Natural Landscape Research Articles

Spatiotemporal Analysis of Urban Growth and PM2.5 Concentrations in Sylhet, Bangladesh

Environmental impacts of urbanization, such as increased air pollution, pose significant challenges for developing countries. This study examines land cover changes and their relationship with particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) concentrations in two upazilas of Bangladesh from 2001 to 2019 using GIS and remote sensing techniques. Results show significant urban expansion (i.e., increase in built-up area) in both upazilas, corresponding with increasing PM2.5 levels. Linear regression reveals correlations between land cover types and PM2.5 levels. Mixed forests and waterbodies tend to be negatively associated with PM2.5 concentrations; on the other hand, built-up and barren land show a positive correlation with PM2.5. The most significant increase in built-up land and PM2.5 was in Madhabpur, indicating urgent environmental and health issues. This study emphasizes the critical role of sustainable urban planning and environmental conservation in mitigating urbanization’s adverse effects on air quality, advocating for preserving natural landscapes to maintain ecological balance, protecting urban health, and providing policymakers with insights to develop strategies addressing urban expansion and air pollution.

Understanding the effect of cropping system on soil health at the Northwestern Ontario Agricultural Research Station in Canada

Anthropogenic activities impact soil in varying degrees, from preserving natural landscapes to intensive agriculture which among the farm practices that impact the soil are the cropping systems. Information on cropping systems and soil impacts in northern territories is still missing. This study assesses the effect of different cropping systems on soil health -physical, chemical and biological soil properties and indicators of soil health - at the Lakehead Agricultural Research Station [LUARS] in northern Ontario, Canada. The study compares three cropping systems (perennial crops-pasture, grass, and annual crops -wheat, barley, corn, soybeans) and two forest areas (conifer plantation and naturally regenerating mixed wood forest) at LUARS. Soil samples were collected at different depths and analyzed for various indicators using the Cornell Soil Health Assessment framework. The results showed the soil health scores varied among cropping systems, with natural forest and perennial crops-pasture having higher scores compared to annual crops -wheat, barley, corn, soybeans. Soil organic matter was found to be lowest in annual crops -wheat, barley, corn, soybeans, while aggregate stability was highest in natural forests. The study also identifies the soil health gap, which represents the difference between the health of a particular cropping system and a benchmark. The soil health gap analysis can help farmers implement practices to improve soil health and increase the resilience and sustainability of agroecosystems. Overall, this study emphasizes the importance of understanding the effect of cropping systems on soil health and provides insights into potential strategies for improving farm practices.

Contemporary Development Discourse in Northeast India and its Impact on the Tribal Communities

Northeast India, a region characterised by great geo-political and ecological significance, is geographically divided into the plains and the hills and is home to many tribal communities that largely depend on natural resource-based livelihoods. While shifting cultivation (jhum) has been a dominant traditional system of land use among tribes both in the hills and the plains, most of them in the plains abandoned this practice on account of colonial-era encroachment. In the hills, however, shifting cultivation still plays a critical role in maintaining agricultural biodiversity and providing food security to the indigenous communities. The advent of colonial development in the region in the 19th century left a long-term impact on its natural and social landscapes. After independence, especially after the early 1960s, the hills that remained largely excluded from the process of colonial development were also brought under the development agenda of the Indian state. However, in recent times, under the neoliberal Indian state, the development discourse in the region has witnessed an unprecedentedly aggressive character seriously undermining the traditional ecology, land ownership system, livelihood and culture of the tribal communities.

Interlocking Elements to Control Erosion in Natural and Urban Ecosystems

Advancements in comprehending soil erosion alleviation, relevant to both natural terrains and urban settings, have experienced notable growth in knowledge and products. Nevertheless, the increasing influence of climate change-driven forces, extreme weather events, and human-caused actions have resulted in reduced attainment of the desired results in erosion mitigation efforts. This paper aims to investigate how interlocking elements contribute to the reduction of soil erosion in natural landscapes and urban green spaces. This will be achieved by analyzing published materials, patents, installation instructions, manuals, and reports from organizations. Furthermore, we delve into novel interlocking products and emerging strategies like soft solutions and ecologically engineered blocks designed to effectively address soil erosion within vegetated habitats while enhancing the system’s capacity to adapt and withstand shifts in climate, curbing soil loss, and diminishing the speed of water runoff, consequently mitigating the potential for erosion. Geotechnical engineering and other erosion control solutions like biobased interlocking components and interlocking permeable blocks offer promise in safeguarding natural landscapes and urban infrastructure from erosion-related impacts. The geotextiles market, for instance, which was valued at over $7 billion in 2022, is anticipated to experience an annual growth rate of 6.6% from 2023 to 2030. This growth can be attributed to increasing environmental concerns related to soil erosion and the rapid urbanization occurring in developing countries. However, continuous progress in the economic viability and sustainability of these techniques and products is crucial to effectively achieve erosion mitigation goals in the face of a shifting climate.

The contingent impact of wind farms on game mammal density demonstrated in a large-scale analysis of hunting bag data in Poland

Wind farms are still developing dynamically worldwide, with promising prospects for further growth. Therefore, the assessment of their impact on animals has been carried out. So far, few studies have been conducted on game mammals, and their results are divergent. Previous studies on the impact of wind farms on game species were typically based on regional research covering one or, at most, several wind farms. In this study, we aimed to verify the effect of wind farms on the density of game mammals through a large-scale analysis at the country level, using lowland Poland as an example. The study was based on hunting bag data from open-field hunting districts. It covered seven game species: roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), wild boar (Sus scrofa), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides), European badger (Meles meles), European polecat (Mustela putorius), and European hare (Lepus europaeus). We used Corine Land Cover to account for differences in land cover and the area covered by wind farms in generalized linear mixed models. The study showed that in agricultural landscapes, mainly herbivorous species of game mammals were related to land cover types. These species tend to exhibit higher densities in agricultural areas containing more natural landscape features. Conversely, mesocarnivores are primarily driven by the abundance of prey with little to no observable effects from land cover types. Only roe deer and wild boar presented lower densities with an increase in the area covered by wind farms (for roe deer: estimate: − 0.05, 95% CI: − 0.1–0.0; for wild boar: estimate: − 0.03, 95% CI: − 0.11–0.05), while no effect was observed for mesocarnivores or European hare. The underlying reasons for these relationships remain unclear and require more specific studies. The uncertainty regarding the cause of the observed effects did not allow for a large-scale assessment of the impact of further wind energy development on the studied game mammals.

Ecosystem services driving factors and ecological conservation pattern construction, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Given that the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP) is an important ecological security barrier in western China, changes in its ecosystem services (ESs) have received attention. Using multivariate datas and model simulations, we evaluated the ESs of the QTP, revealed their driving factors, and constructed ecological conservation pattern based on ecosystem services index (ESI) and ecosystem sensitivity (ES). The results showed that: (1) The overall ESs of the QTP from 2000 to 2020 were positive, with a spatial distribution characteristic of decreasing from southeast to northwest. Forest and grassland were the key land use types promoting ESs. (2) Natural factors had a stronger influence on ESs than socioeconomic factors, with precipitation, FVC (Fractional Vegetation Cover) and NPP (Net Primary Productivity) had the strongest explanatory power for ESs. (3) The proportion of the collaborative development area (CDA), consolidation and enhancement area (CEA) and priority protection area (PPA) to the total area of the QTP was 19%, 56% and 25% respectively. The CDA should follow the concept of natural restoration and green development. The CEA should optimize the management system and do a good job of environmental management in combination with artificial restoration. The PPA should strictly prevent disturbances caused by human activities and protect the originality of natural landscapes such as glaciers, snow and permafrost.

Imagining rural landscapes: Making sense of a contemporary landscape identity complex in the Netherlands

Periods of accelerated societal change in European history have disrupted gradual alteration in the landscape, creating breaks with the past. This has led to, what we refer to as, the contemporary landscape identity complex in the Netherlands. Composed of dissonant narratives surrounding the landscape that play out on the societal level, the contemporary landscape identity complex may create tensions that can obstruct conservation efforts. In this article, we map out this complex. Three narrative clusters, distilled from literature and supplemented by interviews, aid in understanding the tension regarding the future of the Dutch contemporary rural landscape, namely: ‘the utilitarian narrative’, ‘the romantic narrative’, and ‘the eco-scientific narrative’. The contemporary landscape identity complex is fed by these narratives, specifically through how rural landscapes are imagined and discussed, as opposed to how they are lived and acted upon. The way such narratives play out in practice is further investigated through a case study on the ‘Bommelerwaard’, an area in the south-central of the Netherlands. From our results, we propose a pathway to reconcile the contemporary landscape identity complex towards a landscape conservation ethic that allows for a co-existence of a diversity of images and ideas about (semi-) natural landscapes.

Estimating sediment delivery ratio using the RUSLE-IC-SDR approach at a complex landscape: A case study at the Lower Snowy River area, Australia

Understanding the dynamics of sediment transport and deposition in natural landscapes is critical to developing cost-effective mitigation measures to control soil erosion and protect ecosystems. However, none of a single existing model can quantify sediment delivery ratio (SDR) and the impact factors such as vegetation and geomorphology, especially in a complex landscape. In this case study, we applied an integrated approach including the revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) and the index of connectivity (IC) to assess hillslope erosion and SDR, namely RUSLE-IC-SDR, across a complex landscape in the Lower Snowy River area, Australia. The RUSLE factors were derived from a high-resolution (2 m) digital elevation model (DEM), digital soil maps, high-resolution rainfall data and remotely sensed fractional vegetation cover. A seven-class landform classification was delineated from the high-resolution DEM using a fuzzy logic landform model (FLAG). We further examined the impacts of rainfall, vegetation cover and geomorphology on sediment dynamics and distribution across the study area. Field and laboratory data from 10 plot sites across the study area were collected and used for model validation. This case study showed that the RUSLE-IC-SDR approach can assess the overall sediment budget and the impacts of rainfall, vegetation cover and geomorphology across a complex landscape. Findings from this study can identify and track the areas likely to generate high sediment yield for developing ecological restoration, feral animal management and other catchment management measures.

Fungal community characteristics of the last remaining habitat of three paphiopedilum species in China.

Paphiopedilum armeniacum, Paphiopedilum wenshanense and Paphiopedilum emersonii are critically endangered wild orchids. Their populations are under severe threat, with a dramatic decline in the number of their natural distribution sites. Ex situ conservation and artificial breeding are the keys to maintaining the population to ensure the success of ex situ conservation and field return in the future. The habitat characteristics and soil nutrient information of the last remaining wild distribution sites of the three species were studied. ITS high-throughput sequencing was used to reveal the composition and structure of the soil fungal community, analyze its diversity and functional characteristics, and reveal its relationship with soil nutrients. The three species preferred to grow on low-lying, ventilated and shaded declivities with good water drainage. There were significant differences in soil alkali-hydrolyzed nitrogen and available phosphorus among the three species. There were 336 fungal species detected in the samples. On average, there were different dominant groups in the soil fungal communities of the three species. The functional groups of soil fungi within their habitats were dominated by saprophytic fungi and ectomycorrhizae, with significant differences in diversity and structure. The co-occurrence network of habitat soil fungi was mainly positive. Soil pH significantly affected soil fungal diversity within their habitats of the three paphiopedilum species. The study confirmed that the dominant groups of soil fungi were significantly correlated with soil nutrients. The three species exhibit comparable habitat inclinations, yet they display substantial variations in the composition, structure, and diversity of soil fungi. The fungal functional group is characterized by a rich presence of saprophytic fungi, a proliferation of ectomycorrhizae, and a modest occurrence of orchid mycorrhizae. The symbiotic interactions among the soil fungi associated with these three species are well-coordinated, enhancing their resilience against challenging environmental conditions. There is a significant correlation between soil environmental factors and the composition of soil fungal communities, with pH emerging as a pivotal factor regulating fungal diversity. Our research into the habitat traits and soil fungal ecosystems of the three wild Paphiopedilum species has established a cornerstone for prospective ex situ conservation measures and the eventual reestablishment of these species in their native landscapes.

Образ Италии в аспекте «фронтирного восприятия» в «итальянских» очерках С. П. Шевырева

The research aims to characterize the features of building the image of Italy in S. P. Shevyrev’s travel essays in the aspect of “frontier perception”. The scientific novelty of the paper is determined by the insufficient study of the topic of Italy in Shevyrev’s works and by the attention to the “frontier aspect” of Italy’s image in Shevyrev’s artistic consciousness. The paper traces the influence of the concepts of J. G. Herder (on the interconnectedness of cultures of different peoples in the synchronic and diachronic contexts of history) and J. J. Winckelmann (on the influence of climate on the appearance of the people) on the ethnopoetics of Shevyrev’s travel prose. The research identifies and describes a number of positions in which Shevyrev brings together the culture of Italy and Russia (characteristics of the natural and urban landscape; architectural features of buildings; details of material culture; folk traditions). The idea is justified that the traveler, comparing “his own” and “foreign”, is in the cultural “frontier zone”, which is reflected in his travel notes. The research contributes to the study of S. P. Shevyrev’s creative work, to the exploration of the travel prose of the first half of the 19th century. In addition, using the “frontier” approach expands the range of methodological directions for the study of travel literature.

Multi-function vortex array radar

In the realm of automation systems, multi-function radars serve as essential sensory components for self-driving vehicles and airbornes. Effective resource allocation management is crucial, requiring a high level of versatility to accomplish multiple tasks, especially, for increasingly miniaturized hardware. Here, we advance a balanced protocol for detecting, positioning, and tracking moving targets in real-time. Our protocol integrates efficient data processing methods with robust hardware. Specifically, detection signals are modulated by optical vortices for imaging, and real time processing of the image field facilitates target positioning and tracking. Moreover, the protocol extends its utility to serve as a topographic laser profiling system for natural landscapes, highlighting its adaptability. This adaptability and versatility well position the proposed protocol to support a wide range of applications, spanning self-driving vehicles and aerial systems, underscoring its potential significance across multiple platforms.

The effect of investments in recreational trail development on trail-related business operations and profitability: a case study of Northern Ireland

ABSTRACT In nature-based tourism (NBT), recreational trails may play an important role for sustainable recreation and local communities’ development. Therefore, development of the trail-related tourism sector is essential, in particular through successful trail-related business operations. However, trail-related businesses as one of the key stakeholders have been neglected in decision-making processes. Therefore, this research note studied trail-related business perceptions of environmental and recreational amenities and estimated projected effects of investments in trail-related recreation on business operations and profitability. Businesses see natural and recreational landscapes as being the most important. Branding and marketing was viewed as the highest priority attribute of trail investments. The feedback from business was shown to be essential for local economic development since it ensures maximized efficiency of investments. Implications were suggested for enhanced sustainable trail destination development and management.

Development of a pharmacy technician training program and advanced pharmacy technician roles: A health system's journey amidst an evolving national practice landscape.

In an effort to expedite the publication of articles, AJHP is posting manuscripts online as soon as possible after acceptance. Accepted manuscripts have been peer-reviewed and copyedited, but are posted online before technical formatting and author proofing. These manuscripts are not the final version of record and will be replaced with the final article (formatted per AJHP style and proofed by the authors) at a later time.

Impact of coastal erosion and landscape changes on place attachment and the sense of belongingness: a case study in Oluvil, Sri Lanka

Oluvil is a coastal village on the east coast of Sri Lanka with significant resources of fisheries and agricultural lands. The coastal community of Oluvil has a strong socio-cultural and economic attachment to its natural landscape. The community relies heavily on fishing and agriculture for their economic activities, with the vast coastal lands and rich marine resources providing the main source of livelihood. The haphazard development of the fishery and commercial harbour in 2008 resulted in coastal erosion and related landscape changes. This highly impacted the sensitive coastal belt in the region, resulting in many environmental and social issues. This paper investigates the social impact associated with the related negative environmental changes. The research revealed a significant negative impact on income, livelihood, resources and property due to severe coastal erosion. These economic impacts and landscape changes negatively influenced the cultural identity, social dynamics, social structure and interactions, resulting in the loss of place attachment and the sense of belongingness.

Mapping the susceptibility to freeze-thaw deterioration and regionalization of freeze-thaw environments of earthen sites in China: A preliminary study

Earthen sites in China are widely exposed to freeze-thaw environments. There is a lack of knowledge about the spatial distribution patterns of freeze-thaw deterioration and environments, as well as preventive conservation strategies and subsequent refined research on the freeze-thaw deterioration of earthen sites. In this study, the freeze-thaw deterioration process of earthen sites was divided into two periods. Thirteen relevant factors were selected, and using the GIS-FAHP method, a susceptibility map for freeze-thaw deterioration of earthen sites in China was created. The Jenks Natural Breaks method was then employed to categorize the areas into five susceptibility levels: very low (24.6 %), low (18.2 %), moderate (24.2 %), high (18.2 %) and very high (14.8 %). Based on the susceptibility map, the three-level regionalization scheme for freeze-thaw environments of earthen sites in China was systematically developed, taking into account the differences in freeze-thaw deterioration susceptibility and natural landscape within the geomorphological units, and the environmental codes were assigned to third level small-regions. The freeze-thaw environments of earthen sites in China were finally divided into 5 major-regions, 20 sub-regions and 42 small-regions. The results showed that in the area east of the Heihe-Tengchong line, the susceptibility to freeze-thaw deterioration showed latitudinal correlation, and the susceptibility gradually increased from south to north; in the area west of the Heihe-Tengchong line, the susceptibility to freeze-thaw deterioration exhibited strong zonal characteristics. Among the provincial administrative units, Gansu Province and Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region have the most complex freeze-thaw environments, while Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan and Heilongjiang Provinces have the harshest freeze-thaw environments. This study can support regional management and prevention of freeze-thaw deterioration and deterioration studies of earthen sites in China.

Rectangling and enhancing underwater stitched image via content-aware warping and perception balancing

Single underwater images often face limitations in field-of-view and visual perception due to scattering and absorption. Numerous image stitching techniques have attempted to provide a wider viewing range, but the resulting stitched images may exhibit unsightly irregular boundaries. Unlike natural landscapes, the absence of reliable high-fidelity references in water complicates the replicability of these deep learning-based methods, leading to unpredictable distortions in cross-domain applications. To address these challenges, we propose an Underwater Wide-field Image Rectangling and Enhancement (UWIRE) framework that incorporates two procedures, i.e., the R-procedure and E-procedure, both of which employ self-coordinated modes, requiring only a single underwater stitched image as input. The R-procedure rectangles the irregular boundaries in stitched images by employing the initial shape resizing and mesh-based image preservation warping. Instead of local linear constraints, we use complementary optimization of boundary–structure–content to ensure a natural appearance with minimal distortion. The E-procedure enhances the rectangled image by employing parameter-adaptive correction to balance information distribution across channels. We further propose an attentive weight-guided fusion method to balance the perception of color restoration, contrast enhancement, and texture sharpening in a complementary manner. Comprehensive experiments demonstrate the superior performance of our UWIRE framework over state-of-the-art image rectangling and enhancement methods, both in quantitative and qualitative evaluation.

Impact of natural views on mental health during COVID-19 quarantine: A natural experiment

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the daily lives of people, and countries worldwide have implemented public health measures that restricted social contact and interactions. Individuals in isolation displayed increased mental health issues, for whom windows are a crucial means of connecting with the outside world. However, few studies have discussed the effect of having a window view on the mental health of individuals in quarantine. This study uses a natural experiment to address this knowledge gap. Between January 27, 2022 and June 19, 2022, individuals in Taiwan who were assigned to quarantine hotel room with various window views were recruited through Facebook groups. Participants completed a baseline assessment at the beginning of their quarantine period that included room and window conditions and mental health conditions, followed by a posttest assessment of the same mental health measures. Questions related to window conditions included the proportions of natural and urban landscapes viewable from their hotel windows, human activities they could observe (flow of people), and their viewshed broadness. Subsequently, this study investigated how visual access to greenness influenced the positive mental health, depression, and stress of the participants before and during quarantine. In total, 81 participants participated. The results of this study indicated that viewing vegetation and the ratio of windows to walls were associated with improved mental health, reduced symptoms of depression, and reduced stress. Specifically, an open view in the room was associated with lower levels of depression (p < 0.001) and stress (p < 0.000). Additionally, viewing people through windows was associated with reduced depressive symptoms (p < 0.006). The results of this study can inform policies for pandemic containment, but also broadly for health care, hospitals, and other related fields.

LAND GOVERNANCE; FACTS AND EFFECTS. CASE OF THE CITY OF TAHER (WILAYA OF JIJEL IN EASTERN ALGERIA)

All religious laws and man-made laws call for the preservation and sustainability of natural resources, including land as an irreplaceable element.Compliance of land use with the guidelines of development and town planning instruments is a basic principle in land use. This rule of good governance leads to the protection of the environment, natural resources and the preservation of the natural, cultural and socio-economic heritage marking a given territory. Aware of this reality, the Algerian state anticipated this problem early on through the promulgation of laws and regulations governing territorial management, the occupation of urban land and the protection of the environment within the framework of sustainable development.However, the divide between land allocations and its use on the scale of certain urban areas on the eastern outskirts of the city of Jijel gives food for thought on the reliability and feasibility of urban planning instruments in the control of land management. . This deficiency is manifested by the disorderly extension of the built environment, the consumption of natural, forest and agricultural space. This trend, accompanied by the increase in population, generates increasing needs for equipment and amenities and difficulties in the management of all types of waste produced.Taking the case of the city of Taher as a study framework, the decadence of heritage wealth (social way of life, agricultural activities, low population and construction density, hygiene and environmental balance) can increase on board be noticed in view of the areas withdrawn annually from natural landscapes and agriculture. In order to control urbanization and meet the needs for individual housing, the municipality of Taher has planned several subdivisions in accordance with the town planning plan. Despite the fact that the majority of designated land bases are of a public legal nature, these operations for individual residential use have been abandoned under the effect of constraints and disputes. As a result, the land areas in question are invaded by constructions which do not necessarily meet town planning standards and land use rules.

Climate and natural risks of the settlement of Yuzhno-Ussuriysk fortress area

The paleogeographic study of one of the large Medieval settlements of the Jin Empire (1115–1234) in the Primorye was carried out in order to analyze the minor climatic rhythm during the settlement of a large river valley. New data on the chronology of the settlement were obtained using radiocarbon dating of charcoal and tephrostratigraphy. It was established that the territory began to be developed by the Krounovskaya culture (4th century BC to the 3rd century AD) under relatively dry conditions associated with a decrease in the summer monsoon intensity. In the 10th century the humidity increased sharply. The peak of warming occurred in the 11th century. At this time Medieval settlement appeared here, that existed before the construction of the fortress. The layers of this settlement lie under the ramparts. The study of pollen and diatoms in the cultural layers has allowed us to determine the characteristics of the environment during the Jurchen period (12th–13th centuries). Radiocarbon dating of the humus shows that the cultural layers contain redeposited organogenic material, which provides information on the pre-Jurchen environment. It has been established that significant changes in the natural steppe landscapes occurred in the early Middle Ages. Pollen data show signs of agriculture and other economic activities, including the plants’ cultivation, the development of ruderal plants and apophytes, as well as spores of pathogenic fungi. During the development of the territory in the Middle Ages, the main risks were associated with severe floods. Layers of loams found among the cultural layers indicate the repeated flooding of the fortress. Bioindicators of severe floods are allochthonous diatoms, represented by species that lived in the aquatic environment.

What facilitates the socio-spatial reattachment after a disaster? A sense of place approach

Disasters disrupt the socio-spatial bonds of the people and communities that they affect. Even though there is a large body of research on the impacts that these events produce, we know less about how people reconnect to transformed environments. To understand how the re-establishment of ties is experienced, in this study, we examine how sense of place develops in post-disaster settings. We conducted 18 group interviews and 80 walking interviews (n = 205), distributed across three cases of emblematic disasters in Chile caused by a volcanic eruption, an earthquake and tsunami, and a fire. We used thematic analysis to examine these interviews. Results show that sense of place, in connection with the re-establishment of bonds, is produced in the assemblage of natural, material, personal, and community aspects, grouped into three major topics: appropriation of space, opening of the self, and community activation. We discuss the relevance of natural landscapes and socio-ecological networks for well-being, as well as the need to address the psychosocial working-through dimension in reconstruction policies. We conclude that sense of place is an integrative theoretical-analytic tool that makes it possible to examine the configurations of socio-spatial reattachment in individuals affected by disasters.