Optimal Land Use Research Articles

The Impact of Built Environment on Mixed Land Use: Evidence from Xi’an

Mixed land use is recognized as a crucial strategy for enhancing urban vitality and promoting urban renewal. While existing research has mainly focused on measuring mixed land use along single dimensions, there remains a notable gap in studies that explore multidimensional measurements and their impacts at the block scale. This study introduces a multidimensional mixed-degree index based on diverse data sources such as POI and land use status to comprehensively assess mixed land use levels at the block scale in Xi’an’s central urban area. Additionally, a multiple linear regression model is applied to analyze how the built environment influences mixed land use. Findings reveal that mixed land use at the block scale can be objectively evaluated across three dimensions: quantity, distance, and attribute. In Xi’an, mixed land use demonstrates a spatial distribution characterized by core agglomeration and concentric decline. The study highlights that block area and road network density significantly influence mixed land use, with block area negatively impacting it the most and road network density positively affecting it secondarily. These insights provide valuable guidance for optimizing land use practices and promoting high-quality urban development.

Land Use Change and Ecosystem Service Value Measurement in the Peak Cluster Depression Basin in Southwest Guangxi Under Simulated Multiple Scenarios

Simulating the changes in ecosystem service value induced by land use changes in the peak cluster depression basin of southwestern Guangxi under multiple scenarios is of great importance for ensuring ecological security in the basin and enhancing regional ecosystem service value capabilities. Based on the CA-Logistic-Markov model, the land use of the study area was simulated under natural development, food security, and ecological protection scenarios in 2030. The ecosystem service value was calculated under each scenario using the equivalent factor correction model, and the spatiotemporal dynamic characteristics of the ecosystem service value in the peak cluster depression basin of southwestern Guangxi were quantitatively analyzed. The results showed as follows： ① Compared with the current situation of land use in 2020 and the predicted simulated land use in 2020, the standard Kappa index was 0.917, the location Kappa index was 0.952, and the numerical Kappa index was 0.958. In the simulation of the land use pattern of the peak cluster basin in southwest Guangxi in 2030, the CA-Markov model had high accuracy and reference-ability. ② Ecosystem service values in the study area for the periods 2000-2020 were 270.881 billion, 275.78 billion, and 278.332 billion yuan, indicating an overall upward trend. ③ The value of ecosystem services in the natural development, the food security, and the ecological protection scenarios was 282 138 million, 273 206 million, and 284 143 million, respectively. The study area exhibited a spatial distribution of ecosystem service values with higher values in the northwest and lower values in the southeast. In comparison to that in 2020, the ecosystem service value significantly decreased under the food security scenario, reflecting ecosystem degradation. Meanwhile, ecosystem service values increased under the natural development and ecological protection scenarios, signifying an improvement in ecological environmental quality. ④ Ecosystem service value hot spots and cold spots with high confidence had strong clustering and the hot spots were mainly concentrated in the northwestern mountainous area, whereas the cold spots with high confidence were mainly distributed in the southeastern plain area of the study area. The research results revealed the spatiotemporal pattern of land use change and ecosystem service value in the peak cluster depression basin of southwestern Guangxi under multiple scenarios, which can provide scientific basis for optimizing land use structure and spatial pattern and enhancing ecosystem services.

Assessment of Land Suitability for Enhancing Key Crop Commodities: Pineapple, Coffee, and Mango

This study aims to evaluate land suitability for enhancing the production of key crop commodities in Ngancar District, Kediri Regency, particularly pineapple, coffee, and mango. The district has high soil fertility potential due to its location at the foot of Mount Kelud. The research methods include land surveys, soil sampling at depths of 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm, and laboratory analysis to measure soil physical and chemical properties. Results indicate that the land in the study area generally falls into the marginal suitability class (S3), with the main limiting factors being soil texture dominated by sandy loam, low K₂O levels, and high rainfall that affects pineapple growth. Slope gradient is also a limiting factor for coffee and mango cultivation. Adjustments in soil management, such as timely fertilization and planting crops with strong root systems, can improve the land's suitability potential. In conclusion, although the land in Ngancar District has certain limitations, optimizing land use can enhance the productivity of key commodities, particularly through improved soil management and appropriate fertilizer use. Keywords: Crop commodities, Land Assessment, Land Degradation, Mount Kelud.

Assessing Carbon Sequestration and Biomass Distribution across Diverse Land Use Types in Ban Krang Subdistrict, Phitsanulok Province

This study investigates carbon dioxide (CO₂) sequestration and biomass distribution across various plant components and land use types in Ban Krang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Phitsanulok Province, with the goal of enhancing carbon management strategies. Field surveys were conducted using 14 plots of 40x40 meters to quantify biomass and estimate CO₂ sequestration across different vegetation types. The findings reveal an average CO₂ sequestration of 122.81 Ton ha⁻¹, with aboveground biomass, particularly stems, contributing the most to carbon storage. Notably, abandoned perennial crops and mixed perennial crops demonstrated the highest sequestration rates, at 657.94 Ton ha⁻¹ and 613.00 Ton ha⁻¹, respectively. In contrast, agricultural lands such as rice paddies and cassava plantations exhibited the lowest sequestration rates, though rice paddies contributed the highest total CO₂ sequestration, amounting to 61,119.71 Tons, due to their extensive area. The study highlights the critical role of diverse and dense vegetation, particularly perennial crops, in maximizing carbon sequestration. It also underscores the potential for improving carbon storage in agricultural lands through better land management practices. The results suggest that targeted strategies should prioritize high-sequestration land use types while also enhancing carbon storage in low-sequestration areas. By optimizing land use and management practices, the region can significantly increase its carbon storage capacity, contributing to climate change mitigation and promoting long-term ecological sustainability. These insights are crucial for formulating effective carbon management strategies in Ban Krang Subdistrict, as well as in other comparable regions.

Unveiling the nexus of scientific plans and real-world outcomes: A comparative analysis of land use optimization and agent-based simulation results in a natural landscape

Sustainable land management requires balancing the socio-economic needs of local communities with land conservation. Effective land management programs hinge on how well plans align with the demands and actions of land users in natural landscapes. This study aimed to create optimized land use plans for a Jahan-Nama protected area in Iran as the initial step, followed by simulating stakeholder plans and conducting a comparative analysis. A combination of compromise programming and a simulated annealing algorithm, alongside an agent-based model (ABM) to simulate stakeholder preferences, was employed for land use optimization. The study compared the outcomes of eight optimized scenarios that considered both socio-economic needs (social, economic) and environmental sustainability (environmental), along with stakeholder preferences reflected in multi-objective scenarios with varying priorities and a single-use livestock grazing scenario. Findings revealed that the grazing scenario (single-use) offered the highest employment rate (201 individuals) within the study area, but had the lowest economic efficiency (profitability ratio: 13.38). Additionally, the grazing scenario exhibited the highest water consumption (42,200 L/day) and the highest erosion rate compared to the other scenarios. Conversely, the beekeeping and ecotourism scenario emerged as the most economically efficient (profitability ratio: 46.31) with the lowest water consumption (23,000 L/day). Among the scenarios examined, the highest level of agreement was observed for the simulated sites chosen by beekeepers and the beekeeping and ecotourism (BTP) scenario (Kappa = 0.176). Conversely, the economic scenario (EC) had the lowest agreement with the beekeepers' selected sites (Kappa = 0.135). In terms of ecotourism, the results indicated the highest agreement between the tourists' sites and the ecotourism and recreational scenario (Kappa = 0.332 in single-agent mode and 0.405 in multi-agent mode). On the other hand, the livestock grazing scenario had the lowest level of agreement with the tourists' selected sites (Kappa = 0.282 in single-agent mode and 0.362 in multi-agent mode).

Techno‐Economic and Agricultural Best Practices for Increasing the Efficiency of Bioenergy Companies: Mixed Method for the Optimization of Land Use in Brazil and Australia

ABSTRACTThis study proposes techno‐economic and agricultural best practices for increasing the efficiency of bioenergy companies. A mixed method was developed for increasing efficiency through the application of a two‐stage data envelopment analysis (DEA), followed by a multiple case study. The efficiency concept model was based on the capacity of a sugarcane grower to maximize the production of sugarcane per planted area, while minimizing the generation of mineral and vegetable impurities. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify the variables that exerted a major influence on the performance of the bioenergy companies. The quantitative approach developed here pointed to the identification of six variables that served as the basis for the qualitative stage of this research project. Through qualitative analysis, five other relevant variables were identified: cultivation activities, sugarcane renewal, edaphoclimatic factors, sugarcane genetic variety, and irrigation systems. Based on the identified variables, multiple case studies were conducted in Brazil and Australia to identify best practices that should yield superior results in terms of techno‐economic and agricultural efficiency. One hundred best practices were identified and grouped according to the stages of the sugarcane production process and each category of technology, agricultural, and management practices. Most best practices were related to two specific stages of the sugarcane production process: (i) crop development and (ii) harvesting. Although Australia presented a greater concentration of best technology and agricultural practices, Brazil presented a greater concentration of best management practices, highlighting the potential and characteristics of each producing region. Thus, the results provide fundamental information for managers to make decisions and prioritize key factors that contribute most significantly to increasing the agricultural productivity of planted areas. Finally, as a practical contribution, a free online platform was developed for self‐assessment of adherence to best practices by growers and an implementation methodology to increase efficiency in sugarcane production.

Assessing and Predicting Spatiotemporal Alterations in Land-Use Carbon Emission and Its Implications to Carbon-Neutrality Target: A Case Study of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region

Optimizing land use and management are pivotal for mitigating land use-related carbon emissions. Current studies are less focused on the influence of development policies and spatial planning on carbon emissions from land use. This research employs the future land use simulation (FLUS) model to project land-use alterations under the business-as-usual (BAU) and low-carbon ecological security (LCES) scenarios. It assesses and predicts spatiotemporal characteristics of land-use carbon emissions in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region across urban agglomerations, cities, counties, and grids from 2000 to 2030. The influence of low-carbon policy is assessed by comparing the land-use carbon emissions between scenarios. The findings demonstrate that: (1) Urban agglomeration-wise, Beijing’s land-use carbon emissions and intensities peaked and declined, while Tianjin and Hebei’s continued to rise. (2) City-wise, central urban areas generally have higher carbon emissions intensities than non-central areas. (3) County-wise, in 2030, high carbon-intensity counties cluster near development axes. Still, the BAU scenario has a larger carbon emission intensity and a greater range of higher intensities. (4) Grid-wise, in 2030, the BAU scenario shows a clear substitution of heavy carbon emission zones for medium ones, and the LCES scenario shows a clear substitution of carbon sequestration zones for light carbon emission zones. Our methodology and findings can optimize spatial planning and carbon reduction policies in the BTH urban agglomeration and similar contexts.

Strategi Pengembangan dan Penataan Kawasan Permukiman Kumuh Kota Pekanbaru

This research aims to analyze the development strategy and arrangement of slum areas in Pekanbaru City. The problem of slums in this city is increasingly urgent due to rapid population growth and uncontrolled urbanization. The research method includes a qualitative approach with a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis technique to identify internal and external factors that affect the arrangement of slum areas. This research uses the development strategies theory of Richard Rumelt. The results show that effective strategies include empowering the community and strengthening the role of Government, optimizing land use, and improving access to basic infrastructure. It is expected that with these strategies, the quality of life of people in slum areas can improve and create a habitable, sustainable, and integrated settlement environment with overall city planning. This research provides policy recommendations relevant to the local Government to overcome the problems of slum areas in Pekanbaru, emphasizing the importance of community involvement.

Urban land use optimization prediction considering carbon neutral development goals: a case study of Taihu Bay Core area in China

BackgroundGiven the increasing commitment of numerous nations to achieving future carbon neutrality, urban development planning that integrating carbon storage considerations plays a crucial role in enhancing urban carbon efficiency and promoting regional sustainable development. Previous studies have indicated that optimizing land use structure and quality is essential for regional carbon storage management. Taking the core area of Taihu Bay as study area, this study innovatively combined high-precision urban 3D data to account for the whole urban carbon pools of buildings, vegetation, soils, water. Then, multi-objective linear programming model and PLUS (Patch-generating Land Use Simulation) model were applied at patch scale to assess and compare carbon storage in various scenarios, considering both carbon storage maximization and urban development requirements.ResultsThe results were presented as follows. (1) Urban woodland carbon pool accounts for only a fraction of total carbon pool, and the role of soil and building carbon pools cannot be ignored. (2) Compared with the current situation, the carbon-growth optimized scenario will lead to the increase of total carbon storage by 38,568.31 tons. (3) Carbon-growth optimized scenario has reduced carbon storage in Woodland, Cropland, Village, Water compared to the Natural growth scenario, but has increased carbon storage in Garden plots, Street, Urban district, Town and other areas.ConclusionsTherefore, we find that for fast-growing cities, rationally planning built-up areas and woodland areas can achieve the twin goals of economic development and maximizing regional carbon storage. Furthermore, the implementation of new energy policies and projects such as green roofs can help to achieve regional carbon neutrality. The study provides new insights into the accounting of carbon pools within cities and the simulation of fine-grained land use planning based on the dual objectives of carbon stock maximization and urban development.

Diseño y evaluación de sistemas AgroPV en zonas agrícolas de Colombia

In the context of climate change and increasing demand for food and energy, agricultural and energy sustainability faces economic, logistical, and environmental challenges. In traditional food and energy production, limited resources such as water and soil are contested, and factors to mitigate their environmental impact are not considered. In this context, replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is a crucial alternative in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Agrophotovoltaic technology (AgroPV) is positioned as an effective mediator between the energy and agricultural sectors, allowing the shared use of land for energy and food production. This innovation not only increases soil use efficiency and reduces water consumption but also strengthens crop resilience to climate change and offers a new source of income for farmers. Therefore, this article proposes a methodology for the design of AgroPV systems in agricultural areas of Colombia, addressing the selection of the study area, its technical and economic characterization, the identification of impacts, opportunities, and barriers, and its potential for massification. The results highlight that the designed AgroPV system can diversify agricultural income, contribute to carbon neutrality, increase crop resilience to climate change, improve food security, and optimize land use.

Ecosystem Services’ Response to Land Use Intensity: A Case Study of the Hilly and Gully Region in China’s Loess Plateau

The hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau represents one of China’s most ecologically vulnerable landscapes, characterized by severe soil erosion, intensive land use, and pronounced disturbances to the structure and functionality of ecosystem services. Taking Zichang City as a case study, this research integrates grid-scale analysis with the InVEST-PLUS model and bivariate spatial autocorrelation techniques to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics and inter-relations of four critical ecosystem services—carbon storage, water yield, biodiversity, and soil retention—under varying land use intensity scenarios from 1990 to 2035. The findings indicate that (1) between 1990 and 2020, land use intensity in Zichang City steadily declined, exhibiting a spatial distribution pattern typified by central-area clustering and gradual peripheral transitions. (2) Across three development scenarios, the spatial distribution of the four ecosystem services aligned with the patterns observed in 2020, with central areas showing pronounced fluctuations, whereas peripheral regions experienced relatively minor changes. Specifically, from 1990 to 2020, the proportion of low-carbon storage areas increased by 2.89%, and high water yield areas expanded by 9.45%, while the shares of low habitat quality and low soil retention areas decreased by 5.59% and 6.25%, respectively. (3) A significant spatial autocorrelation was observed between land use intensity and the four ecosystem services, with widespread cold and hot spots reflecting dynamic spatial clustering patterns. These results offer valuable insights for optimizing land use strategies, improving ecosystem service performance, and advancing ecological conservation and sustainable development initiatives.

The Identification of Land Use Conflicts and Policy Implications for Donghai County Based on the “Production–Living–Ecological” Functions

The rapid development of urbanization has continuously encroached on people’s living space and ecological space, leading to an imbalance in territorial spatial functions. Identifying potential land use conflicts and optimizing land use structure are conducive to carrying out territorial spatial planning rationally. In this paper, we adopt the suitability assessment method to evaluate the suitability of land for production, living, and ecological functions and then use the land use conflict identification matrix to identify land use conflicts in Donghai County and make relevant suggestions according to the intensity of land use conflicts. The results of this study show the following: (1) the areas of suitable land use zones, strong conflict zones, medium conflict zones, and weak conflict zones in Donghai County are, respectively, 58.83%, 10.62%, 26.31%, and 4.24%. (2) The spatial distribution differences in the different conflict zones could determine the pertinence of conflict mitigation and spatial planning. In the process of the urbanization of Donghai County, ecological environmental protection is still the top priority. (3) It is necessary to economically and intensively use construction land, improving its fine management level. Land use efficiency should be maximized, and the spatial distribution of national territory should be reasonably optimized while strengthening the guiding role of planning. This study addresses land conflicts from the perspective of spatial planning rather than economic behavior. It also provides significant insight into land use layout at the county level, which is exactly what China is exploring in the new era.

Assessing the impact of overhead agrivoltaic systems on GNSS signal performance for precision agriculture

Agrivoltaic systems, which integrate solar energy production with agricultural practices, present a sustainable solution to optimize land use. However, specific configurations, such as overhead solar panels, can obstruct Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, which are vital for precision agriculture technologies. This study investigates the impact of an agrivoltaic system on GNSS signal performance compared to a conventional orchard in Kressbronn am Bodensee, Germany, using data from multiple GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou). Key metrics such as carrier-to-noise density ratio (C/N₀), positional accuracy, time to first fix (TTFF), and dilution of precision (DOP) were analyzed. The results showed significant signal degradation under the overhead agrivoltaic system, particularly in C/N₀ and positional accuracy. While there were no significant differences in DOP metrics or TTFF, the average C/N₀ decreased from 30.62 dB-Hz in the conventional orchard to 26.92 dB-Hz in the agrivoltaic system. Moreover, the average of satellites with C/N₀ values below 24 dB-Hz was notably higher in the agrivoltaic area, indicating critical signal degradation. In addition, relying on a single constellation, like GPS, may not provide enough satellites for reliable GNSS performance.Despite the lower signal quality, the average number of satellites with C/N₀ above 24 dB-Hz remained over 22 in both areas. Combined with slight or no significant differences in other metrics compared to the conventional orchard, this suggests GNSS-based systems can support precision agriculture tasks within the agrivoltaic environment. The study highlights the importance of addressing signal interference to avoid hindering the integration of drones, robots, and other advanced technologies in agrivoltaics management, and suggests alternative solutions, such as Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) correction or Simultaneous Localization and Mapping (SLAM) techniques, to enhance performance. These findings are critical as agrivoltaic adoption grows, requiring a balance between solar energy production and the operational needs of precision agriculture.

Identification of Land Use Conflict Based on Multi-Scenario Simulation—Taking the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration as an Example

Land use conflict is an inevitable and objective phenomenon during regional development, with significant impacts on both regional economic growth and ecological security. Scientifically assessing the spatiotemporal evolution of these conflicts is essential to optimize land use structures and promote sustainable resource utilization. This study employs multi-period land use/land cover remote sensing data from China to develop a model for the measurement of land use conflict from the perspective of the landscape ecological risk. By applying the optimal landscape scale method to determine the most appropriate analysis scale, this research investigates the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of land use conflicts in the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration from 2000 to 2020. Furthermore, by integrating the Patch-Generating Land Use Simulation (PLUS) model with the Multi-Objective Programming (MOP) algorithm, this study simulates the spatial patterns of land use conflict in 2030 under four scenarios: Natural Development (ID), Economic Development (ED), Ecological Conservation (PD), and Sustainable Development (SD). The findings reveal that, from 2000 to 2020, the proportion of areas with strong and moderately strong conflict levels in the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration increased by 2.19%, while the proportion of areas with weak and moderately weak conflict levels decreased by 1.45%, underscoring the growing severity of land use conflict. The predictions for 2030 suggest that the spatial pattern of conflict under various scenarios will largely reflect the trends observed in 2020. Under the ID scenario, areas with weak and moderately weak conflict levels constitute 57.5% of the region; this increases by 0.85% under the SD scenario. Conversely, areas experiencing strong and moderately strong conflict levels, which stand at 33.02% under the ID scenario, decrease by 1.04% under the SD scenario. These projections indicate that the SD scenario, which aims to balance ecological conservation with economic development, effectively mitigates land use conflict, making it the most viable strategy for future regional development.

Spatial Optimization and Sustainable Development of Land Use

As global urbanization accelerates and climate change intensifies, issues related to land use and management have increasingly garnered attention within the international academic community [...]

Conditions and Models for Implementing Multi-Actor Participation in Rural Homestead System Reform: A Case Study of Jiangxi Province

The reform of rural homestead land is a critical component of global efforts to enhance rural governance, optimize land use, and improve the livelihoods of rural residents. This study explores the implementation conditions and models for multi-actor participation in homestead system reform, focusing on the role of government, villagers, and social organizations. Using Jiangxi Province in China as a case study, we highlight collaborative governance mechanisms that facilitate successful reform, including institutional frameworks, community engagement, and the role of intermediaries. The findings indicate that a well-structured collaboration between stakeholders can effectively address issues of land allocation, resource utilization, and sustainable rural development. Policy recommendations are provided to enhance the inclusiveness and effectiveness of the reform process, emphasizing the importance of participatory governance, transparent decision-making, and capacity building at the community level. The lessons learned can contribute to similar rural land reforms in other regions globally, promoting sustainable and equitable development.

URBAN SATURATION IN ALGERIAN CITIES: FACTORS AND TREATMENT METHODS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF URBAN SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE CITY OF TÉBESSA

Throughout history, cities have undergone transformations due to social, urban, environmental, and economic changes, which have contributed to altering their shape, and growth patterns. This evolution has led to continuous urban expansion in response to the increasing needs of the population, resulting in boundless urban sprawl. The constant effort to provide urban services has driven the integration of new land areas within the framework of urban expansion, often at the expense of the surrounding rural areas, which serve as the city's main life source. These rural areas are the primary base for urban expansion and simultaneously the main supplier of labor and raw materials. Currently, urban expansion in Algerian cities, in general, and in Tebessa in particular, poses challenges in urban development and planning. This situation calls for exploring alternative approaches when natural or human barriers prevent the optimal use of urban land in alignment with the city’s needs, leading to urban saturation. These approaches should consider the principles of sustainable urban development and rely on tools focused on protecting natural resources within and around the city, as cities are not only the main threat to the natural environment but also the first victims of its degradation.

Building Agricultural Resilience: Strategies for Climate Change Adaptation

Climate change has a significant impact on India's agriculture, influencing environmental conditions, agricultural techniques, and production. The term "climate-resilient agriculture" refers to technologies, methods, tools, and frameworks aimed at adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change on agricultural production, food security, and livelihoods. Crop productivity and food security are greatly impacted by climate changes, which calls for creative agricultural methods to maintain food supply while reducing environmental damages. These difficulties are made worse by environmental changes and global population expansion, especially in developing countries. Technological advancements, such as geospatial analysis, and eco-friendly farming technologies, play a crucial role in optimizing land use and enhancing food security. Crop variety adaptation and management of seed, water, land, livestock, soil and nutrients, pest management, risk management, and post-harvest management are examples of effective agricultural adaptation strategies. Technological developments like geographic analysis.

Global mapping of oil palm planting year from 1990 to 2021

Abstract. Oil palm is a controversial crop, primarily because it is associated with negative environmental impacts such as tropical deforestation. Mapping the crop and its characteristics, such as age, is crucial for informing public and policy discussions regarding these impacts. Oil palm has received substantial mapping efforts, but accurate and up-to-date oil palm maps of both extent and age are essential for monitoring impacts and informing concomitant debate. Here, we present a 10 m resolution global map of industrial and smallholder oil palm, developed using Sentinel-1 data for the years 2016–2021 and a deep learning model based on convolutional neural networks. In addition, we used Landsat-5, Landsat-7, and Landsat-8 to estimate the planting year from 1990 to 2021 at a 30 m spatial resolution. The planting year indicates the year of establishment of the current (as of 2021) oil palm plantation by means of either newly planted or replanted oil palm in an existing oil palm plantation. We validated the oil palm extent layer using 18 812 randomly distributed reference points. The accuracy of the planting-year layer was assessed using field data collected from 5831 industrial parcels and 1012 smallholder plantations distributed throughout the global oil palm growing area. We found oil palm plantations covering a total mapped area of 23.98 Mha, and our area estimates are 16.82 ± 0.19 Mha of industrial oil palm and 7.37 ± 0.25 Mha of smallholder oil palm worldwide. The producer's and user's accuracy are 91.0 ± 2.5 % and 91.8 ± 1.2 % for industrial plantations and 71.4 ± 0.7 % and 72.4 ± 1.8 % for smallholders; these values represent an improvement compared to a previous global oil palm dataset, particularly in terms of omission of oil palm. The overall mean error between the estimated planting year and the field data was −0.24 years, and the root-mean-square error was 2.65 years, but the agreement was lower for smallholders. Mapping the extent and planting year of smallholder plantations remains challenging, particularly for wild and sparsely planted oil palm, and future mapping efforts should focus on these specific types of plantations. The average oil palm plantation age was 14.1 years, and the area of oil palm over 20 years old was 6.28 Mha. Given that oil palm plantations are typically replanted after 25 years, our findings indicate that this area will require replanting within the coming decade, starting from 2021. Our dataset provides valuable input for optimal land use planning to meet the growing global demand for vegetable oils. The global oil palm extent layer for the year 2021 and the planting-year layer from 1990 to 2021 can be found at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13379129 (Descals, 2024a).

Addressing Urban Sprawl: is Densification the Solution? A Case Study of Sétif, Algeria

Objectives: The rapid and uncontrolled urban growth in Sétif, northeastern Algeria, has resulted in horizontal densification, continual expansion, and the conversion of agricultural land into urban areas. This transformation highlights the need for effective territorial strategies to manage urban growth sustainably. The primary objective of this study is to promote urban densification through concepts like "inward urbanisation" and "building the city within the city," aiming to optimise land use and counter the negative impacts of urban sprawl. Methods: To address the challenges of urban sprawl and its environmental impacts, the study employs a morphological approach. A Geographic Information System (GIS) is utilised in conjunction with data from the General Census of Population and Housing (RGPH) to analyse spatiotemporal changes in Sétif. This methodological approach enables a detailed examination of the city's morphological and demographic evolution, providing insights into patterns of urban expansion and densification. Results: The findings reveal various strategies for urban development in Sétif, focusing on alternatives to traditional urban density and sprawl. The study identifies and suggests the implementation of new, dense, and hybrid urban forms that align with sustainable development goals. These urban forms are designed to enhance the city’s livability while respecting societal needs and environmental considerations. The strategies proposed address the necessity for adaptable urban designs that support a more compact, resource-efficient city model. Conclusion: This research underscores the importance of rethinking urban planning strategies to manage rapid urbanisation in Sétif. The proposed strategies are essential for transforming Sétif into a dense, sustainable, and appealing urban environment. The study advocates for a shift from expansive urban growth to a densification model that promotes sustainability and aligns with the evolving expectations of the city’s residents.