Land Area Research Articles

Past and Future Storm-Driven Changes to a Dynamic Sandy Barrier System: Outer Cape Cod, Massachusetts

Sandy barrier systems are highly dynamic, with the most significant natural morphological changes to these systems occurring during high-energy storm conditions. These systems provide a range of economic and ecosystem benefits and protect inland areas from flooding and storm impacts, but the persistence of many coastal barriers is threatened by storms and sea-level rise (SLR). This study employed observations and modeling to examine recent and potential future influences of storms on a sandy coastal barrier system in Nauset Beach, MA. Drone-derived imagery and digital elevation models (DEMs) of the study area collected throughout the 2023–2024 winter revealed significant alongshore variability in the geomorphic response to storms. Severe, highly localized erosion (i.e., an erosional “hotspot”) occurred immediately south of the Nauset Bay spit as the result of a group of storms in December and January. Modeling results demonstrated that the location of the hotspot was largely controlled by the location of a break in a nearshore sandbar system, which induced larger waves and stronger currents that affected the foreshore, backshore and dune. Additionally, model simulations of the December and January storms assuming 0.3 m (1 ft) of SLR showed the system to be relatively resistant to major geomorphic changes in response to an isolated storm event, but more susceptible to significant overwash and breaching in response to consecutive storms. This research suggests that both very strong isolated storm events and sequential moderate storms pose an enhanced risk of major overwash, breaching, and possibly inlet formation today and into the future, raising concern for adjacent communities and resource managers.

Assessing the Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Potential of Harvested Wood Products in Romania and Their Contribution to Achieving Climate Neutrality

Forests mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by capturing CO₂ and storing it as carbon in various forms, including living biomass, dead wood, soil, and forest litter. Importantly, when trees are harvested, a portion of the above-ground biomass is converted into harvested wood products (HWPs), which can retain carbon for decades. With approximately 7 million hectares of forest (30% of its land area), Romania significantly contributes to the country’s carbon budget through the HWP pool. Using country-specific data from 1961 to 2022 and an IPCC method, we tracked HWP carbon storage and projected future scenarios to evaluate the category’s significance in achieving the 2050 climate target. During this period, the carbon stored in Romanian HWPs more than doubled from 28.20 TgC to 60.76 TgC, with sawnwood products as major contributors. Fluctuations were influenced by domestic policies, market dynamics, and industry changes, notably after the 1990s. Annual carbon inflow dipped to 0.65 TgC in 1994 and peaked at 2.54 TgC in 2013. By analyzing the scenarios, we demonstrated that a moderate growth trajectory in carbon inflow, combined with a focus on producing long-lived wood products, could double carbon stock changes by 2050 to 4.4 TgC—roughly 4% of the country’s current total emissions excluding the LULUCF sector. Additionally, based on sustainable forest management practices in Romania, this approach would significantly enhance the carbon pool and its importance in achieving the country’s climate policies.

Dynamic simulation of landscape ecological risk in Gansu’s farming-pastoral ecotone based on topographic gradients

The farming-pastoral ecotone in Gansu Province, a crucial green barrier in northwestern China, faces a conflict between economic development and environmental fragility. Scientifically assessing the landscape ecological risks in this region is essential for developing an early warning system for ecological security and ensuring the sustainable management of regional ecosystems. This study systematically analyzes the dynamic evolution patterns and clustering characteristics of landscape ecological risk along the topographic gradient in the area, using Land-Use and Land-Cover Change (LUCC) data from five periods (each period representing 10 years) between 1980 and 2020, as well as Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data. Methods such as CA-Markov and the Topographic Position Index (TPI) were employed to assess these risks. Additionally, the study simulates the spatial distribution patterns of ecological risks in future years. The results reveal that from 1980 to 2020, the area of built-up land in the farming-pastoral ecotone of Gansu Province increased by approximately 82%, with roughly 21% of the expansion occurring at the expense of grasslands and 53% from arable land. Ecological risk in the study area exhibits a spatial distribution pattern characterized by lower risk in the southwest and higher risk in the northeast. Overall, ecological risk initially increased and then decreased. The area of high-risk zones has steadily decreased by approximately 50% since 2010, primarily in regions with low topographic gradients and high human activity. In other areas, high-risk levels are directly proportional to the topographic gradient, showing a high degree of spatial clustering. Consequently, land-use planning should be tailored to local conditions, and a long-term monitoring mechanism should be established. This study provides novel insights into the spatiotemporal changes in landscape ecological risk in ecologically vulnerable areas, focusing on topographic gradients.

Quantifying and Mapping the Impact of Construction Land Expansion on Cultivated Land Fragmentation—A Case Study of Fuqing City, China

To ensure the sustainable utilization of cultivated land resources, it is essential to quantify and map the characteristics of construction land and cultivated land and analyze the mechanisms by which construction land expansion affects cultivated land. However, few studies have been conducted focusing on this issue. This study integrated morphological spatial pattern analysis, spillover effect analysis, landscape pattern analysis, and a land use transition monitoring method to investigate the characteristics of construction land expansion and cultivated land fragmentation. Fuqing City of China was selected as the case study area for demonstration. The results demonstrated that the expansion of construction land resulted in fragmented patterns within the cultivated land landscape: (1) The large core area of cultivated land was subdivided into smaller core areas during 2000–2020, while the construction land exhibited a tendency towards aggregation and a spillover effect; (2) The expansion rate of the construction land in the study area accelerated, while the extent of the cultivated land decreased; (3) Cultivated land fragmentation intensified as landscape aggregation weakened, leading to an expansion in the agglomeration of construction land. The highlights of this study are: (1) examining the characteristics of construction land expansion and cultivated land fragmentation from morphological and geospatial perspectives; (2) categorizing the core areas of cultivated land based on their size to facilitate the analysis of factors contributing to cultivated land fragmentation. The findings in this study can be used to develop models to predict future patterns of cultivated and construction land to provide suggestions for landscape planning.

Phytotoxicity and Bioremediation of Soils in Binagadi District of Baku City

On the territory of the Binagadi administrative district of Baku, the area of oil-contaminated lands is 2,627 hectares. The content of oil products in the soil fluctuates between 0.9-2.4%. This corresponds to a very high level of pollution. Oil-contaminated soils of the Binagadi district are characterized by a high degree of phytotoxicity of 20-80%. Soil purification using the method of complex bioremediation is proposed.

Study of Disturbed Land Ecology and Economics of Farming after the Completion of Mining Operations in Coal Mines in the Ryazan Region

Study results of disturbed lands ecological state in the course of underground coal mining in the coal-saturated areas of the Moscow Coal Basin in the Ryazan region are presented. The number and areas of mine spoil heaps are revealed, and their influence on the reduction of forest and arable land area is established. The calculation of economic efficiency of farms in the liquidation of mine spoil heaps on agricultural land previously taken out from the turnover for the needs of the coal industry was carried out.

A continental approach to estimate the area required for proposed wind-power parks and their overlap with protected areas in Africa

Abstract Wind energy is one of the key renewable energy technologies required to transform the energy sector to reduce climate change. In the global expansion of wind energy, one main concern is that wind-power parks (WPPs) take up large areas of land, causing conflicts with other uses such as nature conservation. Existing impact analyses for WPPs are mostly restricted to case studies, and it lacks studies that investigate potential impacts at a larger scale because no scientific consensus on the area associated to a WPP exists. This study proposes a continental, GIS-based approach to estimate the area required for proposed onshore WPPs and to estimate their potential overlap with protected areas on the African continent. The results of the spatial analysis show that, in total, the currently proposed 149 WPPs would require 852 km2 of land on the African continent, thereof 11 would overlap with protected areas. The overlaps sum up to an area of 42 km2, which corresponds to an affected nominal power of 834 MW (5% of the total projected wind power capacity). These findings reveal the need for further purposefully local in-depth analyses to investigate if the WPP can be operated in accordance with the conservation of the protected area. This work provides new data and a transferable methodological approach on the expansion of wind energy and its potential space requirement and contributes to the investigation of potential land-use conflicts of proposed onshore WPPs on a broader scale.

Projected Spatiotemporal Evolution of Urban Form Using the SLEUTH Model with Urban Master Plan Scenarios

Urban growth, a pivotal characteristic of economic development, brings many environmental and ecological challenges. Modeling urban growth is essential for understanding its spatial dynamics and projecting future trends, providing insights for effective urban planning and sustainable development. This study aims to assess the spatiotemporal patterns of urban growth and morphological evolution in mainland Shanghai from 2016 to 2060 using the SLEUTH model under multiple growth scenarios based on the Shanghai Urban Master Plan (2017–2035). A comprehensive set of urban growth metrics and quadrant analysis were employed to quantify the magnitude, rate, intensity, and direction of urban growth, as well as morphological evolution, over time. We found that (1) significant urban growth was observed across most scenarios, with the exception of stringent land protection. The most substantial growth occurred prior to 2045 with an obvious north–south disparity, where southern regions demonstrated more pronounced increases in urban land area and urbanization rates. (2) The spatiotemporal patterns of the rate and intensity of urban growth exhibited similar characteristics. The spatial pattern followed a “concave shape” pattern and displayed anisotropic behavior, with the high values for these indicators primarily observed before 2025. (3) The urban form followed a diffusion–coalescence process, with patch areas dominated by the infilling mode and patch numbers dominated by the edge-expansion mode. This resulted in significant alternating urban growth models in the infilling, edge-expansion, and leapfrog modes over time, influenced by varying protection intensities. These findings provide valuable insights for forward-looking urban planning, land use optimization, and the support of sustainable urban development.

MODELING HOUSE SELLING PRICES IN JAKARTA AND SOUTH TANGERANG USING MACHINE LEARNING PREDICTION ANALYSIS

The increasing demand for housing in urban agglomerations, particularly in areas like Jakarta, has made homeownership a significant challenge for many, especially first-time buyers and the lower-middle class. Post-pandemic shifts have further influenced housing preferences, driving interest towards suburban areas with green spaces. Despite government efforts through mortgage subsidy programs, affordability remains a concern, particularly in peripheral regions. This study aims to analyze housing prices in various Jakarta regions using machine learning models, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Support Vector Regression (SVR), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LGBM), and Random Forest. A dataset of 554 house prices from West Jakarta, South Jakarta, Central Jakarta, and South Tangerang was used. The analysis focused on key predictors like land area, building area, bedrooms, and carports, with R² and Mean Squared Error (MSE) metrics evaluating model performance. Results showed that LGBM and Random Forest outperformed others with 0.8 R2 and low MSE, with building and land area as the most significant factors influencing prices. The study concludes that property size is a primary determinant of house prices, and there is a need for policy interventions to make housing more affordable. Additionally, apartment rentals offer a viable alternative, especially in central urban areas, where proximity to economic activities and facilities is crucial. The findings suggest that enhancing marketplace features with predictive tools could further assist buyers in making informed decisions.

Projecting Water Yield Amidst Rapid Urbanization: A Case Study of the Taihu Lake Basin

Changes in land cover and land use (LULC) can impact water availability by altering the structure and functioning of land ecosystems. Accurately projecting the impacts of LULC on water yield (WY) is of utmost importance for regional landscape management. Taking the rapidly urbanizing Taihu Lake Basin (TLB) as an example, coupled with the PLUS-InVEST model, three scenarios of a natural development (ND) scenario, urban development (UD) scenario, and ecological protection (EP) scenario were set to simulate the response mechanisms of land use changes for WY and the influence of policy-making on the water conservation capacity of river basins. (1) During 2000 and 2020, the Taihu Lake Basin (TLB) experienced rapid urbanization, which was evident in the conversion of forest and cropland for urban development. (2) From 2000 to 2020, the TLB’s WY first decreased and then increased, ranging from 201.52 × 108 m3 to 242.70 × 108 m3. Spatially, an uneven distribution pattern of WY depth emerged, with mountainous and hilly regions exhibiting higher WY compared to plain areas. Temporally, changes in total WY were primarily influenced by precipitation, while areas with increased WY showed a certain correlation with regions experiencing an expansion of construction land. (3) By 2030, the TLB will continue to expand construction land under the UD scenario, while the area of ecological land will expand under the EP scenario. WY is expected to vary across scenarios, with the highest yield observed under the UD scenario, followed by the ND scenario, while the EP scenario exhibits the lowest yield. These findings can offer scientifically informed insights and guidance for future WY changes, carrying substantial effects for maintaining ecological preservation and promoting high-quality development in the TLB.

A continental approach to estimate the area required for proposed wind-power parks and their overlap with protected areas in Africa

Abstract Wind energy is one of the key renewable energy technologies required to transform the energy sector to reduce climate change. In the global expansion of wind energy, one main concern is that wind-power parks (WPPs) take up large areas of land, causing conflicts with other uses such as nature conservation. Existing impact analyses for WPPs are mostly restricted to case studies, and it lacks studies that investigate potential impacts at a larger scale because no scientific consensus on the area associated to a WPP exists. This study proposes a continental, GIS-based approach to estimate the area required for proposed onshore WPPs and to estimate their potential overlap with protected areas on the African continent. The results of the spatial analysis show that, in total, the currently proposed 149 WPPs would require 852 km2 of land on the African continent, thereof 11 would overlap with protected areas. The overlaps sum up to an area of 42 km2, which corresponds to an affected nominal power of 834 MW (5% of the total projected wind power capacity). These findings reveal the need for further purposefully local in-depth analyses to investigate if the WPP can be operated in accordance with the conservation of the protected area. This work provides new data and a transferable methodological approach on the expansion of wind energy and its potential space requirement and contributes to the investigation of potential land-use conflicts of proposed onshore WPPs on a broader scale.

Land conversions not climate effects are the dominant indirect consequenceof sun-driven CO2 capture, conversion, and sequestration

Abstract Removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere is required for mitigating climate change. Large-scale direct air capture combined with injecting CO2 into geological formations could retain carbon long-term, but demands a substantial amount of energy, pipeline infrastructure, and suitable sites for gaseous storage. Here, we study Earth system impacts of modular, sun-powered process chains, which combine direct air capture with (electro)chemical conversion of the captured CO2 into liquid or solid sink products and subsequent product storage (sDACCCS). Drawing on a novel explicit representation of CO2 removal in a state-of-the-art Earth system model, we find that these process chains can be renewably powered and have minimal implications for the climate and carbon cycle. However, to stabilize the planetary temperature two degrees above pre-industrial levels, CO2 capturing, conversion, and associated energy harvest demand up to 0.46% of the global land area in a high-efficiency scenario. This global land footprint increases to 2.82% when assuming present-day technology and pushing to the bounds of removal. Mitigating historical emission burdens within individual countries in this high-removal scenario requires converting an area equivalent to 40% of the European Union's agricultural land. Scenarios assuming successful technological development could halve this environmental burden, but it is uncertain to what degree they could materialize. Therefore, ambitious decarbonization is vital to reduce the risk of land use conflicts if efficiencies remain lower than expected.

Effects of land management technology adoptions on land use land cover dynamics using GIS and remote sensing: the case of Goyrie watershed, southern Ethiopia.

Understanding land use/land cover (LULC) changes is crucial for informing policymakers and planners on the dynamics affecting environmental and resource management. Most past studies highlighted the significance of LULC changes and their driving forces in various locations. However, comprehensive analyses that combine the impact of land management technologies (LMTs) on LULC changes using GIS and remote sensing tools have not been widely addressed. Thus, the study analyzes the effects of LMT adoptions on LULC dynamics and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) in the Goyrie watershed from 1993 to 2022. It also examines household perceptions of the cause of LULC changes. Methodologically, Landsat 5 TM (1993), Landsat 5 ETM + (2008), and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (2022) images were employed to analyze LULC changes and NDVI. Binary logistic regression models were used to identify households' perceptions of the causes of LULC changes. The findings revealed that the Goyrie watershed has experienced significant LULC changes since 1993. During the entire study period, the shares of grassland, shrub land, cultivated land, and settlement areas increased by 89.4%, 8.5%, 53.6%, and 1613.4% from their original sizes, respectively. Conversely, the coverage of bare land and forest land declined by 99.5% and 99.7%, with annual rates of decline of 3.29% and 3.3%, respectively. Throughout the study period, the increasing trends in grassland and shrub land, along with the decline in bare land, were attributed to LMT practices. The NDVI values of moderate and dense vegetation density decreased by 81.8% and 92.2%, respectively, from 1993 to 2022 due to the expansion of settlement areas and cultivated lands. Population pressure, expansion of settlements and agriculture, fuel extraction, LMTs, and policy issues significantly influenced the LULC changes. The study concludes that more sustainable and integrated LMT practices should be essential to managing the related risks of LULC changes.

Determining the Effect of Different Organic Nutrient Sources on the Growth and Yield of Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers is a common practice which is hazardous both for soil health and environment. Chemical fertilizers have been widely used due to their immediate availability of nutrients; however, their long-term effects on soil and crop sustainability necessitate alternatives such as organic fertilizers. It has been more than three decades that global agriculture has been depicted towards organic agriculture owing to sustainability and reduced environmental effects. A field experiment was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Lamjung Campus from December 2022 to February 2023, with the objective to study the effect of various sources of organic manure on the growth and yield of radish. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Design using 7 treatments (Control, Farm Yard Manure(FYM), Poultry Manure(PM), Goat Manure, FYM + Poultry Manure, FYM + Goat Manure, Poultry Manure + Goat Manure) with 3 replications of each. Tokinashi variety of radish was used in the experiment. Radish is an important root vegetable known for its nutritional value and quick growth cycle, making it a key crop for studying the impacts of organic manure. Experiment was done in field with the plot size of (2 x 1) m² and spacings of 30 cm x 20 cm with the total land area of 90 m². The growth and yield of radish were significantly affected by the different treatments. The highest total root yield (204.33) and biological yield (263.67) was found in Poultry manure. The study suggested that the application of poultry manure was more beneficial and resulted in significantly better growth and yield performance of radish.

Empirical Analysis of Key Factors Influencing China's Grain Production Capacity

China, as the world's most populous country, is also its largest consumer of grain. Ensuring grain security is vital for national stability and economic development, underpinning socioeconomic progress. Since the reform and opening-up period, China's grain production has doubled, successfully mitigating challenges such as the global grain crisis in 2006 and the food crisis triggered by COVID-19 in 2020. However, this achievement has come at a cost, with grain output heavily reliant on practices that deplete soil fertility and involve excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers, causing significant environmental strain. This study investigates the factors influencing China's grain production from 1980 to 2020, aiming to evaluate its comprehensive production capacity and provide practical recommendations. The analysis integrates theoretical and empirical approaches. Theoretically, the study examines the effects of variables such as irrigated arable land area (X1, thousand hectares), agricultural machinery power (X2, ten thousand kilowatts), grain sowing area (X3, thousand hectares), fertilizer consumption (X4, ten thousand tons), and natural population growth rate (X5, percentage) on grain output. Empirically, it utilizes principal component analysis and model testing through Eviews, incorporating five grain-related indicators. The findings reveal that the influence of these factors shifts across different stages of grain production and development. Based on the results, the paper offers targeted strategies to enhance China’s grain production capacity sustainably.

Spatial-temporal Evolution and Influencing Factors of Land Use Carbon Emissions in Shandong Province

Exploring the spatial-temporal evolution characteristics of land use carbon emissions and their influencing factors is of great significance for the optimization of land use structure, the formulation of emission reduction policies, and the development of a regional low-carbon economy. Based on land cover and energy consumption data, a multi-parameter land use carbon emission accounting system was constructed to calculate land use carbon emissions in Shandong Province. Moreover, the spatial-temporal evolution and influencing factors of land use carbon emissions were analyzed based on the Gini coefficient and logarithmic mean Divisia index. The results indicated that ① From 2000 to 2020, construction land, woodland, and water area showed a generally increasing trend, while cropland, grassland, and unused land area showed a decreasing trend. The spatial change in land use types was mainly concentrated in the conversion of cropland into construction land （1.09×104 km2）. ② In the study period, carbon emissions from land use in Shandong Province increased from 52.70 million tons to 352.97 million tons, and the annual growth rate decreased from 13.40% to 7.28%, construction land was the primary carbon source, and cropland sequestered carbon. ③ Land use carbon emissions showed significant spatial imbalance at a grid level （Gini > 0.5）, with an overall spatial pattern of "high in the east" and "low in the west." ④ Economic development was the dominant leading factor for the growth of carbon emissions from land use in Shandong Province （contribution rate of 121.33%）, followed by the construction land area effect （33.39%）, while energy structure （-11.12%）, energy efficiency （-20.16%）, and population size effects （-23.44%） limited the increase in carbon emissions.

Influencing Mechanism of Precipitation Pollution Intensity in Qinhuai River Basin Based on Random Forest

Analyzing the distribution characteristics of precipitation pollution intensity in the basin and identifying the main factors affecting the precipitation pollution intensity are the important basis for realizing the accurate management of diffused pollution. Based on the surface water quality data from four typical sections of the main stream of Qinhuai River Basin and rainfall data collected from 2021 to 2022, the distribution characteristics of precipitation pollution intensity in the basin were analyzed, and representative natural and social factors were selected to construct models of the precipitation pollution intensity of ammonia nitrogen （NH4+-N）, permanganate index, and total phosphorus （TP） based on random forest algorithm. Additionally, the main driving factors of precipitation pollution intensity were identified, and the influencing mechanism was analyzed. The results showed that rainfall was the main driving factor for the water quality exceeding the standard in the Qinhuai River Basin, and the proportion of rainfall events within 3 days of when the water quality of the sections in the study area exceeded the standard was between 61.4% and 97.4%. The precipitation pollution intensity of NH4+-N and TP showed a gradual increase from upstream to downstream. NH4+-N was the primary pollutant in the midstream Qiqiaoweng section and the downstream Sanchahekou section, with the precipitation pollution intensity ranging from 0.12 to 2.98 and from 0.31 to 3.84, respectively. The precipitation pollution intensity of permanganate index in the upstream Yangqiao section was the largest, ranging from 0.41 to 1.35, and the precipitation pollution intensity of the Jiangjundadao section, which is located on the channel of diverted water, was at a lower level compared with that of the other three sections. Water diversion was an important influencing factor for the reduction of precipitation pollution intensity of NH4+-N and permanganate index （P<0.01）； the proportion of built-up area was significantly positively correlated with the precipitation pollution intensity of NH4+-N and TP； the proportion of cultivated area was significantly positively correlated with the precipitation pollution intensity of permanganate index, and the proportion of forest land area was significantly negatively correlated with the precipitation pollution intensity of these three indicators. Under the conditions of light rain, moderate rain, and heavy rain, the rainfall was significantly positively correlated with the precipitation pollution intensity of each indicator, and the precipitation pollution intensity remained high under the condition of torrential rain. The post-rain pollution of NH4+-N and TP mainly originated from the middle and lower reaches of the study area, which was significantly affected by regional characteristics such as the percentage of built-up area and water diversion （P<0.01）, and the post-rain pollution of permanganate index mainly originated from the upstream area with a wide distribution of cultivated land area and was significantly affected by flow （P<0.01）.

Meta-analysis of the Occurrence Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Microplastics in Agricultural Soil in China

The potential threat of soil microplastics （MPs, particle sizes smaller than 5 mm） to the agricultural environment and food security production has become a hot issue, but there are few systematic studies on the characteristics and influencing factors of MP pollution in agricultural soil in China. Based on the data of soil MPs and related environmental factors （temperature, precipitation, soil pH, and organic carbon） and social and economic factors （permanent population, gross regional product per capita, gross industrial product per capita, and cultivated land area per capita） extracted from 6 694 samples from 85 published studies from 2020 to 2023, meta-analysis was performed. The characteristics of MPs pollution in agricultural soil and the key factors affecting the accumulation of MPs in soil in six administrative regions of China were analyzed. The results showed that soil MPs had six colors： （semi-） transparent, black, white, yellow, blue, green, and red. There were five kinds of shapes： fragment, fiber, film, particle, and foam. The particle size was between 0.01 and 5.0 mm. There were nine types of MPs： polyethylene （PE）, polypropylene （PP）, polystyrene （PS）, polyester （PES）, polyethylene terephthalate （PET）, polyvinyl chloride （PVC）, rayon （RY）, polyacrylonitrile （PAN）, and polyamide （PA）. The abundance gradient of soil MPs in different regions was as follows： South-central region > Northwest region > Southwest region > East China region > North China region > Northeast region. The （semi-） transparent （27.6%）, fragmented （32.2%）, 0.01~0.5 mm （66.3%）, and PE （37%） types of MPs had the highest detection rates. The characteristics of soil MPs are the result of natural environmental factors （temperature, precipitation, soil pH, organic carbon） and social factors （permanent population, gross regional product per capita, gross industrial product per capita, cultivated land area per capita）.

Assessing the EU27 Potential to Meet the Nature Restoration Law Targets.

The Nature Restoration Law adopted by the European Union in 2024 aims to implement measures to restore at least 20% of its land and sea by 2030 and all ecosystems in need of restoration by 2050, focusing on among others agricultural land, forests, urban, marine, freshwater, and wetlands areas. The goal is to enhance the natural and semi-natural habitats' role in achieving climate targets and preserving biodiversity. Member States must submit detailed national restoration plans, outlining specific actions and mechanisms for monitoring progress. However, these plans should align with the ongoing Common Agricultural Policy and National Energy and Climate Plans objectives. Using data from European Commission reports and applying a semantic interval scale methodology, this study quantifies each Member State's ambitions and effectiveness under the National Energy Climate Plans and Common Agricultural Policy and establishes a benchmark for reporting under the Nature Restoration Law. The findings reveal the National Energy Climate Plans' wide disparities in implementing decarbonization measures, climate change adaptation and the implementation of nature-based solutions. The Common Agricultural Policy Plans exhibit only partial commitment to greening agriculture, yet their alignment with Nature Restoration Law objectives varies. Therefore, timely coordination between the three strategies is crucial to avoid conflicting goals, overlapping efforts, and wasting time and resources, ensuring the success of restoration actions.

MARKET ANALYSIS DRIVEN CONSUMER BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT OF SELECTED FISH MARKETS IN MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

The inland fisheries is considered a sunrise sector and is poised to play a significant role in the Indian economy in the near future. With his background, the present study was undertaken to study the consumer behavior, structure, conduct & performance of selected fish markets in Maharashtra. A pre-tested interview schedule was used to collect data from fishers, traders, and consumers. The data obtained by the survey were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Chi-Square test and Rank Based Quotient (RBQ) using MS Excel and SPSS software. The result showed that the selected fish markets are in the inland areas and deal with freshwater fish, prawns, crabs, marine, fish, and prawns. The most preferred fish species are tilapia, freshwater eel, murrel, catla, rohu, mrigal, freshwater shark, and pangas. Due to its taste and cost, tilapia constitutes almost 90% of the total catch. Marketing cost was estimated for Tilapia, IMC, freshwater eel, and Murrel fish for two different major channels. This showed that marketing cost for the first (longer) auctioneer channel, auctioneer, and wholesaler cost is ₹ 2/kg and ₹ 3/kg, respectively. The price spread was higher for IMC and murrel than freshwater eel and tilapia fish. Fish is generally perceived to be cheaper in both the selected fish markets. Most consumers reported that taste was the primary criterion for purchasing fish from the market, followed by the price of fish, and 40% of consumers were consuming fish more than twice a week. Consumer attitudes about the four pillars of food security, namely availability, accessibility (measured as affordability), quality, and stability along with other aspects of cultural and social preferences toward fish results showed that consumers in both markets were positive about the availability, accessibility, quality, and stability of fish in the market. The study identified that fluctuating prices and the unavailability of fresh fish throughout the year were major constraints faced by consumers.