use and land cover modeling methods to analyze historical changes and predict future trends. The results suggest substantial land use and land cover changes over the past four decades, including intensified urbanization, agricultural expansion, and a decline in peat bogs and forested areas. Scenario projections indicate that continued land use and land cover changes could further challenge the efficiency of current conservation strategies, with varying outcomes depending on legislative measures and climate change impacts. The study concludes that adaptive management and variable conservation zoning are necessary to address these dynamic changes and preserve the reserve’s ecological integrity. The results emphasize the importance of integrating predictive modeling into conservation planning to improve flexibility and sustainability in protected areas.

This study analyses and interprets the effects of historical and contemporary land use and cover changes (LULC) on soil erosion in the Serra de Mértola region, Portugal, by using the 58 years of measurements in 8 × 22 m erosion plots at the Vale Formoso Erosion Centre and employing methodologies including field observations, aerial image analysis and Landsat NDVI trend assessment. Land cover and management changes, influenced by agricultural policies since the early 20th century, notably during the wheat campaigns of the fascist regime, have exacerbated soil erosion, with the highest rates observed in vertical fallow (964 g m−2 yr−1), wheat (90 g m−2 yr−1) and horizontal fallow (66 g m−2 yr−1). These practices continue to be somewhat relevant today, as cereal production is still being subsidized. However, Quercus, Pines—introduced since agrarian reforms and Portugal's entry into the common agricultural policy (CAP)—and spontaneous vegetation from CAP's set‐aside policies and recent land abandonment trends show lower erosion rates, underlining vegetation's role in erosion protection. Using NDVI trend analysis, we distinguish between natural fluctuations and land cover changes impacts. Understanding these changes and how they relate to slope and valley floor dynamics, such as incision, aggradation or stabilization, is crucial for recognizing human influences on the earth's surface. Our research highlights sustainable land management's role in reducing soil erosion in desertification‐prone areas.

This study was aimed at examining land cover changes for the last 35 years and its causative factors in Gilgel Abbay watershed by using GIS and remote sensing, survey and population data. The land use and cover changes study will help to apply the appropriate land use. The land cover/use status for the years 1973, 1986, 1995 and 2008 were examined using land sat images. The changes in different land cover units such as forest, wood and bush lands, grass, wetlands and water bodies, and farm and settlements were analyzed. Population change, tenure, poverty and lack of market and credit facilities in the watershed area were analyzed as causes of land cover changes. The results of the study have shown that during the last 35 years forest, grass lands, wetlands and lake areas were converted to farm and settlement areas. There was rapid increase of population with growth rates of 4.9% and 3.5% (1984-1994 and 1994-2007), respectively per annum which caused more land cover changes.

Aighewi, I.T.; Nosakhare, O.K., and Ishaque, A.B., 2013. Land use–land cover changes and sewage loading in the lower Eastern Shore watersheds and coastal bays of Maryland: Implications for surface water quality.Changes in land use and cover influence surface water quality and thus are a potential threat to water systems and coastal ecosystem health. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the influence of historical land use–land cover (LULC) changes and point-source sewage discharge on surface water quality of some lower Eastern Shore watersheds of Maryland. LANDSAT data for 1986–2006 was acquired and classified using Anderson level-1 classification system in ENVI 4.5, whereas LULC changes were detected in Arc-GIS 9.2 environment. Historical water monitoring and climatic data were obtained from Maryland Department of Environment–Chesapeake Bay Program, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, respectively. Nutrient loading data from wastewater treatment plants were obtained from Maryland Department of Environment and data analyzed using regression analysis and principal component analysis (PCA). The result shows that total phosphorous levels in the surface waters decreased significantly (p < 0.05) during the 20-year study period. However, using PCA, we determined that the declining P trend was attributable to the decreasing agricultural land use rather than the sewage discharge from wastewater treatment plants. The increase in urban land use and the resultant runoff to the water bodies may explain the declining trends in dissolved oxygen levels observed during the period, with serious implications for eutrophication. An empirical model developed for P in surface waters (r2 = 0.90) showed that the combination of point and nonpoint sources and land use/cover change factors are good predictors. The incorporation of quantitative LULC data component as well as point-source nutrient loading into existing models is highly recommended for a more holistic assessment of land-use influence on water systems in general.

As one of the last agricultural frontiers of the humid tropics, Amazonia is the largest area of the world currently undergoing frontier settlement. Although the earliest intrusions of foreign populations into Amazonia date from pre-Hispanic times, the large-scale entrance of peasant colonists into the vast region is a recent phenomenon. Much of this movement represents the spontaneous migration of peoples, but governments in the region have also become increasingly interested in opening up and integrating Amazonia to national and international economies. These actions are frequently seen as potential solutions to a number of national problems, including the need to increase agricultural production, correct spatial imbalances in the distribution of population, exploit frontier lands for reasons of national security, and defuse potentially serious political problems resulting from the existing agrarian structure, landlessness, and unemployment. The upper basin of the Amazon in Ecuador, bordering on the eastern slopes of the Andes, is one such area of frontier settlement. Recent decades have witnessed the rapid conversion of these Amazonian forests to agricultural uses through a series of schemes bearing such labels as land development and colonization. Most forest intervention in the region has come at the hands of colonist farmers attempting to establish land claims along transport routes originally constructed to aid in petroleum exploration and exploitation. These are farmers who formerly have made a living in long-established farmlands and who, for various reasons (population pressures, pervasive poverty, maldistribution of farmland, lack of inputs for intensive cultivation, lack of nonagrarian livelihood opportunities, and generally inadequate rural development) have been increasingly squeezed out of their homelands. A marginal person by virtue of his low socioeconomic and political status, the farmer often perceives

A study coordinated by the MapBiomas project highlighted changes in land use and cover in the Caatinga in the period 1985-2020. To carry out the study, around 150,000 images from Landsat satellites were analyzed , with a resolution of 30 meters, available over a period of 35 years. Annual information was collected on twenty-five land use and land cover classes in the biome. In this post, we will highlight the main results of the study, which mapped the changes in the land cover of the Caatinga , in the last decades.