Changes In Vegetation Cover Research Articles

Change of vegetation cover and land use of the Pómac forest historical sanctuary in northern Peru

The dry forests of northern Peru, in the regions of Piura, Tumbes, Lambayeque, and La Libertad, have experienced significant changes as a result of deforestation and changes in land use, leading to the loss of biodiversity and resources. This work analyzed for the first time the changes in vegetation cover and land use of the Pómac Forest Historical Sanctuary (PFHS), located in the department of Lambayeque (northern Peru). The employed approach was the random forest algorithm and visually interpreted Landsat satellite images for the periods 2000–2002, 2002–2004, and 2004–2008. Gain and loss rates were computed for each period, and the recovery process was assessed using the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and enhanced vegetation index (EVI). Results indicate an expansion of agricultural land during each period, resulting in the deforestation of 102.6 hectares of dense dry forest and 739.9 hectares of open dry forest between 2000 and 2008. The degree of reforestation in the cleared areas was measured using the NDVI and EVI indices, revealing an improvement from 0.22 in NDVI in 2009 to 0.36 in 2022, and from 0.14 to 0.21 in EVI over the same period. This study is expected to pave the way for executing land management plans, as well as the use and conservation of natural resources in the PFHS in a sustainable manner.

Decadal vegetation changes in a subarctic‐alpine ecosystem: Can effects of Iceland's largest hydropower reservoir, climate change, and herbivory be detected?

AbstractAimsWhile plot‐based vegetation surveys provide means to precisely track changes in plant species abundance and distribution, ecosystems are continuously influenced by numerous drivers, confounding interpretation of monitoring results. Following the making of Iceland's largest hydropower reservoir in 2006, a decadal vegetation monitoring was set up. Relating our results to those of different types of environmental monitoring associated with the hydropower project, we aimed to gain insights into the forces driving the spatio‐temporal vegetation pattern.LocationSubarctic‐alpine area near Hálslón reservoir, East Iceland.MethodsAt the time of its making, we conducted a baseline plant survey in a total of 72 plots, spread around Hálslón reservoir's vicinity (each containing ten 0.25 m2 subplots). Plots were located in three different habitat types (heathlands, wetlands, poorly vegetated land), at three different sites regarding direction and distance from the reservoir. A decade later, we resurveyed the plots and reviewed the results of other environmental monitoring projects in the area, mostly presented in the gray literature.ResultsTemporal changes in vegetation were mostly inconsistent between and within habitat types, but some general trends were noticed, that is, decreased lichen and fern cover in heathlands. Distance from the reservoir did not significantly affect changes in vegetation cover. The greatest overall changes were detected where great changes in herbivore land usage had been recorded during the study.ConclusionsDirect effects of Hálslón reservoir on vegetation in our study plots were not noticed. Most likely, the reservoir indirectly impacted vegetation in our study through loss of grazing area, affecting herbivore land usage, coupled with an unrelated population growth of two of the area's main wild herbivores before and during the study period. Response to climate change was not detected, potentially concealed by substantial land‐use change and a short study period.

Modeling Process of the Spatial-Temporal Changes of Vegetation Cover and its Relationship with Drivers in Drylands and Wetlands in Xianjiang (China)

Modeling Process of the Spatial-Temporal Changes of Vegetation Cover and its Relationship with Drivers in Drylands and Wetlands in Xianjiang (China)

Assessing species composition and structural attributes across different habitats to evaluate changes and management effectiveness of protected mangroves

Conservation and restoration of mangroves are necessary to meet global commitments for tackling the climate and biodiversity crises as well as reducing poverty. Management success is typically evaluated by estimating changes in vegetation cover, while changes in species composition and structural attributes across different habitats are often not considered. Here, we evaluated changes in mangrove composition, structural attributes, and drivers of change across Physically Stable Habitat (PSH), Diminished Tidal Inundation Habitat (DTIH), and Poor Drainage Habitat (PDH), for mangroves that have been protected for 22 years. We also analyzed the most likely ecological processes involved in the changes that have occurred. After 22 years, species remained the same in PSH and DTIH, but Rhizophora apiculata and Lumnitzera racemosa disappeared in PDH. Changes in relative proportions (number of trees of a species: total number of trees), and species abundance, varied between habitats. Additionally, changes in structural attributes also differed between habitat types over time suggesting they were driven by distinct ecological processes. Vegetation changes in PSH most likely occurred through a combination of ecologically important mangrove forest replacement and gap recovery processes, compared to only the gap recovery process in DTIH, and episodic changes due to stressful environmental conditions in PDH. Restoring hydrology, preventing sedimentation, planting proper seedlings of Avicennia marina should be conducted to save species and mangrove sustainability in PDH. It is highly recommended that managers follow a habitat-based approach to achieve effective management.

Impact of watershed management practices on vegetation, land use changes, and soil erosion in River Basins of the Atlas, Morocco

Soil erosion, a land degradation process triggered by natural and anthropogenic factors, seriously impacts landscapes and water resources. The influence of vegetation cover and land use changes on intensity of soil erosion of two catchments in mountainous regions of Morocco is evident, as it alters hydrologic response and sediment dynamics. This research aims to analyze the interactions among plants, soil, geology, meteorology, and orography, assessing soil erosion responses using the process-oriented IntErO model - Erosion Potential Method to determine erosion rates. The obtained results indicate that the Tiguert river basin experiences higher soil losses (Ggod = 5184.47 m³/god) and soil losses per square kilometre (Ggod/km² = 508.28 m³/km² god) compared to the Wanmroud catchment (Ggod = 2555.66 m³/god, Ggod/km² = 381.44 m³/km² god), confirming the theory that areas with denser and more effective vegetation cover experience lower soil erosion rates. Furthermore, the Wanmroud basin exhibits a more regular shape and lower watershed development coefficient, implying lower human impact. This study has shown the relationships between land use changes, vegetation cover, and soil erosion dynamics, offering valuable insights for sustainable land management practices in mountainous regions of Morocco.

Statistical Analysis and Scenario Modeling of Non-Stationary Runoff Change in the Loess Plateau: A Novel Application of the Generalized Additive Model in Location, Scale and Shape

The hydrological series in the Loess Plateau region has exhibited shifts in trend, mean, and/or variance as the environmental conditions have changed, indicating a departure from the assumption of stationarity. As the variations accumulate, the compound effects caused by the driving variables on runoff variations grow complex and interactive, posing a substantial risk to water security and the promotion of high-quality development in regions or river basins. This study focuses on the Tuwei River Basin in the Loess Plateau, which experiences significant changes in vegetation coverage and minimal human disturbance, and examines the cross-driving relationship between the runoff change and its driving variables (including hydrometeorological and environmental variables). A quantitative statistical analysis method based on the GAMLSS is then developed to estimate the interacting effects of changes in the driving variables and their contribution to runoff changes. Finally, various anticipated scenarios are used to simulate the changes in driving variables and runoff disturbances. The findings indicate the following: (1) The developed GU, LO, and NO distribution-based GAMLSSs provide a notable advantage in effectively capturing the variations in groundwater storage variables, actual evapotranspiration, and underlying surface parameters, as well as accurately estimating the impacts of other relevant variables. (2) The precipitation and groundwater storage variables showed predominantly positive contributions to the runoff change, but actual evapotranspiration had an adverse effect. The changes in underlying surface parameters, particularly since 2000, increase actual evapotranspiration, while decreasing groundwater storage, resulting in a progressive decrease in runoff as their contribution grows. (3) The scenario simulation results reveal that alterations to the underlying surface have a substantial influence on the evolution of runoff in the Tuwei River Basin. Additionally, there are cross-effects between the impact of various driving variables on runoff, potentially compounding the complexity of inconsistent changes in runoff sequences.

The Characterization of Biodiversity and Soil Emission Activity of the “Ladoga” Carbon-Monitoring Site

The global climate crisis forces mankind to develop carbon storage technologies. “Ladoga” carbon monitoring site is part of the Russian climate project “Carbon Supersites”, which aims to develop methods and technologies to control the balance of greenhouse gases in various ecosystems. This article shows the condition of soil and vegetation cover of the carbon polygon “Ladoga” using the example of a typical southern taiga ecosystem in the Leningrad region (Russia). It is revealed that soils here are significantly disturbed as a result of agrogenic impact, and the vegetation cover changes under the influence of anthropogenic activity. It has been found that a considerable amount of carbon is deposited in the soils of the carbon polygon; its significant part is accumulated in peat soils (60.0 ± 19.8 kg × m−2 for 0–100 cm layer). In agrogenically disturbed and pristine soils, carbon stocks are equal to 12.8 ± 2.9 kg × m−2 and 8.3 ± 1.3 kg × m−2 in the 0–100 cm layer, respectively. Stocks of potentially mineralizable organic matter (0–10 cm) in peat soils are 0.48 ± 0.01 kg × m−2; in pristine soils, it is 0.58 ± 0.06 kg × m−2. Peat soils are characterized by a higher intensity of carbon mineralization 9.2 ± 0.1 mg × 100 g−1 × day−1 with greater stability. Carbon in pristine soils is mineralized with a lower rate—2.5 ± 0.2 mg × 100 g−1 × day−1. The study of microbial diversity of soils revealed that the dominant phyla of microorganisms are Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria; however, methane-producing Archaea—Euryarchaeota—were found in peat soils, indicating their potentially greater emission activity. The results of this work will be useful for decision makers and can be used as a reference for estimating the carbon balance of the Leningrad region and southern taiga boreal ecosystems of the Karelian Isthmus.

Vegetation cover change and its response to human activities in the southwestern karst region of China

Vegetation to some extent can reflect the overall state of the ecological environment, and increasing vegetation cover can improve the quality of the ecological environment. The southwest karst region of China is a typical ecologically fragile area and an important ecological barrier. Against the backdrop of intensified human activities, the vegetation dynamics in the karst region have attracted widespread attention. Analyzing vegetation cover changes and their responses to human activities is important for regional ecological development. This study is based on SPOT-VGT NDVI data from 1998 to 2020 and employs trend analysis, “baseline” determination, multiple regression, residual analysis, and principal component analysis to investigate the characteristics of vegetation cover changes in the southwest karst region of China. Additionally, it quantifies the specific impacts of various human activities on these changes. The research findings indicate that (1) over the past 23 years, the interannual variability and seasonal differences in the NDVI of the southwest karst region have been significant, exhibiting an overall increasing trend. Spatially, the vegetation in this region demonstrates a decreasing trend from south to north and southwest to northeast. (2) Over time, the areas where vegetation has improved gradually expand, and the effectiveness of vegetation restoration increases with time. (3) Overall, human activities influence vegetation growth in the southwest karst landscape region of China. (4) The socioeconomic factors affecting vegetation cover changes in the southwest karst region of China primarily include economic development level, population and labor migration, urbanization development, and vegetation construction. These results provide a scientific basis for formulating reasonable ecological environment protection strategies by humans.

Australian human-induced native forest regeneration carbon offset projects have limited impact on changes in woody vegetation cover and carbon removals

Carbon offsets are a widely used climate policy instrument that can reduce mitigation costs and generate important environmental and social co-benefits. However, they can increase emissions if they lack integrity. We analysed the performance of one of the world’s largest nature-based offset types: human-induced regeneration projects under Australia’s carbon offset scheme. The projects are supposed to involve the human-induced regeneration of permanent even-aged native forests through changes in land management. We analysed 182 projects and found limited evidence of regeneration in credited areas. Changes in woody vegetation cover within the areas that have been credited also largely mirror changes in adjacent comparison areas, outside the projects, suggesting the observable changes are predominantly attributable to factors other than the project activities. The results add to the growing literature highlighting the practical limitations of offsets and the potential for offset schemes to credit abatement that is non-existent, non-additional and potentially impermanent.

Predicting the effects of climate and land use changes on small rattlesnakes in central Mexico: Insights for conservation planning

Anthropogenic changes pose a significant threat to global biodiversity, especially in reptiles. Mexico, renowned for its diverse reptile population, is experiencing habitat disturbance and fragmentation, endangering rattlesnakes in particular due to their specific habitat requirements and limited mobility. The loss of structural connectivity further increases the risk of extinction for reptiles. Our study focuses on predicting the distribution and connectivity of nine Crotalus species in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt (TMVB), using environmental modeling. We used climate models (CNRM-CM5 and MPI-ESM-LR) for the year 2050 and Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP 85) alongside changes in vegetation cover and land use. The Maxent modeling method in ENMeval helped assess distribution patterns and to identify key environmental variables influencing these species’ distributions and niche overlap. We also conducted an analysis of the structural connectivity of the different Crotalus species. Our findings indicate reductions in suitable habitats due to changes in agriculture, urbanization, and forest cover. The Maxent models showed high accuracy in predicting species distributions. The most influential variables varied among species and included forest types and climatic factors. We observed limited connectivity among small Crotalus species, although some species exhibited greater connectivity than others. Future models suggest potential distribution reductions for all species, with C. armstrongi facing the greatest reduction (78%) according to the cn85 global climate model. Protected areas do not encompass the majority of potential distribution for these small rattlesnake species. These findings highlight the urgency of conservation efforts and the need to mitigate the impacts of future environmental changes on reptile populations.

Analysis of Changes in Runoff and Sediment Load and Their Attribution in the Kuye River Basin of the Middle Yellow River Based on the Slope Change Ratio of Cumulative Quantity Method

Climate change and human activities exert significant influence on the water–sediment relationship in arid and semi-arid regions. Therefore, comprehending the underlying mechanisms is crucial for the effective management of water and soil resources, as well as integrated watershed management. This research focuses on the Kuye River watershed (KYH_W) in the middle reaches of the Yellow River in China, along with its sub-watersheds Wangdaohengtazi (WDHT_SW) and Xinmiaosi (XM_SW). This paper utilizes the Mann–Kendall non-parametric test and the double cumulative curve method to examine the interannual trends of runoff, sediment transport, precipitation, temperature, and NDVI factors. Furthermore, the method of the slope change ratio of cumulative quantity (SCRCQ) is utilized to quantitatively evaluate the impacts and contribution rates of climate change and human activities on water–sediment changes within each watershed. The results are as follows: (1) From 1969 to 2019, the entire watershed experienced a significant decrease in both runoff and sediment transport, with 1997 marking the year of abrupt change. However, following 2012, the KYH_W and WDHT_SW exhibited a noticeable rebound in runoff. (2) Human activities predominantly contribute to the reduction in water and sediment in the watershed. (3) After the abrupt change, between 1998 and 2011, the contribution rates of climate change and human activities to the annual runoff reduction in the entire KYH_W reached 33% and 64%, respectively. Moreover, these rates for sediment transport reduction reached 26% and 74%, respectively. Subsequently, after 2012, the contribution rates of both factors to the increase in watershed runoff reached 29% and 71%, respectively. Factors other than the NDVI, within human activities, played a dominant role in augmenting the watershed’s runoff. (4) Prior to 2011, changes in vegetation cover resulting from the Grain for Green Program, as measured by the NDVI, emerged as the primary factor responsible for reduced runoff in the watershed. Conversely, factors other than the NDVI assumed dominance in reducing sediment transport. The SCRCQ method offers a quantitative approach to assessing water–sediment changes. Based on this method, the study further underscores the substantial impacts of climate change and human activities on variations in runoff and sediment transport within the KYH_W in the middle reaches of the Yellow River. Notably, the water–sediment changes in the KYH_W exhibit distinct stage-wise and spatial discrepancies, which warrant increased attention in future research endeavors.

Multisequal aeolian deposition during the Holocene in southwestern Patagonia (51°S) was modulated by southern westerly wind intensity and vegetation type

We studied a multisequal soil succession (MSS) just south of Torres del Paine National Park (51°S), at the present-day core of the Southern Westerly Winds (SWW). The Río Serrano Section comprises paleosol horizons with associated intervening loess and sandy loess beds formed during the Holocene. Our record suggests strong and stable aeolian activity between ∼9.3–7.2 ka followed by a decline with centennial-scale variations until ∼5 ka. A strengthening commenced at ∼5 ka and culminated in a maximum between ∼2.2–0.5 ka with millennial-scale variations. Subsequent weakening of aeolian activity between ∼0.5 and 0 ka was coeval with the deposition of a ∼40 cm-thick paleosol, after which aeolian activity increased abruptly and reached an unprecedented maximum starting in the mid-20th century. The inferred wind intensity variations from our data bear partial agreement with competing hypotheses of SWW evolution, which postulate minimum SWW influence in SW Patagonia during the early Holocene and maximum influence during the Late Holocene, or vice versa. When analyzed through the lens of vegetation physiognomy/distribution and associated hydrological balance inferences from neighboring sites, our results suggest a primary control by precipitation and wind speeds associated to SWW strength at regional scale, modulated by the position of the forest/steppe ecotone east of the austral Andes. Human activities during the mid-20th century (deforestation, fire-regime shifts, livestock grazing, land use changes) caused an unprecedented increase in aeolian activity through decreased vegetation cover that increased sediment availability for aeolian transport, marking a striking difference with the magnitude of natural processes before the Anthropocene. Our results highlight the importance of climate change and natural/human-driven changes in vegetation cover for deciphering wind intensity histories, particularly in the transition from humid to semiarid environments along the eastern slope of the southern Patagonian Andes.

Detection of vegetation cover change in the Southern region of Bangladesh using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) practices

Bangladesh is extremely vulnerable to climate change, and vegetation indices serve as sensitive indicators. Due to the impacts of climate change, the cropping intensity of Southern region of Bangladesh is very low. So, this study aimed to analyze the changes in vegetation cover over time using the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and identify the use of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) technologies and the benefits of using such technologies. A questionnaire survey was carried out by purposive random sampling method to detect 120 farmers’ socioeconomic status, hazards faced by climate change, adopted climate smart agricultural practices and its benefits for assessing Adaptive Strategy Index (ASI) in Amtali upazila of Barguna district and Kalapara upazila of Patuakhali district. NDVI analysis of multi-spectral remote sensing data from 2012 and 2022 indicated the extent of sparse vegetation of Kalapara has increased. Western part of Amtali upazila, fallow areas have become lessened in 2022 (354.55 km2) compared to 2012 (368.78 km2) due to adopting different CSA practices. Saline-tolerant crop varieties, sunflowers, and watermelon cultivation were the highest ranked among the CSA practices, with 301, 300, and 296 ASI, respectively. Calculated weighted average of CSA practices indicated the reduction of production cost, increased family income (49.19%) and cropping intensity (51.67%), which impacts developed social bonding.

Identification of Time-Varying Conceptual Hydrological Model Parameters with Differentiable Parameter Learning

The parameters of the GR4J-CemaNeige coupling model (GR4neige) are typically treated as constants. However, the maximum capacity of the production store (parX1) exhibits time-varying characteristics due to climate variability and vegetation coverage change. This study employed differentiable parameter learning (dPL) to identify the time-varying parX1 in the GR4neige across 671 catchments within the United States. We built two types of dPL, including static and dynamic parameter networks, to assess the advantages of the time-varying parameter. In the dynamic parameter network, we evaluated the impact of potential evapotranspiration (PET), precipitation (P), temperature (T), soil moisture (SM), and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) datasets on the performance of dPL. We then compared dPL with the empirical functional method (fm). The results demonstrated that the dynamic parameter network outperformed the static parameter network in streamflow estimation. There were differences in streamflow estimation among the dynamic parameter network driven by various input features. In humid catchments, simultaneously incorporating all five factors, including PET, P, T, SM, and the NDVI, achieved optimal streamflow simulation accuracy. In arid catchments, it was preferable to introduce PET, T, and the NDVI separately for improved performance. dPL significantly outperformed the empirical fm in estimating streamflow and uncalibrated intermediate variables, like evapotranspiration (ET). Both the derived parX1 from dPL and the empirical fm exhibited significant spatiotemporal variation across 671 catchments. Notably, compared to parX1 obtained through the empirical fm, parX1 derived from dPL exhibited a distinct spatial clustering pattern. This study highlights the potential of dPL in enhancing model accuracy and contributes to understanding the spatiotemporal variation characteristics of parX1 under the influence of climate factors, soil conditions, and vegetation change.

Analysis of Land Use Change and Hydrogeological Parameters in the Andean Semiarid Region of Ecuador

Access to freshwater in developing regions remains a significant concern, particularly in arid and semiarid areas with limited annual precipitation. Groundwater, a vital resource in these regions, faces dual threats—climate change and unsustainable exploitation. This study analyzes changes in land use, vegetation cover, and hydrogeological parameters in Catacocha parish, situated in the southern Ecuadorian Andes region. The methodology incorporates the integration of data from the Paltas Municipality, Ministerio del Ambiente, Agua y Transición Ecológica—MAATE—and Instituto Geográfico Militar—IGM. Utilizing GIS tools, vegetation analysis is combined with a comparative assessment of discharge data spanning from 2000 to 2022. The data from the MAATE and IGM play an instrumental role in evaluating alterations in vegetation cover across the years. The study also examines the characteristic curves of the wells and their coefficient of storage. Additionally, it assesses the role of vegetation in facilitating infiltration and explores the potential relationship with precipitation patterns in the study area. In semiarid regions, prioritizing the management of natural vegetation is essential, either through conservation projects or reforestation plans throughout the year. Moreover, population emigration has revitalized land use, reserving specific areas for conservation. The transformation observed in the wells supplying the parish of Catacocha and its vegetation cover from 2000 to 2022 serves as a demonstration of this change. Discharge data remain essential for monitoring variations in well discharge and ensuring a consistent daily supply of potable water.

Potential for natural hydrogen in Quebec (Canada): a first review

The energy transition calls for natural hydrogen exploration, with most occurrences discovered either inadvertently or, more recently, at the location of potentially diffusive circles observed from a change of vegetation cover at the surface. However, some notable hydrogen occurrences are not directly associated with the presence of diffusive circles like the Bourakebougou field in Mali. Thus, the objective of this work was to highlight geological areas that have some potential to find natural hydrogen in Quebec, a Canadian province where no diffusive circles have yet been documented but which is rich in potential source rocks and where no exploration for natural hydrogen has been undertaken so far. A review of the different geological regions of Quebec was undertaken to highlight the relevant characteristics and geographical distribution of geological assemblages that may produce or have produced natural hydrogen, in particular, iron-rich rocks but also uranium-rich rocks, supramature shales and zones where significant structural discontinuities are documented or suspected, which may act as conduits for the migration of fluids of mantle origin. In addition to regional and local geological data, an inventory of available geochemical data is also carried out to identify potential tracers or proxies to facilitate subsequent exploration efforts. A rating was then proposed based on the quality of the potential source rocks, which also considers the presence of reservoir rocks and the proximity to end-users. This analysis allowed rating areas of interest for which fieldwork can be considered, thus minimizing the exploratory risks and investments required to develop this resource. The size of the study area (over 1.5 million km2), the diversity of its geological environments (from metamorphic cratons to sedimentary basins) and their wide age range (from Archean to Paleozoic) make Quebec a promising territory for natural hydrogen exploration and to test the systematic rating method proposed here.

Impacts of climate factors and human activities on NDVI change in China

Vegetation plays a crucial role in terrestrial ecosystems, and there has been a substantial shift in global vegetation cover in recent decades. China is recognized for its substantial impact on global vegetation cover changes, which are influenced by both climate change and human activities. Therefore, this research aims to assess the respective influences of climate modification and human activities on vegetation variations in China. First, the changes in vegetation cover are explored between 1982 and 2020 using satellite-image derived vegetation index, known as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). Second, a multiple regression model based on time-lag analysis is used to simulate NDVI. In addition to common climatic factors such as temperature, precipitation, solar radiation intensity and relative humidity, the atmospheric CO2 concentration to directly reflect climate change is considered in this model. Finally, the relative influence of climate variation and human activities on the alteration of vegetation cover is determined based on reconstructed NDVI. Results: (1) Precipitation and solar radiation are the most important influences, while carbon dioxide concentration and relative humidity have the least influence. (2) The simulation error before 2000 was 0.875%, which was considerably lower than the error after 2000. (3) After 2000, human activities favorably affected vegetation recovery in most of the study area, with an average degree of influence of >30%.

Influence of Fires on Desert Plant Communities at the Chernye Zemli (SW Russia)

Understanding the rate and direction of pyrogenic succession in arid ecosystems, which depends on many factors, including the intensity of grazing and the frequency of pyrogenic expo-sure, will allow for more accurate predictions of the consequences of fire onplant communities, and will assist with better fire management. We studied the vegetation on 55 sites in and near the “Chernye Zemli” Natural Biosphere Reserve that burned at different times or were not affected by fires over the past 35 years and characterized the changes in vegetation cover associated with the impact of wildfire and grazing. The descriptions were grouped into chronological stages according to the time elapsed since the last fire, or into groups according to the frequency of fires. In pairwise comparison of the projective cover of plant species between chronological stages, it correlated most strongly between successive initial stages (for stages 1 and 2, p = 0.003, r = 0.73; for stages 2 and 3, p < 0.001, r = 0.78). Species with an initially higher projective cover were more likely to grow on plots in the first year after the fire: p < 0.03. Plots with rare and frequent fires had similar projective cover of individual species (r = 0.64, p < 0.001). We conclude that in the course of pyrogenic succession, communities are gradually replaced over at least ten years. At the same time, the composition of a plant community at the initial point of succession depends on the prevalence of species in the community before the fire. No fundamental effect of the frequency of fires on the composition of plant communities has been revealed.

Vegetation cover change in Ugam Chatkal National Park, Uzbekistan, in relation to climate variables during the post-Soviet period (1991-2022)

This paper presents a comprehensive study relating to the vegetation cover change in Ugam Chatkal National Park (Uzbekistan) and its relation to climate change during the post-Soviet period (1991-2022). The study utilises remote sensing technology, specifically the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and the Soil-Adjusted Vegetation Index (SAVI), to monitor spatio-temporal changes in vegetation. Landsat satellite imagery and meteorological data, including temperature and precipitation records form the basis of the analysis. The research aims to understand the impact of climatic factors, such as air temperature, soil temperature and precipitation on vegetation cover. Statistical methods, for example Pearson’s correlation analysis are employed to determine the strength and direction of relationships between these variables. The study reveals that both NDVI and SAVI are strongly correlated with air and soil temperatures, indicating the significant influence of these climatic factors on vegetation health and growth. The findings suggest that changes in vegetation cover in the Ugam Chatkal National Park are closely tied to climate change, with air temperature revealing a substantial correlation with time, indicating a trend towards increasing temperatures. The study also forecasts future climatic and vegetation trends, predicting an increase in air temperature, precipitation and vegetation cover over the next four decades. In particular, the research highlights the magnitude of monitoring and understanding the complex interactions between climate change and vegetation dynamics, which are crucial for environmental management and policy-making in the region.

ASSESSMENT OF THE ROLE OF GUM ARABIC PRODUCERS’ ASSOCIATIONS (GAPAS) IN REHABILITATION OF GUM ARABIC BELT: CASE OF NORTH AND WEST KORDOFAN STATES, SUDAN

The research aimed to investigate the involvement of Gum Arabic Producers' Associations (GAPAs) in the rehabilitation of the gum Arabic belt in North and West Kordofan States, Sudan. Data were collected through social surveys of household heads, interviews, and observations, as well as remote sensing images from 1998, 2009, and 2020. Secondary data were obtained from different literature sources. The data were analysed using SPSS and ERDAS software. The results of the social survey showed that the establishment of GAPAs coincided with an increase in gum-producing trees, but GAPAs did not directly contribute to the rehabilitation process. Instead, the rehabilitation efforts were carried out through collaborations between the Forests National Corporation (FNC), multi-donor projects, and GAPAs. The remote sensing results showed changes in vegetation cover over the study period, with an increase in dense, moderate, and sparse vegetation cover classes. The research concluded that GAPAs have a significant impact on the enhancement of vegetation cover. External institutions played a role in the restocking of gum trees. It was recommended that GAPAs be strengthened through capacity building and the adoption of technology to improve gum production. FNC should encourage micro-financial institutions to support rehabilitation projects, utilise mapping to protect the gum gardens, and monitor the rehabilitation processes.