Causes Of Land Use Change Research Articles

Analisis Perubahan Penggunaan Lahan Kawasan Kumuh Kecamatan Kandis Kabupaten Siak Tahun 2014 dan 2023

This research aims to identify the causes of land use change in the slum areas of Kandis Sub-district, Siak Regency, and analyze land use change from 2014 to 2023 using information maps. The method used is descriptive quantitative, with data analysis techniques based on weighting the quality of slum areas through geographic information systems (GIS) using GIS applications to identify location, distance, and settlement patterns. Sampling was done through proportional stratified random sampling. Data collection used primary data in the form of interviews and secondary data in the form of documentation studies. The results showed that: (1) The causes of land use change in Kandis Sub-district slum areas include an increase in population density every year, narrow spacing between buildings (1.5 to 3 meters), lack of clean water infrastructure, inadequate drainage, inadequate toilet conditions, and lack of waste disposal facilities. Community income is also low, below Rp. 1,000,000 per month. (2) The area of the slum area has increased significantly, from 0.27 Ha in 2014 to 9.6 Ha in 2023.

ANALISIS PERUBAHAN PENUTUPAN ;AHAN DAN FAKTOR PENDORONG PENGGUNAAN LAHAN KAWASAN HUTAN DESA LAIYA, MAROS

Land cover change is strongly influenced by land use. Increasing population growth results in the need for food and other needs. The causes of land use change are influenced by human activities or activities that directly affect land use. Physical, social and economic factors are factors that trigger land use change in Laiya Village, Cenrana District. The purpose of this study was to describe land cover change in Laiya Village, Cenrana Subdistrict for the period 2011, 2015 and 2019 and to determine the driving factors that influence land use change around the forest area of Laiya Village. This research uses GIS analysis to analyze and see land cover changes that occur and qualitative descriptive methods to determine land use changes. The period 2011-2015 mixed dryland agriculture decreased in area by 2,893.19 ha while shrubs increased in area by 2,744.51 ha. The period 2015-2019 mixed dryland agriculture experienced an increase in land area of 3,030.64 ha and shrubs experienced a decrease in land area of 2,744.51 ha. Factors that influence land use change are physical, social and economic factors. Socio-economic factors are the main driving factor of land use change, the need for land for settlements is increasing due to the high population density that occurs around the forest area of Laiya Village, Cenrana District, Maros Regency which causes people to utilize land as an economic source.

The Study of Settlement Preservation Pattern for Environmental Sustainability in Canggu Village, Badung Regency, Bali Province

Canggu is one of the settlements Village in the southern coastal community in Bali which is currently experiencing very rapid tourism development. This village has a relatively flat topographic condition, as well as being one of the areas of Majapahit descent. The rapid development of tourist accommodation that currently occurs in Canggu, has an impact on the high conversion of land use, and the disruption of local community settlements. Seeing this fact, it is considered necessary to make an evaluation study on the development of spatial planning which will later be used as input in determining spatial land use control policies in Canggu Village. This research uses qualitative methods, case studies using field observation techniques and interviews, which are then compared with literature reviews in the form of regional spatial policy studies and relevant theories. The analysis was conducted on the residential area of Canggu Village, which aimed to determine the main causes of land use change and displacement of local community settlements. From the results of the analysis, which is then compared with literature studies, it is expected to be able to find a solution to preserve the urgency of local community settlements. The results of the analysis show that the implementation of spatial concepts sourced from culture is more respected by the community compared to local government policies. The hulu-teben concept as the basis for the preservation of settlement spatial values derived from the Tri Hita Karana cultural philosophy, is considered very effective and feared by the community because it is related to social sanctions that must be borne by the community, which are outlined in pararem.

Analyzing the Implications of Land use Changes on Urban Planning in Mamfe Sub-Division, South West Region, Cameroon

Land use change is necessary for economic development and social progress; however, it does not come without costs. The efforts to meet the needs of the burgeoning population and its development activities, have amplified stress on the earth’s land uses with significant implications on urban planning. This study seeks to examine the trends of land use changes, causes and associated implications in Mamfe Sub-division. The study made use of primary and secondary sources of data. Simple random sampling technique was used and 164 respondents were drawn from Ebekaw, Small Mamfe, Besongabang, Okoyong and Bachuo Neighbourhoods. Data was collected through interviews, field observation, questionnaires and Landsat imageries to examine the trends, causes and implications of land use changes in Mamfe Sub-division for 1980, 2000 and 2020.The results revealed that between 1980 and 2020 agriculture and built-up (infrastructural development) were identified as the dominant activities at the expense of vegetation cover. Population increase, institutional developments, socioeconomic organization, increase in income and affluence and technological development were seen as the main causes of land use changes. This was seen through the construction of roads, modern houses, thermal plan and increase in food production which has resulted to environmental implications such loss of biodiversity, land degradation and air and water pollution. In addition, to the socio-economic implications of land use changes such as limited livelihood opportunity, increase poverty and inequality, limited access to social services, displacement and migration, and land use conflicts. The study recommends a holistic, integrated land use planning and participatory approach that incorporates social, economic and environmental considerations as well as a meaningful engagement with affected communities and stakeholders.

Socioeconomic Development of the Local Community and Causes of Land Use Change in Belaga, Sarawak, Malaysia

The state of Sarawak in Malaysia has witnessed a surge in demand for its valuable land resources, primarily driven by major commodity investors establishing plantations. These land concessions have further exacerbated land scarcity and the depletion of crucial forest areas, which are essential for the livelihoods of indigenous communities. The indigenous community in Sarawak, heavily dependent on forests, faces significant challenges due to land use changes. This study aims to identify the drivers of land use change and assess the socioeconomic impact on the local community in Murum, Belaga, Sarawak. The research was conducted in December 2020, utilizing a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches. Questionnaires, in-depth interviews, and site observations were employed to collect data, involving 511 household heads and ten key informants. Statistical analysis using SPSS software was performed on the collected data. The findings highlight that the primary cause of land use change in the study area was the hydroelectric dam project, followed by the establishment of oil palm plantations, logging activities, forest plantation development, government policies, and agricultural activities. Regarding infrastructure satisfaction levels, respondents ranked sport/recreational facilities as the most important, followed by electricity supply, house/accommodation facilities, education facilities, clean water sources, communication accessibility, health facilities, and road accessibility. Overall, the data indicates an improvement in the economic and social conditions of families due to land use changes in the area. However, the study concludes that there is still a need for further improvements in essential services, including providing multiple clean water sources to each household, enhancing access to healthcare services, and improving road conditions. Improved road access will foster increased business and social activity, facilitating job opportunities and contributing to poverty alleviation within the local community.

Application of Participatory Methods to Explore Changes in Land Use of a Tropical Dry Forest Basin

Tropical hydrographic basins have undergone significant land use change processes in recent decades and correspond to areas of high population growth and development of economic activities. This article explores the causes of land use change in a tropical dry forest watershed, taking the Canalete river basin as a case study. For this purpose, stakeholder analysis techniques and participatory methods were applied. The results showed that the main causes of land use change in pastures were associated with biophysical factors, while forestsshrubs and crops were associated with direct and subyacents socioeconomics factors respectively. The participatory mapping allowed obtaining a desired land use scenario for the year 2030, observing a decrease of more than 16.2 ha of pasture, compensated by an increase of almost 2.4 thousand ha of crops and 13.8 thousand ha of forests and shrubs. Similarly, the hydrological impact of changes in land use was observed, especially in terms of flooding.

Dampak Alih Fungsi Lahan terhadap Eksistensi Subak Kedungu, di Desa Pererenan, Kecamatan Mengwi, Kabupaten Badung

The Impact of Land Functions on the Existence of Subak Kedungu, Pererenan Village, Mengwi District, Badung Regency
 Subak is very thick in community life in Bali. Subak is closely related to Tri Hita Karana, which is a guideline for the community in religious social activities carried out by the indigenous community in Bali.The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of land use change and the causes of land use change on the existence of Subak Kedungu in terms of social, economic and technical aspects.The location of this research was conducted in Subak Kedungu, Pererenan Village, Mengwi District, Badung Regency from November 2020 to January 2021.The selection of the research location was carried out by using the perposive method using key informants.The determination of informants in this study involved all elements related to the Kedungu Subak, such as members of the subak, subak landowners, subak members who sold land, tenants, tenants, subak institutions, and village institutions.The results showed the causes of land conversion that occurred in Subak Kedungu, among others, an increase in the number of family members, an increase in community needs, and a decrease in the interest of young people in Pererenan Village to replace their parents as farmers.Meanwhile, the impact of land conversion that occurs is that the social aspects do not have an impact on the community, the economic aspect of income from farming does not experience a reduction, and the technical aspects are not too affected because basically the members of Subak Kedungu only plant rice.

Characteristics of Land Use Change in China before and after 2000

China, with notable population blooming and economic development in the last decades, has experienced profound land-use changes, which, in turn, dramatically impacted the regional, even global and environment system. However, characteristics of land-use changes in China have not yet been well addressed, especially around the year 2000 when a series of land policies were put forward, such as the project of “returning farmland to forest”. To fill this gap, this paper investigated the temporal and spatial patterns of land use changes in China for the period from 1987 to 2010, by taking advantage of the continually updated China Land Use Database developed from remote sensing images. The land-use dynamic matrix, zonal model, and transition matrix were employed to characterize land-use change patterns for four time intervals (1987–1995, 1995–2000, 2000–2005, and 2005–2010) on the dimensions of conversion and modification. Results showed that land-use change affected 4 × 105 km2 (4.5%) of the total landscape in China for more than the past twenty years. Of the six land-use types, built-up land experienced the largest net increase by almost 30% (52,434 km2), with the rate of expansion accelerating after 1995. The area of cropland increased before 2000 and declined afterwards, ending with a net increase in 14,280 km2, approximately 1% of its original area. The loss in the eastern coastal region is attributed mainly to built-up land expansion, while the gain in northern China, with the price of grassland and woodland shrinking, reshaped the cropland distribution in China. The area of woodland decreased slightly by 7880 km2 without a clear pattern over time. The modification of woodland indicated an intensive forest management in terms of planting fast-growing trees in the south of China. Grassland continues to shrink at a decreasing rate, and the modification of grassland shows a tendency of transformation from sparse grassland into a dense one in the 21st century. Trade-offs among demands on food security, economic development, and environment protection forced and shaped the contemporary land-use change in China. These results contribute to understanding the trends and causes of land use change in China, which could provide underpinning knowledge for assessing environmental change, and provide insights on future land planning.

Determinants of Land use and Cropping Pattern Changes in Kerala

Land is one of the most limited natural resources and land use dynamics is a complex process The present study examined the causes of land use and cropping pattern changes in Kerala from 1985–2019. The time series data were collected from various published sources and the analysis was done at the state level. Population pressure, increase in number of factories, emigration, literacy rate, rainfall etc., were identified as the major causes of land use change in Kerala. The analysis of determinants of cropping pattern was done for paddy using the area response model and it was observed that the previous year's area under the crop, expected price of paddy, and average annual rainfall positively influenced the farmer's acreage response.

Implications of global environmental change for the burden of snakebite.

Snakebite envenoming is a set of intoxication diseases that disproportionately affect people of poor socioeconomic backgrounds in tropical countries. As it is highly dependent on the environment its burden is expected to shift spatially with global anthropogenic environmental (climate, land use) and demographic change. The mechanisms underlying the changes to snakebite epidemiology are related to factors of snakes and humans. The distribution and abundance of snakes are expected to change with global warming via their thermal tolerance, while rainfall may affect the timing of key activities like feeding and reproduction. Human population growth is the primary cause of land-use change, which may impact snakes at smaller spatial scales than climate via habitat and biodiversity loss (e.g. prey availability). Human populations, on the other hand, could experience novel patterns and morbidity of snakebite envenoming, both as a result of snake responses to environmental change and due to the development of agricultural adaptations to climate change, socioeconomic and cultural changes, development and availability of better antivenoms, personal protective equipment, and mechanization of agriculture that mediate risk of encounters with snakes and their outcomes. The likely global effects of environmental and demographic change are thus context-dependent and could encompass both increasing and or snakebite burden (incidence, number of cases or morbidity), exposing new populations to snakes in temperate areas due to “tropicalization”, or by land use change-induced snake biodiversity loss, respectively. Tackling global change requires drastic measures to ensure large-scale ecosystem functionality. However, as ecosystems represent the main source of venomous snakes their conservation should be accompanied by comprehensive public health campaigns. The challenges associated with the joint efforts of biodiversity conservation and public health professionals should be considered in the global sustainability agenda in a wider context that applies to neglected tropical and zoonotic and emerging diseases.

Shifting Cultivation or Oil Palm Plantation? Integrated Assessment of Land Use Change in Dusun Tonggong, Parindu, West Kalimantan Indonesia

Since 2006, Indonesia became the largest oil palm producing country in the world. For Indonesia, oil palm is a prime commodity because it has become a source of foreign exchange. The rapid development of the oil palm industry in Indonesia resulted in a debate on the positive and negative impacts caused by the plantations, especially related to the issue of land use change. This study summarizes the quantitative aspects and the social dynamics related to land use change to oil palm plantation on mineral soil, using a comprehensive and integrated assessment. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the financial feasibility of land use change in oil palm plantation from three aspects (economy, social, and environmental aspect) and to provide a descriptive explanation of the cause of land use change from ladang to oil palm by the community. The present study suggests that the changing paradigm of the local people in the case study area to convert their ladang to oil palm plantation cannot be avoided. They prefer to plant oil palm because of three main factors: (1) economic, (2) labor force, and (3) land area. Keywords: Oil palm; Land use Change; Integrated Assessment.

Assessing Sustainability in Cattle Silvopastoral Systems in the Mexican Tropics Using the SAFA Framework.

The sub-humid native rainforest in Yucatan is one of the most endangered in Mexico. Cattle production is one of the main causes of land use change and silvopastoral systems are a feasible alternative. This work compares the sustainable performance of silvopastoral (native and intensive) and monoculture cattle farms in the state of Yucatan using the Sustainability Assessment for Food and Agriculture (SAFA) framework. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were applied in 9 farms. Responses were fed to the SAFA Tool to obtain sustainability polygons. Percentages of SAFA themes positively and negatively valuated were calculated. Native farms had positive ratings for Participation, Land, Biodiversity and Cultural Diversity, whereas intensive excelled on Holistic Management. Native farms had limited ratings for Decent Livelihood. Native farms (and one intensive silvopastoral farm) had the highest percentages of themes positively valuated compared to monocultures (and one intensive silvopastoral farm), which scored the lowest. Positive evaluations identified native systems as an option for sustainable production; however, areas of opportunity in all farms were discovered. This is the first comparative study using SAFA to evaluate differences in farming systems in the Mexican tropics, providing valuable information to generate policies and incentives on sustainable livestock production, as well as for improving evaluation tools for local application.

Effects of Urban Land Use Change on Selected Public Utilities for Sustainable Development in Akure, Nigeria

Urban landuse change is one of the main driving forces of global environmental change. It is central to the sustainable development debate. The aim of this research is to examine the effects of urban landuse and its impact on selected public utility services in Akure with a view to improve strategies to protect these utilities for sustainable development. The research was conducted using remote sensing, Geographical information System and questionnaire to collect the required data for the purpose of fulfilling the objectives of this study. In this study of analyzing the urban landuse change, 2010 and 2018 IKONOS are used in a post classification comparison analysis to map the landuse changes and identify the conversion process in Akure. The landuse change statistics results obtained revealed that residential landuse has changed rapidly for the periods (2010-2018). The results also show increase in commercial landuses between the same periods. The results of the analysis reveal that the built-up area has been growing rapidly for the periods (2010-2018). Findings show that, housing provision (residential), business purpose (commercial) and educational (institution) are the major causes of land use change in the study areas. To reduce the effect of land use expansion in the study areas, policy measures were recommended which include regulating the growth and spread of development, regional development programs. In our opinion, the information provided by these technologies could help city planners and policy makers to attain and sustain future urban development.

The conservation of arboreal marsupials in the Albury‐Wodonga region of south‐eastern Australia

SummaryUrban expansion is a major cause of land use change and presents a significant threat to biodiversity worldwide. Agricultural land is often acquired by local councils and developers to expand urban growth boundaries and establish new housing estates. However, many agricultural landscapes support high biodiversity values, especially farmlands that feature mosaics of native vegetation and keystone habitat such as hollow‐bearing trees. In south‐eastern Australia, many arboreal marsupials including the threatened Squirrel Glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) have populations within peri‐urban zones of expanding rural cities. A key challenge to planners, developers and conservation organisations is the need to maintain habitat for locally rare and threatened species as land undergoes changes in management. Critical to the sustainable development of peri‐urban landscapes is a thorough understanding of the distribution, habitat requirements and resources available to maintain and improve habitat for species dependent on limited resources such as tree cavities. In this management report, we present background information on an integrated research programme designed to evaluate potential impacts of urban development on fauna in the Albury Local Government Area, NSW. We mapped hollow‐bearing trees, erected nest boxes and monitored arboreal marsupials. Information presented in this report provides a blueprint for monitoring arboreal marsupials, including threatened species in other developing regions, and will assist the Albury‐Wodonga local governments in future planning of sustainable living environments.

Monitoring the Land Surface and water bodies temperature and its impact on surface water turbidity in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, India

Land use land cover change is the process taking place in different parts of the country throughout the world and is adversely affecting the environment and will continue to affect both directly and indirectly. It has an impact on the water resource in a negative way. Rapid urban growth as a major cause of land-use change is one of the biggest reasons for the rise in surface temperature, and LULC change is one of the major causes of concern throughout the world. In developing countries like India, rapid urbanization is greatly influencing surface temperature and water resources. Surface water bodies are greatly affected by the rapid urban growth, which is taking place in almost all parts throughout the country, especially in the central part of India which is having plain areas. Many studies have been conducted by using the thermal data in integration with the Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information System (GIS) techniques for estimation of Land Surface Temperature(LST), and based on those studies, it can be concluded that changing land use has its direct impact on surface temperature as with increasing urbanization rise in LST has been observed. Therefore, the present study has been done to estimate the impacts of changing LULC on surface temperature and turbidity in surface water using the satellite-derived thermal data, and based on results obtained it can be concluded that areas covered with the settlement, open or barren land have a relatively higher temperature than those of the areas which have plants, and vegetation on and nearby it, also waterbodies with turbid areas are showing relatively higher temperature than that of clear surface water.

Pemodelan Perubahan Tataguna Lahan Terhadap Debit Banjir DAS Tanggul, Jember Menggunakan Model SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool)

Population growth is one of the causes of land-use change that can increase runoff. Tanggul watershed is one of the watersheds which often overflows during the rainy season. This study purpose to analyze the effect of land-use changes on runoff in Tanggul watershed using SWAT (Soil and Water Assessment Tool) model. To make sure the performance of SWAT model calibration and classified by the value of NSE and R2. The result of calibration included in a good category and validation included in a very good category. This study was modeling forest land-use change in 2004-2017 to determine the effect of land-use change on runoff. The result in this model of forest land-use change can increase runoff.

Contextualizing Landscape-Scale Forest Cover Loss in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) between 2000 and 2015

Shifting cultivation has been shown to be the primary cause of land use change in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Traditionally, forested and fallow land are rotated in a slash and burn cycle that has created an agricultural mosaic, including secondary forest, known as the rural complex. This study investigates the land use context of new forest clearing (during 2000–2015) in primary forest areas outside of the established rural complex. These new forest clearings occur as either rural complex expansion (RCE) or isolated forest perforations (IFP), with consequent implications on the forest ecosystem and biodiversity habitat. During 2000–2015, subsistence agriculture was the dominant driver of forest clearing for both extension of settled areas and pioneer clearings removed from settled areas. Less than 1% of clearing was directly attributable to land uses such as mining, plantations, and logging, showing that the impact of commercial operations in the DRC is currently dwarfed by a reliance on small-holder shifting cultivation. However, analyzing the landscape context showed that large-scale agroindustry and resource extraction activities lead to increased forest loss and degradation beyond their previously-understood footprints. The worker populations drawn to these areas create communities that rely on shifting cultivation and non-timber forest products (NTFP) for food, energy, and building materials. An estimated 12% of forest loss within the RCE and 9% of the area of IFP was found to be within 5 km of mines, logging, or plantations. Given increasing demographic and commercial pressures on DRC’s forests, it will be crucial to factor in this landscape-level land use change dynamic in land use planning and sustainability-focused governance.

Understory Vegetation in Oil Palm Plantations Promotes Leopard Cat Activity, but Does Not Affect Rats or Rat Damage

The expansion of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) plantations is a primary cause of land-use change and biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia. This has led to an increasing demand for the development of more sustainable agricultural management practices in plantations, such as Integrated Pest Management. Although populations of carnivorous mammals show declines when forest is converted to oil palm, some species, such as Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) have been found to persist. They are often encouraged by plantation managers for their conservation value, and as agents of pest control to manage rat populations. Despite this, little is known about whether they reduce pest rat numbers, or whether plantation management affects how they use the oil palm habitat. This study was based at the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Function in Tropical Agriculture (BEFTA) Programme in mature oil palm plantations in Riau, Sumatra, where there are three management strategies altering understory vegetation structure. We quantified Leopard Cat activity, invasive rat abundance and rat damage using camera traps, live traps, and visual estimates respectively. We collected data over a four-year period, before and after the management strategies were applied. We recorded three species of wild mammals (Leopard Cats, Common Palm Civets, and Wild Pig) within the plantations, of which Leopard Cats made up 82% of the total number of observations. We found that Leopard Cat habitat use was higher with increased understory vegetation, but that there was no effect of the vegetation treatments on rat abundance or rat damage. There was also a trend for reduced rat abundance with increased Leopard Cat activity. These results show that management practices can significantly affect Leopard Cat habitat use, with potential benefits for pest control. They also highlight the value of large-scale long-term manipulative experiments for developing more sustainable management practices in oil palm.

The influence of landscape alterations on changes in ground beetle (Carabidae) and spider (Araneae) functional groups between 1995 and 2013 in an urban fringe of China

Urbanization is one of the main causes of land use change, especially from 1990 to now in China, but knowledge of its effect on different functional groups of carabids and spiders in the adjacent rural areas over time remains limited. We assessed whether landscape alterations (1993 versus 2013) drove changes in carabid and spider functional groups (1995 versus 2013) in an agricultural landscape located on the fringe of a rapidly growing city in China. Although built-up land increased from 6.3% to 32% across the whole landscape, the overall species richness of carabids and spiders did not decline. In contrast to the reduction in species richness of large carabids, the species richness of small carabids increased. Species richness of both large and small spiders increased. The species composition of carabids and spiders significantly changed between 1995 and 2013. Species compositions of large, predatory carabids and large or ground-hunting spiders were more sensitive to the changes in built-up land than those of small, omnivorous carabids and small or web-building spiders. The amount of grassland (abandoned land covered by wild grass) also increased as farmers began to work in the city. The increased grassland significantly contributed to the increased species richness of predatory and macropterous carabids. However, increased landscape diversity did not affect species richness of either carabids or spiders. High landscape diversity was related to reduction in field size, resulting in a decrease in the mean body size of carabids. This indicates that evaluating the effect of landscape change on carabid and spider diversity should be based on their functional traits. Different taxa, even different functional groups, have different responses to landscape change. The increase in built-up land did not immediately reduce species richness at the urban fringe. Increasing wild grasslands and combining smaller fields may benefit farmland biodiversity in this region.

An Effective Approach for Land Use Management in the Palestinian territories

The current understanding of the causes of land-use change is dominated by simplifications, which in turn, underline many environment-development policies that led to unsustainable situation in Gaza City. Therefore, this research aims at establishing an integrated land-use management framework for Gaza city based on cause-effect relationship within sustainability context. It also aims at establishing a prediction model for the relationship between the most influential socio-economic, environmental and institutional indicators that had shaped the current land-use status of the city for the period 1967-2003. The methodology presented in this research work, offers opportunities to simulate the future demand of the different land-uses based upon actual land-use conditions and other determinant factors. The determinant variables of land-use changes have been identified and prioritized using statistical analysis and Artificial Neural Network (ANN). The results were compared with other statistical techniques and expert opinions. ANN prediction model helped in drawing scenarios for future development. Combinations of socio-economic, environmental and institutional variables in addition to the actual land use for the last four years are used as a basis of land-use change explanations and modeling. These pathways indicate that land-use policies and projections for the future must not only capture the population indicators as the only drivers for land-use change but also account for the specific human resource development indicators and urban-environmental conditions. This recognition requires moving beyond some of the simplifications that persist in much of the current understanding of the causes of land-use change and its driving forces. The analysis of the local expert’s opinions provide evidence support the conclusion that the simple answers found in population growth, poverty and infrastructure rarely provide an adequate explanations of land-use changes. Rather, social responses follow from changing economic conditions, mediated by institutional factors are the real causes for land-use changes in Gaza.