Land Use Analysis Research Articles

Retrospective analysis of agricultural land use of experimental station “Oroshaemaya” during a half century

Retrospective analysis of agricultural land use of experimental station “Oroshaemaya” during a half century

Spatial-temporal analysis of carbon benefit and land use for low-carbon development strategies in Shandong Province, China

Abstract Assessing the carbon sequestration capacity of regional ecosystems is essential for achieving carbon neutrality goals. However, existing research often fails to comprehensively evaluate the spatial-temporal dynamic changes of ecosystem carbon emissions and absorption. This study introduces a Carbon Benefit Index (CBI) to assess carbon neutrality potential and classifies Shandong's 16 cities into four regions based on their carbon storage and emissions profiles. We conducted an in-depth analysis of ecosystem carbon benefits in Shandong Province from 2000 to 2020 using the multimodel random forest ensemble method, which enhances the accuracy of carbon sink simulations across terrestrial ecosystems. Our results showed that from 2000 to 2020, Shandong’s carbon emissions increased by 1.45×10⁸ tons (a 203.8% rise), while carbon storage decreased by 3.40×10⁷ tons (a 2.05% decline). Compared to previous studies, our findings underscore the significance of both above-ground and below-ground carbon storage. Grey correlation analysis of land use, anthropogenic CO₂ emissions, and ecosystem carbon storage revealed that cultivated and forest lands were most significantly correlated with carbon storage, whereas built-up areas were most closely linked to carbon emissions. The CBI analysis and classification of the 16 cities into four categories highlights the spatial-temporal heterogeneous of the carbon efficiency, and diverse roles cities play in the province's overall carbon balance, informing city-specific, targeted carbon reduction strategies. The study emphasizes the need for spatially differentiated, comprehensive carbon accounting to improve carbon efficiency. Based on these findings, we propose tailored low-carbon improvement strategies for different regions. This research not only contributes to existing literature by incorporating below-ground carbon storage but also provides valuable insights for policy and land management, with practical implications for promoting sustainable development and advancing efforts toward carbon neutrality.

Coastal Wetlands of Indus River Delta Are Under Risk Due to Reclamation: A Spatiotemporal Analysis During the Past 50 Years From 1972 to 2022

ABSTRACTCoastal wetlands are the most productive and biologically diverse ecosystems, benefiting both human populations and the total environment. However, they are continuously threatened by anthropogenic activities. Indus River Delta is the sixth largest in the world, has been adversely affected due to reclamation. The study examined the spatiotemporal dynamics of coastal wetlands and reclamation in the Indus River Delta from 1972 to 2022. Wetlands conversion to reclamation was extracted from 6‐Landsat images. A land cover transfer matrix was used to analyze land use land cover (LULC) changes in different time intervals. Area‐weight centroid was constructed to determine the migration trend of reclamation and coastal wetlands. Spatial accurateness was assessed using Producer's Accuracy (PA), User Accuracy (UA) and KAPPA coefficient (KC). The results reveal that from 1972 to 2022, the net area of wetlands declined by 1.9% (26.1 km2), while reclamation (settlement and cultivated land) increased by 14.7% (200.1 km2), and 27.5% (373.5 km2), respectively. The fastest areal change rate for coastal wetlands was −1.1 km2/year from 2012 to 2022, whereas the fastest areal change rate for settlement and cultivated land were 7.6 km2/year from 1992 to 2002 and 28.6 km2/year from 2012 to 2022. Centroids of wetlands moved slowly eastwards from Kharo Chan taluka to Keti Bandar in the first and third decades, then southwards in the second decade, later on, westwards in the fourth decade, and finally back southwards from Keti Bandar taluka to the Kharo Chan in the fifth decade with fastest movement. Centroids of settlement expanded in all directions over five decades. Centroids of cultivated land migrated westwards in the first, third and fourth decades, northwards in the second decade and southwards in the fifth decade from Keti Bandar to Kharo Chan. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for sustainable land development and future planning.

Analysis and Future Projections of Land Use and Land Cover Changes in the Hindon River Basin, India Using the CA-Markov Model

Land use and land cover change is a significant issue in emerging countries. The enormous rate of population growth, industrialization, and urbanization is responsible for these developments. Monitoring and mapping of changes in land cover and land use is essential to the sustainable development and management of the area. The study attempts to track changes in LULC pattern for the years 2002, 2013, and 2023 in the Hindon River Basin, a major tributary of the Yamuna River, using remote sensing and geographic information system techniques. Images obtained from Landsat data were employed to extract historical land use and land cover maps. Additionally, the CA-Markov model was implemented to forecast future land use and land cover patterns. This study examines the historical and predicted LULC in the area. Field observations and site-specific interviews were used to confirm and determine the ground realities. High-resolution images were used to evaluate the accuracy of the classified map. According to the results, the agricultural land decreased from 60.98% in 2002 to 54.70% in 2050, while built-up areas increased from 12.95% to 21.25% during the same period. By 2050, vegetation is predicted to increase to 2.58%, whereas surface water, fallow land, barren areas, and dry water bodies are predicted to decrease to 0.58%, 18.87%, 1.20%, and 0.83%, respectively. The rapid pace of urbanization is facilitating economic growth within the country; however, this development is occurring at the expense of the natural landscape, which subsequently diminishes the overall quality of human life. In order to maintain sustainable development in the Hindon Basin, proper urban planning is essential. Important policy implications for the sustainable management of land use and conservation in the Hindon River basin are highlighted by the study’s research and findings.

Spatial assessment of land use and land cover change impacts on groundwater recharge and groundwater level: A case study of the Hat Yai basin

Study regionHat Yai Basin, Thailand. Study focusThis study aimed to assess the impacts of land use and land cover changes on groundwater recharge and groundwater levels—specifically, the effects of increasing built-up areas and urban expansion. The MOLUSCE (plug-in QGIS) software was used to analyze land use and land cover changes. The groundwater recharge estimation in this study was conducted using the WetSpass model, and the groundwater level was simulated using MODFLOW. New hydrological insights for the regionThe findings indicate that the Hat Yai basin has experienced its highest increase in built-up areas and found a decrease in the average recharge rate for 2017 compared to 2007. Correspondingly, a simulation of groundwater levels indicates that the overall groundwater level has decreased. Spatially, the Hat Yai district, which exhibited the highest increase in built-up areas, experienced a decrease in groundwater levels. In contrast, the Khuan Niang district, which had the largest increase in perennial areas, demonstrated increased groundwater levels. The findings show that increasing built-up areas decreases the recharge rate, consequently lowering groundwater levels. The spatial assessment is proved to be more effective in illustrating positive and negative impacts than the basin's overall average. Such spatial assessment is valuable for water resource management planning and addressing localized water resource issues that may differ across various areas.

Advancing Agricultural Land Suitability in Urbanized Semi-Arid Environments: Insights from Geospatial and Machine Learning Approaches

Rising food demands are increasingly threatened by declining crop yields in urbanizing riverine regions of Southern Asia, exacerbated by erratic weather patterns. Optimizing agricultural land suitability (AgLS) offers a viable solution for sustainable agricultural productivity in such challenging environments. This study integrates remote sensing and field-based geospatial data with five machine learning (ML) algorithms—Naïve Bayes (NB), extra trees classifier (ETC), random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and support vector machines (SVM)—alongside land-use/land-cover (LULC) considerations in the food-insecure Dharmapuri district, India. A grid searches optimized hyperparameters using factors such as slope, rainfall, temperature, texture, pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium carbonate. The tuned ETC model showed the lowest root mean squared error (RMSE = 0.15), outperforming RF (RMSE = 0.18), NB (RMSE = 0.20), SVM (RMSE = 0.22), and KNN (RMSE = 0.23). The AgLS-ETC map identified 29.09% of the area as highly suitable (S1), 19.06% as moderately suitable (S2), 16.11% as marginally suitable (S3), 15.93% as currently unsuitable (N1), and 19.21% as permanently unsuitable (N2). By incorporating Landsat-8 derived LULC data to exclude forests, water bodies, and settlements, these suitability estimates were adjusted to 19.08% (S1), 14.45% (S2), 11.40% (S3), 10.48% (N1), and 9.58% (N2). Focusing on the ETC model, followed by land-use analysis, provides a robust framework for optimizing sustainable agricultural planning, ensuring the protection of ecological and social factors in developing countries.

Cultural landscape transformations in the "Prosecco hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene" UNESCO World Heritage Site in the context of terrain morphology

The "Prosecco Hills of Conegliano and Valdobbiadene" has been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2019 under the category “cultural landscapes”. The study analysed land use and landscape changes in the last six decades through spatial analyses and landscape metrics, identifying main changes and comparing similarities and differences between the Core and the Buffer Zone. The main aims were to identify the main drivers that contributed to the preservation of the traditional cultural landscape and to provide data and indications for landscape planning and conservation, with particular attention to the opportunities/threats due to the expected increase of tourism resulting from the recent UNESCO recognition. The study was conducted in the framework of the UNESCO site Management Plan.Results demonstrated that the Core Zone traditional landscape has a higher level of integrity compared to the Buffer Zone, due to the different terrain morphology that represents the main driver. The rough morphology of the Core Zone contributed to the preservation of traditional vineyards interspersed with small woods, linear tree formations and forest patches, as it was not possible to introduce mechanisation in viticulture due to steep slopes that oblige farmers to cultivate vines on ciglioni (earth terraces). Core Zone's main change was due to forestation (21% of the surface) on steeper slopes and higher altitudes, caused by the abandonment of pastures that occurred in the last decades. The main transformations in the Buffer Zone were agricultural intensification (29% of the surface) due to the replacement of traditional mixed crops, meadows, and arable land with modern and mechanised vineyards, and urban sprawl (average rate of 10 ha/year). The study highlighted that despite land use changes the Buffer Zone still contributes to the conservation of the overall UNESCO site landscape quality. Buffer Zone can also have a potential key-role in mitigating the increasing tourist flows, but additional urban sprawl or the spread of other modern vineyards should be avoided. The main long-term objective should be the preservation of the cultural landscape and the peaceful coexistence of farmers, local population and tourists, with mutual benefits, by applying a participatory approach.

Five years after the Brumadinho dam collapse: Evaluation of water quality based on combined analysis of land use and environmental data

The collapse of the dam in the Paraopeba River watershed in 2019 triggered significant concerns regarding water quality in the region. This study aimed to assess, five years after the disaster, the effects on water quality and understand the underlying factors of environmental pressure contributing to the observed changes. To perform the evaluation, the study utilized surface water quality data pre-disaster (2012–2018) and post-disaster (2019–2023), environmental data regarding the identification of high-polluting potential industries operating in the region of interest, and land use for the watershed as a combined evaluation. Nonparametric statistical tests Kruskal-Wallis, complemented by Dunn's, were employed to assess the significance of changes in water quality parameters post-collapse. The results indicate a relatively stable baseline scenario of land use dominated by agriculture and pasture, with minor changes observed in forest cover and urban development. However, post-collapse assessments showed significant variations in water quality parameters, with turbidity exceeding conformity levels by up to 68 % (over 100 NTU), dissolved iron (Fe) by up to 70 % (over 0.3 mg.L–1), manganese (Mn) by up to 91 % (over 0.1 mg.L–1), dissolved aluminum (Al) by up to 83 % (over 0.01 mg.L–1), and lead (Pb) by up to 26 % (over 0.01 mg.L–1). Statistical tests suggested possible effects of the dam collapse on turbidity, pH, dissolved Fe, Mn, and dissolved Al. Temporal analysis showed constant effects on water quality, with notable increases in dissolved Fe and Mn concentrations observed upstream post-disaster and persistent impacts downstream. New mining activities licensed after 2019 may have contributed to the deterioration of water quality, highlighting the relevant relationship of anthropogenic activities and the environmental disaster in the Paraopeba River watershed.

Analysis of Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics in the Highlands of Northern Ethiopia

In the highlands of northern Ethiopia, many land use and land cover changes (LULCC) have occurred during different activities of the populations. Despite its coverage and unwise use of natural resources, these land uses and land covers are facing increasing or decreasing their area coverage. Information derived from land use and land cover change detection is important to land conservation, sustainable development, and management of Natural resources. This purpose of this study is therefore concerned with identifying the change in land use and land cover detection of the Wejic watershed. To identify land cover changes detection; remote sensing data, satellite imagery and image processing techniques had done within two dates of 1998 and 2017 using Land sat TM 30 m resolution images using Arc GIS 10.1. Hence, a field survey was carried out in 2017 to identify the major land cover types in the watershed. Detection Analysis of land use and land cover dynamics were calculated from the selected watershed in Southern Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. These land use types were cultivated, forest, bush, shrub, and homestead lands. Furthermore, a normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) was developed for both years. The land use and land cover change results indicated that forest, cultivated land, and bush land decreased by 4.4%, 2.2%, and 2.4%, respectively. However, shrub land and homestead increased by 5.5% and 3.6%, respectively. Therefore The change detection analysis using GIS and remote sensing could deliver useful information to understand the seasonal patterns of land use dynamics for planners and decision makers; consequently, sustainable land management planning is possible.

A Study on the Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Land Cover Change and Carbon Storage in the Northern Gulf Economic Zone of Guangxi Based on the InVEST Model

In recent years, the international community has increasingly focused on the “dual carbon” issue, as human-induced land use changes significantly impact ecosystem structure and carbon cycling. This study analyzes land use changes in the economic zone of the northern Gulf of Guangxi from 1980 to 2020, utilizing the InVEST model to simulate spatiotemporal changes in carbon storage and conducting zoning studies through spatial analysis. The findings reveal that ① forest land and arable land dominate the northern Gulf of Guangxi’s land use, with notable changes observed in forest land, unused land, and construction land areas. Forest land and construction land have increased by 1761.5 km2 and 1001.19 km2, respectively, while unused land has decreased by 1881.18 km2 from 2000 to 2020. ② The total carbon storage values in the northern Gulf of Guangxi in 1980, 2000, and 2020 were, respectively, 504.91 × 106/t, 487.29 × 106/t, and 500.31 × 106/t, with the expansion of construction land and conversion of forest land being the main reasons for the decrease in carbon storage. ③ In the northern Gulf of Guangxi, there is a slight upward trend in total carbon storage values over time. Spatially, higher carbon storage values are observed in mountainous and hilly areas at high altitudes, while the central and southern coastal areas exhibit lower carbon storage values. ④ The local spatial autocorrelation results reveal that Pu Bei County exhibits high–high clustering of carbon storage, while He Pu County undergoes a transition from high–low to low–low clustering, and several other administrative areas in Beihai demonstrates low–low clustering. Due to the imperative of economic development, the expansion of urban construction land encroaches upon ecological land, resulting in a decline in carbon storage. Therefore, in the Northern Gulf of Guangxi, it is essential to implement measures such as reforestation and establish ecological protection areas such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands to develop effective carbon sequestration methods and compensate for the carbon loss caused by the expansion of construction land.

Forest fates: Unraveling the peri-urban social-ecological trajectories in Mexico City's conservation land.

Peri-urban areas provide multiple ecosystem services, but face critical challenges, including deforestation, unplanned urban sprawl, and environmental pollution and degradation. To address these issues, environmental public policy instruments have been implemented. This paper aims to investigate the social ecological trajectories of a peri-urban area of Mexico City and the role of environmental public policy instruments in addressing land use change. Focusing on four watersheds of the southern periphery of the city, we analyze land use change drivers through neural networks and Markov chains, and we develop two land use scenarios for the next 20years: one characterized by business as usual and another with a more restrictive land use regime. Our findings show that infrastructure drivers are the most critical factor overall, when combined with the historical social ecological trajectory of the study area. The impact of environmental public policy instruments on future trajectories demonstrates their potential to decrease deforestation. The results provide insights for the integrated territorial planning of peri-urban areas with similar social ecological dynamics and developing context.

Analyzing land use land cover dynamics under rapid urbanization using multi-temporal satellite imageries and geospatial technology for Jamshedpur city in India

Land use land cover (LULC) is considered as one of the most important driving factors behind the global environmental change. The rapid changes in the LULC patterns than ever before, mostly in developing countries, are frequently considered by widespread urban sprawling, land degradation, reduction of agricultural land, and alteration into other land use categories, resulting in enormous costs to the environment. Using a combined remote sensing and GIS technique, this study investigates the spatial urban expansion and its impacts on other LULC categories from 1987 to 2016 in Jamshedpur, India, based on the acquired multispectral satellite imageries, field observations, and demographic data. A visual-based image analysis technique was employed to develop a LULC map for the period of 1987, 2004, and 2016, and the precision of the maps was determined by overall accuracy and kappa statistic methods. The compact urbanization over the city was quantified using both landscape metrics and Shannon’s entropy method. The results of the change detection showed that the built-up area has experienced more than fifty percent growth during the 1987 – 2016 period. It is the main driving factor behind the reduction in the area of other land use categories: agricultural land (−87.12 %), vegetation (−67.51 %), riverbed (−46.25 %), and forest cover (−27.92 %). Although barren land and fallow land were the most dynamic land use categories, it increased by 281.84 % and 119.66 %, respectively. The change matrix between 1987 and 2016, indicated the maximum transformation (+455.23 %) of fallow land to settlement. Geographically, there is a continuous growth in the built-up area from the city center to the fringes as a result of suburbanization. The values of Shannon’s entropy during 1987, 2004, and 2016 were 1.11, 1.19, and 1.57, respectively. The demographic analysis shows that the annual population for the period of 1971–1981, 1981–1991, 1991–2001, and 2001–2011 has changed by + 3.89 %, +2.09 %, +2.91 %, and + 1.95 % per year, respectively. The population growth, aggregated settlements and land scarceness in Jamshedpur were found to be the key reasons behind the urban growth and development. This study emphasizes the critical need for sustainable urban development practices and robust land use strategies to alleviate the environmental impacts of rapid urban expansion. It will lay a valuable groundwork for future research focused on integrating land use management with urban growth frameworks to achieve balanced and resilient development in Jamshedpur.

Analysis of Land Use and Occupation in a Neighborhood of the City of Manaus-AM Using Geotechnologies

Objective: The objective of this study is to analyze the land use and occupation that occurred between 1999 and 2021 in the Tarumã neighborhood located in the city of Manaus-AM, with the aim of carrying out, through remote sensing techniques, the investigation of the environmental impacts that occurred, considering the classes of soil, vegetation and hydrography. Theoretical Framework: The accelerated population expansion and the lack of environmental planning contribute to the increasing degradation of natural resources. The disorderly distribution of the territory represents one of the main problems in Manaus. Method: Land use and occupation mapping was obtained from the supervised classification of Landsat 7 and Landsat 8 satellite images, RGB bands, through the United States Geological Survey – USGS (Earth Explore). Data comparisons were made based on the temporal analysis of the images and shapefile. Results and Discussion: The results obtained identified the class transformations that occurred in the last 22 years, which corresponds to 41.71% of primary vegetation, 8.98% of secondary vegetation, 17.70% of exposed soil. In the urban area, there was interference of 30.16%, with a 1.74% decrease in the water class, including the Environmental Preservation Area Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this study favor the understanding, measurement and prediction of environmental impacts caused by the ordered and disordered urban occupation of cities. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the monitoring of occupations in the Tarumâ neighborhood, contributing to decision-making in preservation areas.

AN ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGE IN MANGA GRASSLAND OF YOBE STATE, NIGERIA

Human activities and natural events continually reshape land use patterns, underscoring the critical need for accurate land use information in various applications such as natural resource management and environmental monitoring. Land use change has become pivotal in current strategies for these purposes globally. The rapid advancements in land use mapping have spurred increased studies worldwide, aiming to assess and monitor the extent and health of forests, grasslands, and agricultural lands. Remotely sensed data, including aerial photographs and satellite imagery, are indispensable for extracting precise land use change information. This study focusing on Manga grassland (Machina, Yusufari, and Yunusari LGAs), satellite images from Landsat TM (1988), Landsat ETM (1998), Landsat ETM+ (2008), and Landsat 8 (2018) for image classification. The study employed supervised classification methods to analyse land use changes, revealing significant alterations in vegetation cover over the study period. In conclusion, it was observed that observed that vegetation cover increases from north toward the south follow the trend of rain fall, over-cutting, over grazing, and other climatic factors, which determines species distribution. Vegetation degradation is detected more in north boundary Niger republic. This may be due to southern flow of the Sahara Desert into the northern part of Nigeria around the study area. Data analysis shows that land use land cover had been changing through the study zones and this change had negative impact on natural resource development. Finally, it was recommended that the development of suitable and adequate mean of awareness for local community on the importance of species...

Extreme events and ichthyofauna: case report of a neotropical river

The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events and their impact on aquatic ecosystems and fish species is concerning. This manuscript reports and analyzes two events, a drought in 2019 and a flood in 2024, providing valuable insights into the consequences of these events. The rescue of 269 individuals of 19 fish species during the 2019 drought highlights the significant impact of the extreme conditions on the ichthyofauna. Rising temperatures, isolation, and habitat fragmentation must have posed severe challenges for the fish species during this period. On the other hand, the observation of 53 dead individuals of 5 species during the 2024 flood indicates the detrimental effects of this event on the fish population. The association of mortality and dispersal of several species with the existing dam further underscores the complexity of the challenges faced by fish during extreme flood events. The correlation between rainfall, river regime, and the impact of land use and occupation provides an important context for understanding the dynamics of these extreme events. The low rainfall during the 2019 drought and the gradual increase in rainfall between 2022 and 2024 leading to the flood demonstrate the significant role of precipitation patterns in shaping the outcomes for fish species. Additionally, the analysis of land use and occupation, particularly the substantial increase in urbanization in the drainage basin over the last 30 years, highlights the human-induced factors contributing to the stress on aquatic ecosystems. Both extreme floods and droughts have significant implications for fish species. Extreme floods can alter riverbeds, cause direct mortality, and disrupt isolated populations, while extreme droughts can lead to fish kills, and habitat fragmentation, and exacerbate environmental stressors. This analysis emphasizes the urgent need for comprehensive measures to mitigate the impact of extreme weather events on aquatic ecosystems and fish species. Addressing factors such as land use and occupation, water management, and climate change adaptation strategies is crucial for promoting the resilience of fish populations in the face of ongoing environmental challenges. Keywords: drought, Ipanema National Forest, rainfall.

Challenge of political integration in the territorial management of a protected area based on the analysis of land use and land cover change

Challenge of political integration in the territorial management of a protected area based on the analysis of land use and land cover change

A bottom-up nationwide analysis of sectoral land use reveals spatial heterogeneity across the United States

The high degree of urbanization and economic development in the United States has intensified competition for land resources, leading to land use conflicts and environmental challenges. Addressing these issues first requires an exploration of high-resolution, sector-specific land use patterns. However, existing land classification studies rarely provide spatially explicit data on urban land use across all sectors at a national level. This study aims to fill this gap by analyzing land use areas across various economic sectors in the United States, particularly focusing on urban impervious surfaces. Using a bottom-up approach, we created a full-sector land use inventory, integrating Points of Interest (POI) data, road networks, building characteristics, and geographic information processing techniques. Our primary innovation lies in the development of a spatially explicit database that details sector-specific land use areas nationwide. On this robust foundation, we further explored the heterogeneity of sectoral land use eco-efficiency (SLUEE) among different sectors and states, providing supplementary insights into spatial disparities in urban land use. Our findings reveal significant spatial heterogeneity, with service sectors dominating land use and exhibiting higher SLUEE compared to goods-producing industries. Key sectors such as Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (441064.58 ha), and Administrative and Support Services (420148.34 ha) are prominent across states according to land use area, reflecting the country's service-oriented economy. Additionally, regional disparities in SLUEE are evident, with jurisdictions like Washington D.C., New York, and California demonstrating more efficient land use. Compared with traditional land use evaluations, our model effectively offers higher spatial resolution, down to the census block level, to sectoral land use evaluation. Building on this robust database, our SLUEE analysis has uncovered notable heterogeneity between sectors and states, offering new insights into cross-sectoral and inter-state land use dynamics that can inform and promote sustainable urban planning.

The application of remote sensing and geographic information system techniques for the analysis of land use and land cover changes in Wayanad district of Kerala

Mapping Land Use and Land cover Changes (LULC) and detecting changes using remote sensing and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques is a cost-effective way of gaining a good understanding of the land cover alteration processes caused by land use change and their effects. This study assessed the transformation of the Wayanad district landscape over a period of 23 years. LANDSAT satellite images (of 30 m resolution) encompassing the area at three epochs were classified into nine classes (coffee dominated mixed crop, built-up, evergreen forest, deciduous forest, grassland, mixed crop with built-up, paddy, tea plantation, and waterbody) using the maximum likelihood algorithm, resulting in classes for each land use. The results showed that over the past 23 years, coffee-dominated mixed crops have increased by 0.84% in 2014 and 11.84% in 2022 compared to 1999; deciduous forest area decreased 3.6% and increased 0.6% in 2014 and 2022, respectively. Tea plantations increased by 0.9% in 2014 and by 0.49% in 2022, which decreased by 0.41% compared to 2014. Built-up has increased by 6.42% and 6.02% in 2014 and 2022 respectively, and slightly decreased by 0.4% compared to 2014. Evergreen forest areas increased in 2014 by 6.68% and 2.28% in 2022 and decreased by 4.44% compared to the previous time period. Grass land areas have decreased by 6.25% and 5.33%, respectively, and mixed crops with built-up areas has decreased by 0.74% and remained the same in the last two epochs, while paddy and waterbodies have decreased by 3.4%, 15.79%, and 0.07 and 0.19%, respectively, in 2014 and 2022 of the total geographical area Keywords: Remote sensing, GIS techniques, LULC, forest cover

Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Prediction of Land Use and Land Cover in Jagdalpur Sub-Division of Bastar District in State of Chhattisgarh, India from 2012 to 2037

Spatio-Temporal Analysis and Prediction of Land Use and Land Cover in Jagdalpur Sub-Division of Bastar District in State of Chhattisgarh, India from 2012 to 2037

Andean Landscape Legacies: Comprehensive Remote Sensing Mapping and GIS Analysis of Long-Term Settlement and Land Use for Sustainable Futures (NW Argentina)

The Andes region has an exceptional record of high-altitude settlements integrated within widespread regional chains of mobility and exchange. The Sierra de Aconquija (NW Argentina, south-central Andes) is an effective climatic barrier that has afforded an enduring indigenous approach to land use, mobility, and exchange over millennia. Despite this rich history, the Sierra has been largely considered marginal in pre-Columbian regional cultural developments. Today, the expansion of extractive industries threatens the region’s heritage and the sustainable futures of local communities. Innovative, integrative methodologies are needed for landscape characterisation, heritage assessment, and sustainable policy development. Building on earlier work, we undertook the first comprehensive mapping of archaeological features over 3800 sq. km of the Sierra using interpreter-led assessment of commercial and open-access satellite imagery and DSM data, to verify earlier assumptions and to identify previously unnoticed trends in the aggregation, distribution, and connectivity of archaeological features. The mapping identified 6794 features distributed unevenly but with clear tendencies towards maximising topographic, ecologic, and connectivity advantages expressed consistently across the study area. The outcomes confirm the important role the Sierra had in pre-Hispanic times, highlighting the significance of ancient indigenous practices for the sustainability of vulnerable upland landscapes both in the Andes and worldwide.