Increase In Vegetation Cover Research Articles

The Analysis of Spatiotemporal Changes in Vegetation Coverage and Driving Factors in the Historically Affected Manganese Mining Areas of Yongzhou City, Hunan Province

Manganese ore, as an important strategic metal resource for the country, was subject to unreasonable mining practices and outdated smelting technologies in early China, leading to severe ecological damage in mining areas. This study examines the trends in vegetation cover change in the historical manganese mining areas of Yongzhou under the influence of policy, providing technical references for mitigating the ecological impact of these legacy mining areas and offering a basis for adjusting mine restoration policies. This paper takes the manganese mining area in Yongzhou City, Hunan Province as a case study and selects multiple periods of Landsat satellite images from 2000 to 2023. By calculating the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Fractional Vegetation Coverage (FVC), the spatiotemporal changes and driving factors of vegetation coverage in the Yongzhou manganese mining area from 2000 to 2023 were analyzed. The analysis results show that, in terms of time, from 2000 to 2012, the vegetation coverage in the manganese mining area decreased from 0.58 to 0.21, while from 2013 to 2023, it gradually recovered from 0.21 to 0.40. From a spatial perspective, in areas where artificial reclamation was conducted, the vegetation was mainly mildly and moderately degraded, while in areas where no artificial restoration was carried out, significant vegetation degradation was observed. Mining activities were the primary anthropogenic driving force behind the decrease in vegetation coverage, while effective ecological protection projects and proactive policy guidance were the main anthropogenic driving forces behind the increase in vegetation coverage in the mining area.

Identification of suitable vegetation restoration areas and carrying capacity thresholds on the Loess Plateau.

The Loess Plateau is one of the most ecologically fragile areas in the world. It has long faced the twin dilemmas of ecological degradation and water resource shortage. In recent decades, large-scale vegetation restoration projects have been carried out on the Loess Plateau with the aim of improving the ecological environment. However, as the vegetation cover increases, the water consumption of vegetation also increases, which further exacerbates the problem of water resource shortages. In order to effectively utilize water resources and balance the relationship between forests and water use, suitable vegetation restoration areas were identified on the Loess Plateau by constructing a vegetation suitability evaluation model based on multiple index factors (precipitation, temperature, altitude, slope, aspect, soil texture, soil depth, soil organic matter and ecological water consumption). The suitable restoration area results are given as follows: trees comprised 18.58% of the total vegetation coverage area and were mainly distributed across the central and southern Loess Plateau; shrublands comprised 32.58% of the total vegetation coverage area and were mainly distributed across the northern part of the Loess Plateau; and grasslands comprised 48.84% of the total vegetation coverage area and were mainly distributed across the western and northeastern regions of the Loess Plateau. On this basis, the Eagleson model was used to identify the bearing capacity of vegetation in the suitable restoration area. The optimal simulated vegetation coverage values of the suitable restoration areas are given as follows: grassland, 0.246-1.000; shrubland, 0.186-0.783; and trees, 0.137-0.868. These results can help guide the local ecological environment construction, offer theoretical support for the ecological restoration of similar areas and provide a scientific reference for the effective use of water resources and vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau.

Lizards as sentinels for the distribution of Angiostrongylus cantonensis.

The rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis is a zoonotic metastrongyloid nematode currently considered an emerging pathogen. Originating in Southeast Asia, this nematode has spread to tropical and subtropical parts of the world via its invasive rodent and gastropod hosts.On the island of Tenerife in the Canary archipelago, the A. cantonensis invasion was recognized more than a decade ago. The endemic lizard Gallotia galloti has been identified as a paratenic host of this nematode in the Canary Island ecosystem. Because this lizard species is the most abundant reptile in Tenerife, we tested its suitability as a possible sentinel for A. cantonensis presence. Lizards were captured alive in nine localities, spanning an environmental gradient across the island. Tail muscle tissue was obtained by provoked caudal autotomy and tested for the nematode infection by a species-specific qPCR. Infection intensities were assessed by detecting A. cantonensis DNA quantities based on a calibrated standard curve. Of the 129 samples tested, 31 were positive. The prevalence varied among localities, with the highest (63.6%) recorded in a humid laurel forest. Even though the prevalence in Valle San Lorenzo was the lowest, this is the first record of A. cantonensis from the arid south of Tenerife. Variation in prevalence at different localities was significantly and positively correlated with increasing vegetation cover and negatively correlated with seasonal variability of precipitation, as determined by Spearman correlation coefficients. Fisher's exact test was used to determine the variation in the prevalence of A. cantonensis among adult males, females, and juveniles and showed no significant difference. Also, there was no significant difference in infection intensity between males and females (as determined by GEE-g). We demonstrated that provoking caudal autotomy can be an effective non-lethal method of A. cantonensis mapping in island ecosystems with abundant lizard species, particularly those with a sharp climatic and vegetation gradient, from xeric to humid conditions.

Vegetation Cover Changes and Environmental Drivers in Typical Desert Fringe Areas of Northern China

ABSTRACTChina is among the nations experiencing severe desertification, and several policies have been enacted to mitigate this issue. A thorough understanding of how natural processes and socioeconomic factors interact to shape the distribution of local vegetation is crucial to effectively address the widespread problem of desertification. This study investigates the dynamics of vegetation and environmental influences at the margins of deserts by utilizing MODIS data products. Through the application of the maximum synthesis method, trend analysis, and the geodetector method, this study offers a comprehensive exploration of vegetation changes and the underlying environmental factors shaping these changes. These findings indicate a discernible trend of increasing vegetation cover and notable spatiotemporal heterogeneity in desertification management in the study areas over the last 21 years. The Ta region (desert fringe of the Taklamakan Desert) presented the lowest vegetation growth rate (0.294%), followed by the Te region (desert fringe of the Tengger Desert) (0.505%), whereas the Mu region (desert fringe of the Mu Us sandy land) presented the highest growth rate (1.055%), indicating a gradient of recovery from west to east. The findings of this research indicate that the spatial pattern of vegetation distribution is determined by natural factors. However, socioeconomic factors have greater explanatory power than natural factors in explaining the local vegetation distribution. Additionally, the study underscores that the interaction between socioeconomic and natural factors holds greater significance than the influence of any single factor. These results offer valuable insights with practical implications for addressing desertification in China.

Vegetation Dynamics and Recovery Potential in Arid and Semi-Arid Northwest China.

The arid and semi-arid regions of northwest China are characterized by sparse vegetation and fragile ecosystems, making them highly susceptible to the impacts of climate change and human activities. Based on observed meteorological data, the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), the Lund-Potsdam-Jena dynamic global vegetation model (LPJ), a vegetation recovery potential model, and the MK trend test method, this study investigated the spatiotemporal distribution of vegetation recovery potential in northwest China and its relationship with global warming and increasing precipitation. The results indicated that vegetation in northwest China significantly increased, with greening closely related to trends in warming and wetting during 1982-2019. However, the vegetation recovery potential declined due to climate change. Central and southern Xinjiang and central Qinghai exhibited higher grassland recovery potential, while the central Gobi Desert areas of northwest China had lower recovery potential. The eastern part of northwest China was highly sensitive to drought, with moderate vegetation growth and recovery potential. Remote sensing data indicated a 2.3% increase in vegetation coverage in the region, with an average vegetation recovery potential index (IVCP) of 0.31. According to the results of LPJ model, the average vegetation recovery potential index for northwest China was 0.14, indicating a 1.1% improvement potential in vegetation coverage. Overall, climate warming and wetting facilitated vegetation recovery in northwest China, particularly in mountainous areas. The findings provide valuable insights for ecological restoration efforts and offer practical guidance for combating desertification and enhancing sustainable development. Moreover, these results underline the importance of incorporating vegetation recovery potential into regional policy-making to improve environmental resilience in the face of ongoing climate change.

Factors governing crusting formation in soils in Southern Mali, West Africa: Evaluation of susceptibility indices

In Southern Mali and neighboring semi-arid Sahel regions, soil crusting and sealing are common and significant phenomena for people who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. These processes form hard, impermeable layers on the soil surface, reducing water infiltration, increasing runoff and erosion, and hindering germination, seedling emergence, and productivity. Factors such as rainfall intensity, topography, soil attributes, and poor management practices contribute to these phenomena. Here, we aimed to analyze soil attributes affecting crust formation and evaluate them using indicators like the structural stability index (StI), particle separability index (PSI), and crusting susceptibility index (CSI). Soils samples from agricultural and native areas in Southern Mali were analyzed for physical, chemical, mineralogical, and micromorphological attributes. Results revealed that the soils in these regions have high silt and fine sand content and low organic carbon content. Poor soil management, leading to prolonged periods of bare soils, significantly contributes to crusting. Kaolinitic clays, Ca2+ and Mg2+ contents did not appear to affect crusting. The PSI revealed a high risk of aggregate disruption in both agricultural and native lands, demonstrating soil vulnerability to degradation. The StI showed limited risk of structural degradation in native lands, while agricultural soils were more susceptible to crusting. The CSI indicated moderate crusting susceptibility across the regions. By examining the three indices related to texture attributes and organic carbon, this study provides insights into estimating susceptibility to crusting through the evaluation of the risk of soil structural degradation, particle separation, and overall soil susceptibility to surface crusting, all of which underscore the need for improved soil attributes. It emphasizes the importance of implementing effective soil management strategies, particularly the adoption of cover crops, to enhance organic carbon content and increase vegetation cover. These measures are essential for improving soil health and minimizing the risk of crusting.

Increases in vegetation cover increase response more to climate change than to human activities in the Baiyangdian watershed

Abstract Baiyangdian watershed is located in the upstream of Xiongan New Area, and as an important ecological source of the new area, its vegetation cover status has an important impact on the environmental quality and ecological health of the new area. By analysing the spatial and temporal characteristics of vegetation cover in the Baiyangdian watershed, we investigated the response of climate change and human activities to vegetation cover, and revealed the evolution patterns and driving mechanisms of vegetation cover under changing environments. Utilizing the Google Earth Engine (GEE) and Landsat remote sensing images, the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the Baiyangdian watershed from 1992 to 2022 was extracted. The temporal and spatial characteristics of vegetation cover were determined using Theil-Sen Median and Mann-Kendall analysis, while factors influencing the spatiotemporal changes in vegetation cover in Baiyangdian were explored through correlation and residual analyses reveal the following: (1) Vegetation cover in the study area showed an increasing trend over time, with a spatial increase from northwest to southeast, revealing the recovery of the ecological environment; (2) Vegetation cover was positively correlated with precipitation and temperature, and the effect of temperature on Baiyangdian was greater than that of precipitation; (3) Residual analyses showed that human activities and climate change had an increasing role in contributing to vegetation cover, and that the dominant factor had changed from human activities to climate changes. The residual analysis shows that human activities and climate change are increasing the vegetation cover, and the dominant factor is changing from human activities to climate change. This study provides a scientific basis for the ecological management of Baiyangdian and the construction of forestry engineering.

Evolution of coastal transgressive aeolian sand sheets over 75 years (1948-2023) at Concheiros Barrier - Southern Brazilian coast

Transgressive sand sheets (TSS) and transgressive dunefields (TDf) over time often present multiple phases of development and various morphologies controlled by biogeomorphological interactions related to abiotic processes, vegetation, and human interference. While dunefields have experienced increased vegetation cover over the last decades worldwide, a few places have shown increased dune mobility. In this study, a GIS analysis was conducted using aerial photographs and satellite imagery to investigate the evolution of a TDf, foredune collapse, new TSS formation, and vegetation cover on a Holocene coastal barrier in southern Brazil over the last 75 years (from 1948 to 2023). Wind speed (1994–2009), significant wave height (Hs) and peak wave period (Tp) (1940–2022) were analyzed to examine these potential drivers that could have caused geomorphological changes on the foredunes and dune system. Vegetation cover exhibited an increasing trend, and both an increase and decrease in TDf movement and TSS expansion were concurrent. Correlation analyses revealed a strong negative correlation between vegetation cover and TDf movement. Three transgressive sand sheet formation phases were identified between 1948 and 2023 (1964 to 1975,1996 to 2000, and from 2010 until 2023). Post-2003, a poorly vegetated nebkha-dominated foredune subsequently collapsed and was replaced by a TSS in less than a decade, being fully formed in 2010 and continuing to move inland at rapid rates. In the third phase, the highest total TSS expansion exceeded 700 m in 12 years (from 2010 to 2022). A small increase in wind velocity and subsequent decrease may possibly have contributed to the formation of the TSS second phase and the foredunes respectively. Other possible drivers for TSS formation include climatic modes, negative precipitation anomalies and groundwater level lowering, in addition to anthropogenic actions (especially water extraction) that might have caused a negative feedback in foredune sand-biding vegetation.

Spatial–Temporal Evolution Pattern of Soil Erosion and Its Dominant Factors on the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2020

Global changes have led to significant changes in soil erosion on the Loess Plateau. Soil erosion leads to the degradation of land resources and a decline in soil fertility, adversely affecting agricultural production and the socioeconomic situation. Therefore, revealing the spatiotemporal evolution patterns of soil erosion in the Loess Plateau region and investigating the influencing factors that contribute to soil erosion are crucial for its management and restoration. In this study, the RUSLE monthly model and the Geodetector model were utilized to reveal the spatiotemporal trends of soil erosion in the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2020 and to determine the dominant influencing factors in different periods. The main results are as follows: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the soil erosion in the Loess Plateau initially weakened and then intensified, indicating that precipitation and precipitation intensity have different effects on surface soil. (2) From 2000 to 2015, the area experiencing slight and mild erosion increased. This is attributed to the increase in vegetation coverage in the Loess Plateau region, which has alleviated soil erosion in the area. (3) From 2000 to 2020, zones of severe soil erosion were mainly located in the cities of Yan’an and Yulin and their surrounding areas. The gravity center of soil erosion shifted northwestward from Yan’an City overall, indicating an improvement in the soil erosion conditions in the Yan’an area. (4) The predominant level of soil erosion across different land-use types was slight erosion, accounting for over 40%. This may be a result of forestry ecological projects that effectively reduce soil loss. (5) In slope zones of 0–5°, slight erosion accounted for the largest area proportion. As the slope increased, the area proportion of severe and extremely severe erosion also increased. This is attributed to the protective role of vegetation on soil in gentle slope areas. (6) From 2000 to 2020, vegetation was the dominant single factor influencing the spatiotemporal changes in soil erosion, while the interactions between vegetation and land use had the largest explanatory power, indicating that changes in land-use types partially affect variations in vegetation coverage. Our research findings could provide important data support for soil erosion control and eco-environment restoration in the Loess Plateau region.

Spatiotemporal Dynamics and Driving Factors of Soil Salinization: A Case Study of the Yutian Oasis, Xinjiang, China

Soil salinization is a critical global environmental issue, exacerbated by climatic and anthropogenic factors, and posing significant threats to agricultural productivity and ecological stability in arid regions. Therefore, remote sensing-based dynamic monitoring of soil salinization is crucial for timely assessment and effective mitigation strategies. This study used Landsat imagery from 2001 to 2021 to evaluate the potential of support vector machine (SVM) and classification and regression tree (CART) models for monitoring soil salinization, enabling the spatiotemporal mapping of soil salinity in the Yutian Oasis. In addition, the land use transfer matrix and spatial overlay analysis were employed to comprehensively analyze the spatiotemporal trends of soil salinization. The geographical detector (Geo Detector) tool was used to explore the driving factors of the spatiotemporal evolution of salinization. The results indicated that the CART model achieved 5.3% higher classification accuracy than the SVM, effectively mapping the distribution of soil salinization and showing a 26.76% decrease in salinized areas from 2001 to 2021. Improvements in secondary salinization and increased vegetation coverage were the primary contributors to this reduction. Geo Detector analysis highlighted vegetation (NDVI) as the dominant factor, and its interaction with soil moisture (NDWI) has a significant impact on the spatial and temporal distribution of soil salinity. This study provides a robust method for monitoring soil salinization, offering critical insights for effective salinization management and sustainable agricultural practices in arid regions.

Influence of vegetative cover on snowpack mercury speciation and stocks in the greening Canadian subarctic region

A notable greening and warming of the Arctic and Subarctic due to climate change has uncertain implications for the global cycling of mercury (Hg). Snowpacks are dynamic reservoirs for Hg susceptible to solar radiation and wind pumping, with vegetative cover potentially altering Hg photochemistry. However, the impact of northern greening on the transformation of major Hg species and on Hg stocks remain poorly understood. Temporal surface snow and snowpit sampling was conducted under tree canopies and open tundra sites at the boreal-tundra ecotone in Nunavik, Canada. Maximum (mean) concentrations of 69.1 ng/L (8.8 ng/L) total mercury (HgT) and 46.9 ng/L (5.5 ng/L) reactive mercury (HgR) were measured in forest surface snow, with maximums attributed to rapid atmospheric oxidation events. Significant post-depositional reductions were recorded in the bay, tundra, and forest (67–99% HgR) and suggested greater Hg sequestration may occur under tree canopies. Increasing methylmercury (MeHg), HgT, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations were detected across a vegetation gradient shifting towards humic-like organic matter. Notably, springtime depth profiles presented an approximate 12-fold greater accumulation of HgT under tree canopies compared to open tundra (p < 0.01), with up to 16-times higher stocks (HgT, MeHg, DOC) at elevated vegetation density (p < 0.05). In the North, increasing vegetation cover and surface warming may favor Hg accumulation and methylation in snowpacks, facilitated by interactions with organic matter, and further enriched by the reduced wind and solar exposure experienced under forest canopies.

Divergent Drying Mechanisms in Humid and Non-Humid Regions Across China

Understanding the drying mechanism is critical for formulating targeted mitigation strategies to combat drought impacts. This study aimed to reveal divergent drying mechanisms in humid and non-humid regions across China from the multidimensional perspectives of climate, vegetation, and energy balance. During the period 1982–2012, the Standardized Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) revealed non-significant drying trends across China. Simultaneously, temperature and precipitation indicated a warming and drying pattern in the humid regions, contrasted with a warming and moistening pattern in the non-humid areas. The coupling effects of declined precipitation, increased vegetation coverage, and elevated temperature exacerbated dryness in the humid regions, while pronounced warming dominantly caused dryness in the non-humid regions. The inverse correlations between the actual evapotranspiration (ET) with precipitation and potential ET (PET) highlighted the principal role of moisture availability in divergent drying mechanisms over humid and non-humid regions. Random Forest models recognized precipitation and PET as the primary factors influencing SPEI in the humid and non-humid regions, respectively. Ongoing warming from 2013 to 2022 mitigated dryness in the humid regions due to the increased latent heat at the expense of sensible heat. Conversely, warming, amplified by the heightened sensible heat, exacerbated drought in the non-humid regions. By identifying the contrasting responses of humid and non-humid regions to warming and moisture availability, this study provides crucial insights for policymakers to mitigate drought impacts and enhance resilience in vulnerable non-humid areas.

GROWTH AND WOOD TRAITS EVALUATION OF 15-YEAR-OLD TENGKAWANG (Shorea spp.) TREE STANDS IN GUNUNG WALAT UNIVERSITY FOREST, WEST JAVA, INDONESIA

Gunung Walat University Forest (GWUF) in Sukabumi Regency, Indonesia, plays a crucial role in providing various ecosystem services. Five important Shorea trees, i.e., S. stenoptera, S. mecisopteryx, S. pinanga, S. palembanica, and Shorea leprosula have been planted in GWUF as an effort for its conservation and object of research. An evaluation of the adaptability and suitability of these species to the GWUF ecosystem, as well as their wood characteristics, needs to be carried out regularly. Therefore, the study aimed to examine the growth performances and physical wood properties of five Shorea species, i.e., Shorea stenoptera, S. mecisopteryx, S. pinanga, S. palembanica, and S. leprosula at the age of 15-year-old planted in GWUF. The results indicated that S. leprosula exhibited the best growth performance in terms of average diameter (19.64 cm), volume (0.27 m3), slenderness (126.58), and wood density (0.94 g/cm3), and S. stenoptera showed the best performance in average height (23.35 m). While the poor performance was shown by S. palembanica in terms of average diameter (6.73 cm), height (11.15 m), volume (0.02 m3), wood density (0.87 g/cm3), and specific gravity (0.45), and S. stenoptera in terms of average slenderness (202.73). In addition, significant differences in tree height, diameter, volume, wood density, specific gravity, and moisture content were found in S. palembanica compared with other species. The relationship between the growth and physical wood properties parameters varied between species. The study revealed that planting the five Shorea species in GWUF is suitable for increasing vegetation cover and conserving the species.

Unpacking the complex relationships between agricultural investments and biodiversity in Ghana

The expansion of large-scale agricultural investments (LSAI) in Ghana has substantial implications for biodiversity and rural community well-being. This study explores the complex relationships between LSAI and biodiversity, focusing on species richness, evenness, Enhanced Vegetation Index, and Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index to assess ecosystem health. Using a mixed-methods approach, we combine panel datasets, remote sensing, and qualitative data to evaluate both ecological and social impacts of LSAI. While LSAI has potential economic benefits, it also poses risks to biodiversity by reducing species diversity and altering ecosystem services essential for rural communities' livelihoods. Our findings reveal that while LSAI increase vegetation cover and species evenness, they frequently lead to the loss of access to critical resources such as fuelwood, medicinal plants, and wild foods, impacting community resilience and social cohesion. These findings underscore the importance of balancing agricultural investments with policies that preserve biodiversity and maintain social equity, ensuring that long-term societal impacts of LSAI do not compromise ecosystem or local livelihoods. It calls for robust monitoring systems, and the inclusion of local communities in decision-making to ensure sustainable development. The study offers critical insights for policymakers and conservationists aiming to harmonize economic development with environmental conservation in Ghana and beyond.

Effects of The Cistern Program on Environmental Recovery and Desertification Mitigation in The Semi-Arid Region of Paraíba

Objective: This study aims to analyze the impact of the Cistern Program on mitigating desertification and promoting environmental recovery in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, focusing on the municipalities of Esperança, Lagoa Seca, and São Sebastião de Lagoa de Roça. Theoretical Framework: The research is based on studies addressing the effects of climate change and water scarcity in Brazil’s semi-arid region. Theories of public water policies and strategies for living with the semi-arid climate were also examined, with a focus on the role of cisterns in ensuring water security. Method: This descriptive study employs geotechnologies such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and remote sensing to develop desertification maps and track the distribution of cisterns. Data from the Trends.Earth plugin and images from MapBiomas were used to analyze soil degradation between 2004 and 2020. Results and Discussion: The results indicate that the Cistern Program significantly contributed to reducing soil degradation and increasing vegetation cover. Continuous access to water enabled the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices and enhanced environmental resilience in the studied areas. Research Implications: This study contributes to the formulation of public policies that promote water security and sustainable development, reinforcing the importance of social technologies for living in the semi-arid region. Originality/Value: The study provides a novel analysis of the effectiveness of the Cistern Program in combating desertification in the semi-arid region of Paraíba, highlighting its relevance for environmental sustainability policies.

Unlocking the ecohydrological dynamics of vegetation growth's impact on Terrestrial Water Storage trends across the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor

Studying the influence of vegetation dynamics on water storage is fundamental for efficiently managing ecosystems in dryland areas. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the ecohydrological dynamics of vegetation growth's impact on Terrestrial Water Storage (TWS) trends across the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Exploring vegetation growth's effect on TWS utilizes remote sensing and statistical methods such as generalized additive model (GAM), random forest, Mann-Kendall test, Sen's slope, and Partial correlation coefficient. Our results revealed a consistent increase in vegetation cover in semi-arid and dry sub-humid regions, especially in croplands, from 1986 to 2020. However, a noticeable finding was that TWS has declined by approximately 39.65 % in the study area. On the other hand, forests have displayed resilience by mitigating the effects of climate change and human activities through hydraulic memory effects. Additionally, soil moisture has decreased in various land cover types, with croplands experiencing the most significant decrease. Similarly, increased vegetation growth in greening drylands significantly negatively impacts terrestrial water storage, with correlations of −0.31 for terrestrial water storage anomaly (TWSA), −0.26 for root zone soil moisture (RZSM), and −0.29 for surface soil moisture (SSM). Meanwhile, evapotranspiration (ET) also had negative correlations with TWSA, RZSM, and SSM, with standardized coefficients of −0.23, −0.16, and −0.11, respectively. These findings exposed the study area's vegetation interaction with land cover and hydrological dynamics. Addressing these hydrological imbalances will help ensure sustainable ecological management in the study area.

Impact of vegetation coverage and configuration on urban temperatures: a comparative study of 31 provincial capital cities in China

Urban vegetation plays a crucial role in regulating temperatures and heat waves in urban areas. However, the influence of vegetation coverage and its configuration on surface temperatures in different climate zones at a national scale is unclear. To address this, we utilized high-resolution data to detect spatial patterns for 31 provincial capital cities in China. We integrated day and night surface temperatures to determine the influence of vegetative coverage and configuration on urban temperatures across different climate zones and city sizes. Our study revealed that a subtropical monsoon climate and medium-sized cities had the highest vegetative coverage and shape complexity. The best connectivity and agglomeration of vegetation were found in a temperate monsoon climate and large cities. In contrast, small cities, especially those under a temperate continental climate, had low vegetation coverage, high fragmentation, and weak agglomeration and connectivity. In addition, vegetative coverage had a negative impact on daytime surface temperatures, especially in large cities in a subtropical monsoon climate. However, an increase in vegetation coverage could result in warming at night in small cities in temperate continental climates. Although urban vegetation configuration also contributed to moderating surface temperatures, especially at night, they did not surpass the influence of vegetation coverage. The effect on nighttime temperatures of the configuration of vegetation increased by 3–6% relative to that of daytime temperatures, especially in large cities in a temperate monsoon climate. The contribution vegetation coverage and configuration interaction to cooling efficiency decreased at night, especially in medium-sized cities in a temperate continental climate by 3–5%. In addition, this study identified several moderating effects of natural and social factors on the relationship between urban vegetation coverage and surface temperatures. High duration of sunshine, low humidity and high wind speed significantly enhanced the negative impact of vegetation coverage on surface temperatures. In addition, the moderating effect of vegetation coverage was more pronounced in low population density cities and high gross domestic product. This study enhances understanding of the ecological functions of urban vegetation and provides a valuable scientific basis and strategic recommendations for optimizing urban vegetation and improving urban environmental quality.

Uncovering true significant trends in global greening

The global greening trend, marked by significant increases in vegetation cover across ecoregions, has attracted widespread attention. However, even robust traditional methods, like the non-parametric Mann-Kendall test, often overlook crucial factors such as serial correlation, spatial autocorrelation, and multiple testing, particularly in spatially gridded data. This oversight can lead to inflated significance of detected spatiotemporal trends. To address these limitations, this research introduces the True Significant Trends (TST) workflow, which enhances the conventional approach by incorporating pre-whitening to control for serial correlation, Theil-Sen (TS) slope for robust trend estimation, the Contextual Mann-Kendall (CMK) test to account for spatial and cross-correlation, and the adaptive False Discovery Rate (FDR) correction. Using AVHRR NDVI data over 42 years (1982–2023), we found that conventional workflow identified up to 50.96% of the Earth's terrestrial land surface as experiencing statistically significant vegetation trends. In contrast, the TST workflow reduced this to 38.16%, effectively filtering out spurious trends and providing a more accurate assessment. Among these significant trends identified using the TST workflow, 76.07% indicated greening, while 23.93% indicated browning. Notably, considering areas (pixels) with NDVI values above 0.15, greening accounted for 85.43% of the significant trends, with browning making up the remaining 14.57%. These findings strongly validate the ongoing global greening of vegetation. They also suggest that incorporating more robust analytical methods, such as the True Significant Trends (TST) approach, could significantly improve the accuracy and reliability of spatiotemporal trend analyses.

Development Strategy for the Climate Village Program in Palopo City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Background: The Climate Village Program (CVP) is a national program managed by the Ministry of Environment and Forestry in order to involve the community and other stakeholders in strengthening adaptation and mitigation capacity for climate change and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, studies on CVP development strategies are still lacking in South Sulawesi. For this reason, this research aims to identify the programs of the climate village and formulate climate village development strategies in the Latuppa sub-district, Palopo City. Methods: Data analysis will be performed utilizing SWOT analysis and Process Hierarchy Analysis to define strategic initiatives for developing the Latuppa climate village program. Result: The results of this research show that the people of Latuppa subdistrict, Palopo City support the CVP through adaptation activities such as controlling drought, floods and landslides and increasing food security, controlling climate disease. Meanwhile, mitigation activities carried out by the Latuppa sub-district community, Palopo City include waste and solid waste management, use of new, renewable energy and energy conservation, agricultural cultivation, increasing vegetation cover and preventing forest and land fires. The role of various stakeholders, such as the community, traditional leaders, academics and government, is critical in the process of developing the CVP particularly in adaptation and mitigation efforts, to ensure the success of the program.

Vegetation cover, topography, and low-traffic roads influence Sonoran desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai) movement and habitat selection

BackgroundAnthropogenic activities occurring throughout the Sonoran Desert are replacing and fragmenting habitat and reducing landscape connectivity for the Sonoran desert tortoise (Gopherus morafkai). Understanding how the structure of the landscape influences tortoise habitat use and movement can help develop strategies for mitigating the impacts of these landscape alterations, which are conservation actions needed to support the species’ long-term persistence. However, how natural and anthropogenic features influence fine-scale habitat use and movement of Sonoran desert tortoises remains unclear.MethodsThe goals of this study were to (1) understand how characteristics of the landscape shape tortoise habitat use and movement in order to (2) identify factors that may reduce habitat use or threaten landscape connectivity for the species by discouraging or restricting movement. We collected GPS telemetry data from 17 adult tortoises tracked for two summer monsoon seasons, when tortoises are most active, in a U.S. National Monument along the international border between Arizona, USA and Sonora, Mexico. We used Hidden Markov Models (HMMs) to assign GPS locations to an encamped or a moving state. We used the moving state data in integrated Step Selection Analyses (iSSA) to examine how range-resident Sonoran desert tortoises select habitat and respond to landscape features while moving.ResultsTortoises selected to move through areas of intermediate vegetation cover and terrain ruggedness and avoided areas far from desert washes and close to low-traffic roads. Tortoises increased their speed when approaching or crossing low-traffic roads but showed no detectable response to a highway.ConclusionBare earth or high vegetation cover, flat or extremely rugged terrain, areas far from desert washes, and low-traffic roads may discourage or restrict tortoise movement. Therefore, preventing the development of roads, activities that degrade washes, and activities that thin, remove, or greatly increase vegetation cover may encourage tortoise habitat use and movement within those habitats.