Evaluate Land Use Research Articles

Colombia’s pathway to a more sustainable cattle sector: A spatial multi-criteria analysis

Increasing global population and rising consumption are placing unprecedent demands on agriculture and natural resources. In South America, the livestock industry is heavily impacting the environment, but also delivers important socioeconomic benefits to rural populations. Recently, there has been strong debate on how to define land suitability for cattle grazing and priority areas for intensified production, limited production, or conservation. We present a conceptual framework that evaluates land use performance in terms of productivity and environmental impacts, and apply this framework using a spatially explicit approach and multi-criteria analysis for cattle grazing systems in Colombia. Our study provides a national perspective of the current land use situation for the cattle sector, and defines areas where cattle grazing should be promoted, restricted, or excluded. Results indicate that up to 42% of the total area under cattle grazing land use show important biophysical constraints that limit their suitability. Furthermore, our productivity analysis indicates that 60% of national rangeland has low stocking rates (<0.5 AU ha-1), and only 13% of rangeland has high stocking rates (>1 AU ha-1). Current grazing areas that should be excluded, according to biophysical limitations and low productivity, are mostly concentrated in the Andean, Caribbean and Pacific regions, while grazing areas identified for restricted production are mainly located in the Andean and Caribbean Regions. This study provides the first spatially explicit, multi-criteria analysis of land suitability for cattle grazing systems at national level, which can be used to inform improved land planning and management at regional and municipal levels.

Multi-hazards, displaced people's vulnerability and resettlement: Post-earthquake experiences from Rasuwa district in Nepal and their connections to policy loopholes and reconstruction practices

In Nepal, where extreme seismic and severe weather events are frequent, understanding the consequences of different types of hazards (geological, meteorological and human-made) and their impact on people's vulnerability in the aftermath of the 2015 Mw7.8 Gorkha, Nepal earthquake, is crucial for enhanced formulation of policies and reconstruction practices. This paper aims to comprehend localized multi-hazard risks, the interaction between hazards and seasonality which may occur simultaneously, cascadingly and cumulatively, and local peoples' knowledge, experiences and perceptions to explore the effectiveness of resettlement and other reconstruction efforts. To fulfill this objective, a study was conducted in 2018 in Rasuwa, Nuwakot and Kathmandu district comprising 60 semi-structured interviews, three focus group discussions, and two photo-elicitation workshops. Participants included scientists, government officials, humanitarians, and displaced individuals at their original locations or in displacement camps. Findings show that interactions between hazards are not well recognized at policy level, as the geo-hazard assessment highlighted loopholes in its methodology as well as a lack of precision. Hence, interactions between hazards have not been sufficiently considered in the post-earthquake reconstruction process and need to be addressed by the National Reconstruction Authority. Analysis demonstrates that no clear relocation plan for displaced people exists, and that livelihood opportunities in new re-settlement areas receive no attention. Giving communities the opportunity to discuss localized multi-hazard risks with experts, so vulnerabilities, resilience capacity and risk tolerance of individuals and society can be heard and understood, is felt necessary. Moreover, people with limited resources will be more vulnerable, as they are not able to make informed decisions about suitable places for reconstruction, or to evaluate land use options or seasonal living arrangements. Two policy recommendations are proposed: 1) disaster risk-informed development planning in Nepal should include multi-hazard risk assessments as part of disaster risk management policies, and 2) resettlement policies require reform.

How to reconcile land use conflicts in mega urban agglomeration? A scenario-based study in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, China

With the development of global urbanization, land use conflicts have become one of the major issues hindering sustainable land use and human-environment coordination in urbanized areas. In this context, reconciliation of land use conflicts requires urgent attention. By taking the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) urban agglomeration as a case study area, the spatial comprehensive conflict index (SCCI) was constructed to identify and evaluate land use conflicts. Besides, the impacts of rapid urbanization and terrain restriction on land use conflicts were also explored using the coupling coordination degree (CCD) model and terrain index, respectively. Then, the Dyna-CLUE model was adopted to simulate land use conflicts under three adaptive scenarios in 2030. Results show that: (1) During 2000–2015, land use conflicts in the BTH region demonstrated an overall mitigating trend, and their spatial patterns remained relatively stable, characterized by significant cluster and belt agglomeration. (2) Land use conflicts were significantly intensified in areas experiencing rapid urban-rural transformation and terrain transition, and two typical conflict zones were identified, i.e. the urban-rural interface of the Beijing-Tianjin region and the terrain transition area located in the Taihang Mountains, Yan Mountains and Bashang Plateau. (3) In 2030, land use conflicts in the BTH region manifest overall mitigation under the ecological security (ES) scenario, while demonstrating an intensifying trend under the business as usual (BAU) scenario and cropland protection (CP) scenario. Based on simulation results, land use spatial optimization modes at county level for the BTH region were formulated. In face of increasingly prominent land use conflicts globally, this study will provide a scientific reference for policymaking in pursuit of sustainable land use management for the BTH region and urban agglomerations in other parts of the world.

High concentrations of metals in the waters from Araguari River lower section (Amazon biome): Relationship with land use and cover, ecotoxicological effects and risks to aquatic biota

The Araguari River is one of the most important water body in the Brazilian state of Amapá. However, the quality of its waters has been deteriorating and, recently, high concentrations of metals were found in water samples collected from its lower section. Overall, we aimed to evaluate land use and cover around three sampling sites located in the Araguari River lower section and its contribution to water pollution by metals; correlate land use pattern with detected metal concentrations; assess acute toxicity using the Daphnia similis test and genotoxicity using the Danio rerio bioassay of water samples from the three sampling sites; and investigate the risks arising from metals present in waters to aquatic biota. Riparian forest around all sampling sites is fragmented owing to the expansion of pasture areas, which showed a significant positive correlation (p < 0.05) with the concentrations of Hg and Cu in water samples. Water samples from sampling sites 2 and 3 presented acute toxicity for D. similis, and the D. rerio bioassay confirmed the presence of genotoxic pollutants in the waters from all sampling sites. Our preliminary risk assessment showed that individual concentrations and the mixture of metals posed a high risk to aquatic biota. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the conversion of native forest to pastureland contributes to water contamination by metals, which contributes to the risks to aquatic biota.

Housing Affordability Crisis and Inequities of Land Use Change

Problem, research strategy, and findings Many fast-growing metropolitan regions face a housing affordability crisis that necessitates cities change their land use policies to address this problem. How do cities in metropolitan regions change their land use policies to equitably address the region’s housing needs? We focused on 180 cities in the Southern California region, which has a shortage of housing for all income groups and a severe shortage of affordable housing. We first examined the region-wide distribution of land uses and evaluated whether land use portfolios of cities are associated with their populations’ socioeconomic characteristics using cluster analysis and one-way analysis of variance. Next, we examined land use change by cities and measured the “weakening” (a reduction in cities’ share of residential land use for multifamily housing from 2008 to 2016) and “exclusiveness” (cities’ share of residential land use for single-family housing in 2016) of their land use portfolios. We revealed inequities in the region-wide distribution of multifamily land use, found an association between land use portfolios of cities and their populations’ socioeconomic characteristics, and thus conclude that land use change by cities inequitably addresses the region’s housing needs. We did not, however, examine the effects of land use change on housing production or affordability, which could provide further insights. Takeaway for practice Our findings suggest that a) California’s state government should require cities to reform their land use policies to mitigate the region-wide inequities in the distribution of multifamily housing and to equitably address the housing affordability crisis and b) researchers could similarly evaluate land use portfolios of cities in other metropolitan regions to suggest how to equitably address the region’s housing needs.

Land use and occupation in the Fundaça Stream subbasin, Espírito Santo, Brazil

The objective of the research was to evaluate land use and occupation in the Fundaça Stream subbasin, state of Espírito Santo, Brazil, aiming at subsidizing improvements in environmental conservation and territorial planning. The procedures were performed in the ArcGIS® computer program. First, the study defined the limits of the subbasin, and then obtained the features of land use and occupation for the state of Espírito Santo from two mappings, from 2007 to 2008, and from 2012 to 2015. These features were edited, defining the classes of use and occupation only for the subbasin. They were identified, quantified, and mapped. There is a predominance of pasture, with percentages above 50 %, although this occupation decreased by 1.94 % between the periods studied. Coffee growing, the third predominant class, also decreased, which can be attributed to the preference for other activities, such as eucalyptus forestry. This showed strong growth, although with even lower percentages. Mishandling of those areas can cause environmental and economic damage. However, the areas of native vegetation represented a minimal rate, even with an increase, due to the decrease of vegetation in the early stage of regeneration. Macega (wild vegetation) coverage, besides being close to the native vegetation and which was predominantly fragmented, indicates problems with the use and occupation planning. The action of the local riverbasin committee and public managers, besides environmental education, and correct management of rural activities, are necessary actions.

Mapping Cultural Ecosystem Services (CESs) and key urban landscape features: a pilot study for land use policy and planning review

ABSTRACT Cultural ecosystem services (CESs), despite providing multiple non-material benefits associated with human well-being, have been overlooked in urban planning. Using as a pilot study the municipality of Belo Horizonte, Brazil, we map and evaluate the inclusion of CESs into land use policy to better inform urban planning. We tested a framework for: (1) assessing the preferences of local inhabitants for CESs and landscape features; (2) evaluating land use policies; and (3) mapping CES hotspots in the city. We found sense of place and recreation to be the main CESs associated with parks, squares and cultural centres. No land use policy explicitly mentioned CESs, while the zoning plans do not reflect bundles of spatial non-material values and landscape features. This pilot study can play a vital role in developing more comprehensive insights to bridge urban planning and landscape preferences to help guiding land use policy review towards sustainable urbanisation.

Food Security of Banjar People In Facing Climate Change In Sungai Batang Village, Banjar District, South Kalimantan

In the last five years, the world's attention has shifted to food security in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation, particularly in 2008, when food prices skyrocketed, causing famine in Cape Africa and even the Sahel, which is still feeling the effects of this famine in 2012. In the same year, the OHCHR report (the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights) notes the need to safeguard food security and nutrition in the context of Human Rights. A major shift occurred in Indonesian agriculture due to the 1999 eruption of Mount Elanor. A focus on climate influences has been a prominent component of the Indonesian government's policy regarding agriculture for some time. Plant-resistant crops or programs for mitigating climate change take the form of either of these options. Culminating a significant development in policies to secure food security, such as protection of agricultural land, various policies were created to evaluate land use and regulations of the Minister of Agriculture pertaining to guidelines for land use. The study, which was done for a period of six months, has a goal of learning more about the Banjar people's local knowledge on climate change. By collecting data from locals, such as farmers, community leaders, and village heads, who have detailed knowledge about Banjar customs and traditions, and from Banjar people who are selected for the research in Banjar Regency, South Kalimantan, qualitative methods and collection of local knowledge and local wisdom strategies were employed.

A Comparative Analysis of Spatial Data and Land Use/Land Cover Classification in Urbanized Areas and Areas Subjected to Anthropogenic Pressure for the Example of Poland

Urbanization processes are some of the key drivers of spatial changes which shape and influence land use and land cover. The aim of sustainable land use policies is to preserve and manage existing resources for present and future generations. Increasing access to information about land use and land cover has led to the emergence of new sources of data and various classification systems for evaluating land use and spatial changes. A single globally recognized land use classification system has not been developed to date, and various sources of land-use/land-cover data exist around the world. As a result, data from different systems may be difficult to interpret and evaluate in comparative analyses. The aims of this study were to compare land-use/land-cover data and selected land use classification systems, and to determine the influence of selected classification systems and spatial datasets on analyses of land-use structure in the examined area. The results of the study provide information about the existing land-use/land-cover databases, revealing that spatial databases and land use and land cover classification systems contain many equivalent land-use types, but also differ in various respects, such as the level of detail, data validity, availability, number of land-use types, and the applied nomenclature.

Long-term monitoring of soil quality and trace elements to evaluate land use effects and temporal change in the Wellington region, New Zealand

Soil quality monitoring is used to assess the soil's ability to maintain agricultural productivity, ecological, and environmental quality. Very few soil quality monitoring studies have reported on multiple samplings over the long-term. Several regional authorities in New Zealand have monitored soil quality since the late 1990s. In the Wellington region, dairy, mixed cropping, market garden, drystock (sheep/beef), horticulture, exotic forestry and indigenous land use systems, and four soil orders have been monitored over 19 years, with up to five repeat samplings per site. This study reports on key soil quality indicators and Cu, Zn, and Cd concentrations. For the most recent sampling per land use, all land use system sites, except drystock, had Zn concentrations below recommended ecological toxicity guidelines. Dairy land use had 21%, and 36% of sites within recommended soil quality target ranges, for Olsen P, and macroporosity, respectively. Compared with indigenous land, across all samplings, Cu concentrations were elevated in horticultural and market gardens sites, while several land uses had lower total nitrogen and higher Olsen P concentrations. Across all samplings, significant increases over time were observed in Zn for dairy, total nitrogen for drystock, and Olsen P for mixed cropping. Significant decreases over time were observed for Cu in forestry, Cd for indigenous and forestry, and bulk density for drystock. No changes over time were detected for macroporosity, anaerobically mineralised nitrogen, or organic carbon. This study shows the programme and our analysis of multiple samplings are valuable for detecting significant trends as an early warning, e.g. Zn and Olsen P changes. The study provides evidence for recommending additional sites for several land uses and increased sampling frequency to ensure future robust statistical analysis. This study included only sites where land use systems did not change, providing a robust basis for detecting change over time, for informing policy, resource and environmental decision-making.

Mediterranean Landscape Re-Greening at the Expense of South American Agricultural Expansion

The stabling of livestock farming implies changes in both local ecosystems (regeneration of forest stands via reduced grazing) and those located thousands of kilometers away (deforestation to produce grain for feeding livestock). Despite their importance, these externalities are poorly known. Here we evaluated how the intensification and confinement of livestock in Spain has affected forest surface changes there and in South America, the largest provider of soybeans for animal feed to the European Union. For this purpose, we have used Spanish soybean import data from Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina and a land condition map of Spain. The area of secondary forest in Spain that has regenerated as a result of livestock stabling has been ~7000 kha for the decade 2000–2010. In the same period, 1220 kha of high value South American ecosystems (e.g., Chaco dry Forest, Amazonian rainforest or Cerrado) have been deforested. While these figures may offer a favorable interpretation of the current industrial livestock production, it is not possible to speak of compensation when comparing the destruction of well-structured ecosystems, such as primary South American forests, with the creation of secondary forest landscapes in Spain, which are also prone to wildfires. Our results highlight how evaluating land use change policies at a national or regional level is an incomplete exercise in our highly telecoupled and globalized world.

A Comparative Study of the different remote sensing techniques for evaluating land use/ cover in Basra city, Iraq.(Dept. C)

Basra governorate represents one of the most important governorates in Iraq, where it is the only seaport for exporting oil and agriculture products. However, this governorate is facing serious land degradation problems results in major changes in land use/ cover (LULC) within the area. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to evaluate LULC in Basra city using different techniques on remotely sensed data. For that purpose, Landsat 8, Sentinel 2A images were used in 2018 to study extent of urban areas, agricultural lands, water bodies and bare lands areas in Basra city center. The studied techniques include: the supervised classification in three methods (minimum distance, maximum likelihood, and Mahalanobis distance), spectral indices, manual digitizing of features and land surface temperature (LST). These methods were applied on both Sentinel 2A and Landsat data at three spatial resolutions 10, 15 and 30 m, respectively. The obtained results indicated that the minimum distance technique has the highest accuracy in identifying LULC when compared with the other classification methods. It was found that the higher the spatial resolution the higher the accuracy of the results. The spectral indices were more accurate than the classification methods in identifying agricultural areas and water bodies. There was a higher inclusion between urban areas and bare lands due to the similarity in their spectral reflectance. Accordingly, it is recommended to manually digitize urban areas than classifying it. The LST can be used as an indirect and fairly accurate method for evaluating LULC in Al-Basra city. In conclusion, remote sensing data and techniques could help in providing more accurate information about LULC in Basra City to be used in its future planning and sustainable development

Land use, spatial heterogeneity of organic matter, granulometric fractions and metal complexation in reservoir sediments

Abstract Aim This study aimed to evaluate land use, distribution of particle size fractions, organic matter (OM) and perform a metal quantification liable to complexation in the Itupararanga Reservoir (São Paulo, Brazil). This aquatic ecosystem is used for water supply and energy generation and is constantly subjected to anthropogenic impacts that alter its physical and chemical characteristics. Methods In a single campaign, samples of surface sediment (10 cm) were collected from nine sampling stations, in triplicate, along the reservoir. The collection was carried out with a “Lenz” type bottom sampler. The physicochemical variables, including the quantification of the metals copper, chromium, manganese, nickel, lead and zinc, were evaluated by basic descriptive statistics techniques combined with geostatistics and the use of remote sensing. Results All along the reservoir the sediment is predominantly organic and water depth interfered directly in the OM concentration and particle size distribution. Therefore, heterogeneity was observed regarding OM contents, particle size fractions and metals, with the exception of chromium, and the three zones of the reservoir proved to be distinct from each other. The land use classification showed the real situation of the Environmental Protection Area (EPA) and the results indicate that the central portion is more subject to anthropic impacts, while the dam region has high levels of metals, probably originated from the activities in the reservoir’s surroundings. Conclusions The soil erosion in the reservoir’s region shows the lack of efficiency in the Itupararanga EPA’s management, being needed a strategic coordination among the municipalities to enhance its conservation.

Assessment of the Natural Landscape Changes Due to Cashew Plantations in the Department of Niakaramandougou (North of C&amp;amp;ocirc;te d’Ivoire)

In the past twenty years, Cote d’Ivoire has risen from being an insignificant producer of raw cashew nuts to becoming the world’s largest producer. A rapid increase of cashew plantations has significantly changed the natural landscape in the North part of Cote d’Ivoire. This study was conducted in the department of Niakaramadougou to assess the natural landscape change due to cashew plantations from 1989 to 2017. Satellite image data were used in order to evaluate land use land cover (LULC) change. The maximum likelihood pixel-based on classification method was used to analyze the spatio-temporal LULC dynamics for the years 1989, 2000, and 2017. The results showed an increase in cashew culture by 20.68% between 1989 and 2017 to the detriment of the savannah. Thus, the land devoted to old fallows or to other crops such as rice, maize, yams, peanuts, sorghum) is decreasing and the natural vegetation is becoming more and more fragmented, with consequences that are not yet known. This surely contributes to the reduction of plant diversity.

Modelación hidrológica horaria en la cuenca alta del río Fuerte, Sinaloa, México

Introduction: Mexico uses hydrological models to determine floods, evaluate land use change scenarios, evaluate climate change scenarios, and define federal zones, among other applications. However, the models are rarely calibrated beforehand, which increases uncertainty in the design of structures and hydraulic standards. Objective: To build a hydrological model for the watershed of the Fuerte River, Mexico, of extreme rainfall events occurred in 2009, 2011, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Methodology: Five extreme rainfall events were considered for this study. The hydrologic model was design using the HEC-HMS program, and calibrated at the Tubares hydrometric station. The runoff curve number methodology and the Clark unit hydrograph were used. Results: The results collected in four of the five events were positive; the Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency (NSE) ranged between 0.22 and 0.52. The temporal behavior of the river, at times when it moved away from the flow value, preserved the variation trend. Limitations of the study: The study reaches the Tubares hydrometric station, Chihuahua, without including the downstream dams in Sinaloa. Originality: There are few hydrological studies that generate a calibrated and, therefore, reliable hourly model. Conclusions: The hourly hydrologic model had an acceptable performance in four of the five predicted events in terms of NSE and root mean square error (RMSE).

Ecosystem Service Value of the Mixed Land Use Pattern in Asia: Thailand’s Experience

The rapid increase in economic development and urbanisation along the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) of Thailand has accelerated the change in its ecosystem service value (ESV), leading to the demand for related analysis to ensure sustainable growth in the area. The aim of this study is to: (1) evaluate the land use change in Chonburi Province; the most urbanised city in the EEC of Thailand between 2006 and 2016, and (2) assess the land use change impact on ESV. Secondary data from land use maps for 2006 and 2016 was used to evaluate land use change and its impact on ESV using the land use transition matrix, land use dynamic degree, and the benefit transfer method. Urban and built-up land use were found to dominate other use types. The top three highest annual rates of land use change were found in water bodies, rangeland, and urban and built-up land. The ESV in 2016 was found to be 1.31% higher than for 2006. The ecosystem service functions (ESFs) contributing to the increase in ESV were waste treatment, hydrological regulation, climate regulation and recreation and service culture. Future land use planning should focus on increasing wetlands and protecting agricultural land in the study area since these contribute to the highest ESV. In addition, it is essential to balance economic development with ecological enhancement.

Land Use and Land Cover Dynamics and Properties of Soils under Different Land Uses in the Tejibara Watershed, Ethiopia.

Land use changes have long been considered among many factors responsible for physical and chemical soil degradation. This study was conducted to evaluate land use and land cover (LULC) changes and their cumulative effects over 30 years (from 1989 to 2019) on the current physical and chemical properties of soils in the Tejibara watershed, Ethiopia. Image analysis and LULC classifications were performed using ERDAS IMAGINE 2014 and ArcGIS 10.4 software, respectively. For the determination of soil properties, four land use types (natural forest, eucalyptus plantation, cultivated, and grazing lands) and two soil depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) were used. Triplicate composite soil samples were collected from each land use type and soil depths. For the determination of physical (texture and bulk density) and chemical soil properties such as electrical conductivity (EC), organic matter (OM), total nitrogen (TN), and available phosphorus (AP), standard laboratory procedures were employed. The image analysis results for all of the years studied show that cultivated lands have increased in area at the expense of forest and grazing lands. Silt content, clay content, AP, and pH were significantly affected by land use as the main effect while the interaction effects of soil depth and land use were significant for total N and OM only. The highest (10.1 mg/kg) and the lowest (4.9 mg/kg) AP contents were observed in the forest and the grazing lands, respectively. Soil total N content was highest in the forest lands (0.32%) and lowest in cultivated lands (0.06%). Concerning OM content, the highest (11.0%) and the lowest (0.8%) values were recorded in the forest and cultivated lands, respectively. Generally, this study showed that land use changes have reduced the areal coverage by forest and grazing lands and have negatively affected the soil properties. This implies that land use change without soil fertility measures that are appropriate to the area could cause enhanced land degradation and thereby reduce the productivity of the study area soils.

Spatio-temporal dynamics of landscape use by the bumblebee Bombus pauloensis (Hymenoptera: Apidae) and its relationship with pollen provisioning.

Understanding how bees use resources at a landscape scale is essential for developing meaningful management plans that sustain populations and the pollination services they provide. Bumblebees are important pollinators for many wild and cultivated plants, and have experienced steep population declines worldwide. Bee foraging behavior can be influenced by resource availability and bees’ lifecycle stage. To better understand these relationships, we studied the habitat selection of Bombus pauloensis by tracking 17 queen bumblebees with radio telemetry in blueberry fields in Entre Ríos province, Argentina. To evaluate land use and floral resources used by bumblebees, we tracked bees before and after nest establishment and estimated home ranges using minimum convex polygons and kernel density methods. We also classified the pollen on their bodies to identify the floral resources they used from the floral species available at that time. We characterized land use for each bee as the relative proportion of GPS points inside of each land use. Bumblebees differed markedly in their movement behavior in relation to pre and post nest establishment. Bees moved over larger areas, and mostly within blueberry fields, before nest establishment. In contrast, after establishing the nest, the bees preferred the edges near forest plantations and they changed the nutritional resources to prefer wild floral species. Our study is the first to track queen bumblebee movements in an agricultural setting and relate movement changes across time and space with pollen resource availability. This study provides insight into the way bumblebee queens use different habitat elements at crucial periods in their lifecycle, showing the importance of mass flowering crops like blueberry in the first stages of queen’s lifecycle, and how diversified landscapes help support bee populations as their needs changes during different phases of their lifecycle.

LAND USE CHANGE ASSESMENT FOR BEEKEEPING IN SOUTHEAST ANATOLIA

In this study, land use changes in Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Hatay provinces were determined. The study area has vital importance on honey production (citrus, cotton, etc.) for the Turkish beekeeping sector and it is very vulnerable to land use changes due to urbanization and climate change. The land use changes were determined by using 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018 land cover maps in the Geographical Information Systems (GIS) platform. Moreover, 2000, 2006, 2012 and 2018 beekeeping statistics were retrieved to compare the land use changes and honey production. The results indicate that the fruit trees land use class has increased 1210 km2 from 2000 to 2018 because of these suitable lands for citrus production. In total, 3170 km2 natural plant areas have been destroyed within 18 years which threaten natural beekeeping activities. The study area includes 42 districts and when evaluating the beekeeping statistics, total honey production has increased from 6500 tons to 15000 tons from 2000 to 2018. For the purpose of evaluating land use change and its effects, transitions were determined for the 2000-2018 period to understand the change in land-use trends. The transitions revealed that fruit tree and agricultural lands are being enlarge by destroying the natural plant areas and other complex patterns which are important for beekeeping activities.

Regional and temporal sustainability assessment of agricultural-based biodiesel

Although the world energy mix is still strongly dependent on fossil fuels, biofuels have been gaining market share, especially in the transport sector. The main biofuel raw materials are those produced by agropastoral systems that use large expanses of land. The present work presents an innovative method of sustainability assessment of biodiesel, combining temporal and regional approaches based on its three pillars. The method aims to ascertain whether a determined region, whose main economic activities are agropastoral and processing of agricultural raw materials, is moving toward or away from sustainability. The work integrates tools to evaluate land use change from satellite images with life-cycle assessment, to obtain greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as the environmental metric. The economic and social metrics are the time derivative of per capita gross domestic product and the school enrolment ratio. The improvement of agropastoral/industrial activities in the region directly reflects the changes of the three metrics. The proposed method was applied to assess the sustainability of biodiesel produced from soybean oil and beef tallow in a micro-region of Central Brazil, in the period from 2003 to 2013. The case study revealed a reduction of 10% in sustainability, with improvements of 344% and 15% in the economic and social metrics but a decline of 1106% in the environmental metric. The results also showed that for both biodiesel made from soy oil and tallow, land use change is responsible for 97% of GHG emissions. The conclusion is that the implementation of automation of agricultural processes, with consequent increase in productivity, besides diminishing the environmental impact, would lead to an increase in gross domestic product indices and in the average schooling level, thus contributing to reduce social inequalities and increase the sustainability of agricultural-based biodiesel.