Current Land Use Research Articles

Modelling the impact of past and future land-use changes on land cover degradation at territorial level in Eastern DR Congo

AbstractLand use and land cover (LULC) changes are recognized as drivers of environmental changes at the local, regional, and global levels. Detecting these changes is essential in developing land management plans and strategies. More particularly, the LULC changes constitute one of the sub-indicators used for setting the baseline for land degradation neutrality (LDN) planning and assessing the progress toward the sustainable development goal 15.3. This study aims to determine the implication of LULC dynamics on land cover degradation in Eastern DR Congo. This region has been subjected to uncontrolled LULC changes over the last three decades but the impact of these changes on land degradation has not been assessed yet at the territorial level. To fill this gap, the territory of Kalehe has been used as a case study to monitor the LULC changes during the 1987–2020 period based on the classification of Landsat images, to forecast the future LULC for the 2030–2070 period through the hybrid Markov-Support Vector Machine modeling, to determine the extent of land cover degradation associated with these changes and to assess the impact of biophysical and socio-economic factors on the occurrence of land cover degradation using the binary logistic regression model. The results reveal that the overall trends of LULC changes during the 1987–2020 period are the increasing of built-up area, shrubland, and cropland at the expense of forestland, wetland, and grassland. This situation is expected to continue in the future and contribute to the degradation of land cover within the study area. Under the current situation of LULC changes, 34.17% of the land has been subjected to potential degradation. Furthermore, under the business-as-usual scenario 28.28%, 27.28%, and 33.65% of the land will be degraded by 2030, 2050, and 2070 respectively. This land cover degradation is more likely to occur in the proximity of roads, localities, highly populated areas, mining concessions, and high-altitudinal zones. Since the current land use system is unsustainable, there is a necessity to implement sustainable land management strategies that take into account the biophysical and socio-economic specificities of this region to reverse the problem of land cover degradation.

An annual land cover dataset for the Baltic Sea Region with crop types and peat bogs at 30 m from 2000 to 2022

We present detailed annual land cover maps for the Baltic Sea region, spanning more than two decades (2000–2022). The maps provide information on eighteen land cover (LC) classes, including eight general LC types, eight major crop types and grassland, and two peat bog-related classes. Our maps represent the first homogenized annual dataset for the region and address gaps in current land use and land cover products, such as a lack of detail on crop sequences and peat bog exploitation. To create the maps, we used annual multi-temporal remote sensing data combined with a data encoding structure and deep learning classification. We obtained the training data from publicly available open datasets. The maps were validated using independent field survey data from the Land Use/Cover Area Frame Survey (LUCAS) and expert annotations from high-resolution imagery. The quantitative and qualitative results of the maps provide a reliable data source for monitoring agricultural transformations, peat bog exploitation, and restoration activities in the Baltic Sea region and its surrounding countries.

Has unsustainable groundwater use induced low flow regimes in the Urucuia Aquifer System? An urgent call for integrated water management

Groundwater depletion in the Urucuia Aquifer System (UAS) has concerned the Brazilian water agencies since it is the principal water source in the arid length of the São Francisco river. In contrast, the irrigation fields increasing and uncertainty regarding climate variability have impaired the management of this important hydrograph region of Brazil. Therefore, the proper management of the UAS relies on the correct definition of the factors that are impacting most of the ground and surface waters, i.e., whether they are from climate or anthropogenic activities. Relying on Artificial Intelligence (AI) modeling and hydrological signatures, this study proposed a methodology to disentangle the role of climatic variability and groundwater pumping on streamflow dynamics by rebuilding natural time series in four watersheds within the UAS’s boundaries. By comparing the natural to the observed streamflow time series, the long-term 90th percentile (Q_90) discharge, from which 80% can be granted for multiple uses in the State of Bahia, decreased by up to 50% in the UAS. Yet, the watersheds’ productivity, given by the 90% specific yield, ranged from -52.3% (3.8 L/s.km2 to 1.8 L/s.km2) to -74.0% (23.4 L/s.km2 to 6.1 L/s.km2). Low flow duration was ∼ 1,650 days in natural conditions and increased to 10,354 days in the current land use and cover scenario. Changes in the maximum low flow duration length ranged from 191.7% to 1,315.7%, and in the low flow, deficits were up to 7,150%. These results highlight that groundwater pumping is the principal factor of the UAS’s dryness since climate variability could not track streamflow decreases. However, climate variability is secondary because of the intensification of the atmosphere demand. Although it is a Brazilian application, the proposed methodology can be applied in other aquifer systems to guide decision-makers' management strategies worldwide.

City Boundaries—Utilizing Fuzzy Set Theory for the Identification and Localization of the Urban–Rural Transition Zone

This article examines the potential of fuzzy set theory for analysing gradual changes in land use patterns within peri-urban areas. The primary objective of the study was to propose a methodology based on fuzzy set theory for the precise delineation of city boundaries and the identification and spatial localisation of the urban–rural transition zone. The analysis focused on elucidating the defining parameters of this area and the scope of land use changes within the urban–rural transition zone. The analysis employed data from four discrete time points. The data were collected in 2005, 2010, 2017, and 2022. The characteristics of the urban–rural transition zone were evaluated through an examination of historical data and the current land use patterns in regions experiencing direct urbanization pressure. The study demonstrated that, although spatial barriers remain, the city’s development has continued at a consistent pace. Between 2005 and 2010, the area of land classified as urban exhibited a 10% increase, with a further 7% increase observed in the subsequent period, spanning 2010 to 2017. In the most recent period under examination, the urban land area increased by 9%, a figure that is consistent with the rates observed in previous years. These results indicate the stability of urbanization processes in the analysed city, while also revealing significant changes in the limits of urban development and in the intensity of land use. The research project concentrated on the city of Olsztyn and the neighbouring suburban areas, which are subject to direct influence from the city’s expansion. The area under study encompasses 202.4 km2 within an eight-km radius of the city centre. The authors of the study emphasized the necessity for systematic monitoring of changes in the transition zone between urban and rural areas. This is to ensure effective control of spatial development and ongoing adjustment of planning tools to effectively prevent uncontrolled expansion. The methodology used enabled the precise delimitation of urban development and the transition zone. This allowed for an in-depth analysis of changes in land use intensity.

Evaluation of Land Suitability for Organic Horticulture Farming in Support of Sustainable Agrarian Governance

Abstract: Land compatibility can contribute to the optimization of agricultural land use, because this evaluation is used to determine the most appropriate spatial plan for current and future land use. Identifying the suitability of agricultural land is necessary to adapt to increasing food needs caused by expanding population, environmental pollution and climate change. Therefore, this research was conducted to assess the suitability of snake fruit plants. Various factors were considered in this research, such as rainfall, temperature, nutrient availability (wa), rainfall density (rc), organic carbon (nr), slope, flood hazard (fh) and erosion hazard (eh). The results of the classification of land suitability classes in the Sleman Regency area, in this case, are that snake fruit plants in most areas fall into the criteria for land suitability class S2 or quite suitable. The results are with an area of??42,150 Ha or with a percentage of 73.4% of the land suitability class S2 or Sufficiently Suitable. (Medium Suitable) is land that has quite heavy barriers to maintain the level of management that must be carried out. In the land suitability class S1 or very suitable in the research area with an area of?? 10625 Ha or with a percentage of 18.5, the land suitability class Very Suitable (Very Suitable) is land that has no boundaries. The results of the land suitability assessment, both actual and potential, can be carried out by improving efforts such as improving drainage, adding organic material, planting according to contours, fertilizing. Keywords: Horticulture, Uniformity, Land Suitability, Organic Farming, Snake Fruit

Land Cover Mapping in West Africa: A Collaborative Process

The availability of current land cover and land use (LCLU) information for monitoring the status of land resources has considerable value in ensuring sustainable land use planning and development. Similarly, the need to provide updated information on the extent of LCLU change in West Africa has become apparent, given the increasing demand for land resources driven by rapid population growth. Over the past decade, multiple projects have been undertaken to produce regional and national land cover maps. However, using different classification systems and legends has made updating and sharing land cover information challenging. This has resulted in the inefficient use of human and financial resources. The development of the Land Cover Meta Language (LCML) based on International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standards offers an opportunity to create a standardized classification system. This system would enable easier integration of regional and national data, efficient management of information, and better resource utilization in West Africa. This article emphasizes the process and the need for multistakeholder collaboration in developing a standardized land cover classification system for West Africa, which is currently nonexistent. It presents the survey data collected to evaluate historical, current, and future land cover mapping projects in the region and provides relevant use cases as examples for operationalizing a standardized land cover classification legend for West Africa.

Non‐native invasive plants in tropical dry forests: a global review of presence, impacts, and management

Tropical dry forests (TDF) are among the most‐threatened terrestrial ecosystems, experiencing ongoing conversion to agricultural fields, pasture, and human settlements. Human disturbances are often precursors to invasion of ecosystems by non‐native species, but research on invasion patterns in tropical ecosystems is sparse, and there is no comprehensive synthesis of invasive species in TDF. We conducted a review of published scientific literature to catalog and synthesize information about invasion by non‐native plants in TDF ecosystems across the globe, drawing out patterns in the invasion of these ecosystems. We found that 130 invasive plant species were documented as present in TDF, but only 25 of these species were mentioned in three or more articles. Almost all 25 of these more‐studied invasive species—mostly pasture grasses, woody legumes, and climbers—have been intentionally cultivated for agricultural or ornamental purposes. Many of these plants are native to open‐canopy savanna or forest edge habitats and benefit from human‐altered disturbance regimes (burning, grazing, and fuelwood and timber harvesting) of TDF fragments within agricultural landscapes. Field studies show that management approaches incorporating invasive removal, native plantings, and reduction in agricultural disturbance (e.g. ungulate fencing and fire control) simultaneously are often the most successful at reducing invasive plant cover. However, management studies in TDF have focused on a limited number of invasive species, and most were conducted in India and Hawaii. Global differences in TDF soils, natural fire regimes, and historic and current land use by humans influence modern biogeographic patterns of invasion and the feasibility of restoration options.

Spatial Anaysis and Modelling to Mappping Priorities Areas for Restauration: Study Case: Natural Protected Area Montes Azules, Chiapas, Mexico

Natural Protected Areas play a fundamental role in the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystems throughout the world and are designated and managed with the purpose of preserving biological and cultural capital, ensuring the sustainable use of natural resources, and maintaining ecosystem services. The Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, like other Natural Protected in Mexico, faces significant challenges such as deforestation, illegal logging, and loss of vegetation cover, as well as socio-environmental conflicts, factors that hinder the biological and cultural conservation of the area. Likewise, despite their importance, many Natural Protected face significant challenges in terms of effective monitoring and planning. The lack of adequate monitoring and planning strategies, as well as staff and budget, makes it difficult to assess the conservation status of these areas and to implement appropriate management measures. Therefore, creating specific monitoring tools is essential to periodically evaluate their conservation status and identify threats and pressures on ecosystems in order to design adaptive and effective management strategies. The objective of this study is to offer a first methodological approach to identify priority areas for restoration within the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, which will allow decision-makers to design and apply conservation strategies in the area. The determination of the priority areas for restoration was based on an environmental management process, where the Land suitability is the base for the territorial arrangement, which was modeled together with the current land use and land cover through rules of decision and having the natural protected area as a frame. For land suitability, the land classification system was used according to its use capacity or American system of the 8 classes developed by the Soil Conservation Service of the United States; for mapping land use land cover, an object base classification method was used. The total transformed area in 2023 occupies an extension of 39,475.38 ha, approximately 50% of this lands corresponds to sloping and very steep land and in some cases with shallow to very shallow soils, not suitable for agriculture. The area identified as priority zones for restoration corresponds to an extension of 19,514.5 ha, which represents nearly 50% of the transformed area, and 6% of the total of study area, from which 6,860.5 ha are top priority for restoration. As main conclusion can be said that the methodological proposal described here serves as a first approximation to identify priority zones for restoration in the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve, allowing for a more detailed identification of these areas at the local level, which will allow decision-makers to design and apply conservation strategies in the area.

Shallow drainage of agricultural peatlands without land-use change: have your peat and eat it too

IntroductionDrainage for agricultural purposes is one of the main drivers of peatland degradation, leading to significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, biodiversity loss, and soil eutrophication. Rewetting is a potential solution to restore peatlands, but it generally requires a land-use shift to paludiculture or nature areas.MethodsThis study explored whether three different water level management techniques (subsoil irrigation, furrow irrigation, and dynamic ditch water level regulation) could be implemented on dairy grasslands to yield increases in essential ecosystem services (vegetation diversity and soil biogeochemistry) without the need to change the current land use or intensity. We investigated vegetation diversity, soil biogeochemistry, and CO2 emission reduction in fourteen agricultural livestock pastures on drained peat soils in Friesland (Netherlands).ResultsAcross all pastures, Shannon-Wiener diversity was below 1, and the species richness was below 5. The plant-available phosphorus (P) was consistently higher than 3 mmol L−1. None of the water level management (WLM) techniques enhanced vegetation diversity or changed soil biogeochemistry despite a notable increase in water table levels. The potential for CO2 emission reduction remained small or even absent. Indicators of land-use intensity (i.e., grass harvest and fertilization intensity), however, showed a strong negative correlation with vegetation diversity. Furthermore, all sites’ total and plant-available P and nitrate exceeded the upper threshold for species-rich grassland communities.DiscussionIn conclusion, our research suggests that incomplete rewetting (i.e., higher water tables while maintaining drainage) while continuing the current land use does neither effectively mitigate GHG emissions nor benefit vegetation diversity. Therefore, we conclude that combining WLM and reducing land-use intensity is essential to limit the degradation of peat soils and restore more biodiverse vegetation.

Reptile Diversity Patterns Under Climate and Land Use Change Scenarios in a Subtropical Montane Landscape in Mexico

ABSTRACTAimMountainous regions are rich in reptile biodiversity but face threats from climate and land use changes. Understanding how these factors affect reptile diversity in these regions can highlight key conservation hotspots that require effective conservation actions. Here, we explored reptile taxonomic and functional diversity patterns along the Sierra Madre del Sur region in southeast Mexico, and potential changes in future years caused by different climate and land use change scenarios.LocationSierra Madre del Sur, México.TaxonReptiles.MethodsWe used species distribution models and information on species traits to estimate taxonomic and functional diversity throughout the Sierra Madre del Sur (SMS) region under current and future climate and land use change scenarios.ResultsGreater taxonomic and functional diversity was observed in both temperate and tropical forests. Taxonomic diversity was higher in more drier areas at high elevations while higher functional diversity was observed in wetter areas at intermediate‐to‐high elevations. Lower diversity for both dimensions was associated with anthropic land uses. In future scenarios, both dimensions of diversity are expected to increase in temperate forest in highlands of central Oaxaca and decrease in the southcentral portion of the SMS, particularly for the worst scenarios due to increased deforestation rates.Main ConclusionsHigher taxonomic diversity in more drier areas at high elevations could be due to historical and evolutionary factors, while higher functional diversity in wetter areas at intermediate‐to‐high elevations may be explained by a higher environmental heterogeneity in forests within these conditions. Larger diversity losses in the southcentral portion of the SMS are probably due to larger predicted deforestation rates in those areas. Our results are valuable not just for informing conservation actions, such as the creation of protected natural areas but also to understand the underlying processes behind the patterns of reptile diversity.

Analysis of land use changes and soil erosion using the EPM-IntErO model in the Sokobanja Basin, Serbia

Soil erosion, with the progressive loss of fertile topsoil and its negative impact on agricultural productivity, has become a critical global environmental problem. In the second half of the 20th century, many municipalities in Serbia experienced significant changes in land use, vegetation, and environmental conditions. The drive towards industrialization and urbanization aimed to improve the living standards of the population, but as a consequence, it led to substantial depopulation of rural areas and the adoption of inadequate agricultural practices, which, in turn, further intensified soil erosion. This study focuses on the Sokobanjska Moravica River basin (Eastern Serbia), extending to the Bovan Lake Dam and upstream, with a total area of 540.4 km². The basin is situated in a characteristic karst landscape. Changes in erosion intensity and runoff from this basin are analyzed using the Intensity of Erosion and Outflow (IntErO) model, which algorithmically integrates the widely used Erosion Potential Method (EPM) with innovative computational techniques to predict sediment production and runoff from the river basin accurately. This analysis utilizes GIS software and official statistical yearbook data, focusing on the period from the second half of the 20th century, including the analysis of the current state. According to our research, the most intensive changes in land use occurred between 1961 and 1971, marking the beginning of the period of a decline in rural population and, consequently, a decrease in erosion intensity. Key findings indicate that predominant changes in land use and vegetation led to a shift from crop farming to animal husbandry. After 1971, ongoing depopulation, particularly in rural areas, resulted in a gradual and steady decrease in erosion intensity. The primary aim of this study is to support policymakers in developing more effective soil and water conservation regulations. By making recommendations for the protection of vegetation, and thus the soil within this river basin, this research helps ensure their long-term preservation. Future research should focus on the long-term impacts of current land use practices and develop strategies to mitigate erosion in the context of changing climate conditions.

Quantification of biomass availability for wood harvesting and storage in the continental United States with a carbon cycle model

BackgroundWood Harvesting and Storage (WHS) is a form of Biomass Carbon Removal and Storage (BiCRS) that utilizes a combined natural and engineered process to harvest woody biomass and put it into long term storage, most frequently in the form of subterranean burial. This paper aims to quantify the availability of woody biomass for the purposes of WHS in the continental United States using a carbon cycle modeling approach. Using a regional version of the VEGAS terrestrial carbon cycle model at 10 km resolution, this paper calculates the annual woody net primary production in the continental United States. It then applies a series of constraints to exclude woody biomass that is unavailable for WHS. These constraints include fine woody biomass, current land use, current wood utilization, land conservation, and topographical limitations. These results were then split into state by state and regional totals.ResultsIn total, the model projects the continental United States could produce 1,274 MtCO2e (CO2 equivalent) worth of coarse woody biomass annually in a scenario with no anthropogenic land use or constraints. In a scenario with anthropogenic land use and constraints on wood availability, the model projects that 415 MtCO2e of coarse woody biomass is available for WHS annually. This is enough to offset 8.5% of the United States’ 2020 greenhouse gas emissions. Of this potential, 20 MtCO2e is from the Pacific region, 77 MtCO2e is from the Western Interior, 91 MtCO2e is from the Northeast region, and 228 MtCO2e is from the Southeast region.ConclusionThere is enough coarse woody biomass available in the continental United States to make WHS a viable form of carbon removal and storage in the country. There is coarse woody biomass available across the continental United States. All four primary regions analyzed have enough coarse woody biomass available to justify investment in WHS projects.

Evaluating land use and climate change impacts on Ravi river flows using GIS and hydrological modeling approach

The study investigates the interplay of land use dynamics and climate change on the hydrological regime of the Ravi River using a comprehensive approach integrating Geographic Information System (GIS), remote sensing, and hydrological modeling at the catchment scale. Employing the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model, simulations were conducted to evaluate the hydrological response of the Ravi River to both current conditions and projected future scenarios of land use and climate change. This study differs from previous ones by simulating future land use and climate scenarios, offering a solid framework for understanding their impact on river flow dynamics. Model calibration and validation were performed for distinct periods (1999–2002 and 2003–2005), yielding satisfactory performance indicators (NSE, R2, PBIAS = 0.85, 0.83, and 10.01 in calibration and 0.87, 0.89, and 7.2 in validation). Through supervised classification techniques on Landsat imagery and TerrSet modeling, current and future land use maps were generated, revealing a notable increase in built-up areas from 1990 to 2020 and projections indicating further expansion by 31.7% from 2020 to 2100. Climate change projections under different socioeconomic pathways (SSP2 and SSP5) were derived for precipitation and temperature, with statistical downscaling applied using the CMhyd model. Results suggest substantial increases in precipitation (10.9 − 14.9%) and temperature (12.2 − 15.9%) across the SSP scenarios by the end of the century. Two scenarios, considering future climate conditions with current and future land use patterns, were analyzed to understand their combined impact on hydrological responses. In both scenarios, inflows to the Ravi River are projected to rise significantly (19.4 − 28.4%) from 2016 to 2100, indicating a considerable alteration in seasonal flow patterns. Additionally, historical data indicate a concerning trend of annual groundwater depth decline (0.8 m/year) from 1996 to 2020, attributed to land use and climate changes. The findings underscore the urgency for planners and managers to incorporate climate and land cover considerations into their strategies, given the potential implications for water resource management and environmental sustainability.

Synergistic conservation approaches for nurturing soil, food security and human health towards sustainable development goals

Using chemical fertilizers extensively in small farms has helped increase crop yields, supporting food security and economic growth. However, recent studies show that these fertilizers are often used inefficiently and inconsistently. This leads to environmental harm, unbalanced soil nutrients, and lower-quality food production. These issues threaten food security, which is vital for human survival and may lead to the abandonment of arable land. This situation calls for a significant shift in soil conservation research to better connect scientific findings with practical conservation methods, ensuring that agricultural progress goes hand in hand with environmental sustainability. Effective use of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizers is vital for both environmental sustainability and food security. Correcting nutritional imbalances, especially the disrupted N/P ratio caused by faulty fertilization practices, is key to ensuring a balanced nutrient supply. These imbalances have a substantial effect on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, altering their functionality, biodiversity and human nutrition Therefore, adopting balanced fertilization techniques is essential to combine environmental sustainability with global food security and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).To optimize nutrient consumption and production efficiency, regulations should be enacted to enforce the 4R principle, which involves applying the right nutrient source at the appropriate rate, time, method and location. This article emphasizes the connections between current agricultural practices, land use, fertilizer application, soil degradation, and future challenges. It promotes environmentally friendly farming methods that recognize the vital links between soil quality, food security, human health, and environmental sustainability.

Assessing and Improving Land Use on Saint Martin Island, Bangladesh: Insights from a Comprehensive Survey

Saint-Martin Island, the only coral island of Bangladesh, covers an area of 8 square kilometers and is a popular tourist destination. Despite its small population of approximately 8,000 residents, effective land utilization is crucial for improving the island's economic condition. With growing population pressures and limited land availability, scientific land use planning becomes essential. This research aims to develop a comprehensive land use plan by conducting a detailed land use survey of Saint-Martin Island. A plot map was obtained from the local land office, and an onsite survey was performed to assess current land use practices. The analysis revealed that a significant portion of the land remains unused, with only 0.6% designated for farming. The majority of residents live in shanties, and multi-storied buildings are rare. Additionally, the number of educational institutions is insufficient. The study highlights the need to cease overexploitation of natural resources and convert unused lands into farmland. A strategic plan for agriculture, fishing, and sustainable resource use is recommended to ensure long-term sustainability and economic development.

Optimization Of The Use Of Input In Turmeric Farming In Ibru Village, Mestong District, Muaro District, Jambi

This research was conducted in Ibru Village, Mestong District, Muaro Jambi Regency, focusing on turmeric farmers as respondents. The study aimed to achieve three primary objectives: (1) to analyze the production function associated with turmeric farming, (2) to evaluate the level of optimization and economic efficiency in the utilization of production factors, and (3) to determine the optimal use of production inputs in turmeric cultivation. A census approach was employed, encompassing all 26 turmeric farmers in Ibru Village as the study’s respondents. The methodological framework utilized the Cobb-Douglas production function analysis, followed by optimization calculations to assess economic efficiency. The results of the study indicated several key findings: (1) land and labor inputs were found to significantly impact the increase in turmeric production per hectare annually, while the inputs of seeds and compost fertilizers did not show a significant effect on production levels; (2) the current use of land and labor in turmeric farming was identified as economically inefficient; and (3) optimization analysis suggested that there is potential for expanding turmeric farming to 1,925 hectares, with a corresponding increase in labor utilization to 31,213 labor days (HOK). These findings provide valuable insights into the efficiency of production practices in turmeric farming and offer guidance for potential improvements and expansion in the sector.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND ASSESSMENT OF PUBLIC GREEN SPACES IN AN URBAN SETTLEMENT

The article examines the current land use of green spaces as an integral part of the urban economy through the example of a city in central Ukraine, Kropyvnytskyi. It analyses the regulatory framework for the functioning of green spaces. The study also includes an analysis of the geospatial distribution of public green spaces and their structure by number and area in the regional centre. The authors estimate the green areas covered with tree plantations based on vegetative indicators using remote sensing data. The Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) allowed for clarifying the boundaries of green areas, their area, and the density of green mass of vegetation. This index helps to identify the spatial-temporal trends of vegetation, which are necessary to support scientific-grounded management decisions for city governance. The results of determining the NDVI are presented in the example of the park-monument of landscape art ‘Dendropark’. For vegetation in good condition, its value exceeds 0.7, corresponding to 58 % of the area. The Shannon Diversity Index has been used to assess the distribution of land use types in the green areas of general use. We identified six types of green area land use in Kropyvnytskyi city and performed the index calculations according to these types of land use. The calculation of the provision of public green spaces for city residents confirmed its low value compared to the standards. The research’s results determined that Kropyvnytskyi city needs to create new green zones, preserve existing ones, inventory, and develop a database of all green areas. Planting areas of new residential buildings and applying the experience of other countries to increase green areas due to alternative landscaping types (vertical landscaping, green roofs, and others) will allow for an expansion in the green areas of settlements, especially in large cities. The practical importance of the research results is their potential use for creating a strategy to develop and preserve green plantings in the city of Kropyvnytskyi for future years. Keywords: vegetation index, land use, diversity index, green areas, parks.

Synergistic effects of climate and land use change on khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus) habitat in China

Climate and land use change are the primary drivers causing the reduction of habitat range for many species worldwide, especially wide-ranging and large-bodied ungulates. For instance, khulan (Equus hemionus hemionus), a flagship species inhabiting desert regions of Asia, exhibits heightened vulnerability to habitat loss and fragmentation due to their extensive habitat requirements. We simulated suitable khulan habitats in China across 20 scenarios, including the past (1980–2000), current (2001–2022), and future (2050 s and 2070 s) climate and land use change scenarios. For each scenario, we identified the suitable habitat area and evaluated the effectiveness of protected areas (PAs). Our findings revealed a decline in khulan habitat area from 133,006 km2 in the past to 60,141 km2 at present. Future scenarios indicate further reductions in potential khulan habitat, with more negative impacts resulting from climate change than land use change. Northern Xinjiang is expected to persist as a primary area of both in-situ and ex-situ refugia for khulan in future scenarios. Although suitable habitat within existing PAs is smaller than that outside, the rates of habitat loss and fragmentation outside the PAs surpass those inside PAs. These findings emphasize the importance of effective management strategies for PAs as crucial goals for ongoing conservation efforts for the khulan. Our models suggest that future suitable habitat for khulan will be situated along the international border between China and Mongolia, adjacent to protected areas in Mongolia utilized by khulan. Enhancing connectivity between these habitats could significantly contribute to improving both the climate and genetic resilience of khulan populations.

Rewetting on agricultural peatlands can offer cost effective greenhouse gas reduction at the national level

To reach EU’s carbon neutrality target by 2050, emission reductions in the land-use sector are needed. Agricultural peatlands attribute for half of the greenhouse gas emissions of cropland in both in EU and Finland. High greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural peatlands are primarily caused by CO2 emissions following aerobic peat decomposition due to deep drainage, and studies have shown that raising water-table has potential to slow down the decomposition process. Here we studied the emission reduction potential and cost of implementing controlled drainage, paludiculture, peatland restoration and afforestation to current land use on agricultural peatlands in Finland. We created three scenarios with increasing amount of wet field use on cultivated organic soils and estimated their effects on national greenhouse gas emissions and farmers’ income. The yearly emission reduction ranged from 0.3 to 5.0 Mt CO2 equivalents in the different scenarios compared to the current state in Finland. Emission reductive land use had a negative impact on the farmers income, which should be compensated. Assuming the government compensates the lost income for the farmers, the cost of emission reduction ranged from −4 to 45 € per ton of CO2 equivalents. Rewetting provided the most emission reduction per area and was the most cost effective. We conclude that substantial emission reduction is attainable by rewetting agricultural peatlands. The cost of emission reduction is inexpensive compared to average carbon price in European Union emission trading system, or to the costs of technical carbon capture and storage in Finland.

Life cycle analysis of ethanol obtained from lignocellulosic biomass: A case study of a native perennial grass from Argentina

The increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHG) are the main cause of climate change. The scientific community agree that transition to renewable energies will play a key role as a mitigation strategy for this problem. In this work, an abundant biomass resource of central-eastern zone of Argentina is evaluated: rangelands of the Submeridional Lowlands dominated by Spartina argentinensis (espartillo). Bioethanol production from this species would not change the current land use; it has been assessed using a consequential Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) methodology. LCA was carried out with comparative objectives with the fuel to replace (gasoline). The functional unit was defined as “The production and use of 1 MJ of liquid fuel”. Two impact categories were considered: (i) Climate Change and (ii) Energy Use through global warming potential and energy return on investment (EROI), respectively. Gasoline's GHG emissions were 96.9 g of CO2eq per MJ while the bioethanol obtained from espartillo was carbon negative in most scenarios. The EROI of gasoline had a value of 0.7 while bioethanol presented a range of 0.7 to 1.8. This LCA was realized with a consequential approach except for the by-products of fermentation at the biorefinery which were not considered to be used for any activity due to not having real data of such by-product; hence the obtained figures could be improved if these by-products were able to replace another product. The energy self-sufficiency of the plant and the avoided fires in rangelands are key factors to improve the environmental performance of bioethanol.