ABSTRACT The urban ecosystem in the study area faces habitat degradation and pollution, a decrease in biodiversity, mainly attributed to rapid urban expansion and poor management of green infrastructure. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to estimate the impact of land use and land cover changes on urban ecosystem services values and functions. Explanatory research design was applied to provide a comprehensive analysis of the study. An integrated valuation method adapted for Ethiopian conditions has been used to estimate ecosystem service values and functions in relation to land use land cover changes of 2006–2022 in the study area. Coefficient of Sensitivity (CS) is also used to assess the reliability of the estimation process for using the land use land cover classes as a proxy with the equivalent biomes. The result of this study showed that between 2006 and 2016, built-up area and open-area were increased by +186.23ha/year and 26.72ha/year, respectively. Conversely, water body, forestland and agricultural land were decreased by −10.7ha/year, −18.1ha/year and −163.22 ha/year, respectively, in the study area. Similar trends were observed between 2016 and 2022. Throughout the study period (2006–2022), the study found that the ecosystem service value of water body, forest and agricultural land was reduced. The total ecosystem service value also declined from US$ 4.57 million in 2006 to US$ 3.1million in 2016 and reduced to US$ 2.63 million in 2022 as well. This decline was primarily due to reduced coverage of water body, agricultural area and forest land in the study area. Total values of ecosystem service functions also decreased from US$ 4.55 million in 2006 to US$ 3.1 million in 2010 and US$ 2.62 million in 2022. The regulatory ecosystem services were the primary contributors to the overall ecosystem service values, which were followed by provisioning, supporting and cultural ecosystem services. Such observed changes in land use land covers have important implications for ecosystem service values and functions. Therefore, policy makers and urban planners should consider these findings for developing urban land use planning and sustainable urban development.

Peatlands play a critical role in global and regional climate regulation by functioning as long-term carbon sinks, regulating hydrology, and modulating land–atmosphere energy exchange. Intact peat ecosystems store large amounts of organic carbon and stabilize local climate through high water retention and evapotranspiration, whereas peatland degradation disrupts these functions and can transform peatlands into significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions and climate extremes such as drought and fire. Indonesia contains approximately 13.6–40.5 Gt of carbon, around 40% of which is stored on the island of Sumatra. However, tropical peatlands in this region are highly vulnerable to climate anomalies and land-use change. This study investigates the impacts of major climate anomalies—specifically El Niño and positive Indian Ocean Dipole (pIOD) events in 1997/1998, 2015/2016, and 2019—on peatland cover change across South Sumatra, Jambi, Riau, and the Riau Islands. Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor imagery were analyzed using a Random Forest machine learning classification approach. Climate anomaly periods were identified using El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and IOD indices from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. To enhance classification accuracy and detect vegetation and hydrological stress, spectral indices including the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Modified Soil Adjusted Vegetation Index (MSAVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Drought Index (NDDI) were integrated. The results show classification accuracies of 89–92%, with kappa values of 0.85–0.90. The 2015/2016 El Niño caused the most severe peatland degradation (>51%), followed by the 1997/1998 El Niño (23–38%), while impacts from the 2019 pIOD were comparatively limited. These findings emphasize the importance of peatlands in climate regulation and highlight the need for climate-informed monitoring and management strategies to mitigate peatland degradation and associated climate risks.

This study explores the link between land use and land cover change (LUCC) and causes of death (CD) in South America from 1990 to 2021. Key LUCC indicators (agricultural land, arable land, hectares per person, and forest area) were analyzed using correlation, principal component analysis (PCA), and linear regression. Findings show that reduced LUCC indicators correlate with higher mortality from cancers, particularly skin melanoma, colon, and pancreatic cancers. PCA revealed that declines in LUCC contribute to environmental pollution and increased cancer risks. Temporal trends showed rising rates of colon cancer and stroke, while leukemia declined. Environmental factors such as pesticide exposure and air pollution were significant contributors. The study emphasizes the need for policies integrating LUCC management with public health strategies to reduce disease risks. Limitations include regional focus and lack of age-specific data, suggesting future research should focus on specific areas and age groups.

Four decades of land use and land cover change in the ouiouane forest area (Middle Atlas, Morocco): a remote sensing and GIS-based assessment (1984–2024)

Abstract Over the past two decades, ecosystem services have gained recognition for their role in balancing ecosystems and human well-being. These encompass processes such as water purification, climate regulation, and pollination, which are often undervalued despite being critical for ecological balance and human health. Green infrastructure (GI) is especially recognized for its natural cooling effects, including shading and evapotranspiration, which help moderate local temperatures. This study investigates the role of GI in climate regulation in Campinas, Brazil, examining Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) changes and their impact on Land Surface Temperature (LST) using multi-temporal satellite data from 2018 to early 2024. Large-scale processing was conducted on a cloud-based geospatial platform (Google Earth Engine) to capture spatial–temporal patterns and improve analytical efficiency. Using remote sensing data, it evaluates vegetation indices and their correlation with LST across three zones: a densely urbanized area, a transitional agricultural zone, and a conservation forest. Findings indicate that areas near conservation forests exhibit significantly lower LST, whereas urban zones with reduced vegetation cover experience higher temperatures. The study demonstrates how GI effectively contributes to climate adaptation in tropical cities. This analysis identifies key spatial and temporal patterns that can inform sustainable urban planning. While noting limitations in spatial resolution, the study recommends integrating higher-resolution remote sensing and in situ data to enhance environmental analyses. These findings provide an evidence-based, replicable framework to guide urban planning and policy, promoting the protection and expansion of GI to mitigate urban heat and enhance climate resilience in tropical cities.

This study aims to assess the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) changes on the monetary valuation of ecosystem services valuations (ESVs) in the coal mining-affected region of Ramgarh district, Jharkhand, India. The key objectives include: (i) analyzing LULC dynamics from 1990 to 2021 and predicting changes for 2061, and (ii) quantifying the gains and losses in ESVs across different land categories. To achieve this, satellite imagery was used to generate LULC maps for the years 1990 and 2021, while future projections for 2061 were developed using the Cellular Automata-Markov (CA-Markov) model. The benefit transfer method was employed to estimate the ESVs based on per-hectare value coefficients assigned to specific land use types. Results reveal that between 1990 and 2021, the total ESV declined by approximately USD 18.52 million, primarily due to the loss of vegetation and water bodies. A further projected decline of USD 38.82 million is anticipated between 2021 and 2061, totaling a cumulative loss of USD 57.34 million over the study period. While cropland and built-up areas recorded marginal increases in ESVs, these gains were insufficient to compensate for the substantial losses in regulating and supporting services. The findings underscore the critical need to integrate ecosystem service valuation into land-use planning, particularly in mining-intensive landscapes. The study demonstrates that without policy interventions favoring ecological conservation, continued land transformation will undermine long-term environmental sustainability and socio-economic resilience in the region.

The Mutis Timau is essential in community life and ecological conservation. However, the ecosystem has experienced disturbances and changes in its status, which have influenced land use and land cover. This research aims to predict land cover change in 2030 in the Mutis Timau. This research uses Landsat 7 ETM+ from 2011 and Landsat 8 OLI/TRIS from 2016 and 2021. The variable used Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation data. Data processing was carried out using Google Earth Engine, and a random forest algorithm was applied to predict land cover in 2030. The results showed that predicted changes in land cover area in the Mutis Timau Area were merely minor. Eucalyptus land cover experienced the greatest change in 2030, losing 5.05% of its total area. These findings could be beneficial to climate change mitigation initiatives in Indonesia to meet the Forestry and Other Land Uses Net Sink target by 2030.

Since the mid-20th century, the landscapes of Mediterranean mountain regions have undergone a significant transformation, linked to the socioeconomic changes caused by the opening up of these regions to the market economy. This prompted a rural exodus, the abandoning of farmland and the reduction in livestock, so activating various reforestation processes. In parallel, the “green revolution” promoted the modernization of agrifood systems, so contributing to the decline of traditional ways of farming in mountain areas. The farms on which traditional polyculture and agroforestry are still carried out today are important agrobiodiversity reserves. In this research, we monitor the dynamics of land use and cover and the changes in the structure of the agrifood landscapes on the southern slopes of Sierra Nevada (Spain) by comparing maps from 1956, 1984, 2007 and 2020. The results reveal a sharp decline in cultivated land, from 39.19% to 21.54%, and an expansion of natural covers, especially Mediterranean forest, driven by the abandonment of farmland and reforestation policies. Today, the landscape is composed of a more fragmented, less cohesive mosaic of agroecosystems. These changes indicate a reduction in agrobiodiversity at a landscape level, in line with the tendency observed at farm level in the study area.

Abstract Land cover change that leads to increased nutrient and sediment runoff is an important driver of change in coral reef ecosystems. Linking landscape change to seascape change is necessary for integrated land–sea management of coral reefs. This study explored the use of freely available satellite products to examine long‐term patterns of change across the land–sea continuum. We focused on northeastern Puerto Rico, where a widespread decline in live coral cover has occurred despite concomitant watershed reforestation that was expected to reduce land‐based threats. The aims of this study were (1) to examine whether these land–sea trends continued in 2000–2015 and (2) to assess the opportunities and limitations associated with using satellite data to inform land–sea management. We applied a Random Forest classifier on Landsat‐7 satellite imagery to assess changes in land cover and landscape development intensity, a spatial index to estimate land‐based pressure on nearshore marine ecosystems. We used field monitoring data to quantify benthic community change. We found that reforestation continued in 2000–2015 (+11%), suggesting reduced land‐based pressure on adjacent reefs in both northern (Luquillo) and eastern (Ceiba‐Fajardo) watersheds. Concomitantly, coral cover continued to decline, and a new aggressive expansion of peyssonnelid algal crust was recorded. Clustering analysis indicated that benthic monitoring sites in the same geographic regions (nearshore/offshore, north/east) followed similar community composition trajectories over time. Our results suggest that continued reforestation and the expected reduction in land‐based pressure have not been sufficient to halt coral cover decline in northeastern Puerto Rico. To improve the characterization and monitoring of the full causal chain from changes in land cover to water quality to benthic communities, advances in satellite‐based water quality mapping in optically shallow waters are needed. A strategic combination of remote sensing and targeted field surveys is required to monitor and mitigate land‐based stressors on coral reefs.

A geospatial and statistical assessment of surface temperature response to land cover change and spatial drivers in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana

Megacity regions mark a transformative phase of urbanisation, in which interconnected cities undergo land-use and land-cover change (LUCC) that extends beyond administrative boundaries. However, the drivers of cross-boundary LUCC remain insufficiently examined, particularly before the top-down regional integration. The Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area (GBA) provides a clear empirical case, having experienced cross-boundary LUCC prior to its formal designation as a megacity region in 2018. This study builds a Landsat-derived LUCC and driver dataset for the GBA. Global and local spatial autocorrelation (Moran’s I and LISA) are used to characterise spatial structure and clustering, and geographically weighted regression identifies the socio-economic and environmental determinants of built-up expansion over 1980–2018, spanning the pre-reform decade and the post-1990 land-transfer era. Findings reveal that: (1) LUCC in the GBA already exhibited a cross-border, spatially networked expansion pattern before formal regional integration policies at the national level, with built-up area growth extending beyond core cities into decentralised urban nodes. Two prominent cross-border cores and one cross-administrative core emerged, suggesting that regional integration was co-led by market forces and local governments before an institutional framework was established. (2) Although the GBA showed a clear trend towards integrated development, urban expansion was highly uneven. Such spatial disparities were mainly driven by varying socioeconomic and natural factors, including gross domestic product, population growth, real estate investment, water resource proximity, and infrastructure development. These findings enhance understanding of megacity-region dynamics and offer insights from the GBA for cross-border urbanisation and sustainable spatial governance.

Dynamics and trade-off/synergy of ecosystem services in China's First Batch national Parks: Evidence from recent decades and future land use and cover changes.

Impacts of land use land cover changes on wetland ecosystem services in Dandi Lake, Oromia, Ethiopia: An analysis using Google Earth Engine and machine learning

Spatiotemporal analysis of mining-induced land use and land cover changes in Zvishavane District of Zimbabwe

Abstract Evapotranspiration (ET) plays a key role in the water cycle and balance, and its estimation is of paramount importance in hydrological studies. This variable is also strongly influenced by the land use and land cover (LULC). This study use a synthesis approach to analyse the relationship between ET variation and LULC transformation in the period 1990-2020. The study area represents a major agricultural region in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam between the Mekong and Bassac rivers. The multivariate dataset was ingested into the hydrological model Soil and Water Assessment Tool to examine the multidecadal ET evolution across the study region. The ET evolution is investigated together with LULC changes to identify the primary drivers of the ET change. The results reveal an increase in landscape fragmentation together with a decrease in ET. The reduction in ET is associated with the decrease in water surfaces corresponding to upstream dam operations and with the construction of new urban areas. In the coastal area, a conversion from natural areas (i.e., mangroves cover) to aquaculture has been observed, leading to a slight increase in ET.

Climate impacts of radiative forcing driven by agricultural land-use and land-cover changes in northern Canada.

This study aimed to analyze the rate of changes in Land Use Land Cover (LULC) and Built-Up Area (BUA). Geospatial and remote sensing approaches were applied to analyze the trends of LULC changes and BUA expansion from 2017-2024. Results of the accurate testing have shown 98.03 for 2017 and 97.81 in 2024 indicating accurate data sets averaging 2% pixels misclassified both acceptable based on the 85% thresholds for remotely sensed data. Data on changes of LULC have shown fluctuations in land allocation, with forest accounts the largest with 83.38 in (2019) and 89.05% (2023), with declined in 2024 at 84.61. Waterbodies gradually reduced from 1.82% in 2017 to 1.64% in 2024, barren recorded fluctuation of 2.40% and 3.39%. Moreover, BUA exhibits an increasing trend, which peaks in 2020 at 4.58% and records stabilization of 4.27% in 2024, Furthermore, agricultural lands demonstrate the highest recorded variability with a notable reduction in 2022 of 3.64% but recovered in 2024 with 7.08% suggesting dynamism in land conversion processes. Generally, the observed LULC change patterns underscores the continuing pressures on the remaining forest and agricultural land which was driven by the BUA expansion and land conversion.

An increase in population density amplifies the demandfor forest products, which in turn drives deforestation and the exhaustion of forest resource. The aim of the study was to assess the impact of population pressure on forest resource depletion in the Yayo Coffee Forest Biosphere Reserve, Southwest Ethiopia. A mixed-methods research design, integrating both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Data was collected from selected households, focus groups and key informant through semi-structured interview, group discussion and field observation. A systematic random sampling technique were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively by SPSS and Microsoft office excels. Land-use and land-cover (LULC) changes over the past forty years were analyzed using satellite imagery to assess the impact of population growth on forest dynamics. Results indicated that the major livelihood strategies were contributed by the combination of crop production, livestock and forest product collection (36.2%) and followed by crop production and livestock (27.5%). Agricultural expansion (23.13%), overgrazing (17.9%), timber extraction (15.27%) and urbanization (14%) were the main direct drivers of forest loss. Satellite analysis revealed that forest cover declined from 120,087.2 hectares in 1982-100,772.9 hectares in 2024 an 11.6% reduction over four decades with a strong negative correlation (r = -0.998, p < 0.05) between population growth and forest area. Overall, both local practices and systemic pressures drive the conversion of forests to agricultural land in the Yayo Biosphere Reserve. This calls for district-specific interventions that engage indigenous institutions such as Shane, Xuxee, and Tuullaa in the management of coffee forests and enforcement of the law, encouraging alternative sources of energy, and ensuring that forest resources are not overexploited.

Time-series analysis of land use land cover change dynamics in Sukur Cultural Landscape, northeast Nigeria

Development and economic growth in Indonesia have experienced rapid progress, followed by urbanization marked by the expansion of urban areas towards the outskirts, and have triggered urban expansion and land cover changes, especially on the outskirts of Surabaya City, and continue to expand to the Gerbangkertosusila area, which can indicate a decrease in Green Open Space (GOS). Given the important role of green open space in the sustainability of metropolitan areas, this study has three objectives. First, to analyze the impact of urban sprawl on GOS with spatial dynamics of land cover changes using Land Use Cover Changes (LUCC) analysis using ArcGIS software. Second, to identify spatial patterns of urban sprawl, and third, to calculate the index sprawl value to determine areas with urban sprawl impacts. The results of our study show that GOS has decreased in 25 years by 9.32%, and built-up area has increased by 8.27% of the total area of Gerbangkertosusila. The patterns of urban expansion that occur are Leap Frog Development, Ribbon Development, and Post- suburbia. The highest area expansion index value is in Sidoarjo at 4.74 and the lowest in Bangkalan at -7.62. The expansion of this area is marked by the development of settlements, industrial areas, and transportation routes, which result in the conversion of green open spaces into Built-up areas. Based on the analysis used in the Gerbangkertosusila area, the concept of Urban Growth Boundaries (UGB) is necessary; this concept effectively addresses urban expansion by establishing urban development permit policies.