Total Land Area Research Articles

Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Induced Machines to Improve the Fiscal Advancement of Agronomy

Horticulture became a key player in the development of UT. The total land area of Jammu and Kashmir under horticulture is 332704, among which 214162 in the Kashmir valley and 118542 in the Jammu region. The district Baramulla has achieved first rank in production in apples with 404089 metric tons, and also covers an area of 25231 hectares. Horticulture of UT of Jammu and Kashmir contributes 8-10% contribution to the SGDP (DHK, 2021). In 48 years, the area under horticulture shows a growth rate of 25%.The growth of production of horticulture has also increased 10 thousand metric to 25 Lakh metric tons during 1950-2022.In this paper we will analysis growth in production, productivity, area and State Gross Domestic Product through the Compound Growth Rate from 2012 to 2022. Artificial Intelligence will become a game changer for horticulture sector, which is facing loses consistently from the last few years. Need of the hour to improve the technique like artificial intelligence and procedures for the betterment of horticulture, especially open national, use of drones in farms, highway 44 during the peak season.

Analysis of Artificial Intelligence Induced Machines to Improve the Fiscal Advancement of agronomy

Horticulture became a key player in the development of UT. The total land area of Jammu and Kashmir under horticulture is 332704, among which 214162 in the Kashmir valley and 118542 in the Jammu region. The district Baramulla has achieved first rank in production in apples with 404089 metric tons, and also covers an area of 25231 hectares. Horticulture of UT of Jammu and Kashmir contributes 8-10% contribution to the SGDP (DHK, 2021). In 48 years, the area under horticulture shows a growth rate of 25%.The growth of production of horticulture has also increased 10 thousand metric to 25 Lakh metric tons during 1950-2022.In this paper we will analysis growth in production, productivity, area and State Gross Domestic Product through the Compound Growth Rate from 2012 to 2022. Artificial Intelligence will become a game changer for horticulture sector, which is facing loses consistently from the last few years. Need of the hour to improve the technique like artificial intelligence and procedures for the betterment of horticulture, especially open national, use of drones in farms, highway 44 during the peak season.

Predicting the Potential Geographic Distribution of Invasive Freshwater Apple Snail Pomacea canaliculate (Lamarck, 1819) under Climate Change Based on Biomod2

Pomacea canaliculata is widely distributed in the Chinese provinces south of the Yangtze River, causing serious damage to aquatic ecosystems, rice cultivation, and human health. Predicting the potential geographic distributions (PGDs) of P. canaliculata under current and future climate conditions in China is crucial for developing effective early warning measures and facilitating long-term monitoring. In this study, we screened various species distribution models (SDMs), including CTA, GBM, GAM, RF, and XGBOOST, to construct an ensemble model (EM) and then predict suitable habitats for P. canaliculata under current and future climate scenarios (SSP1-26, SSP2-45, SSP3-70, SSP5-85). The EM (AUC = 0.99, TSS = 0.96) yielded predictions that were more precise than those from the individual models. The Annual Mean Temperature (Bio1) and Precipitation of the Warmest Quarter (Bio18) are the most significant environmental variables affecting the PGDs of P. canaliculata. Under current climate conditions, the highly suitable habitats for P. canaliculata are primarily located south of the Yangtze River, collectively accounting for 17.66% of the nation’s total area. Unsuitable habitats predominate in higher-latitude regions, collectively covering 66.79% of China’s total land area. In future climate scenarios, the total number of suitable habitats for P. canaliculata is projected to expand into higher latitude regions, especially under SSP3-70 and SSP5-85 climate conditions. The 4.1 °C contour of Bio1 and the 366 mm contour of Bio18 determine the northernmost geographical distribution of P. canaliculata. Climate change is likely to increase the risk of P. canaliculata expanding into higher latitudes.

The Availability of Soil N, P, K, and Mustard Yield after the Application of Liquid Organic Fertilizer from Household Waste in Ultisols

Ultisols are one of the dominant soil orders in Indonesia, accounting for approximately 25% of the total land area. The main problem of this soil is high aluminum (Al) saturation with low pH and plant nutrients. The study was intended to determine the effect of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) from household waste on the availability of N, P, K, and mustard yield in Ultisols. The research used a complete randomized design (CRD) with six concentrations of liquid organic fertilizer of household waste. The treatments were repeated four times. The treatment included control, 10, 20, 30,40, and 50 ml LOF in a liter of water. The study revealed that the liquid organic fertilizer from household waste increased 1.06 folds of total soil N and 1.04 folds of exchangeable-K compared to the control but did not affect available P. Also, soil pH was comparable among treatments. The greatest concentration of LOF (50 ml per liter of water) exhibited the highest yield of mustard, indicated by the highest fresh and dry shoot weight. In general, the study contributes to the development of eco-frindly agriculture.

Rethinking the implications of sprawl to building sustainable secondary cities; case of Tamale, Ghana

ABSTRACT There are two major debates on the discussion of urban sprawl; those who maintain that it has positive implications on development and sustainability of cities and those who are otherwise. This study contributes to this intellectual debate by examining both sides of the phenomenon in a single investigation, based on the perspectives of urbanites of a secondary city. The mixed-methods research approach was adopted for the inquiry. Using Tamale Metropolis as a case, primary data were collected from 386 household respondents and three agencies for the cross-sectional survey and key informant interviews, respectively. The results revealed that urbanisation is rapid with a correspondingly high rate of sprawl. The majority of the respondents (98%) reported an increased urban concentration in the area over the past decade. There has been a 60.7% increase in population increase between 2010 and 2021. Land cover analysis revealed that in 2010, approximately 9% of the total land area of the metropolis was built up, attributed to increasing population and corresponding increased demand for land for development. This increased to 16% and 26% in 2016 and 2022, respectively. The sprawling phenomenon was largely associated with rapid population growth, economic growth, availability of automobiles, improvement in road infrastructure and family nuclearisation. Though the study unravelled some benefits associated with sprawl, Tamale is still not an exception in terms of the documented adverse implications of sprawl. Relevant recommendations were thus made for capitalising on the positive impacts of sprawl while mitigating the associated challenges.

Damage costs from invasive species exceed management expenditure in nations experiencing lower economic activity

While data on biological invasions and their economic toll are increasingly available, drivers of susceptibility to damage and cost-effectiveness of management in reducing long-term costs remain poorly understood. We used data describing the damage costs of, and management expenditure on, invasive species among 56 nations between 2000 and 2020 reported in the InvaCost database to test the overarching hypothesis that higher-income nations and those with higher trade volume have a higher efficiency to limit the damage incurred by invasive species by spending relatively more on management. We also tested whether nations with (i) more corruption have a reduced capacity to manage invasive species, leading to relatively higher damage costs, (ii) more educated citizens or greater technological and scientific output allow for improved incentives and ability to manage invasive species, thereby reducing relative damage costs, and (iii) economies based on higher primary resource dependencies (e.g., agriculture) are at greater risk of incurring high costs of invasive species, and so all other conditions being equal, have higher relative damage costs compared to management expenditure. By focusing on the ratio between damage costs and management expenditure, we analyse the willingness of countries to invest in management as a function of the extent of the damage suffered. We show that economic activity, measured by the volume of trade, is the main determinant of this ratio — the greater the volume, the smaller the ratio. We also found a higher rate of increase in the damage:management ratio as a country's proportion of total land area devoted to agriculture increased, suggesting that a higher economic dependency on agriculture predisposes a country to greater damage costs from invasive species over time. When considering the proportion of total costs identified as damage-related, results indicated that higher government investment in education produced higher proportional damage, and lower corruption and lower trade volume both reduced proportional damage. Our overall results suggest that wealthier nations with high per-capita imports of goods and services are more susceptible to damage, but also have a greater capacity to reduce it, and are therefore less threatened by biological invasions than countries with fewer resources and lower imports.

Agricultural Land Market in Ukraine: Challenges of Trade Liberalization and Future Land Policy Reforms

After over 20 years of a strict moratorium on the turnover of agricultural land in Ukraine, an official market for this type of land has recently been established. The purpose of this study was to examine the functioning of the fundamental elements of this market from the moment of its introduction on 1 July 2021 until today, as well as to understand the possible directions for its further development. The analysis of the agricultural land market and the visualization of the obtained results were carried out using the PostgreSQL database, Python and SQL programming languages, and the QGIS and Metabase tools. It was found that the volume of the agricultural land market remains insignificant, as the total area of sold land during this period made up only 0.7% of the arable land area of Ukraine. Prices for land plots remained at the level of their normative monetary value and are still relatively low, which indicates the significant undercapitalization of agricultural land as a production factor. The stability of agricultural land prices under the influence of various factors also indicates their relative virtuality, which, taking into account the further lifting of restrictions on the size of land plots to be sold as of 1 January 2024, requires the use of appropriate land policy instruments in order to fully utilize the multipurpose role of land in the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, which should be based on a human-rights-based approach to rural development, food security, and land policy.

Ecological Risk Assessment of Forest Landscapes in Lushan National Nature Reserve in Jiangxi Province, China

It is highly valuable to analyze and assess the landscape ecological risk of nature reserves to prevent and resolve ecological risks, as well as to effectively protect and maintain the sustainable development of nature reserves. Taking the forest landscape of the Lushan National Nature Reserve as its study object, this study performed grid processing for the nature reserve and classified forest landscape types using the Forest Resource Inventory Database in 2019. A landscape ecological index model was constructed to evaluate the ecological risk. Global and local Moran index values were used to reveal the autocorrelations for ecological risk. The geodetector method was used to comprehensively analyze the effects of natural and human factors on ecological risk. The results showed that, in general, the ecological risk level of the nature reserve was relatively low, as the proportion of the lowest-, lower-, and medium-risk areas to the total forestry land area accounted for 91.03%. The ecological risk ranking of each functional zone, from high to low, was in the order of the experimental zone, the buffer zone, and the core zone. The ecological risk levels of different forest landscape types were closely related to their area, spatial distribution, and succession stage, as well as human factors, such as the proximity to roads and settlements, etc. The forest landscape with the highest ecological risk was the Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook. forest, and the forest landscape with the lowest ecological risk was other forestry land. Ecological risk had a positive spatial correlation and tended to be aggregated in space, demonstrating coupling with the proximity to roads and settlements. The ecological risk was affected by both human and natural factors, among which human factors played a dominant role. The proximity to roads and settlements, the relative humidity, and the temperature were the main driving factors. The interaction of pairwise factors had a stronger influence than that of single factors. Therefore, controlling the intensity of human activities and enhancing the coordination between humans and nature are beneficial for alleviating the ecological risks in the forest landscapes of nature reserves.

Can ecological niche models be used to accurately predict the distribution of invasive insects? A case study of Hyphantria cunea in China.

In recent decades, ecological niche models (ENMs) have been widely used to predict suitable habitats for species. However, for invasive organisms, the prediction accuracy is unclear. In this study, we employed the most widely used maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model and ensemble model (EM) Biomod2 and verified the practical effectiveness of the ENM in predicting the distribution areas of invasive insects based on the true occurrence of Hyphantria cunea in China. The results showed that when only limited data of invasive areas were used, the two ENMs could not effectively predict the distribution of suitable habitats of H. cunea, although the use of global data can greatly improve the prediction accuracy of ENMs. When analyzing the same data, Biomod2's prediction accuracy was significantly better than that of MaxEnt. For long-term predictions, the area of suitable habitat predicted by the ENMs was much greater than the occurrence area; for short-term predictions, the accuracy of the predicted area was significantly improved. Under the current conditions, the area of suitable habitat for H. cunea in China is 118 × 104 km2, of which 59.32% is moderately or highly suitable habitat. Future climate change could significantly increase the suitable habitat area of H. cunea in China, and the predicted area of suitable habitats in all climate scenarios exceeded 355 × 104 km2, accounting for 36.98% of the total land area in China. This study demonstrates the use of ENMs to study invasive insects and provides a reference for the management of H. cunea in China.

Change in Bhutan’s Land Use and Land Cover from 1930 - 2020

The land is a fundamental component of Bhutan's geographical makeup, characterized by natural features and human activities. Bhutan's land can be divided into land use and land cover (LULC), where human activities contribute to land use, and natural elements define land cover. This paper analyzes Bhutan's LULC patterns, emphasizing the evolving trends in major LULC types, strengths and challenges of sustainable land use management, and envisioning its future trajectory. In recent years, Bhutan's land-use pattern has displayed a predominant forest cover, encompassing a significant portion of the total land area. Similarly, the built-up area in Bhutan is gradually increasing, reflecting the country's ongoing urbanization and development activities. A long-term analysis reveals dynamic shifts in agricultural land in Bhutan. While there has been a historical expansion of agricultural areas, recent trends may suggest a potential slowdown or decline, influenced by factors such as urban growth and changing economic landscapes. Like community forestry practices in Bhutan, successful conservation efforts may also influence land-use changes. In the eastern Himalayas, Bhutan faces challenges related to snow/glacial cover impacted by climate change. Increasing temperatures in the region contribute to alterations in snow/glacial patterns, necessitating a focus on environmental conservation and sustainable practices to preserve these vital resources. The land tenure system and land use policies in Bhutan have evolved and been shaped by socioeconomic and political dynamics. Bhutan needs to adapt and formulate effective policies to address contemporary challenges and promote sustainable LULC management. Implementing specific LULC zones, as outlined in Bhutan's land use policies, is crucial for ensuring sustainable land management practices.

Time Series Model to Forecast Fresh Coconut Exports from Sri Lanka

Coconut accounts for approximately 12% of all agricultural produce in Sri Lanka with the total land area under cultivation covering 409, 244 hectares ranking second to rice production. The primary regions for coconut cultivation are the Puttalam and Kurunegala districts in North-Western Province and Gampaha district in the Western Province, forming what is known as the Coconut Triangle. This region accounts for 232,270 hectares (50.94%) of the overall coconut cultivation area. The remaining coconut cultivation areas are found in the Southern Province, specifically in the districts of Galle (13,833 hectares), Matara (14,946 hectares), and Hambantota (25,837 hectares), and in non-traditional regions of the Eastern and Northern provinces. The annual coconut production varies between 2,800 to 3,000 million nuts. Having advanced knowledge of exporting coconuts offers numerous advantages to Sri Lanka, particularly in terms of establishing forward contracts with other countries. Based on secondary data of annual fresh coconut exports from 1981 to 2020 obtained from the Coconut Development Authority (CDA) of Sri Lanka, the paper developed ARIMA (2,1,0) model to forecast export. The model was selected out of three parsimonious models which were identified from the Sample Autocorrelation Function (ACF) and Partial Autocorrelation Function (PACF) of the stationary series and a comparison of significant parameters and lowest values of Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Schwarz Bayesian Information Criterion (SBIC) and Hannan-Quinn Information Criterion (HQIC). The errors of the fitted model were found to be random and constant variance. The model was validated using 2021 and 2022 data. The percentage errors for 2021 and 2022 are 20.23% and -29.57% respectively. The predictions for 2023 and 2024 are 14696 and 15052 respectively. The model can be used effectively by the Coconut Development Authority for decision-making. However, it is suggested to develop the model further to reduce the percentage error. Keywords: ARIMA model, Forecast, Fresh Coconut Exports and Validate

Possible Integration of Soil Information into Land Degradation Analysis for the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Concept: A Case Study of the Contiguous United States of America (USA)

Soil makes important contributions to the United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) concept and targets; however, currently, soil is not integrated into measurable information (e.g., indicators, metrics) to monitor land degradation (LD) patterns and trends. This study examines the role of soil in LDN in the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 15: Life on Land). This study is specifically focused on the LDN and biodiversity loss as they relate to an indicator 15.3.1 Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area. Tracking of LD status can be improved by using detailed soils databases combined with satellite-derived land cover maps. This study has applied these newly improved methods to quantify and map the anthropogenic LD status and trends in the contiguous United States of America (USA), as well as to identify potential land areas for nature-based solutions (NBS) to compensate for LD. Anthropogenic LD in 2016 in the contiguous USA affected over two million square kilometers, about one-third of the country’s total area, with high variability by state. Between 2001 and 2016, LD in the USA showed an overall increase of 1.5%, with some states exhibiting increases in degraded land while other states had overall improvements to their land. All ten soil orders present in the contiguous USA have been anthropogenically degraded, with Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols having the highest LD levels. Compensating for LD requires a variety of strategies and measures (e.g., NBS), which often require additional land. In 2016, the potential land area for NBS was over two million square kilometers, an area approximately equal to that of degraded land. Some of the states that have high proportions of land available for potential NBS are dominated by soils (Aridisols) typical of deserts and therefore may have less promise for NBS. The variability of LD needs to be evaluated at finer spatial scales for realistic LDN analysis.

ANALYSIS OF MAIN CHARACTERISTICS AND UTILIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL LAND IN SERBIA AND BULGARIA

Land is the most important resource for the sustainable development of agriculture. Optimal use of land for the production of a sufficient amount of food, while simultaneously preserving biodiversity and its quality, is very important within the policy of preserving resources for future generations. Safety in food production represent one of the most important goals of sustainable development consist in actual the 2030 Agenda. We face numerous problems related to land. Degradation due to excessive use of modern agrotechnical means in food production, deforestation, erosion, excessive urbanization, floods are just some of the most common problems in land policy. An important problem is the abandonment of land use for agricultural production and its underutilization. Serbia and Bulgaria have significant areas of agricultural land. The subject of research in this paper is the share of agricultural and arable land in the total land area in Serbia and Bulgaria. The focus of the analysis is the average size of farm land, the percentage of irrigated land, and the production structure on farms, as well as the contribution of agriculture to the realization of added value in the creation of GDP. Agriculture and the food industry play a significant role in creating GDP, employment and exports and reducing the foreign deficit. Bearing in mind that the Republic of Serbia is in the process of joining the European Union, it is necessary to reform the agricultural policy and adapt it to the Common Agricultural Policy. This is one of the most important and demanding reforms in the integration policy process. The entire European model of agricultural development is based on the concept of sustainable development. Agricultural land policy in this process is of great importance and the experiences of EU member countries are important. The results of the research should indicate different experiences and recommendations that can be useful in agricultural land management policy. Land policy measures are aimed at creating optimal conditions for agricultural production while achieving the goals of all dimensions of sustainable development. Strategic approach in land management policy in Bulgaria provides guidelines and an example of good practice for taking measures and activities in the direction of its improvement in the Republic of Serbia. These results are also the basis for examining the causes of insufficient utilization of available natural resources and the balanced development that ensures the production of sufficient quantities of food and the preservation of the environment. Keywords: agricultural land, arable land, sustainable development JEL codes: Q15, Q18, Q24

Mangrove Biodiversity Conservation and Aquaculture Practices in Sri Lanka: An Overview

The tropical island of Sri Lanka is endowed with a diverse and resourceful coastal area of 1,700 km coastline and 152,000 ha of highly productive 82 lagoons and 93,075ha of 45 estuary ecosystems. Around 33% of the population in coastal areas is engaged in fishing as the main income source, which contributes to around 1.10% of the national GDP. The objective of the review was to provide an overview of the present status of Sri Lankan coastal aquaculture, mangrove coverage, and conservation status. Mangroves are ecologically and economically important ecosystems providing the best nursery grounds for both blackish and marine species, covering only 0.24% of Sri Lanka‘s total land area. In addition, as the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics, mangroves provide a wide range of ecosystem services and biodiversity conservation. Currently, Sri Lankan mangroves are estimated to cover 160 km2 and are distributed mainly in Jaffna, Kalpitiya, Batticaloa, Rekawa, and Trincomalee. Including endangered species such as Sonneratia apetala, Ceriops decandra, and Lumnitzera littorea, there are 21 true mangrove species, and 24 mangrove associate species can be found. However, mangrove ecosystems in Sri Lanka are progressively under threat due to coastal aquaculture practices, especially shrimp farming and development projects. Human settlements, overexploitation, and climatic variables such as coastal flooding, drought, rainfall, salinity changes, increased sea level, and sea surface temperature have significantly influenced coastal aquaculture and substantially damage the mangroves resulting in loss of mangrove biodiversity. Between 1980 and 2005, approximately 25% of mangrove habitats are estimated to have been destroyed. Recently, 1,000-1,200 hectares of mangroves have been established in 23 wetlands in Sri Lanka becoming leader of the mangrove conservation in Commonwealth countries. In conclusion, it is imperative to apply international standards for mangrove-based aquacultural practices, mangrove rehabilitation, and technical and management interventions. 
 Keywords: Biodiversity, Coastal aquaculture, Coastal ecosystems, Mangroves

At the Crossroads of Physics and Climate: A Comprehensive Review of Climate Change in Afghanistan

Climate change in Afghanistan is important because it has severe impacts on various aspects of life, particularly the agricultural sector, which is the main source of income for the country's economy. More than 80% of Afghanistan's population is involved in farming, herding, or both, despite only 12% of the country's total land area being arable. Climate change is causing successive droughts, health problems, and damage to the environment, animals, and agriculture products in the country. The country has been experiencing an increased frequency of drought since the early 1960s, and it is anticipated that drought could become the norm by 2030. Furthermore, higher temperatures are expected to exacerbate flooding events due to more rapid snow melt in the spring. Climate change also has adverse effects on human health, water resources, and environmental diversity. Therefore, understanding the impact of climate change in Afghanistan is crucial for developing strategies to mitigate its effects and preserve the country's production capacity.This research delves into the mathematical and physical modeling of climate change in Afghanistan.

Land Suitability for Pepper in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia

Pepper is one of the local commodities developed in Indonesia and has become an export commodity. Improving the productivity of pepper can be done through sustainable land management based on the characteristics of soils and their potential. Therefore, land suitability evaluation is needed to maximize land potential and minimize inhibiting factors for pepper plant growth. This study evaluated the characteristics, potential, and distribution of suitable land for pepper plant development in Tanggamus Regency, Lampung Province, Indonesia. Land suitability was evaluated by matching land characteristics with land suitability criteria for pepper plants. This criterion consists of four classes, namely highly suitable (S1), moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N). The soil's climate and physical and chemical properties were the land characteristics data used. Potential land availability was arranged based on land suitability classes by considering existing land use and forest area status. Soil types in Tanggamus Regency are Inceptisols, Entisols, Alfisols, Andisols, Oxisols, and Ultisols, with the most extensive distribution of soil types being Oxisol (Typic Hapludox). The distribution of relief in Tanggamus Regency is dominated by mountainous areas with very steep slopes (slope >40%). Land suitability classes are moderately suitable (S2), marginally suitable (S3), and not suitable (N) with limiting factors, namely drainage, texture, soil pH, and erosion hazard/slope. Improvement can be made by planting according to contours, planting cover crops, applying lime and organic matter, and ensuring balanced fertilization. The development of pepper plants in Tanggamus Regency can be achieved through diversification and extensification, with a total area of potential land that can be developed of 73,995 ha.
 
 Keywords: land potential, land evaluation, limiting factor, pepper, soil characteristics

Совершенствование решения задач оптимизации размещения посевов сельскохозяйственных культур в севооборотах хозяйств Белгородской области с учётом интенсивности смыва почвы

The article proposes a new way to solve the problem of optimizing the placement of agricultural crops on eroded lands in protective crop rotations. Optimality criteria for the problem: the volume of the washed-off soil should strive to a minimum. The required variables – the areas are given as a percentage of the total arable land area and are limited to minimum and maximum values. For the new method, a detailed description of the database compilation matrices in Microsoft Excel and the "Excel Solver" (Solution Search) application add-in is provided. The methodology for calculating the potential soil washout under agricultural crops in crop rotations has been revised, depending on the availability of crops on arable land during the snowmelt period. A unified formula has been developed for washing away soil under spring and winter crops. Keywords: OPTIMIZATION PROBLEMS, STRUCTURE OF ACREAGE, EROSION CONTROL ORGANIZATION OF THE TERRITORY, ECONOMIC AND MATHEMATICAL MODEL, WATER EROSION OF LAND, SOIL FLUSHING

Green streetism precarity in Kumasi, Ghana

There is much interest in urban green space planning and management; yet little attention has been paid to the notions of green streetism in African cities. This paper responds to this lacuna by using a case study of Kumasi (Ghana) to: (i) examine the character of urban green space; (ii) analyze agency knowledge on green streetism; and (iii) assess agency strategies for changing the phase of green streetism. Using secondary document analysis and interview with seven urban planning agencies, findings show a rapid decline of urban green space in Kumasi from about 31% of the total land area in 2013 to about 3% in 2022. Despite all respondents reporting knowledge on green streetism, they identified resource constraints, nonchalant attitude of some urban citizens and poor maintenance practices as major barriers to green streetism development and management in the city. Strategies for reviving green streetism are further discussed, within the context of African urbanization.

THE INCLUSION OF DISASTER RISK REDUCATION IN CLASSROOM AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES: A CASE OF RURAL BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN

Purpose – Balochistan, which makes up roughly 44 percent of Pakistan’s total land area, is home to 6 percent of the nation’s inhabitants. Due to long distances and low population density, service delivery is particularly challenging. The province’s educational services are impacted by natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, droughts, and migration. Disaster risk reduction is a widely recognized concept that emphasizes appropriate education to lower an individual’s personal, familial, and communal vulnerability. The role of the school is crucial in Disaster Risk Reducation (DRR) education. As a result, the study’s goal was to explore the approaches adopted for the inclusion of DDR through teaching in classroom and school activities. Methodology – A focus group discussion with three groups of Pakistan studies and Geography teachers was conducted that consistedof 10 male and 14 female members. Findings – Findings demonstrate that the current textbook continues to teach students less about disaster risk reduction; teachers include knowledge from their personal experience in planning lessons about DRR. School assemblies, child clubs and activities designed by school management, and social organizations play a prominent role in DRR education. Further, the role of teachers and school management was identified in psycho-social support during disasters and pandemics. Significance – The study concludes that in addition to extracurricular activities and the teacher’s role, prior disaster experience, school, and social organization played a significant role in DRR education in rural Balochistan. The study results will assist curriculumdevelopers, policymakers, and education leadership in developing more effective school disaster management plans. The results willalso clarify how schools and teachers can close the knowledge gap in disaster preparedness education. Organizations working on disaster risk education and education in emergencies will also benefit from additional research to respond to the need readily and effectively.

A New Land Use Dataset Fusion Algorithm for the Runoff Simulation Accuracy Improvement: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Basin, China

Monitoring and understanding the development of agricultural management requires fine information on multiple agricultural land use classes. According to the main data bulletin of China’s third national land survey released in 2021, the proportion of arable land in China accounts for 16% of the total land area. After excluding areas that are not suitable for development (slope greater than 25 degrees), the remaining area represents arable land affected by human activities, constituting 96.69% of the total arable land area in the country. Artificially irrigated areas are products of the intertwined interactions between the natural environment and human society. However, the original remote sensing image (China’s land use/cover datasets, CLUDs), which is designed to depict the land use and cover patterns in mainland China, categorizes arable land into two main types: paddy fields and dryland. It lacks a subdivision of artificially irrigated areas. We also found a data discrepancy of more than 10% between the statistical data of rice and the paddy field data in CLUDs. To refine land use data, and then improve the simulation accuracy of the hydrological model, this article proposes a dual-source datasets fusion algorithm, learning based on big data, namely the LUCC statistical data fusion (LUSF) algorithm for integrating the remote sensing-based cropland area dataset and statistics dataset. The runoff simulation results show that, in the Yangtze River Basin, using LUSF datasets, the mean absolute percentage error value of monthly simulated runoff decreased by 0.74%, and the root mean square error value decreased by 0.22 million m3. At the basin scale, the absolute error of the simulated runoff is reduced by an average of 433 million m3 per year, and 36 million m3 every month. The LUSF datasets corrected the canopy interception coefficient effectively; the runoff simulation error was reduced by 2.96 billion m3/a. In the past 40 years, the runoff variation in Dongting Lake and Hanjiang River has been most strongly impacted by changes in the underlying surface. These results reveal that the new data fusion method has some significant improvement over the original method, applicable to the runoff simulation disturbed by strong human activities.