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The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) is a National Scenic Trail that extends approximately 2,653 miles from the border of California and Mexico to the border of Washington State and Canada. This study examined land management and hiker issues that day, overnight, and thru-hikers experience in California while navigating the PCT in order to inform land managers. This quantitative survey, completed through Qualtrics, was disseminated to thru-hikers who completed the trail between 2017 and 2021, and individuals who used the trail for shorter durations. Survey questions focused on technology, Trail Angels, rule enforcement by land management agencies, the permitting process by the Pacific Crest Trail Association (PCTA), hiker education, and hiker demographics. Descriptive statistics were calculated and analyzed. Results indicate that most hikers prefer articles on the PCTA website, Leave No Trace (LNT) website, and certifications to gain education about the trail. They also felt that personal contacts were the most effective way to gain pre-trip education. Almost all hikers use technology on the trail, such as navigation or informational apps, emergency calls, taking photos, and listening to videos or music. More thru-hikers rely on navigational apps than day/overnight users. Many hikers felt there should be more rangers in the backcountry but also felt that social enforcement of rules is effective. Regarding Trail Angels, thru-hikers felt they were important for transportation, food/water, and shelter. Managerial implications for public land managers included a need to develop ways to educate users. This can be done in-person, online, or through signage. Increasing the presence of rangers or volunteers on the trail was also recommended, as well as developing area or jurisdiction-specific apps for information and education about trail conditions or rules. Additional education of sustainable hiking behaviors may help mitigate potential negative impacts hikers may have on the environment. Land managers must continue to assess what is currently being done and reevaluate on an ongoing basis in order to preserve and maintain sustainable use of public lands.

This article examines how school and non-school policies interact to reinforce or disrupt school segregation in the context of suburban communities and how these systems are maintained by structural and institutional mechanisms. Methodologically, we use a case study approach to delve deeply into the interpretation and implementation of school attendance zone redesign and non-school policies, specifically land use policies and tools. We draw on neo-institutionalist theory and Ray's (2019) framework of racialized organizations to make sense of school districts, planning agencies, and their policies. We find that school district rezoning policies provide a weak regulatory framework for desegregating schools because school zoning decisions are not made in a vacuum but rather are shaped by policies and actions taken by other actors in a multi-level governance structure. School zoning policies themselves prioritized capacity over desegregation, and regulations and norms governing the public engagement processes privilege opposition to desegregation. Our study points to the importance of greater coordination across governmental levels and policy arenas, and underscores how desegregation policy is part of a political and relational process between advocates, elected leaders, families, and youth across policy sectors.

The Pacific Crest Trail is a National Scenic Trail that runs from Mexico to Canada. Use of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) has increased in the past 20 years. It is important to understand how an increase in use can impact the environment and sustainable practices, land management practices, and the hiker experience. Participants included 15 land managers in California and 25 thru-hikers who completed the PCT. In-depth interviews were conducted, and participants were asked questions about hiker interactions, trail angels, land manager interactions, and the permitting process. Data were transcribed verbatim and coded by three independent coders to reach a 90% inter-rater reliability. Emerging themes included: human impacts, permitting and education, and rule enforcement. Hikers also talked about the benefits of in-person education and the need for consistent communication between thru-hikers and land managers. Recommendations for sustainable practices include improvements to the permitting system, education, enforcement, and communication.

Study abroad host families and communities in the Global South frequently provide learning experiences to study abroad programs in search of 'intercultural experiences' and 'global competency' to students from the Global North. This paper shares findings from a multi-sited ethnographic research project exploring cultural and economic impacts on host communities in Thailand who hosted U.S. study abroad programs and students. The study found that rather than participating solely for economic gain, host families participated in the global study abroad economy to preserve local knowledge, learn about cultural others, and leverage this knowledge and affiliations in negotiations with local government over land use and the right of communities remain in place. It also found that creation of systems of distributive benefit (systems that ensured transparency and equal sharing of economic benefits received from hosting students) by local government helped to mitigate unwanted impacts from outside visitors while allowing host communities opportunities to engage with the global study abroad economy.

Over the past two and a half decades, rapid urbanization has led to significant land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Kabul province, Afghanistan. To assess the impact of LULC changes on land surface temperature (LST), Kabul province was divided into four LULC classes applying the Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm using the Landsat satellite images from 1998 to 2022. The LST was assessed using Landsat data from the thermal band. The Cellular Automata-Logistic Regression (CA-LR) model was applied to predict the future patterns of LULC and LST for 2034 and 2046. Results showed significant changes in LULC classes, as the built-up areas increased about 9.37%, while the bare soil and vegetation cover decreased 7.20% and 2.35%, respectively, from 1998 to 2022. The analysis of annual LST revealed that built-up areas showed the highest mean LST, followed by bare soil and vegetation. The future simulation results indicate an expected increase in built-up areas to 17.08% and 23.10% by 2034 and 2046, respectively, compared to 11.23% in 2022. Similarly, the simulation results for LST indicated that the area experiencing the highest LST class (≥ 32 °C) is expected to increase to 27.01% and 43.05% by 2034 and 2046, respectively, compared to 11.21% in 2022. The results indicate that LST increases considerably as built-up areas increase and vegetation cover decreases, revealing a direct link between urbanization and rising temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to strengthen the overall planning and coordination of urban construction and ecological space in Baishan City, we should formulate a scientific land type planning of Production-Living-Ecological Space (PLES). In this paper, land use dynamic attitude model, land use transfer matrix, land use function center of gravity transfer model, eco-environmental quality index(EEQI) and geographic detector model are used to discuss the spatio-temporal evolution of PLES in Baishan City from 2000 to 2020. Spatio-temporal evolution of EEQI and its influencing factors. The results show that: (1) During the study period, Baishan City showed the characteristics that the production space first increased and then decreased, the ecological space decreased, and the living space continued to increase. Among them, the ecological space is the dominant space of Baishan City, covering an area of more than 80%. From the perspective of the transformation of PLES, from 2000 to 2020, Baishan City is mainly characterized by the transformation of ecological space into production space and living space. In the second type of space, green ecological space, forestry ecological space and other ecological space have decreased, while other types of space have increased in varying degrees. (2) During the study period, the overall EEQI of Baishan City remained in good condition, and the ecological environment quality(EEQ) of the three periods were 0.6571, 0.6412 and 0.6562 respectively. The higher EEQI is distributed in Changbai County and Linjiang City, while the areas with lower EEQI are concentrated in the north-central part of Hunjiang City, the middle part of Jiangyuan District and the northwest of Fusong County. (3) According to the analysis of the influencing factors of EEQ, the influence of the factors of spatial differentiation of EEQI in Baishan City changed significantly from 2000 to 2020, and the average annual rainfall was the core factor affecting the spatial differentiation of EEQ in Baishan City, the second is the urbanization rate and the distance from the county government, and the interaction between the average annual rainfall and the distance from the county government has a strong influence on the spatial differentiation of EEQ in Baishan City. This study reveals the evolution of spatial types and EEQ of PLES in Baishan City, and provides a scientific reference for the effective management and utilization of land resources in Baishan City. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Karst landforms are widely distributed in southern China. The terrain and soil properties in karst basins are complex, which results in high spatial heterogeneity of the ecological environment and soil organic matter (SOM) in karst watersheds. To investigate the spatial distribution characteristics of SOM in different land uses in the karst plateau basin, a total of 3,816 soil samples were taken from 568 soil profiles. The soil animals and different soil properties were recorded, and the concentration of SOM was tested using the potassium dichromate method in the laboratory. Then, the changes in the SOM content associated with soil animals and the soil properties associated with the different land use types were analyzed. The results showed a large discrepancy in SOM in the karst plateau basin. The average values of SOM in different soil layers were between 9.23 g kg-1 and 59.39 g kg-1. The SOM decreased in the following order: forestland > grassland > barren land > cultivated land > garden land. The SOM in soil in which soil animals are present is generally greater than that in the absence of soil animals, and the SOM partially increases with soil species diversity. Agrotis segetum is the main soil animal species that positively affects the distribution of organic matter in the surface soil layer. The SOM in soil with the phylum Annelida is much greater than that in soils with other animals, and earthworms are the main contributor. The structure of soil animal species is complex, and the change trend of SOM is stable. The major positive factors affecting soil animal diversity are soil thickness, soil humidity and soil structure, and rock outcrops are the main negative factor. In summary, good land use can increase animal diversity and abundance in soil, which promotes soil organic matter accumulation. Moreover, microtopography is an important factor that influences soil organic matter accumulation in karst basins and further affects the restructuring of the spatial distribution of soil organic matter. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The unprecedented growth in population and swift industrial advancements exert considerable strains on the ecosystem, particularly within medium-sized and large urban landscapes. The critical investigation into the intricate links between current and prospective land utilization, as well as the ecosystem service value (ESV), holds considerable empirical relevance for the calibration of land usage frameworks, thereby contributing to the sustainable evolution of extensive urban zones. Utilizing GlobeLand 30 data, the present research probes into the pattern of land transformation and the spatial-temporal dispersal of ESV in Henan's Yellow River vicinity over a span from 2000 to 2020. For the enhancement of land usage alignment, a Markov-PLUS fusion model was devised to gauge three disparate ESV transition scenarios slated for 2030, namely, natural development scenario (NDS), cropland protection scenario (CPS), and ecological protection scenario (EPS). The principal determinants of land transformation within the 2000-2020 period were recognized as elevation, populace concentration, and atmospheric temperature. Amid the rapid accretion of construction land engulfing substantial cropland and grassland areas, there was an ESV diminution to the tune of 1.432 billion RMB between 2000 and 2020. The ESV's high-value regions were discerned within relatively undisturbed ecosystem zones, with the lower-value sections identified in cropland and constructed areas, where human interventions exerted pronounced effects on the ecosystem. In accordance with the 2030 land usage simulations and analyses, in contrast to alternative scenarios, the EPS exhibited the least fluctuation in land type alterations in 2030, demonstrated the most pronounced escalation in cold spot concentration, and reached a peak agglomeration level. This underscores that the EPS not only offers a refinement in land utilization configuration but also mediates the equilibrium between economic and ecological considerations. The insights derived from this investigation afford innovative evaluative methods for spatial planning, ecological recompense, and sustainable land exploitation within largeand medium-scale urban domains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, annual emissions from managed organic soils accounts for up to 5% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Climate-wise management and restoration of degraded organic soils could reduce GHG emissions quickly and at relatively low costs. The European Union (EU) Member States that have large areas of organic soils with high GHG emissions are Sweden, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Poland, Netherlands, and the Baltic countries. To meet the climate targets and objectives of the Paris Agreement the land-use sector is indispensable and mitigation policies targeting organic soils will be needed. The international regulatory framework is broad and quite unspecific. In contrast, the European Union has initiated binding regulation for the land-use sector through the EU Climate Law, the EU LULUCF regulation, and the proposed EU Nature Restoration Law. However, even this regulatory approach is not on track to deliver on its binding ambitions, indicating the need for more effective implementation measures also on organic soils in the EU and its member states. Furthermore, we argue that appropriate policy selection should consider current knowledge regarding the climate impacts of management options of organic soils. Lastly, we need more studies on GHG emissions, and standardized methods for GHG inventories, to resolve uncertainties surrounding the impacts of management to GHG emissions. Successful policy implementation requires more efforts but also improved scientific justification through continuous consideration of climate policy integrity and strengthening of the reliability of GHG inventories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the relationship between landscape features and avian diversity in South Korea, examining both taxonomic and functional diversity. The Korean Peninsula serves as a pivotal habitat for resident bird species and a migratory pathway in the East Asia-Pacific flyway. Using a national dataset with block sizes ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 kilometers per side, we found that less urbanized open plains exhibit higher taxonomic diversity, while coastal regions with diverse water bird populations show higher functional diversity. These findings underscore the significance of conserving the existing land types and qualities in specific regions to substantially impact bird distribution and regional biodiversity. Remarkably, closed forests display diversity patterns akin to urban/built-up areas, despite their disparate land use characteristics. The stability of bird diversity indices across different land use types enables us to predict bird diversity indices based on the particular land use and land cover configurations. This study emphasizes the complementary nature of functional biodiversity indices in comprehending bird distribution patterns alongside taxonomic diversity indices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The response of regional climate models (RCMs) to different input land cover information is complex and uncertain. Several studies by the regional climate modeling community have investigated the potential of land cover data to help understand land-atmosphere interactions at regional and local scales. This study investigates the regional climate response to introducing European Space Agency (ESA) land cover (LC) data into WRF-Hydro. In addition, this study assesses the potential impacts of afforestation and deforestation strategies on regional water and energy fluxes. An extended version of WRF-Hydro that accounts for a two-way river-land water flow to reduce unrealistic peaks in simulated discharge was employed. The two-way river-land flow setup yielded a better NSE and KGE of 0.47 and 0.69, respectively, over the Kulpawn basin compared to the default setup values of -0.34 and 0.2. Two land use/land cover change effects were deduced from synthetic numerical sensitivity experiments mimicking afforestation by closed shrubland expansion and deforestation by cropland expansion. The afforestation experiment yielded approximately 6% more precipitation, 3% more evapotranspiration, 27% more surface runoff, and 16% more underground runoff, while the deforestation by cropland expansion yielded -5% less precipitation, -3% less evapotranspiration, -3% less surface runoff, and - 9% less underground runoff over the Sissili-Kulpawn Basin (SKB). This result suggests that afforestation (deforestation) could increase the flood (drought) risk. Our synthetic numerical experiment mimics the regional water and energy budgets well and can help climate services and decision-makers by quantifying regional climate response to potential land cover changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on watershed assessments has primarily emphasized general hydrological or technical findings, neglecting the spatiotemporal analysis of landuse change and its influence on surface runoff. This study addresses this gap by using a geographic information system (GIS)-based method to analyze surface runoff variations due to land-use change on Tsushima Island, Japan. By leveraging spatiotemporal analysis within a GIS framework, the study interprets satellite imagery (Landsat 8 data, 2014-2024) to assess land use and watershed characteristics. This approach culminates in a comprehensive map depicting potential flood risk across the island. In conclusion, this study offers an advanced method for communicating potential flood risks to the public and policymakers, enabling proactive mitigation strategies for the coming decade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to understand the connectivity characteristics of construction land during the spatial evolution of historic urban areas. The complex network analysis method is employed to examine the evolution of the spatial structure of construction land in the four periods of the Changsha historic urban area. The results indicate that the spatial network morphology of construction land follows a repeated development pattern resembling a cluster–mother–child relationship. Additionally, the vulnerability in the evolution of land use spatial relationships is very low, while the overall stability of the land use network structure decreases. The spatial equilibrium of land use shows a downwards trend, the accessibility of land where existing cultural relics and historic sites are located is generally moderate to low, and some plots require improvement. In the evolution of connectivity in the construction land of historic urban areas, the main development challenges are the uneven growth caused by imbalanced land value influenced by capital and the need to balance the preservation of land use patterns with improved accessibility to cultural relics and historic sites. Therefore, it is highly important to dynamically detect and optimize the network structure of construction land to protect and develop historic urban areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a crucial industrial, agricultural, and energy base in China, the urban agglomerations in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) have faced increasingly significant pressure for carbon emission reduction since the implementation of the "Dual Carbon" strategy. This study focuses on 615 counties within the major urban agglomerations in the YRB, analyzing the spatiotemporal evolution of carbon budget in land use from 2000 to 2020. Methods such as the normalized revealed comparative advantage (NRCA) index and SOM-K-means model are employed to explore the carbon compensation zoning of counties in the urban agglomerations in the YRB from the perspective of main functional zones. The results show that: (1) From 2000 to 2020, there was a significant and continuous widening gap between carbon emissions and carbon absorption in the study area. The total carbon emissions increased significantly from 3.64 × 108 to 13.56 × 108 t, showing a "north high, south low" spatial distribution pattern. Meanwhile, the carbon absorption remained stable at around 6.47 × 107 t, with a spatial distribution pattern roughly characterized by "higher in the west, lower in the east, and highest in the central part". The carbon budget of various types of functional zones generally aligns well with their strategic positioning. (2) There is a significant regional difference in net carbon emissions among urban agglomerations, with the greatest internal variation observed in the Guanzhong Plain Urban Agglomeration (Gw = 0.471) and the most notable differences between the Lanzhou-Xining Urban Agglomeration and others (Gb = 0.554). (3) The study area consists of 273 payment zones, 257 balanced zones, and 85 compensated zones. Combining with the reconstruction of main functional areas, seven types of carbon compensation zones are identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water plays a significant role in every sector of the ecosystem. The fluctuation of the water levels in lakes is influenced by natural and man-made factors within the water catchment. Lake Baringo, which has no visible outlet, has been rising drastically, causing panic among native communities and businesses on the shores of the lake. Using GIS and Remote Sensing, this study intends to analyze the changes in water lakes using the Automatic water extraction index (AWEI), determine the causes of the fluctuation using Land use Land cover, land surface temperature, soil erosion, and siltation in the lake basin and the lake respectively, precipitation, and later predict of the water level for the year 2030 using the MOLUSCE tool. The tool utilizes an artificial neural network and cellular automata to analyze land use and land cover conveniently. It was found that the lake's water level has been increasing drastically over the years, and the leading causes of the fluctuations were increased rainfall and human activities within the water basin. There are visible increased human activities within the water basin, such as agriculture, deforestation, settlement, and urbanization. It was also found that there will be a further increase in water level in 2030. With all the above results, it is recommended that better policies be made to conserve the water basin effectively, and a plan should be drawn to re-delineate the new riparian buffer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The German government aims to convert its energy system to renewable energy by 2045. This requires a comprehensive understanding of land eligibility for renewables, particularly land-intensive ground-mounted photovoltaics (GM-PV). Federal states must set aside at least 2% of their land for renewable energy. This target value was derived using a top-down energy demand approach. Georeferenced land use data can be used to make bottom-up estimates. This study investigates how the choice of data source influences the bottom-up evaluation of land eligibility for GM-PV installations in Germany. This study evaluates the quality of data sources and their applicability for GM-PV scenario assessment by comparing the official data source Basis-DLM as the reference with the open-access data sources OpenStreetMap (OSM), Corine Land Cover (CLC), and Copernicus Emergency Management Service (CEMS). The intersection over union (IoU) and Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) methods were used to analyse the differences in land use and eligibility due to the quality of the data sources and to compare their accuracy. The study's results show the crucial role of data source selection in estimating the potential for GM-PV in Germany. The results indicate that open-access data overestimate land eligibility by 4.0% to 4.5% compared to the official Basis-DLM data. Spatial similarities and discrepancies between the OSM, CEMS CLC, and Basis-DLM land uses were identified. The CLC data exhibit higher consistency with Basis-DLM. These findings emphasise the importance of selecting the appropriate data source depending on the purpose and the use of official data sources for accurate and spatially differentiated decision-making and project planning at different scales. Open-access data sources can be applied for initial orientation and large-scale rough assessment as they balance data accuracy and accessibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land surface water is a key part in the global ecosystem balance and hydrological cycle. Remote sensing has become an effective tool for its spatio-temporal monitoring. However, remote sensing results exemplified in so-called water indices are subject to several limitations. This paper proposes a new and effective water index called the Sentinel Multi-Band Water Index (SMBWI) to extract water bodies in complex environments from Sentinel-2 satellite imagery. Individual tests explore the effectiveness of the SMBWI in eliminating interference of various special interfering cover features. The Iterative Self-Organizing Data Analysis Technique Algorithm (ISODATA) method and confusion matrix along with the derived accuracy evaluation indicators are used to provide a threshold reference when extracting water bodies and evaluate the accuracy of the water body extraction results, respectively. The SMBWI and eight other commonly used water indices are qualitatively and quantitatively compared through vision and accuracy evaluation indicators, respectively. Here, the SMBWI is proven to be the most effective at suppressing interference of buildings and their shadows, cultivated lands, vegetation, clouds and their shadows, alpine terrain with bare ground and glaciers when extracting water bodies. The overall accuracy in all tests was consistently greater than 96.5%. The SMBWI is proven to have a high ability to identify mixed pixels of water and non-water, with the lowest total error among nine water indices. Most notably, better results are obtained when extracting water bodies under interfering environments of cover features. Therefore, we propose that our novel and robust water index, the SMBWI, is ready to be used for mapping land surface water with high accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The validation of remotely sensed evapotranspiration (ET) products is important for the development of ET estimation models and the accuracy of the scientific application of the products. In this study, different ET products such as HiTLL, MOD16A2, ETMonitor, and SoGAE were compared using multi-source remote sensing data and ground-based data to evaluate their applicability in the Heihe River Basin (HRB) during 2010–2019. The results of the comparison with the site observations show that ETMonitor provides a more stable and reliable estimation of ET than the other three products. The ET exhibited significant variations over the decade, characterized by a general increase in rates across the HRB. These changes were markedly influenced by variations in land use and topographical features. Specifically, the analysis showed that farmland and forested areas had higher ET rates due to greater vegetation cover and moisture availability, while grasslands and water bodies demonstrated lower ET rates, reflecting their respective land cover characteristics. This study further explored the influence of various factors on ET, including land use changes, NDVI, temperature, and precipitation. It was found that changes in land use, such as increases in agricultural areas or reforestation efforts, directly influenced ET rates. Moreover, meteorological conditions such as temperature and precipitation patterns also played crucial roles, with warmer temperatures and higher precipitation correlating with increased ET. This study highlights the significant impact of land use and climatic factors on spatiotemporal variations in ET within the HRB, underscoring its importance for optimizing water resource management and land use planning in arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use can affect energy consumption by changing the economic and social structure of cities. Thus, the optimization of land use patterns is key to promoting energy sustainability. In this study, we explored the spatiotemporal evolution of China's urban energy consumption and its driving factors from the role of land use, with the application of high-precision nighttime light images and land use data acquired from remote sensing satellites. A deep clustering network in deep learning was used for clustering analysis of urban energy consumption. The results indicated that the economic and structural effects of land use were the primary driving factors of the increasing urban energy consumption, whereas the decrease in the energy intensity (caused by technological progress) restrained the growth rate of energy consumption. With the exception of economically developed cities, generally, the contribution of the population size to the temporal increase in energy consumption was relatively small. The spatial difference in urban energy consumption was mainly due to the between-group differences among the diversified cluster groups, which were strongly influenced by land urbanization and population size. These conclusions can help the Chinese government formulate differentiated urban energy policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater ecosystems play a key role in the global carbon cycle by collecting, transporting, and processing a significant portion of global organic carbon. These processes can be disrupted in non-perennial rivers due to their changing hydrological patterns. We investigated how environmental factors influence organic matter dynamics in the Algars, a Mediterranean non-perennial river basin in the North-East Iberian Peninsula. We conducted seasonal sampling in 16 sites across the river network, collecting samples for (i) storage of benthic organic matter, (ii) transport of dissolved organic carbon and particulate organic matter, and (iii) organic matter processing via aerobic respiration in sediments (Raz–Rru method). We observed pronounced spatial and temporal fluctuations in organic matter processes, especially during distinct periods like summer and autumn. Consistent seasonal patterns of organic matter transport showed a remarkable longitudinal increase downstream, similar to observed aerobic respiration in sediments. Notably, high-flow events doubled observed seasonal transport (mean DOC load: 2344 ± 735 kg/day). Irregular spatial storage patterns between dry and wet channel sections were related to land use and flow intermittency. Notably, storage in dry channel sections was generally ten times higher than wet sections. Our study emphasizes the intricate influence of specific environmental variables on organic matter processes, within different organic matter fractions (for example, coarse and dissolved organic matter). Frequency of non-flow events, seasonal hydrological changes, and land use predominantly govern organic matter dynamics in the Algars basin. Understanding organic carbon dynamics in non-perennial systems will help estimate the impact of hydrological alterations associated with global change on river systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The UK sixth carbon budget has recommended domestic biomass supply should increase to meet growing demand, planting a minimum of 30,000 hectares of perennial energy crops a year by 2035, with a view to establishing 700,000 hectares by 2050 to meet the requirements of the balanced net zero pathway. Miscanthus is a key biomass crop to scale up domestic biomass production in the United Kingdom. A cohesive land management strategy, based on robust evidence, will be required to ensure upscaling of miscanthus cultivation maximizes the environmental and economic benefits and minimizes undesirable consequences. This review examines research into available land areas, environmental impacts, barriers to uptake, and the challenges, benefits, and trade‐offs required to upscale miscanthus production on arable land and grassland in the United Kingdom. Expansion of perennial biomass crops has been considered best restricted to marginal land, less suited to food production. The review identifies a trade‐off between avoiding competition with food production and a risk of encroaching on areas containing high‐biodiversity or high‐carbon stocks, such as semi‐natural grasslands. If areas of land suitable for food production are needed to produce the biomass required for emission reduction, the review indicates there are multiple strategies for miscanthus to complement long‐term food security rather than compete with it. On arable land, a miscanthus rotation with a cycle length of 10–20 years can be employed as fallow period for fields experiencing yield decline, soil fatigue, or persistent weed problems. On improved grassland areas, miscanthus presents an option for diversification, flood mitigation, and water quality improvement. Strategies need to be developed to integrate miscanthus into farming systems in a way that is profitable, sensitive to local demand, climate, and geography, and complements rather than competes with food production by increasing overall farm profitability and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring ecosystems is an imperative for addressing biodiversity loss and climate change, and achieving the targets of the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. One form of restoration, rewilding, may have particular promise but may also be precluded by requirements for other forms of land use now or in the future. This opportunity space is critical but challenging to assess. We explored the potential area available for rewilding in Great Britain until the year 2080 with a multisectoral land‐use model with several distinct climatic and socioeconomic scenarios. By 2080, areas from 5000 to 7000 km2 were either unmanaged or managed in ways that could be consistent with rewilding across scenarios without conflicting with the provision of ecosystem services. Beyond these areas, another 24,000–42,000 km2 of extensive upland management could provide additional areas for rewilding if current patterns of implementation hold in the future. None of these areas, however, coincided reliably with ecosystems of priority for conservation: peatlands, ancient woodlands, or wetlands. Repeatedly, these ecosystems were found to be vulnerable to conversion. Our results are not based on an assumption of support for or benefits from rewilding and do not account for disadvantages, such as potential losses of cultural landscapes or traditional forms of management, that were beyond the modeled ecosystem services. Nevertheless, potential areas for rewilding emerge in a variety of ways, from intensification elsewhere having a substantial but inadvertent land‐sparing effect, popular demand for environmental restoration, or a desire for exclusive recreation among the wealthy elite. Our findings therefore imply substantial opportunities for rewilding in the United Kingdom but also a need for interventions to shape the nature and extent of that rewilding to maintain priority conservation areas and societal objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical semiarid regions are naturally prone to environmental damage. Human activity can worsen this situation. To understand how human actions affect the ecosystem, plan land use effectively, and establish targeted management practices, assessing environmental vulnerability is crucial. This study focuses on a sub-basin receiving water transfers from the São Francisco River in Brazil's semiarid region. Here, we map and evaluate how land use and occupation alter natural vulnerability. We also propose zoning strategies to support water resource management and implement sustainable development policies in the region. To achieve this, we conducted an integrated analysis of physical factors (soil types, geology, climate, vegetation, and landforms) and spatial land-use data using geographic information systems (GIS) and map algebra techniques. Map algebra allowed us to combine these various datasets within the GIS environment, enabling the creation of maps that synthesize both natural and environmental vulnerability across the study area. Following analysis of these vulnerability maps, our findings reveal a high level of vulnerability. The areas with high to very high degrees of natural vulnerability coincide with the places that have high slopes, high altitudes, Lithic Neosols, and thick vegetation. Furthermore, the interaction between environmental factors and human activity exacerbates vulnerability. Based on the environmental vulnerability assessment, we defined four environmental management zones. These zones require distinct protection measures and management approaches. As a method to potentially improve the basin's vulnerability scenario, soil conservation measures are recommended. This approach is highly relevant for managing land in tropical semiarid regions and, with adaptations to specific regional factors, can be applied globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kolonnawa marsh (KM) is an important wetland ecosystem in Colombo district, Sri Lanka that provides essential ecosystem services, and has undergone significant changes over recent decades due to continuous exploitation and reclamation. The values of wetlands are disregarded by decision-makers, despite the fact that they are crucial for improving the quality of water and offer chances for relaxation and amusement in metropolitan areas. Underestimation of the value of wetlands contributes to their continuing deterioration and inevitable loss. Investigating the changes in wetlands can provide crucial information for decision-making. This study aimed to monitor the spatiotemporal land-cover dynamics of KM with the prospect prediction as reduced total extent of KM gradually with time and marsh area being transformed into terrestrial vegetation with time. The collective images from Google Earth (2000 to 2021) and drone data (2022) were analyzed with the GIS application. Subsequently, 50-m2 grid squares with unique cell IDs are designed to link among land cover maps for spatiotemporal land-cover change analysis. Then, we calculate land cover category: surface water, marsh, and terrestrial vegetation proportions for each map in 50-m2 grid cells. Statistical comparison of the land cover changes in grid square cells shows that each land cover category has significant change with the time. The results showed that the reduction of KM marsh resulting in land cover changes has a positive implication on wetland degradation. Thus, interventions should be made for the restoration and sustainable management of KM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we employed the evidential belief function model (EBF) to evaluate the potential for land subsidence in the primary aquifer of Bardaskan. Through field visits, we recorded GPS coordinates for 174 land subsidence points. Factors considered in assessing land subsidence potential included well density, groundwater extraction rate, geological characteristics, proximity to faults, vegetation cover, distance from the river, slope, and land use. To develop and validate the model, 70% of the recorded points were randomly selected for training and implementation, while the remaining 30% were reserved for model validation. The number and percentage of land subsidence points in the different classes of the corresponding layers were determined by integrating the training points with influential variables maps such as distance from the river, distance from the fault, land use, and extraction volume. The EBF model rate was calculated for different layer classes. For modeling, all rates of the EBF model in each cell were summated, and the ‎potential of land subsidence was calculated.‎ Finally, the map of land subsidence potential based on the EBF model was determined with GIS. The results showed that most of the subsidence points were located in alluvial sediment of the Holocene period, in areas with high groundwater harvesting, a distance of at least 3000 m from a river, a distance of at least 6000 m from a fault, low‐density rangelands, slopes of at least 0%–2%, and farmlands and gardens. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of the EBF model showed that it could accurately predict land subsidence in 87.5% of cases using 30% of the validation data. This suggests that the model can be used for practical applications. Recommendations for Resource Managers: Most of the occurred subsidence points in the Bardaskan aquifer were located in the alluvial sediment of the Holocene period.Subsidence points were closely related to high groundwater harvesting, distance from a river and fault, low‐density rangelands, slopes, and farmlands and gardens.The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was calculated to be 87.5%, indicating that the evidential belief function model accurately predicts land subsidence in the studied area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To integrate the sponge city concept into urban development, we propose an analytical approach for runoff volume control, considering urban expansion. Using Changchun City as a case study and historical land-use data, we simulated the prediction of Changchun City's land-use structure for 2035 change with the GeoSOS-FLUS platform. We calculated storage volumes for Low Impact Development (LID) designs using 2019 and 2035 land surface data. The objective is an 80% runoff volume control rate by 2035. Through Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis, we assessed the impact of various land-use types on LID storage volume calculations. Findings show that industrial land significantly influences LID storage volumes. This highlights the need for precise surveys of industrial land properties and surface composition in sponge city planning for more accurate runoff volume control analysis in Changchun City. The results indicate that LID storage volumes based on current data may not meet long-term sponge city goals due to increased impervious surfaces and runoff coefficients during urbanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urbanization in the 21st century has reshaped carbon stock distributions through the expansion of cities. By using the PLUS and InVEST models, this study predicts land use and carbon stocks in Wuhan in 2050 using three future scenarios. Employing local Moran's I, we analyze carbon stock clustering under these scenarios, and the Getis–Ord Gi* statistic identifies regions with significantly higher and lower carbon-stock changes between 2020 and 2050. The results reveal a 2.5 Tg decline in Wuhan's carbon stock from 2000 to 2020, concentrated from the central to the outer city areas along the Yangtze River. By 2050, the ecological conservation scenario produced the highest carbon stock prediction, 77.48 Tg, while the economic development scenario produced the lowest, 76.4 Tg. High-carbon stock-change areas cluster in the north and south, contrasting with low-change area concentrations in the center. This research provides practical insights that support Wuhan's sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use changes (LUC) have exacerbated the evolution of ecosystem structure in the urban agglomeration of the Yangtze River Delta (YRDUA), significantly affecting ecosystem service functions and values. Although the impact of land use on ecosystem service value (ESV) has received significant attention, most existing studies explore the relationship between LUC and ESV at the national, provincial, or regional scales. Few studies focus on urban agglomerations, particularly in the YRDUA. Additionally, while many studies analyze the driving factors of ecosystem services and the trade-offs and synergies among them, there is a relative scarcity of research on the coupling coordination relationship between LUC and ESV. In this study, we used the ecosystem service assessment model to dynamically analyze the spatio-temporal changes of land use and ESV in the YRDUA from 2000 to 2020 and evaluated the dynamic relationship between the two using the coupled coordination model system. The results show the following: (1) Land use types within the YRDUA underwent significant changes during the study period, with a notable decrease in farmland and a substantial increase in construction land being the dominant trends. (2) ESV showed upward and downward trends over different periods, with water bodies having the highest value, followed by forested land and farmland, respectively. The ESV of water bodies showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. Higher ESVs were mainly concentrated around lakes such as Taihu Lake and coastal areas along the Yangtze River, radiating outward from these central points. (3) Currently, the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between land use intensity and ESV in the YRDUA is mostly reluctant coordinated or in the state of primary coordination. However, with time, the CCD trend has increased. In addition, variations between cities were more pronounced, showing a spatial pattern characterized by higher coupling levels in eastern/northern regions compared to western/southern regions. Our study can provide policy references for improving land planning, optimizing land use structures, and realizing high-quality, sustainable, green, and coordinated development in the YRDUA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The close relationship between land use and carbon stock is crucial for regional carbon balance, territorial and spatial planning, and the sustainable development of ecosystems. As a pioneer of Park Cities, Chengdu plays a vital role in Chinese cities. To investigate the impact of Park City construction on carbon stock, this study adopted a new perspective, the Park City perspective, using the Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST) model to analyze the spatial and temporal differences in carbon stock. Additionally, we used Geographic Detector to analyze the driving factors of carbon stock in Chengdu. Based on the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals (peaking carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060), we simulated the carbon stock in Chengdu for the years 2030 and 2060. Simultaneously, combining the Future Land Use Simulation (FLUS) model, we simulated the changing trends of carbon stock in Chengdu under three scenarios: the natural development scenario (NDS), cultivated land protection scenario (CLDS), and Park City scenario (PCS). The results show the following: (1) After the construction of the Park City, the quality of forest land improved, resulting in an increase in forest carbon stock by 1.19 × 106 tons. (2) Compared to the scenario without Park City construction, the implementation of the Park City led to a total carbon stock increase of 3.75 × 105 tons, with forest carbon stock increasing by 7.48 × 105 tons. (3) The PCS is the most conducive to achieving the carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals, with the highest carbon stock. (4) Carbon stock is mainly driven by socio-economic factors. Land use/land cover (LULC) has the greatest explanatory power, with a q value of 0.9. The Park City is of great significance for an increase in carbon stock in Chengdu. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban rail transit systems significantly influence land use patterns in newly developed areas, yet their impact on spatial organization and functional characteristics remains understudied. This research examines Wuhan Metro Line 11, analyzing land use within an 800 m radius of stations using Point of Interest data, ArcGIS spatial analysis, and locational entropy methods. The study reveals three station types, i.e., single-function, mixed-function, and underdeveloped, each exhibiting distinct spatial differentiation patterns. On this basis, a novel "core-diffusion" model emerges, with the highest density of functional elements observed at approximately 600 m from station centers, challenging conventional proximity assumptions. Three spatial organization modes are identified: single-core independent in two-level axis, single-core continuous in single-level axis, and double-core continuous in two-level axis. These findings contribute to the Transit-Oriented Development literature, offering sustainable insights into optimizing land use around metro stations in rapidly urbanizing contexts. This study also provides a methodological framework applicable to similar urban environments, enhancing the understanding of the complex relationships between metro development and surrounding land use patterns. These results have significant implications for urban planning and policy-making, particularly in emerging economies seeking to balance transit efficiency with sustainable urban growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The international food trade is beneficial for enhancing global food security but also raises issues such as global cropland redistribution, land use efficiency, and environmental problems. While current studies have examined the impacts of the international food trade on these issues, its long-term effects on global cropland use efficiency remain unclear, especially when considering different crops and countries. Utilizing the international trade theory and the principle of virtual cropland, this study explores the relationship between international food trade and global cropland use efficiency from 2000 to 2022. The results illustrate that the global crop trade surged by 142%, outpacing the 102% increase in virtual cropland trade, which was attributed to crop yield enhancements. By 2022, the global virtual cropland trade encompassed 10.7% of the total croplands, with China emerging as the foremost importer, particularly due to soybean imports. Notably, the global crop trade led to substantial cropland savings and higher cropland use efficiency, totaling 1244.9 million hectares (Mha) between 2000 and 2020. These gains were largely attributed to the superior yields of major crop-exporting countries. Despite these gains, socio-economically vulnerable countries face significant challenges, potentially compromising their food security amidst the complexities of the global trade dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study used Theil–Sen median trend analysis and Mann–Kendall test, which are more suitable for long-term series research, to analyze high-precision NPP data and investigate the spatiotemporal characteristics of NPP (net primary productivity) in northwest Liaoning from 2001 to 2021. We further analyzed the impact of the natural environment and land use types on NPP in the region using correlation and a one-way linear regression analysis. The results show that (1) the interannual NPP values exhibited a generally increasing yet fluctuating trend, with the gradient of NPP decrease moving from northwest to southeast. (2) NPP in northwest Liaoning was predominantly influenced by climatic variations, with significant impacts from the combined precipitation–temperature effects seen in 74% of the region, 65% influenced by precipitation alone, and 26% by non-climatic factors. (3) The interaction of soil and vegetation also impacted NPP, which displayed variable rising trends across different soil types in northwest Liaoning. (4) Alterations in land use led to a hierarchical arrangement of the multi-year average NPP values, listed from highest to lowest as forest land, grassland, cultivated land, built-up areas, unused land, and watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a fundamental element of global carbon storage, the storage carbon in terrestrial ecosystem is significant for climate change mitigation. Land use/cover change (LUCC) is a main impact element of ecosystems' carbon storage. Evaluating the relation between land use change and carbon storage is vital for lowering global carbon emissions. Taking Hainan Island as an example, this paper employs the InVEST as well as the CA-Markov models to assess and predict how different land use affects carbon storage in various situations from 2000 to 2020 and from 2030 to 2050 on Hainan Island. The influence factors, together with driving mechanisms of carbon storage spatial distribution are quantitatively analyzed as well in this paper. The results demonstrate that, from 2000 to 2020, Hainan Island's net increase in built land was 605.49 km2, representing a growth rate of 77.05%. Over the last 20 years, Hainan Island's carbon storage and density have decreased by 5.90 Tg and 1.75 Mg/hm2, respectively. The sharp rise in built land mainly makes the carbon storage decline. From 2030 to 2050, land use changes on Hainan Island are expected to result in differing degrees of carbon storage loss in various scenarios. In 2050, Hainan Island's carbon storage will decline by 17.36 Tg in the Natural Development Scenario (NDS), 13.61 Tg in the Farmland Protection Scenario (FPS), and 8.06 Tg in the Ecological Protection Scenario (EPS) compared to 2020. The EPS can efficiently maintain carbon sequestration capability, but it cannot effectively prevent cropland area loss. Regarding the carbon storage's spatial distribution, Hainan Island generally exhibits a pattern of high carbon storages in the low and middle carbon storages in the surrounding areas. Areas with high value are primarily located in Hainan Island's central and southern mountainous areas, whereas areas with low value are primarily located in surrounding areas with lower elevations, primarily encompassing built land and cropland. Geographic detection presented the spatial differentiation of carbon storage in Hainan Island is mainly influenced by factors like slope, land use intensity, and DEM, as well as its interaction with other factors is significantly strengthened (p < 0.05). Under the strategic framework of the "carbon peaking and carbon neutrality" goal and the national ecological civilization pilot zone, it is imperative to carefully consider scenarios for ecological protection and farmland protection, adopt ecological regulation models with spatial differentiation, and implement land use policies to improve ecosystem stability, which will contribute to carbon storage loss reduction and ensure food and ecological security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Illegal construction is not only a hot issue of growing concern to urban residents but also a key problem in daily urban management, which negatively impacts social harmony. This study focuses on the governance of illegal land use and construction (two violations) in urban areas. It addresses the technical challenges of hidden and diverse forms of "two violations", easy recurrence, limited discovery channels, and difficult data collection. It also addresses the issues of weak business connectivity, poor standardization, difficult-to-use land after dismantling, and low utilization rate in the governance of "two violations". In this study, we designed a closed-loop process for urban land spatial governance of "classification, demolition, land vacation, and utilization", studied technologies such as integrated collection and intelligent identification of "star-sky-land network", and coordinated on-site verification of internal and external industries. A spatial governance platform was developed, fundamentally changing the discovery, identification, monitoring, verification, and service modes in the original "two violations" governance work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The characteristics of spatial and temporal distribution of carbon emissions from various land use types is one of the hot spots of researches. The carbon emission of Shanxi section of the Yellow River during 2000–2019 were analyzed based on the land use type data and fossil energy consumption data for the same period. Here, we explored the spatial and temporal characteristics of ecological stress using carbon emission, carbon footprint, carbon deficit, carbon ecological carrying capacity and carbon footprint pressure index models. The results indicated that the overall net carbon emissions had increased from 27959.67Gg CO2 equivalents in 2000–97355.36Gg CO2 equivalents in 2019 in the study area. During the study period, construction land was the main carbon sources, while forest land was the main carbon sinks. The carbon footprint of coal energy was the most dominant. The carbon footprint was greater than the ecological carrying capacity, which caused an ecological deficit during 2000–2019. The net carbon emissions and carbon footprint showed a continuous increasing trend, which became slower. The ecological pressure was spatially characterized as "less pressure in the northern and more pressure in the southern". The findings can provide scientific guidance for the land use sustainable development for coal cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change will increase the frequency of extreme weather events, alter rainfall patterns, and exacerbate flood disasters in Ulaanbaatar City. Here we combine aerial and satellite imagery with cadastral data, to scrutinize the historical trajectory of rainfall patterns and flood disasters in Ulaanbaatar over the past six decades. The study focusses on the causative factors behind historical floods, current flood conditions, the geographical distribution of floods, land ownership in floodprone areas, and the spatial allocation of fences and buildings based on social conditions. Over the last 60 years, Ulaanbaatar received a total of 16,780 mm of precipitation, with a staggering 80.5% of this total occurring during the summer season. Over this period, the city has endured about ten significant flood disasters. The most severe and destructive events occurred in 1966, 1982, 1994, 2003, 2009, and 2023 as river basins and mountain flash floods. These flood events claimed at least 220 lives, affected around 46,000 households, and caused economic losses of ca. 3.3 million U.S. dollars. Our study identifies several flood hazard areas along the Tolgoit, Selbe, Uliastai, and Tuul River valleys, which define a flood buffer zone extending 200 m from their banks, encompassing 59 khoroos of 7 districts in Ulaanbaatar. There are 27,970 fences and 12,887 buildings in the 200 m buffer zone, which is 66.5% of all fence unit area, and 46.3% of the total building, situated within the identified flood risk areas. In response to these findings, we emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive long-term strategy for sustainable flood management based on disaster resilence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accuracy of the simulation of carbon and water processes largely relies on the selection of atmospheric forcing datasets when driving land surface models (LSM). Particularly in high-altitude regions, choosing appropriate atmospheric forcing datasets can effectively reduce uncertainties in the LSM simulations. Therefore, this study conducted four offline LSM simulations over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) using the Community Land Model version 4.5 (CLM4.5) driven by four state-of-the-art atmospheric forcing datasets. The performances of CRUNCEP (CLM4.5 model default) and three other reanalysis-based atmospheric forcing datasets (i.e. ITPCAS, GSWP3 and WFDEI) in simulating the net primary productivity (NPP) and actual evapotranspiration (ET) were evaluated based on in situ and gridded reference datasets. Compared with in situ observations, simulated results exhibited determination coefficients (R 2) ranging from 0.58 to 0.84 and 0.59 to 0.87 for observed NPP and ET, respectively, among which GSWP3 and ITPCAS showed superior performance. At the plateau level, CRUNCEP-based simulations displayed the largest bias compared with the reference NPP and ET. GSWP3-based simulations demonstrated the best performance when comprehensively considering both the magnitudes and change trends of TP-averaged NPP and ET. The simulated ET increase over the TP during 1982–2010 based on ITPCAS was significantly greater than in the other three simulations and reference ET, suggesting that ITPCAS may not be appropriate for studying long-term ET changes over the TP. These results suggest that GSWP3 is recommended for driving CLM4.5 in conducting long-term carbon and water processes simulations over the TP. This study contributes to enhancing the accuracy of LSM in water–carbon simulations over alpine regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Do network connections between government officials and administrative units facilitate efficient land use contracting across jurisdictions? This article leverages data from a groundbreaking policy in China where a strict quota-bound land use policy was replaced with an alternative, allowing between-county trade in land conversion quotas. We unpack the determinants of the boundary between trading and autarkic jurisdictions and unveil leader-related drivers of transaction costs between jurisdictions in a gravity-style estimation. We catalogue personal and career histories of county-level leaders and present evidence that leader networks derived from employment history are robustly trade-facilitating but nonworkplace links are not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use housing transactions to estimate consumer preferences for living near direct-marketed locally produced food, which has implications for both consumer- and producer-centric land use policies. We estimate a pure characteristics sorting model to recover preferences and conduct counterfactual simulations accounting for price feedback effects following resorting after changes to the local food environment. We find that consumers significantly value healthy food access, including different direct sources of locally produced foods. However, the welfare gains and associated price changes arising from policies to increase local food access depend on the targeting method, a key concern for policy makers worried about affordability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global push for renewable energy must overcome the local challenge of convincing neighboring landowners to lease their properties for wind power. Is this challenge more or less pronounced in rural landscapes with small landholdings? Our theoretical model combines ideas from literatures on the commons, anticommons, and spatial externalities to explain conditions when small landholdings could promote or inhibit voluntary leasing. Empirically, we estimate the effects of landholding size and landscape fragmentation on wind farm uptake across rural areas of the United States over the past 20 years. Evidence from three spatial levels of analysis (counties, square‐mile sections, and individual parcels) indicates that areas with more landowners have less installed wind capacity after controlling for windiness, access to transmission lines, and other relevant factors that vary across and within counties. The findings imply that fragmented ownership, which is an overlooked factor in studies of the feasibility of decarbonization, will pose an impediment to future wind expansion on private land as remaining areas without wind development become disproportionately fragmented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the paramount challenges in natural resource management revolves around the delicate equilibrium between the demand for and the supply of diverse Ecosystem Services (ESs) within a cultural landscape. Recognizing the centrality of cultural landscapes to human well-being, the sustainability of these landscapes hinges upon the health and stability of ecosystems that can effectively provide the required ESs. Over the long term, the sustainable supply of ESs is constrained by the potential supply of ESs. Understanding the potential supply of ESs is crucial for averting compromises to the ecosystems within a landscape. This article introduces a novel perspective on evaluating the ESs of a landscape by means of efficiency analysis. Instead of presenting the potential supply of ESs in absolute terms, we offer a comparative analysis of ESs' relative supply to associated management costs. In principle, the efficiency of Landscape Units (LUs) is defined as the ratio of the potential supply of multiple ESs to the costs associated with land use and land cover management. The resultant efficiency maps serve as hot and cold spot maps, revealing efficient ecosystem compositions that yield multiple ESs. This composition reflects management efforts, incorporating various management costs. Forests emerge as pivotal ecosystems in landscapes, delivering the most ESs at the lowest costs. These efficiency maps offer valuable insights for regional planners, enabling them to enhance the supply of ES in inefficient LUs by studying the ecosystem structure and associated costs of the most efficient LUs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial variation in the landscape factors climate, geomorphology, and lithology cause significant differences in water quality issues even when land use pressures are similar. The Physiographic Environment Classification (PEC) classifies landscapes based on their susceptibility to the loss of water quality contaminants. The classification is informed by a conceptual model of the landscape factors that control the hydrochemical maturity of water discharged to streams. In New Zealand, a case study using climatic, topographic, and geological data classified the country into six, 36, and 320 classes at Levels 1 (Climate), 1–2 (Climate + Geomorphology), and 1–3 (Climate + Geomorphology + Lithology), respectively. Variance partitioning analysis applied to New Zealand's national surface water monitoring network (n = 810 stations) assessed the contributions of PEC classes and land use on the spatial variation of water quality contaminants. Compared to land use, PEC explained 0.6× the variation in Nitrate Nitrite Nitrogen (NNN), 1.0× in Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN), 1.8× in Dissolved Reactive Phosphorus (DRP), 2.3× in Particulate Phosphorus (PP), 2.6× in E. coli, and 4.3× in Turbidity (TURB). Land use explained more variation in riverine NNN, while landscape factors explained more variation in DRP, PP, E. coli, and TURB. Overall, PEC accounted for 2.1× more variation in riverine contaminant concentrations than land use. The differences in contaminant concentrations between PEC classes (p < 0.05), after adjusting for land use, were consistent with the conceptual model of hydrochemical maturation. PEC elucidates underlying causes of contaminant loss susceptibility and can inform targeted land management across multiple scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to analyze the impact of land use change in East Sinjai Sub-district on the Kalamisu River Watershed and evelop water management strategies to balance availability with population needs. Utilizing GIS methods with ArcGIS 10.8 and Landsat satellite imagery, land use change in East Sinjai District was examined. Additionally, water infiltration capacity analysis considered factors such as rock type, rainfall, soil type, slope, and land use. Reference materials include the Technical Guidebook for Groundwater Management (DESDM Geological Agency, 2007) and the Regulation of the Minister of Forestry of the Republic of Indonesia No. P.32/MENHUTII/2009 on Procedures for the Preparation of RTkRHL-DAS. The study's outcomes will feed into a SWOT analysis to craft a management strategy for the area over the next decade. This research aims to contribute positively to the Sinjai Regency government and enhance scientific discourse on water governance and spatial management. Qualitative analysis was employed to elucidate the area's physical condition and analyze quantitative data and information pertinent to resource management processes and water management strategies. Primary data from satellite image interpretation and interviews supplemented by secondary data were utilized for problem identification and data analysis. The analysis indicates a substantial increase in land use in East Sinjai Sub-district from 2012 to 2017, notably in residential areas, with a rise of 136.6 hectares due to a population surge of 58,986 people. Water infiltration in the Kalamisu River watershed is critically low. Water availability in East Sinjai District has notably decreased by -4,658,505 cubic meters per year from 2012 to 2022. To enhance groundwater absorption capacity and availability, promoting the use of high water-absorbent plantation land is essential. Additionally, developing mangrove areas is crucial for improving water infiltration, particularly in quality and quantity, especially during dry seasons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Global impervious surface area (ISA) has more than doubled over the last three decades, but the associated carbon emissions resulting from the depletion of pre-existing land carbon stores remain unknown. Here, we report that the carbon losses from biomass and top soil (0–30 cm) due to global ISA expansion reached 46–75 Tg C per year over 1993–2018, accounting for 3.7–6.0% of the concurrent human land-use change emissions. For the Annex I countries of UNFCCC, our estimated emissions are comparable to the carbon emissions arising from settlement expansion as reported by the national greenhouse gas inventories, providing independent validation of this kind. The contrast between growing emissions in non-Annex I countries and declining ones in Annex I countries over the study period can be explained by an observed emerging pattern of emissions evolution dependent on the economic development stage. Our study has implications for international carbon accounting and climate mitigation as it reveals previously ignored but substantial contributions of ISA expansion to anthropogenic carbon emissions through land-use effects. Terrestrial carbon emissions from global expansion of impervious surface area have been long overlooked in global carbon budget assessments. Qiu et al. report that these emissions account for up to 6.0–12.9% of those from human land use change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]