Unique Natural Landscape Research Articles

Overview of the Siwa Oasis Study in Egypt

The Siwa Oasis in the western desert of Egypt has attracted the attention of academic circles at home and abroad because of its long history, mysterious culture, and unique natural landscape. The research covers many fields such as history, anthropology, linguistics, environment and ecology, and economic development. The foreign research is thorough and comprehensive, and has many achievements on the historical status of Siwa, modern cultural conflict and change, language and society, ecological system and its sustainable development, while the domestic research is still superficial, mainly on the introduction of the humanistic style and historical overview. Through a comprehensive analysis of these research results, this study can have a more comprehensive understanding of the multiple values of Siwa and the problems faced by traditional culture represented by Siwa in the era of globalization.

Mapping the Distance: An Analysis of Visitor Travel Distance to German National Parks and Biosphere Reserves

The ecologically valuable and unique natural and cultural landscapes of protected areas are popular nature tourism destinations. From a spatial perspective, travellers visit protected areas by moving from their place of origin to the destination for a temporary stay. This paper analyses the travel distances of day visitors and overnight guests to German national parks and biosphere reserves. National parks position themselves as both regional and national destinations. In contrast, biosphere reserve tourism is more regionally concentrated due to the proximity of biosphere reserves to urban centres, which are the primary places of origin for visitors. On average, visitors travel 278.6 km by car to visit a national park, taking 172.1 minutes (02:52 hours). Opting for public transport increases the average travel distance to 312.5 km, with a travel time of 284.5 minutes (04:43 hours). Visitors to German biosphere reserves travel 208.7 km by car, requiring 134.7 minutes (02:15 hours). When using public transport to visit biosphere reserves, the average distance increases to 234.0 km, with a travel time of 239.1 minutes (03:59 hours). The automated, GIS-supported distance analyses offer an innovative approach for assessing nature tourism catchment areas and the accessibility of protected areas, serving as a basis for effective spatial planning, development, and regional marketing.

Research on Park Landscape Design Strategy Based on Urban Cultural Brand -- A Case Study of Xinyang City

This paper aims to explore the strategy of park landscape design based on urban cultural brand, taking Xinyang City of China as an example to conduct in-depth research. First, the paper analyzes the historical and cultural background, regional characteristics and the importance of Xinyang city brand construction. Through combing the unique natural resources and cultural landscape of Xinyang, it is proposed that the park landscape design should fully integrate the local cultural elements to enhance the cultural identity of the city. Secondly, the paper discusses the core strategy of park landscape design, mainly including the implantation of cultural symbols, and displaying Xinyang's cultural characteristics through landmark buildings and art installations; The protection and promotion of ecological environment, combined with the local natural landscape, to create a harmonious ecological space; The design method of community participation encourages residents to participate in the planning and construction of the park to enhance the sense of community belonging. Finally, through the case analysis, it shows how successful park landscape design can enhance the cultural brand of the city, promote the development of tourism and improve the quality of life of citizens. The research results show that park landscape design based on urban cultural brand can not only enrich the cultural connotation of the city, but also provide new impetus for the sustainable development of the city.

Typology and Development Orientation of Geotourism in the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark, Vietnam

The Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark (DNAUGGp) is an area that still preserves many unique geological attributes, topography, and natural landscapes. This study evaluates the potential resources, current exploitation status, and conservation level of geological and cultural heritage values in the Dak Nong Global Geopark. Data was collected through direct surveys and questionnaires for tourists, local people, management officials, and experts in such related fields as geology, heritage, culture, and tourism. Based on the analysis and evaluation of the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark’s tourism potential and attractiveness, the paper proposes two types of natural and cultural geotourism with seven sub-types which have potential for exploitation and development in the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark. The survey results show that the appeal of different types of geotours and tourist in the geopark varies according to the age, gender, and profession of the surveyed group. The research findings contribute to guiding potential customer groups for each type of geotourism and directing the sustainable development of geological tourism in the Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark.

THE ROLE OF CAVE NAMES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOURISM IN KAZAKHSTAN

Geographical names, including speleonyms, which were once not registered in official sources, have been preserved in the form of missing words or errors in the Russian language. Therefore, the task of their collection and systematization is fixed by many resolutions of the government of the Republic of Kazakhstan and other authorized bodies. One of the issues of determining the ways of implementing the project "sacred geography of Kazakhstan" and the direction of research work is aimed at restoring the names of caves. The purpose of the study is to identify the features of the formation of cave names on the territory of Kazakhstan and the geographical prerequisites for their restoration. Research objectives: to determine the role of physical and geographical conditions of Kazakhstan in the formation of speleonyms; to reflect the patterns and areas of cave distribution in Kazakhstan and to analyze the geographical aspects of the formation of speleonyms; analysis of geographical aspects of the formation of speleonyms; determination of the place of speleonyms as tourist and recreational objects; making proposals for the preservation of caves and Speleonyms of Kazakhstan. The object of the study is caves and other underground parts distributed on the territory of Kazakhstan as special objects of the sacred regions of the country, the subject of the study is the conditions and meaning of the formation of the names of these caves, their geographical prerequisites and opportunities for restoration. The caves will be of great interest from a geomorphological, hydrological, bio-speleological, archaeological and paleozoological point of view. In recent years, they are studied as unique natural landscapes. The importance of caves for speleotourism is also difficult to overestimate.

Optimization Study of Soil Organic Matter Mapping Model in Complex Terrain Areas: A Case Study of Mingguang City, China

Traditional soil organic matter mapping is mostly polygonal drawing, which is even more difficult to accurately depict in complex terrain areas. The spatial distribution of soil organic matter is closely related to agricultural production, natural resources, environmental governance, and socio-economic development. Efficiently, economically, and accurately obtaining information on changes in soil organic matter in areas with diverse topography is an urgent problem to be solved. Mingguang City has a high research value because of its unique topography and natural landscape. To solve the problem of soil organic matter mapping in this area, this study will construct an excellent organic matter prediction model. Using 173 soil survey samples (123 for training and 50 for testing), the optimal feature variable subsets selected from 31 environmental variables through Pearson correlation, stepwise regression-variance inflation factor, and recursive feature elimination models based on different algorithms were employed. Each selected feature subset was then used to construct organic matter prediction models using multiple advanced machine learning algorithms. By comparing accuracy validation and model performance, the organic matter prediction model suitable for Mingguang City (RFE-RF_SVM) was obtained, that is, the prediction model of organic matter based on support vector machines with the feature variables screened by the feature recursive elimination algorithm of random forest with RMSE = 3.504, VSI = 0.036, and R-squared = 0.730. Furthermore, the analysis focused on assessing the significance of the predictive factors. The mapping results of this study show that the soil organic matter content in the central and northwestern parts of the study area is low, and the reasons for this situation are different. The central part is mainly caused by the change of land use and topography, while the northwestern part is caused by the loose soil structure caused by the parent material. The government can take targeted measures to improve the soil in the areas with poor organic matter.

Digital Marketing Communication Model for Encouraging Tourism Visits in Langkat Regency, Indonesia

The purpose of this research is to examine the digital marketing communication model as well as the driving and inhibiting factors in promoting tourist destinations in Langkat Regency, Indonesia. This study employed a qualitative approach with the data collected through in-depth interviews and focus groups. Purposive sampling was used to select informants from the Langkat Regency government, the Ministry of Tourism of Medan city, and the surrounding community. Based on the findings, it is concluded that the Tourism and Culture Board (TCB) of Langkat Regency should strategically adopt a comprehensive digital marketing communication model to amplify tourism promotion efforts effectively. To this end, the integration of social media marketing, content marketing, and search engine optimization (SEO) emerges as a compelling approach. This multifaceted model harnesses the power of modern communication platforms to engage diverse audiences, showcase Langkat Regency's attractions, and create a vibrant online presence. The recommendation of this study includes the action should be taken by TCB to focus on creating diverse and captivating content that highlights the unique cultural heritage, natural landscapes, and local experiences that Langkat Regency offers.

The Solution for Building and Developing a Community-based Tourism Model in Ly Son Island District – Quang Ngai Province

Community-based tourism (CBT) is one of the forms of tourism that is being formed and developed in rural Vietnam on the basis of exploiting the value of eco-tourism resources, agriculture, and indigenous cultural lifestyles. Ly Son Island District in Quang Ngai Province is home to the Imperial Hoang Sa Navy. On the island, there are unique natural landscapes exploiting tourism services such as Thoi Loi Volcano, Gieng Tien, Hang Pagoda, To Vo Gate, etc. With a long history of development, Ly Son has rich cultural resources, many historical relics, and a rich system of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. However, the development of community tourism here has become uncontrolled and fragmented; at this point, there is no link between community tourism services, and they have not yet formed a complete product to meet visitors’ requirements. With the participatory approach, in-depth interviews, fieldwork, and ABCD method (Assets Based for Community Development), this study analyzes the potential, current situation, and orientation of building and developing a model of CBT at Ly Son Island district, Quang Ngai.

Responses of arid plant species diversity and composition to environmental factors

An oasis is a unique natural landscape in arid and semi-arid areas, significant for regulating regional microclimates and hydrological processes in deserts. However, little is known regarding the response of natural oasis plants communities to various environmental factors. Nineteen sample plots (50 m × 50 m) were selected in the Daliyabuyi Oasis in the Taklimakan Desert hinterland based on the location of groundwater monitoring wells and 76 vegetation quadrats (25 m × 25 m) were established. A two-way indicator species analysis, Mantel test, detrended correspondence analysis, canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), and hierarchical partitioning were used to provide an in-depth analysis of community classification, species composition, and environmental interpretation of the oasis. A generalized linear model was used to verify the results which showed that the current oasis community could be divided into four types according to the dominant species, which is controlled by soil moisture. Measurement of species composition and distribution of communities showed significant differences between species diversity of individual community types. Variations in groundwater depth affects patterns of species diversity which is sensitive to richness, while the degree of surface water disturbance affects the pattern of species evenness. Moreover, the CCA ordination map showed that community distribution and diversity characteristics have their own preferences in habitat gradients. The study concluded that the species dominance of the community and the composition and distribution are not dominated by a single factor. There are differences in the scale and effect of different water resource types in maintaining community characteristics.

Checklist of hover flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) «Podilski Tovtry» NNP

The collection Syrphid Flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) is stored in the Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park, has more than 3,500 specimens and is replenished with new specimens every year. From 2019 to 2021 the collection is supplemented by 349 specimens. The annotated list of Syrphid Flies in the collection includes 183 species. It is based on the meeting of 2005-2013. Out of more than 3,500,000 specimens, 1,753 were collected on the territory of the Podilski Tovtry National Park. A feature of the national park is its location in one of the most densely populated regions of Ukraine. At the same time, the national park combines unique natural landscapes and anthropogenically transformed areas, which are mainly involved in agriculture. Collections of Syrphid Flies are carried out according to the standard method of entomological net in the main types of biotopes of the national nature park - forest habitats and edges, meadow-steppe habitats and shrub xerothermic areas, mesophytic meadows, cultivated biotopes. As of 2012, the list of Syrphid Flies of the Podilski Tovtry National Nature Park included 109 species from 28 genera. An updated Checklist of hover flies (Diptera, Syrphidae) for the «Podilski Tovtry» national nature park since 2012 is provided. At the end of 2021 the fauna of hover flies has 125 species from 41 genera. The most diverse in species composition are the genera Cheilosia – 29 species; Eristalis – 10 species; Eupeodes – 7 species; Chrysotoxum – 7 species, other genera include only up to 5 species. For the first time since 2012, 16 species have been identified for the Park: Brachypalpus laphriformis (Fallen, 1816); Ceriana conopsoides Linnaeus, 1758; Chalcosyrphus nemorum (Fabricius, 1805); Cheilosia urbana (Meigen), 1822; Cheilosia semifasciata Becker, 1894; Cheilosia vicina (Zetterstedt), 1849; Chrysotoxum verralli (Collin), 1940; Epistrophe ochrostoma (Zetterstedt), 1849; Meliscaeva cinctella (Zetterstedt), 1843; Merodon analis Meigen, 1822; Microdon analysis (Maquart, 1842); Pipiza lugubris Fabricius, 1775; Pipizella vidiata (Linnaeus), 1758; Platycheirus ambiguus (Fallen), 1817; Spilomyia saltuum (Fabricius), 1794; Temnostoma bombylans (Fabricius), 1805; Temnostoma meridionale Krivosheina & Mamayev, 1962 (RedBook, 2021); Volucella inflata (Fabricius, 1775); Xanthogramma stackelbergi Violovitsh, 1975. One of the identified species is listed in the RedBook Ukraine (2009/2021) – Temnostoma meridionale Krivosheina & Mamayev, 1962.

From Home to Inn: The Evolution of Rural Dwellings in the Taihang Area of Northern Henan

With the rapid development of China’s economy, rural tourism is developing in full swing throughout the country, attracting significant capital inflow with its unique historical features and natural landscapes. In recent years, vernacular architectures are experiencing a spontaneous transformation. The evolution of vernacular architecture presents a development trend of “self-organization”. In order to study the evolution of vernacular architecture in the context of tourism development, the authors consider tourism villages in the southern Taihang area. Samples of rural vernacular architecture were selected, analysing spatial typologies and the theory of self-organization in the development process. Finally, the article finds that the evolving development mechanisms are considered as vernacular architecture of the region shifts from disorder to order.

Sedimentology and evolution of the Holocene radial tidal sand ridge in the south Yellow Sea, China

The radial tidal sand ridge (RTSR) off the Jiangsu Coast in the south Yellow Sea is one of the most fantastic and unique natural landscapes in the world. A large number of investigations on geomorphology and marine geology have been implemented during the last several decades. The formation and evolution of the RTSR, however, are still under debate. To resolve this issue, 10 ∼30–60 m-long cores were retrieved from the Jiangsu coastal plain and offshore sand ridge field in 2018–2019. Stratigraphic transects chronologically constrained by abundant radiocarbon dates were built based on sedimentological and paleoecological (i.e., foraminifer) data from selected cores. Combined with well-documented core stratigraphy from earlier studies, an age–depth plot with a local sea-level change curve revealed that the RTSR initiated approximately 9,000 cal a BP in a sandy bedform shape under transgressive conditions, continued throughout the Holocene, but developed mostly after 1128 AD, when the Yellow River flowed southward into the Yellow Sea. Abundant sediment supply, thus, appears to have played a major role in the formation and evolution of the RTSR in the south Yellow Sea.

Adaptation and mitigation management of drought, wildfire, and climate change toward the development of natural tourism in Jatirejo District, Mojokerto Regency, Indonesia

Global climate change, drought, and the threat of wildfires become major challenges in tourism development. Jatirejo District has a unique natural landscape and is stated as an Environmental Strategic Area in the form of Raden Soerjo Forest Park, which is frequently hit by drought, wildfire, and climate change. This study aims to identify those disasters that threaten natural tourism, see how far the gap with ideal conditions and formulate adaptation and mitigation strategies. The methods used in this research are spatial analysis to identify the disaster risks and qualitative method by gap analysis to formulate the strategies. The findings show that wildfires in 2019 at R. Soerjo Forest Park had a coverage area of 64.7 hectares. Moreover, 59% of the total area has been identified as a very high-risk index of wildfire and drought. There is also a significant increase in temperature by 0.7oC-1oC. This study shows the large gap between the severity of the disaster and the ideal conditions according to the guidelines. The potential of tourism destinations, as well as the threat of disasters, shows the need for adaptation and mitigation strategies for tourism development which contain three phases, specifically prevention and preparation, response, and recovery.

The current state and prospects of the nature reserve fund of the Volodymyr district of the Volyn region

With the growth of anthropogenic load on the landscape, there is a need to preserve them in their natural state, because the improvement of people's well-being should not be accompanied by the destruction of the surrounding environment. This issue is especially important for cross-border territories, because the problem of environmental protection is one of the priority issues of the European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine. The increase in the area of the nature reserve fund contributes to the preservation of biological diversity in Ukraine and in Europe. This region needs the protection and protection of unique landscapes by bequeathing them, or transferring them to a higher protected category, which will make it possible to preserve unique natural complexes, landscape and biotic diversity, rare and endangered species of animals and plants. Volodymyrskyi district is located on the territory of one polysky (Turiyskyi) and two broad-leaved (Lutskyi and Ivanychivskyi) natural landscape areas. Within the district, the vast majority of nature conservation objects are of local importance, only 1 nature reserve has national status, and there are no national nature parks or nature reserves here either. Nature conservation facilities are very unevenly distributed throughout the district, and there are also communities within which there is none. The largest number of protected areas is in the Zaturtsivska Territorial Community (10), which has both polis and broad-leaved landscapes, and there the conservation rate is 10%. The lowest rate of conservation is 2.9%, despite the fact that there are 9 protected objects, in the Ustilug community. Valuable natural territories reserved for the creation of new or expansion of existing objects of the nature reserve fund have been determined within the district, in particular, such is the promising national nature park «Western Pobuzhzhia», where the steppe and forest-steppe landscapes will be protected and it will stretch along the river valley. The Western Bug and its tributaries Luga.

Sustainable Development Strategies for Ecotourism in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Based on SWOT Analysis

This paper discusses the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of sustainable development of ecotourism in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau based on the SWOT analysis and provides corresponding strategies for the future sustainable development model. The sustainable development of ecotourism in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has both natural and cultural strengths. The unique natural and cultural landscape provide the foundation for it, and international and domestic policies, financial support, and professional theories ensure its development. It is supported by a feasibility study and conforms to the times. To spur the sustainable development of ecotourism and establish the status of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in ecotourism, we must 1) make rational use of ESG and green finance and adhere to the development route suitable for the local conditions; 2) pay attention to the feasibility of ecological service-based economy in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and rationally apply it to the development of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; 3) improve the service level of the tourism industry in Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, strengthen industry regulation and training, and improve tourists' experience in tourist destinations. To promote the development of ecotourism in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, we must attach equal emphasis on the protection of the ecological environment and biodiversity and neglect neither economic development nor ecological protection in an attempt to create a better future for the Qinghai-Tibet region.

INTEGRATED ANALYSIS OF GEODIVERSITY IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF ACARI-RN, BRAZILIAN SEMIARID REGION

Commonly geodiversity is associated with geological knowledge, leaving aside others abioticcomponents such as geomorphological, pedological and hydrological. Geodiversity, compared tobiodiversity, does not yet have the same prestige and political position. In the Brazilian semiaridregion, there are still many gaps related to the knowledge of geodiversity. In 2022, the SeridóGlobal Geopark was recognized by UNESCO as a territory that provides an intriguing insight intothe Earth’s history through its unique natural landscape, cultural and culinary history. Among themunicipalities inserted in the territory of the Seridó Geopark is Acari-RN, which has richgeodiversity. The objective of this work was to present an integrated analysis of the geodiversityof the municipality of Acarí-RN, encompassing information related to variety of geological,geomorphological, pedological and hydrological features and processes. Fieldwork was carriedout, we identified and mapped landforms and their physiognomic aspects and georeferenced usingportable GPS. We collected soils to represent the different landforms. A ten geosites werecharacterized in the municipality, four of them belonging to the Seridó Geopark, in which we alsosought to consider the information about the relief and soils. In the present work, the term"integrated analysis of geodiversity" was used in order to encourage debate and to make it clearthat geodiversity is not limited to geological aspects. The integrated analysis of geodiversity canbe a subsidy for geotourism, regional valorization of the semiarid and also preservation of theCaatinga biome. The identification and characterization of potential geosites in Acarí-RN canhelp for developing efficient municipal policy to combining the conservation of their uniquegeological heritage with public outreach and sustainable development

Formation of ecological and natural competencies of children of preschool age with the help of an ecological path

In the method of formation of ecological and natural competence of a child the main aspect is the formation of an attitude to nature as a value, awareness of unity with the natural world, the formation of ecological knowledge, key among which are ideas about connections and dependencies in nature. The process of formation of ecological and natural competence affects all areas of development of the child's personality: intellectual, motivational, emotional and volitional, providing assistance to the full development of a preschooler in harmony with society and nature. In the practice of environmental education, various approaches and methods of teaching directly in nature are increasingly used, one of which is an ecological path. Its purpose is to provide students with the opportunity to observe natural objects and phenomena, get acquainted with the most typical and unique natural landscapes, natural monuments, as well as characteristic manifestations of anthropogenic impact on the natural environment. An educational ecological path must be well equipped and informative. Each of its areas is a unique model that contains certain aspects of the environmental problem, natural knowledge. Ecological paths are quite versatile and extremely effective. This is a unique form of not only environmental activities, but also recreation, associated with it. Therefore, children are willing to go on a prepared route - an ecological path to rest. They can be very diverse in scientific direction: zoological, botanical, geographical, geological, historical, and complex. Ecological path is the most effective means of forming ecological competence, due to the fact that it synthesizes various forms and methods of acquainting preschool children with objects and phenomena of nature, children need to be taught to protect nature not only because it gives us something, but and because it is valuable. In the course of the work an ascertaining and control experiment was carried out, as a result of which the effectiveness of the proposed system of measures for the formation of ecological and natural competence in older preschool children was introduced and tested. Based on the theoretical basis of the peculiarities of the formation of ecological and natural competence, three criteria of ecological and natural competence of older preschoolers are identified: cognition, emotionality, the presence of a behavioral component. According to the criteria, three levels of formation of ecological and natural competence of older preschool children are determined: low, medium and high. Diagnosis was carried out in the process of observing the behavior of children on walks during play, work, in the process of classes, experimental research, conversations with children on natural and environmental issues. During the study, methods were selected to diagnose the formation of ecological and natural competence of children. An ecological path was created on the territory of the preschool institution to expand the work on the formation of ecological and natural competence of preschool children. The results of the control phase of the study allow us to conclude that the work with the experimental group using routes along ecological paths has a positive impact on the level of knowledge and perception of environmental concepts, caring for children and the formation of ecological and natural competence

Minimum temperature during the growing season limits the radial growth of timberline Schrenk spruce (P. schrenkiana)

Representing the altitudinal limit of typical vegetation, the alpine timberline is a unique natural landscape that is also a sensitive indicator of the well-being of alpine ecosystems. Schrenk spruce (P. schrenkiana) is a tree species unique to arid Central Asia. In this study, we found that the P. schrenkiana can grow at elevations of up to 3600 m. To better understand how this species survives at such high elevations, we used tree-ring samples to analyze the relationship between climate and the radial growth of P. schrenkiana at the alpine timberline. Our results suggest that the mean minimum temperature during the growing season is the main factor limiting the radial growth of timberline P. schrenkiana. The limiting effect of temperature on radial growth has been significant and stable over the past 60 years. However, the influence of precipitation on tree growth has increased due to rapid warming. Continued warming may further complicate the response of P. schrenkiana radial growth to climate at the timberline in arid Central Asia.

Study on the Coordinated Development of Economy, Tourism, and Eco-Environment in Sanjiangyuan

Sanjiangyuan region is located in the hinterland of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, covering an area of 30.25 square kilometers, with the total population of 556000 people, including Tibetans, constituting more than 90%. Since it is the source of the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Lancang River catchment area, biodiversity concentration, and a beautiful environment, known as the “Chinese water tower,” occupy an irreplaceable strategic position in national development. Although Sanjiangyuan region is blessed with unique natural landscape and rich tourism resources, its ecological environment has been seriously deteriorated due to long-term man-made destruction, backward economic development, and increasing poverty, which have seriously affected and restricted the survival and development of local ethnic groups. Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, General Secretary Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets.” China advocates harmonious coexistence between humans and nature and sticks to the path of green and sustainable development. At the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the rural revitalization strategy was clearly proposed, which includes not only industrial revitalization but also ecological revitalization. In this paper, the area belonging to Sanjiangyuan National Park is taken as the main research object. By constructing economic, tourism, and ecological environment (TEE) evaluation indexes, the coupling degree and coupling coordination degree models are established, and the data from 2000 to 2019 are measured. The relationship of the three indicators is analyzed, and corresponding proposals for its development are put forward, such as implementing ecological compensation mechanism to improve the level of ecosystem management; blending into ethnic cultural elements to create a unique tourist resort; paying attention to economic development quality, building energy conservation and emissions reduction green engine; Doing a good job in the top-level design of ecological economy, and promoting the coordinated development of various indicators, etc. We will focus on quality control of economic development and build green engines for energy conservation and emission reduction. We will do a good job in top-level ecological and economic design and promote coordinated development of various indicators.

Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Sawa Lake’s Physical Parameters between (1985–2020) and Drought Investigations Using Landsat Imageries

Lake Sawa located in Southwest Iraq is a unique natural landscape and without visible inflow and outflow from its surrounding regions. Investigating the environmental and physical dynamics and the hydrological changes in the lake is crucial to understanding the impact of hydrological changes, as well as to inform planning and management in extreme weather events or drought conditions. Lake Sawa is a saltwater lake, covering about 4.9 square kilometers at its largest in the 1980s. In the last decade, the lake has dried out, shrinking to less than 75% of its average size. This contribution focuses on calculating the bank erosion and accretion of Lake Sawa utilizing remote sensing data captured by Landsat platforms (1985–2020). The methodology was validated using higher-resolution Sentinel imagery and field surveys. The outcomes indicated that the area of accretion is significantly higher than erosion, especially of the lake’s banks in the far north and the south, in which 1.31 km2 are lost from its surface area. Further analysis of especially agricultural areas around the lake have been performed to better understand possible reasons causing droughts. Investigations revealed that one possible reason behind droughts is related to the rapid increase in agriculture areas surrounding the lake. It has been found that the agriculture lands have expanded by 475% in 2020 compared to 2010. Linear regression analysis revealed that there is a high correlation (69%) between the expanding of agriculture lands and the drought of Lake Sawa.