Spatial and temporal characteristics of land use and cover changes in the Tibetan Plateau

Introduction Although numerous land cover datasets can act as references for understanding land cover change in China, the inconsistencies between the datasets can also provide understanding. Previous studies on the consistency between land cover datasets have mostly focused on land cover type consistencies and have ignored data consistencies in land cover change. Outcomes Therefore, we aim to analyse the consistencies in land cover changes through likelihood assessment methods. We compared the spatiotemporal changes in forest, grassland, cropland, and bare land in the Climate Change Initiative land cover dataset (CCI-LC), Moderate-resolution Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer land cover dataset (MCD12Q1), China’s National Land Use and Cover Change (CNLUCC), Globeland30 and Global Land Cover Fine Surface Covering 30 (GLC-FCS30) datasets in 2010. The results showed that the percentages and changes in each land cover type in MCD12Q1 were different from those in the other datasets. Discussion For example, the proportion of grassland in MCD12Q1 was the highest, reaching 48.04%. The places with high consistency were the places where the land cover types were concentrated, and the bare land had the highest consistency. However, the consistency of China’s land cover change was quite low, and the percentage of low consistency was more than 87% from 2000-2018. Comparison of the data with the global artificial impervious area (GAIA) and Hansen-Global Forest Change (Hansen-GFC) datasets showed that the percentage of high construction gain consistency (38.83%) was higher than the forest change consistency, and the percentage forest loss high consistency (8.85%) was lower than the forest gain high consistency (12.76%). Conclusion The results not only provide a basis for the use of land cover datasets but also give a clearer understanding of the pattern of land cover changes.

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.

In order to protect the ecological environment and solve the poverty problem in the western region, China has established an ecological migration (EM) policy. This policy aims to relocate populations from poverty-stricken areas with fragile ecological environments, which inevitably leads to changes in land cover and the ecological environment. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of EM in a typical region (Wuwei), including changes in the land cover and ecological risk (ER). A land cover change monitoring method was implemented for the 2010–2019 period for six land cover classes using random forest, which is an effective supervised machine learning method. The land cover change patterns were analyzed by determining the area changes of the six classes and applying a land use transition matrix, and a landscape ecological risk model based on landscape disturbance and fragility was used. Our results demonstrate that the increase and decrease in the area of cultivated land, unused land, and construction land can be divided into two stages (2010–2015 and 2015–2019). The area of water and perennial snow doubled during the study periods. The major land cover transitions were between unused land and construction land and between unused land and crop land. In addition, the ER value for the Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve decreased because of the implementation of EM in the study area, indicating that the ecological environment was effectively improved. The results demonstrate the advantage of the proposed approach in understanding the impact of EM on regional land cover changes and the ecological environment so as to provide guidance for follow-up planning and development.

It is an effective method to study the value change of ecological services based on land use and cover change information. This paper analyzed the land use and cover change information in the research area, which is based on the remote sensing images and social statistics data of 2005, 2010, and 2015, and then, quantitative estimation of the ecosystem service value was performed. Yangtze-Huaihe river basin, China is a fragile ecological area, which is selected as the research area. During 2005-2015, the area of cultivated land and construction land was the main land use types in the study area, the land use and cover change in the study area were obvious, which was characterized by the increasing of construction land area and the decreasing of cultivated land area, and the total ecosystem services value in the research area has been decreasing continuously, the value from 34.376 billion yuan in 2005 to 26.161 billion yuan in 2015.

Rapid infrastructure expansion is a major driver of land use and land cover (LULC) transformation in semi-urban regions of India. This study examined infrastructure-induced land use change in and around Rudrapur, Uttarakhand, a fast-growing industrial and commercial hub in the Himalayan foothills. Multi-temporal satellite imagery and high-resolution Google Earth Pro data were used to delineate built-up expansion and associated changes in agricultural land, open spaces, and vegetation cover. Spatial analysis revealed a significant increase in built-up area along major industrial estates, and peri-urban fringes, leading to fragmentation of agricultural landscapes and reduction of permeable surfaces. The results suggested that more than 60% land use pattern has changed in last 41 years in the study area. The change in land cover and land use will the groundwater dynamics, since the infiltration will get affected by change in land use pattern.

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

Land cover and land cover change information are essential data in terrestrial surface research. However, the land cover products are highly inconsistent, especially in the mountainous area. Most land cover assessment studies focused on the consistency of spatial patterns, while ignoring the consistency of change and elevation heterogeneity. In this study, four land cover products were assessed for spatiotemporal consistency on the Tibetan Plateau (TP), including the Moderate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer land cover (MCD12Q1), the Climate Change Initiative Land Cover (CCI-LC), the 30-meter Global Land Cover (Globeland30) and the Multi-Period Land Use/Land Cover Remote Sensing Monitoring Database in China (CNLUCC). The impact of elevation on the consistency of multiple land cover products across spatiotemporal scales was further analyzed. The spatial consistency of the three and more products was about 70%, with higher consistency for grassland and bare land and lower consistency for wetland and shrubland on the TP. Globeland30 and CCI-LC were better than others for overall monitoring, with the inconsistency of less than 45% by google earth dataset validation. The temporal change consistency of the four land cover products was less than 10%. With increasing elevation, the average spatial consistency decreased and the land cover change area and temporal change consistency increased. There is a high inconsistency of land cover changes on the TP in existing commonly used products, demonstrating the need to develop high-quality land cover products in long time series.

Human activities (land use) and environmental change (land cover change) affect the concentration of Se and heavy metals in soils. The implementation of the "Return Cropland to Forest (RCF)" ecological project has changed the land use and cover, which has provided an ideal experimental area for studying the effects of land use and cover change on selenium (Se) and heavy metals in the soil. In this study, 91 top soil samples from different land use and land cover types, including dry land, paddy land, natural forest land, and secondary forest land, were collected, and the contents of Se, heavy metals, and soil organic matter (SOM) and pH were analyzed. The results showed that:① the average values of ω(Se) (0.42×10-6), ω(As) (13.0×10-6), and ω(Sb) (1.03×10-6) were higher than the soil background values of western Chongqing. ② The concentrations of Se, Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn in soils from secondary forest land were significantly higher than those from dry land soils, suggesting that the Se and heavy metals might have significantly increased in the surface soil after the implementation of the RCF ecological project. ③ The SOM was the key controlling factor for the enrichment and distribution of Se and heavy metals in the top soils. Our results indicated that the land use and land cover change would deeply impact the concentrations of Se and heavy metals in the top soils via influencing the soil properties, especially the SOM.

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.

To explore the law of land use change in Suizhou City, strengthen land resource management and improve the efficiency of land resource utilization, this paper study the dynamic changes and trend prediction of land use in Suizhou City. In this study, three periods of Landsat-TM/ETM and Landsat 8 satellite image data in 1995, 2005 and 2015 were selected, and the evolution of land use pattern in Suizhou City from 1995 to 2015 was analyzed by calculating its land use area and percentage, land use dynamics and establishing a land use transfer matrix. The PLUS model Kappa coefficient was found to be 0.81 and the accuracy meets the requirement. We considered six natural factors, two social factors, and one limiting factor and predicted the land use pattern of Suizhou City in 2035. The results show that from 1995 to 2015, the proportion of cultivated land and forest land area was 33.43%~34.23% and 61.29%~62.49%, respectively. The proportion of unused land had always been the lowest, accounting for 0.01%. The proportion of grassland, water area, and construction land was 0.25%~0.27%, 2.48%~2.83%, and 0.60%~2.20%, respectively. The land area of construction land in Suizhou City changed the most dramatically among all land types from 1995 to 2015, with a land use dynamics of 13.28%. From 1995 to 2015, cultivated land in Suizhou City was mainly transformed into construction land and forest land, accounting for 42.28% and 44.28% of the outflow area, respectively. The conversion of forest land to arable land accounted for 66.50% of the transferred area. The increase in construction land mainly derived from arable land and forest land, accounting for 66.60% and 32.21% of their transferred area, respectively. The Kappa coefficient of the PLUS model was 0.81, indicating that the model can be used for the study of land use change in Suizhou City. The prediction results indicate that the construction land area in Suizhou City will significantly increase by 2035 and expand to the southwest, northeast, northwest, and central regions, with an increase in forest land area, a decrease in cultivated land area, and a slight reduction in grassland, water area and unused land area. The study results can provide a decision-making basis for land use policies and planning measures in Suizhou City, and also facilitate relevant departments to guide urban construction and land development activities more reasonably.

The study of geography is centered on the regional system of the human-land relationship, and the core of the study of the geographical system of the human-land relationship is land use change. Land use is the most direct manifestation of human activities, accompanied by changes in land cover. This is the most appropriate entry point to reveal the evolution of human-land relationships. The past 300 years have been the most intense period of social change in China and the United States. In this study, we investigated the differences and evolution of human-land relations between China and the United States from the perspective of land cover change. We found: (1) Cultivated land, forest land, and grassland areas in China and the United States have changed significantly in the past 300 years. The cultivated land area has generally increased, and the extent of forest land and grassland has declined. According to the speed of land cover change, it can be roughly divided into three different stages. The change in cultivated land in China is mainly based on the enhancement of cultivation intensity. The change in cultivated land in the United States is mainly based on expansion of cultivated land. (2) The difference in land cover change between China and the United States in the past 300 years is mainly caused by the difference in social development, interpreting human-land relationships with honest feedback and social feedback. In general, with the continuous development of land, environmental issues have become increasingly prominent, and people’s awareness of environmental protection has also increased. (3) The evolution of human-land relations in China and the United States has been influenced by natural and social factors for nearly 300 years. China is dominated by population, whereas the United States is dominated by technology. The relationship between humans and land differs between the two countries in some respects, with similarities in other areas. In both countries, this relationship can be characterized by the stages of relying on the environment, understanding the environment, transforming the environment, and protecting the environment. This evolution is in line with the law of social development, according to which human beings constantly recognize, utilize, and adapt to nature.

Land use and land cover (LULC) change monitoring is still an important remote sensing application and research field, for it is closely related to manage natural resources and environmental planning. This study is aimed to find the land use and land cover changes of Zigui County from 2008 to 2014 by using multi-source remotely sensed imagery. Images of three different years (2008, 2011 and 2014) taken from Landsat and other three satellites (GF-1, HJ-1 and SPOT) were used to monitor the land use and land cover changes in this study. Landsat images were used as the main references for analysis while the others were used associative for some enhancement. In order to increase the accuracy of the results, we abandon the single resolution image and use different spatial and spectral resolution images simultaneously in the classification and other processing stage. Three different methods to determine the changes of land use and land cover have been used in this paper: transfer matrix of land use, changes related to the terrain of earth surface and landscape pattern of composition changes. Thematic maps have been prepared showing the land use and land cover classes in individual year as well as the changes during different time interval to identify the spatial changes. Changes related to the terrain have been statistics using classified images and digital elevation model (DEM). Quantitative analysis of each phase of the land use and land cover pattern characteristics using part of the landscape pattern indexes. The result of the study illustrates that: 1) the area of built-up and cultivated have the rapid and continuous growth and the area of vegetation descended. And the new construction land mainly by agricultural land conversion, the forest area reduced mainly converted to the agricultural land; 2) vegetation and agricultural land change mainly concentrated in the 500 meters below, have slight change in in 1000 to 1500 meters and no significant changes in other altitude; 3) From patch density(PD) and other landscape metrics analysis result, built up area is increasing not only in amount but also in number of patches, that is, the new built up areas area being established frequently. And the number of buildup area patches is almost four times increased within 6 years.

Land cover in the Chinese Loess Plateau has undergone dramatic changes since the late 1980s. Revealing the trend in land cover change and eco-environmental quality response of different geomorphic units in this stage is a realistic requirement for promoting sustainable development of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Based on the data of geomorphic units and land cover in 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2018 of the Chinese Loess Plateau, we studied the trend of land cover change and eco-environmental quality response of different geomorphic units by using a significance index of land cover change, a proportion index of land cover change and an eco-environmental response model. The results indicated that from 1990 to 2018, the areas of forestland and construction land substantially increased, whereas those of cropland, grassland, wetland and unused land considerably decreased. Land cover change exhibited large geomorphic differences, and the main conversion of land cover was from cropland into other land types. Unstable trend of land cover change in the loess tablelands and sandy loess hills declined, whereas the unstable trends in the other geomorphic units enhanced. Eco-environmental quality varied among different geomorphic units. The expansion of construction land and degradation of forestland, grassland and wetland resulted in the deterioration of eco-environmental quality. The conversion of cropland and unused land into forestland and grassland, and the conversion of grassland into forestland were the main factors that drove the improvement of eco-environmental quality. The findings of this study may provide theoretical reference and support decision making for the optimization of land use structure and the improvement of eco-environmental quality on the Chinese Loess Plateau.

Understanding spatial-temporal land use and cover change is essential in developing physical planning strategies in populated and fast-growing towns and cities. This study examined the spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover in West District in Zanzibar. Remote sensing techniques—including spatial and temporal assessment of land use and land cover changes between 1975 and 2015—were employed to establish the status and trend of land use and land cover changes in the district. Participatory field observation, focus group discussions and secondary data review were used in data collection. The study findings revealed that between 1975 and 2015 there were spatial and temporal changes in land use and land cover; with one land use and land cover type changing at the expense of another, and vice versa. Also, about 90% of settlements in the district developed at the expense of forest and agricultural lands, leading to rapid landscape changes of 83% in 40 years. At this pace, it is predicted that in the next 40 years the district’s built-up area may expand beyond its borders. Such changes are linked, among other factors, to increased population demanding more land for settlements among other domestic needs. This article concludes that land use and land cover in the West District, Zanzibar, depict notable quantitative and qualitative changes. Continuous land use and land cover change detection and modelling for future settings and planning are recommended for sustainable land management.