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A third of the world's ecosystems are considered degraded, and there is an urgent need for protection and restoration to make the planet healthier. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 15.3 aims at protecting and restoring the terrestrial ecosystem to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030. Land restoration through inclusive and productive growth is indispensable to promote sustainable development by fostering climate change-resistant, poverty-alleviating, and environmentally protective economic growth. The SDG Indicator 15.3.1 is used to measure progress towards a land degradation-neutral world. Earth observation datasets are the primary data sources for deriving the three sub-indicators of indicator 15.3.1. It requires selecting, querying, and processing a substantial historical archive of data. To reduce the complexities, make the calculation user-friendly, and adapt it to in-country applications, a module on the FAO's SEPAL platform has been developed in compliance with the UNCCD Good Practice Guidance (GPG v2) to derive the necessary statistics and maps for monitoring and reporting land degradation. The module uses satellite data from Landsat, Sentinel 2, and MODIS sensors for primary productivity assessment, along with other datasets enabling high-resolution to large-scale assessment of land degradation. The use of an in-country land cover transition matrix along with in-country land cover data enables a more accurate assessment of land cover changes over time. Four different case studies from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay, and Angola are presented to highlight the prospect and challenges of monitoring land degradation using various datasets, including LCML-based national land cover legend and land cover data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation is one of the most serious ecological issues we face today. From the Rio+20 Summit through the 15th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD-COP15), many countries have made significant commitments to combat desertification. For its part, India also established goals in this area. UNCCD acknowledges the intricate relationship between land degradation and its impacts on women. The convention actively promotes gender-sensitive approaches to addressing environmental issues. The main aim of this study is to assess the present condition of desertification and degradation in the Banni grasslands ecosystem located in Kutch, India. The grasslands in question have undergone a prolonged period of degradation, desertification and droughts spanning several decades. However, a limited number of academic studies have been conducted in relation to this matter. The evaluation of the consequences of Banni's degradation on the local communities, with a particular focus on women, has been motivated by Sustainable Development Goal 15 and the UNCCD. The researchers conducted an empirical study in the Banni region that integrated both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, utilising structured and unstructured questionnaires as well as interviews. The researchers have utilised inductive reasoning in the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate assessment of population trends and factors that limit distributions of threatened species is key to conserving biodiversity. A reduction in impacts of human land use on species habitats may be one of the factors involved in the recolonization of former ranges by native species. The signature of this process could be detected as a temporal reduction of land use effects on species distributions, or as a spatial reduction, with effects persisting only in habitats more sensitive to anthropogenic stressors. We explored these hypotheses in a recolonizing semiaquatic carnivore. Our species of interest was the Eurasian river otter (Lutra lutra) in Italy, a nationally vulnerable species with a restricted but expanding range. Human land use is likely to strongly affect riparian and stream communities through habitat degradation. We used three independent survey datasets collected in 2003, 2009, and 2019 at the southern range periphery, and unpaired‐site occupancy models to account for imperfect detection in otter surveys. To assess how land use affects recolonization by otters, we tested three main model predictions: (1) occupancy increased over years, (2) effects of agricultural and urban land cover on occupancy decreased over years, (3) effects of agricultural and urban land cover were constant across years and changed with stream size and elevation. We found evidence that otter occupancy increased over years, with predicted mean occupancy of 0.27 in 2003 and 0.65 in 2019. An interaction effect of urban land cover with stream size was the strongest predictor of otter occupancy. Interestingly, a higher percentage of urban land cover around streams was predicted to reduce the probability of occupancy at smaller streams, but did not influence occupancy at larger streams. Despite a large increase in occupancy, otters at the southern periphery of the Italian range are still unable to colonize small rivers in urbanized areas. This pattern supports our hypothesis that human land use can affect recolonizing species at sensitive habitats, considering the intrinsic vulnerability of small stream ecosystems to anthropogenic stressors. Restoring small streams impacted by urban areas can be a valuable conservation action to increase habitat connectivity and favor recolonization of otters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landslides are natural disasters that most often occur in hilly areas, one of which is in the Manyaran District, and are caused by land use, slope, and rainfall. This study aimed to assess the level of landslides on several slopes and determine the soil characteristics that most determine the level of landslide vulnerability to formulate an appropriate strategy for hilly land management. The sampling points used land map units (LMU) overlaid on thematic maps (land use, soil type, and slope), and were divided into 22 LMUs with three repeats for each LMU. The landslide level was calculated using a cumulative weight score. It was grouped based on the interval formula and modifications to the addition of permeability and soil texture parameters, while the determinants were analyzed using ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation. The results showed that the area was not very low (133.2 ha), low (1,015.33 ha), moderate (1,205.46 ha), high (3,248.48 ha), or very high (734.1 ha). The highest landslide hazard was on steep land (25–45%), and the determining factors were permeability and texture. The steeper the slope and the higher the permeability and soil texture values, the higher the landslide. The recommended landslide mitigation strategies are terracing and minimum tillage on agricultural land. Research on the level of landslides and information on determinant soil characteristics helps stakeholders formulate policies and manage agricultural land on hilly agricultural land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A historically large percentage of the world's population has moved to urban areas in the past few decades, causing various negative effects for the environment, such as air, noise, water, and light pollution; land degradation; and biodiversity loss. Under the current climate crisis, cities are anticipated to play an essential part in adaptation strategies to extreme atmospheric events. This study aims at developing indicators at an urban scale that can highlight adaptation progress by investigating relevant data (especially in situ) and statistics at a pan-European level in support of the EU's strategy for adapting to the impacts of climate change. The proposed indicator, Urban Biodiversity Indicator for Trees (UBI4T), which can be derived from city tree inventories, assesses one essential component of urban biodiversity by computing the proportion of native, alien, invasive, and toxic tree species spatially across a city. According to our findings (applying the UBI4T for Amsterdam and exploring its policy potential for Barcelona), the UBI4T can offer crucial information for decision and policy makers, as well as stakeholders of a city, with the aim of conducting dedicated and effective strategic initiatives to restore, improve, and protect nature in the urban environment, thus contributing to adaptation and resilience to extreme atmospheric events in cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early and reliable detection of land degradation helps policymakers to take strict action in more vulnerable areas by making strong rules and regulations in order to achieve sustainable land management and conservation. The detection of land degradation is carried out to identify desertification processes using machine learning techniques in different geographical locations, which are always a challenging issue in the global field. Due to the significance of the detection of land degradation, this article provides an exhaustive review of the detection of land degradation using machine learning algorithms. Initially, the current status of land degradation in India is presented, along with a brief discussion on the overview of widely used factors, evaluation parameters, and algorithms used. Consequently, merits and demerits related to machine learning-based land degradation identification are presented. Additionally, solutions are prescribed in order to reduce existing problems in the detection of land degradation. Since one of the major objectives is to explore the future perspectives of machine learning-based land degradation detection, areas including the application of remote sensing, mapping, optimum features, and algorithms have been broadly discussed. Finally, based on a critical evaluation of existing related studies, the architecture of the machine learning-based desertification process has been proposed. This technology can fulfill the research challenges in the detection of land degradation and computation difficulties in the development of models for the detection of land degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gold mining has been causing the most severe impacts on the soils of the Peruvian Amazon. It has created challenges for their recovery. In this context, soil amendments could play a crucial role in plant establishment in post-mining soils. The study aimed to analyze the effects of two amendments on the early plant survival and growth of seven species in the reclamation of severely degraded lands by gold mining in the Southeastern Peruvian Amazon. The study was based on a completely randomized block design, including 2-amendment treatments (T1: sawdust + island guano manure and T2: T1 + organic soil + hydrogel) and a control. The plant survivorship, height growth, diameter growth, and biomass accumulation were measured. This study found that amendments may be effective at increasing survivorship and plant growth in degraded lands by gold mining in the Peruvian Amazon. The amendments increased the survival, diameter, height, and biomass of most plant species in the study. In general, survivorship and plant growth in T2 were high compared to T1. At the end of the experiment, the highest survivorship was for an Indigofera suffruticosa and Crotalaria pallida (>80%). The diameter growth was higher in T2 than in T1. The species growing fastest in diameter (>1.5 cm) were Crotalaria cajanifolia, C. pallida and Ochroma pyramidale. Soil amendments provided similar effects on height for most species except for I. suffruticosa. Therefore, C. pallida, I. suffruticosa, C. cajanifolia and O. pyramidale are key species to be considered in reforestation and/or restoration initiatives, due to its potential to acclimate and establish itself in severely degraded areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation cover degradation is often a complex phenomenon, exhibiting strong correlation with climatic variation and anthropogenic actions. Conservation of biodiversity is important because millions of people are directly and indirectly dependent on vegetation (forest and crop) and its associated secondary products. United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) propose to quantify the proportion of vegetation as a proportion of total land area of all countries. Satellite images form as one of the main sources of accurate information to capture the fine seasonal changes so that long-term vegetation degradation can be assessed accurately. In the present study, Multi-Sensor, Multi-Temporal and Multi-Scale (MMM) approach was used to estimate vulnerability of vegetation degradation. Open source Cloud computing system Google Earth Engine (GEE) was used to systematically monitor vegetation degradation and evaluate the potential of multiple satellite data with variable spatial resolutions. Hotspots were demarcated using machine learning techniques to identify the greening and the browning effect of vegetation using coarse resolution Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) of MODIS. Rainfall datasets of Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station data (CHIRPS) for the period 2000–2022 were also used to find rainfall anomaly in the region. Furthermore, hotspot areas were identified using high-resolution datasets in major vegetation degradation areas based on long-term vegetation and rainfall analysis to understand and verify the cause of change whether anthropogenic or climatic in nature. This study is important for several State/Central Government user departments, Universities, and NGOs to lay out managerial plans for the protection of vegetation/forests in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing world population and the development of civilization put pressure on the environment. Irreversible climate changes, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, land and water degradation, and food scarcity took place. Climate changes affect human health through extreme atmospheric phenomena or indirect effects of ecosystem disruption. The intensification of natural disasters increases the risk of technical failures, and the growing production and release of larger quantities and more new chemical compounds, with different hazard potentials, exceeds the environment's adaptability and societies' ability to monitor changes and conduct safety assessments. The article reviews the knowledge and approach to the possibility of reducing the risks and effects of events resulting from chemical pollution. As stated, prevention of further environmental degradation and increased preparedness for natural disasters caused by climate change is critical to public safety and requires contingency plans to continuously adapt to the changing frequency, intensity, and scale of natural disasters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Syria, soil erosion (SoEr) by water is one of the major challenges for sustainability. Thus, the main goals of this research were to evaluate the spatial changes of SoEr between 2000 and 2018 in the whole coastal basin (CB) of Syria and to provide a soil water erosion risk map for the study area. For this purpose, monthly rainfall data, the SoilGrids dataset, satellite image derived NDVI layers, and Digital Elevation Model (DEM) were collected. Through the integration of these layers into the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE), under a Geographic Information System (GIS), soil loss was assessed. Also, the contribution of land cover changes and R factor on SoEr were evaluated. The outcomes of this assessment illustrated that the R factor ranged from 800 to 2600 MJ mm ha−1 h−1 yr−1, while the soil erodibility factor (K factor) ranged from 0.048 to 0.035 ton ha MJ−1 mm−1. The C factor (vegetation coverage) values ranged between 0.07 and 1 with a spatial average value of 0.44 for the 2000–2009 period and 0.39 for the 2010–2018 interval. The output of RUSLE revealed that average annual SoEr was of 21.35 ton ha−1 y−1 (± 38) for 2000–2009 and 22.47 ton ha−1 y−1(± 41.8) for 2010–2018. Interestingly, the increased SoEr caused by the R factor was dominant (34.65%), followed by changes in both C factor and R factor (13.34%). However, decrease of SoEr rates is due to the increase of the C factor accounting for 36.82% of the CB. The outcome of this research can provide constructive spatial insights for rehabilitation plans for the post-war phase of Syria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proposal for a method of identifying the occurrence of desertification that has a strong association with in situ data leads to more assertive results when analysing the contribution of climate and social and economic factors to advancing the process. This study aimed to develop a methodology called the RisDes_Index to evaluate the evolution of the desertification process based on satellite data. The concept of the RisDes_Index method was based on the reflectance variables of the R, B and G bands, albedo and LAI of the Landsat 5/TM and Landsat 8/OLI satellites. Principal component analysis was used to assess the biophysical basis of the RisDes_Index by associating the results with micrometeorological data, physical and chemical properties, and vegetation cover data collected from five experimental sites in the semi-arid region of Brazil. These sites included one from a seasonally dry forest (i.e., the Caatinga), an agricultural cactus plantation, an area undergoing desertification, and two irrigated sugarcane crops (wetlands), one with and one without straw cover. The RisDes_Index was applied to all pixels of the images from 5 December 1991, 14 November 2001, 20 November 2009 and 6 October 2016 of an important desertification nucleus (DN) in the semi-arid region of Brazil, i.e., the DN of Cabrobó. The proposed RisDes_Index was able to identify areas with significant processes of desertification, which mainly occur in areas of sandy, acidic, bare soils with a high β value (Bowen ratio) and high soil temperature. The results of the RisDes_Index showed that in 5 December 1991, desertified areas comprised 38% of the total area of the DN of Cabrobó, expanding to 51% in 2016. Application of the RisDes_Index confirmed the advance of desertification in the DN of Cabrobó. This was due to a consequent increase in the water deficit and intensified deforestation to increase the areas of livestock farming. The RisDes_Index proved to be a robust method, as its estimation based on simple satellite products exhibited a strong association with biophysical variables of areas with different land uses and degradation levels. Thus, it is suggested that the RisDes_Index be applied in various regions of the world, with the idea of directing action to meet the advance of desertification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted in the Aqra area of northern Iraq, which represents lands with various agricultural uses located 80 kilometers from Nineveh Governorate, between latitudes (37° 2' 5.42' - 36° 29' 59.26') N and longitudes (43° 35' 56.84' - 44° 18' 31.56') E to study the five spectral indices related to soil salinity and vegetation cover for three years (2003, 2013, 2023) in March using Landsat satellite data (7, 8, 9), The most appropriate indicators were selected to determining the degradation of agricultural lands. Surface soil samples were collected from (40) locations with different agricultural uses and prepared for laboratory analysis. The results showed that the pH values were moderate in most sites, with other places was slightly alkaline. The Ec values ranged between (0.12-1.24) dS m-1, while CaCO3 content ranged between (110-460). gkg-1 The higher values are attributed to the nature of soil parent material. The results showed that almost all lands were affected by salinity in 2003 and were represented by five SI index classes, with values ranged from the lowest (57.688 - 69.777) to the highest value (82.908 - 110.837). Since most of the percentages in the areas of cultivars for the year 2013 were higher than in the other two years, where we note that the highest percentages for the best variation reached (39.772%, 22.683%, 18.397%, 11.400%) for SI, NDSI, OSAVI, and EVI, respectively, the study indicated that the area of vegetative loss between the three years was caused by the influence of climate, especially rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biochar, a black carbon material produced by high‐temperature, low‐oxygen pyrolysis of organic solids, can improve soil properties and realize carbon neutrality. However, how to effectively produce and apply biochar in the face of the complex soil environment and intractable widespread land degradation is still uncertain. This review is based on 1073 sets of data in 316 publications to address this issue. Firstly, the impact of different process parameters, namely feedstocks, pyrolysis temperature and activation on physicochemical properties of biochar are systematically summarized. Secondly, the effect of biochar on different soil degradation problems are reviewed from the perspective of the interaction between the physicochemical properties of biochar and soil characteristics. The "matching" of biochar properties, level of degradation and environmental factors can be used to design the desired biochar. Finally, future research should focus on biochar aging and costs and benefits of using biochar. The concept of "artificial intelligence designed biochar" is discussed to improve the degree of automation in biochar production and the predictability and suitability of its application for specific cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Himalayan region is the most sensitive due to its fragility, especially in soil erosion; therefore, it is a growing concern for environmentalists and natural resource planners. The study river basin Mandakini is situated in the central part of the Garhwal Himalayan region (Uttarakhand, India), which is highly prone to soil erosion due to various hydro-geomorphological factors. The factors include precipitous slope, geology, rugged terrain, land use and drainage pattern. Therefore, to identify the erosion-prone areas of the study basin, employed watershed prioritization technique using geographical information system and remote sensing integrated with weighted sum analysis (WSA), sediment production rate (SPR) and Technique of Order Preference Similarity to the Ideal Solution with Analytical Hierarchical Process (AHP-TOPSIS) models. It is calculated by taking different parameters indicating linear, landscape, and shape parameters. All the sub-watersheds (SW) of the basin were prioritized in different categories for all models with model performance for the Mandakini river basin in the central Himalaya. The results are showing almost similar results except for high erosion-prone regions. The results of the SPR model indicate that vary large areas (43.47%) of the basin suffering from severe erosion limited in the north-central (WS11, WS12, WS21), eastern (WS2), and southern (WS22 and WS23) parts of the basin among 23 sub-watersheds. The result of model evaluation indicates AHP-TOPSIS is the efficient model in assessing soil erodibility. The study can help to undertake the precise decisions to propose an effective framework for soil erosion control measures and encourage soil conservation priorities of the region. The findings have implications for defining sustainable land resource management and conservation, which are critical to attaining the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development's societal goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The United Nations (UN) Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) evaluation stresses the need to account for different types of land degradation (LD) as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 15: Life on Land) and UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). For example, one of the indicators, 15.3.1 Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area, can be differentiated between different types of LD (e.g., urban development, agriculture, barren) when considering land use and land cover (LULC) change analysis. This study demonstrates that it is important to consider not only the overall anthropogenic LD status and trend over time, but also the type of LD to confirm LDN. This study's innovation is that it leverages remote-sensing-based LULC change analysis to evaluate LDN by different types of LD using the state of Ohio (OH) as a case study. Almost 67% of land in OH experienced anthropogenic LD primarily due to agriculture (81%). All six soil orders were subject to various degrees of anthropogenic LD: Mollisols (88%), Alfisols (70%), Histosols (58%), Entisols (55%), Inceptisols (43%), and Ultisols (22%). All land developments in OH can be linked to damages from LD, with 10,116.3 km2 developed, resulting in midpoint losses of 1.4 × 1011 kg of total soil carbon (TSC) and a midpoint social cost of carbon dioxide emissions (SC-CO2) of $24B (where B = billion = 109, USD). Overall, the anthropogenic LD trend between 2001 and 2016 indicated LDN, however, during the same time, there was a six percent increase in developed area (577.6 km2), which represents a consumptive land conversion that likely caused the midpoint loss of 8.4 × 109 kg of TSC and a corresponding midpoint of $1.4B in SC-CO2. New developments occurred adjacent to current urban areas, near the capital city of Columbus, and other cities (e.g., Dayton, Cleveland). Developments negated OH's overall LDN because of multiple types of damages: soil C loss, associated "realized" soil C social costs (SC-CO2), and loss of soil C sequestration potential. The state of OH has very limited potential land (1.2% of the total state area) for nature-based solutions (NBS) to compensate for the damages, which extend beyond the state's boundaries because of the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the Caspian region has been conducted for over 20 years under the auspices of the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention). It aims to protect not only the water area of the Caspian Sea, but also areas of land located directly adjacent to it from negative impacts. For the first time, based on the concept of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN), this work presents the results of a comparative assessment of land conditions for the coastal areas of five states: the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation, and Turkmenistan. The approach implemented made it possible to identify the main trends in land dynamics in the region under consideration, including for individual countries and regions for different periods of observation. The results are presented in cartographic form. It has been established that most regions of the Caspian region are characterized by a deterioration of the current situation associated with the intensification of degradation processes, and the main "hot spots" of desertification are described. At the same time, the dynamics of land degradation in the Caspian region are multidirectional in individual regions and observation periods. Selecting different comparison periods and baselines can help track changes in land conditions over time and identify peaks of improvement and deterioration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Soil erosion is the most common type of land degradation occurring in arid and semi-arid areas, as well as in flooded areas, due to natural and human processes. Erosive factors lead to the loss of land fertility, transforming damaged areas into abandoned lands and disrupting the balance of natural ecosystems. Soil erosion, as an important environmental issue, poses a threat to the sustainability of natural resources and soil productivity, turning it into a major problem in many parts of the world. To address this challenge, evaluating soil erodibility and preparing a risk zoning map is one of the most important preventive measures. One of the methods for estimating soil erosion is the SLEMSA model, which utilizes basic environmental information to assess the amount of soil loss. Consequently, the present research aims to determine soil loss values and create zoning maps for high erosion areas using the SLEMSA model and remote sensing data. The results obtained from this study can assist organizational managers and executive departments in formulating effective plans to control soil erosion and contribute to the achievement of the country's sustainable development goals. Methodology: The SLEMSA model divides the soil erosion environment into four physical systems: crops, climate, soil, and topography. These control variables are then integrated into three sub-models: the soil erodibility sub-model, topography sub-model, and vegetation sub-model. In this study, the topographic factor map is generated using two parameters: slope and domain length. These parameters are derived from the Digital Elevation Model (DEM), obtained from the SRTM Digital Elevation Data version 4 of the Google Earth Engine system, with a spatial resolution of 90 meters. To create the soil erodibility map, rain kinetic energy maps and soil erodibility factors are required. The Google Earth Engine System's Global Precipitation Measured (GPM) v6 data was used to extract rain kinetic energy. Simultaneously, the soil erodibility factor was obtained from a geological formations map acquired from the World Soil Database (HWSD) for the year 2022. Additionally, a vegetation factor map was generated using ESA-CCI global land use data. Results: The topographic factor map was created using slope and domain length maps. Based on this factor's map, it is evident that the highest values are in the high mountain areas of the basin. The soil erodibility factor map is prepared based on soil erodibility and rain kinetic energy. The results of the soil erosion factor map for this basin show that erosion is more evident in areas with weak and unstable formations mainly affected by the kinetic energy of rainfall. The vegetation factor map was prepared using released energy maps and land use maps. Considering the direct relationship between the vegetation factor and erosion, it can be concluded that the highest soil losses occur in areas with a higher vegetation factor. Consequently, the combination of topographical factors, erodibility, and vegetation indicates the amount of soil erosion in terms of tons per hectare per year. The research findings indicate that the marginal areas from the northeast to the southeast of the basin, in the altitude range of 1880 to 3622 meters, lack suitable vegetation due to the high altitude and slope. Also, due to the high amount of precipitation in these areas, an increase follows the speed of surface runoff. Additionally, sensitive formations in these areas contribute to intensifying soil erosion. Approximately 11.7% of the basin area is in the erosion risk group, with the erosion rate ranging from 37.1 to 67.7 tons per hectare per year. Planning, management, and control measures are needed to address soil erosion and protection in these high-risk areas. Discussion & Conclusions: The results of this research indicate that approximately 96.61% of the region has a low to moderate erodibility rate. Meanwhile, the lowest erosion values are observed in the middle and outlet areas of the basin, characterized by lower altitudes and better vegetation conditions. These areas are more favorable in terms of sensitivity to erosion, and the presence of annual rainfall between 460 and 600 mm leads to a decrease in runoff, consequently reducing the rate of erosion. On the other hand, the highest amount of erosion can be seen in the Doab and Kakareza watersheds, attributed to inappropriate vegetation, annual rainfall exceeding 600 mm, and structures with low resistance. Finally, it can be said that in Iran, especially in Lorestan province, the lack of models to estimate erosion with limited data has become a significant challenge. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate soil erosion in the Karkheh watershed of Lorestan province using the SLEMSA model. Utilizing simple environmental data, this model shows promising potential for estimating soil erodibility in the Karkheh watershed of Lorestan province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Desertification in arid and semi-arid areas is an invisible and very dangerous phenomenon, and if it continues, it leads to the destruction of the land and the loss of renewable natural resources. Several factors play an effective role in the occurrence of desertification in a region, among which the phenomenon of land subsidence can be mentioned. Land subsidence is a geological process that occurs in a long-term balance and coordination between human activities and the hydrogeological environment. Today, land subsidence caused by the extraction of underground water has become a global problem, and it can even be the site of other hazards and threaten the society. The challenge of establishing a balance between groundwater consumption and land subsidence control is essential for sustainable development and curbing desertification. In order to meet their needs, including agriculture, industry and drinking, human societies depend on underground water sources and provide the required water through underground water. These conditions have become more severe in Iran due to its location in the arid and semi-arid belt, along with the improper distribution of rainfall with excessive extraction of underground water. In Iran, this phenomenon has extensive ecological, economic, social and environmental consequences due to the multiplicity, extent and complexity of the environmental and human factors that cause desertification. Hence, the precise monitoring and analysis of the intensity of desertification is of great importance for risk assessment and risk assessment. Therefore, it is necessary to know the criteria and indicators effective in the occurrence of desertification in order to achieve a model that can monitor the intensity of desertification in order to manage and plan the desert areas correctly and on principles. For this purpose, the aim of this research is to evaluate the state of desertification by IMDPA model based on two criteria of underground water and subsidence in the Rafsanjan watershed located in the northwest of Kerman province. Methodology: In this research, two criteria of underground water and subsidence rate were used as key criteria to prepare the desertification intensity map. According to the available information and the goals of this research, the criteria of underground water were scored based on electrical conductivity indicators, sodium absorption ratio, and groundwater level drop. For the subsidence criterion, the subsidence rate index was used in the year 2014-2015. In the next stage, a weight between 1 and 4 was given to each index based on its effect on desertification. The weighting is linear and equal in proportion; So that value 1 is the best and value 4 is the worst weight. Zoning of the mentioned indicators was also done by geographic information system and interpolation methods. The subsidence criterion was evaluated using the subsidence map prepared from Sentinel 1 satellite images in the year 2014-2015. In the end, the final map of the desertification situation was obtained according to the IMDPA model and based on the geometric mean of the criteria. Results: The average electrical conductivity measure in Rafsanjan watershed was 9351.4, which with a score of 4, is in a very severe desertification situation. Also, in terms of absorbable sodium, this watershed with an average of 12.28 and a score of 1, put it in a state of low desertification. In addition, according to the results of the groundwater quantity criterion based on the average level drop for the aquifer located in the Rafsanjan watershed, it was determined that the average drop of groundwater is about 54 cm with a score of 4, and is in a severe state of desertification. The subsidence of the aquifer located in the Rafsanjan watershed has varied from seven to less than one centimeter per year. Also, based on the average values, the average subsidence in the water year 1394-1395 in the region was in the low category with an average of -1.25 and a score of 1. Examining the areas with subsidence and the level of the drop in the underground water level showed that the drop in the underground water level can be considered as the main reason for the subsidence in the Rafsanjan aquifer. The overlap of three indicators of groundwater criteria, including: electrical conductivity, sodium absorption ratio and level drop, showed that 2.74, 59.07, 37.15 and 1.02 percent of Rafsanjan watershed are in low, medium, severe and There is a lot of desertification. Also, the overlap of the underground water and land subsidence criteria showed that the intensity of desertification is placed in three levels: low, moderate and severe, and the highest level corresponds to the moderate severity. Discussion & Conclusions: Rafsanjan watershed is one of the critical areas of subsidence. For this purpose, it is very important to evaluate land degradation caused by subsidence and drop in the underground water level in the Rafsanjan watershed. The results of this research confirm that according to the underground water criteria, the average electrical conductivity, absorbable sodium, and the drop in the water level of the region are in very severe, low, and severe desertification. In addition, in terms of the intensity of desertification from the point of view of water quality, the region is located in low, medium, severe and very severe classes. Finally, the intensity of desertification according to the two investigated criteria (underground water and subsidence) is placed in three levels: low, medium and severe, and the highest level is related to moderate severity. The results of this research will create a clear horizon for managers and planners of the natural resources sector, which will lead to a precise understanding of the criteria and indicators effective in the occurrence of desertification in the region. In addition, it is suggested to identify other effective factors in the region and introduce them to the desired model for accurate estimation of this phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Engineering activities along the Sichuan–Tibet Railway (STR) could cause land degradation and threaten the surrounding ecological security. It is crucial to evaluate the integrated land ecology during and after the construction of this project. This study assesses the land ecology along the STR corridor from 2000 to 2022 using a transfer matrix, the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), and the PSR-TOPSIS model. The main results are as follows: (1) The novel comprehensive ecological assessment process including nine indicators is feasible. (2) The high-quality land ecological, surface vegetation, and environmental regions were concentrated in Ya'an and Nyingchi, whereas the low-quality regions were situated in Qamdo and Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. (3) There was an overall decline in the integrated land ecological quality along the STR from 2000 to 2022. While it steadily improved in the Ya'an and Nyingchi regions from 2010 to 2022, it continued to decline around the Qamdo region. (4) The most degraded land-use type during the 22 years was grassland, and farmland was the most secure land-use type. Overall, spatial analyses and examinations of residue disposal sites suggested that these locations have negatively impacted integrated land ecology since the beginning of the STR construction project. Our findings have implications for preserving the ecological ecosystem and ensuring the sustainability of the STR construction project. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land use change monitoring is a common theme in achieving sustainable development, while research on ecological barrier transition zones is relatively scarce. This study quantitatively analyzes the characteristics and patterns of land use change in Western Jilin, located in the transitional zone between the northeast forest belt and the northern sand prevention belt, from 1990 to 2020. Land dynamic change index and transition matrix are used to quantify the rates and intensities, and conversions between different land use types over time, respectively. Geodetector is adopted to analyze the impact of 12 factors on 12 types of land use change, such as using the factor detector to quantify the influence of temperature on the conversion from cropland to unused land. The results indicate that from 1990 to 2020, there have been noticeable changes in the area of various land use types in western Jilin. However, the conversion types are relatively limited, mainly involving interchanges between cropland, grassland, unused land, and water bodies. The cropland has increased by 20% overall, but 16% of that increase occurred from 1990–2000. The woodland area has steadily increased at a growth rate of 5–8% from 2000–2020, aligning with sustainable development strategies. Water bodies and grasslands are undergoing continuous recovery, and a positive growth trend is predicted to emerge by 2030. The built-up land is steadily expanding. The influencing factors vary for different types of land-use change. In a short time, policy factors play a significant role in land use, such as the implementation of the "River-lake Connection Project", which has helped to reduce water-body fragmentation and enabled the stable recovery of water resources. However, in the long term, multiple topographic, climatic, and anthropogenic factors exhibit interactive effects in the land use change process in the area. Governments can take corresponding measures and management policies based on the influence of these factors to allocate and plan land use rationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider a growing economy which is subject to recurring, random, uninsurable, and potentially large and long-lasting climate shocks leading to destruction of infrastructure, land degradation, collapse of ecosystems or similar loss of productive capacity. The associated damages and the hazard rate are endogenously driven by the stock of greenhouse gases. We highlight the important role of the relative risk aversion and provide analytical solutions for the optimal climate policy, the growth rate and the saving propensity of the economy. We stress the importance of jointly determining these variables, especially if the objective is to formulate meaningful policy prescriptions. If, for example, the growth rate or the saving rate are assumed to be exogenous, and thus independent of the characteristics of climate shocks and economic fundamentals, then future economic developments in the face of climate change and, consequently, the future mitigation efforts will deviate from the optimal paths. In a quantitative assessment we show that with log-utility and under favorable technological and climatic conditions the abatement expenditure represents only 0.5% of output, equivalent to $37 per ton carbon. Under less favorable conditions, coupled with a relative risk aversion which exceeds unity, the abatement propensity increases to 2.9%, equivalent to $212 per ton carbon, and it jumps to a striking 16% in the pessimistic scenario involving severe shocks and low efficiency of abatement technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation is one of the major challenges causing food insecurity and instability in Ethiopia. A comprehensive study on trends and drivers of land degradation and, socioeconomic and ecological impact of land degradation is necessary for an effective and sustainable mitigation measures. This study reviewed the drivers, trends and impacts of land degradation, existing sustainable land management (SLM) practices, and policies for land use and resources management. We employed the keyword research acquisition approach to review 122 scientific papers, reports, and other documents. The scientific literatures in the study were accessed through as the Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar search engines, while reports and other additional materials were sourced from a variety of repositories and governmental offices. There has been a substantial increase in soil erosion since the 1980s in the highlands of Ethiopia. Illegal logging, poor land management system, overgrazing of pasturelands, population growth, insecure land tenure, war and conflict, poverty, ineffective government policies and programs, institutional issues, poor rural markets, and low agricultural inputs remained the major drivers for land degradation in Ethiopia causing huge loss of agricultural production and environmental unsustainability. Biological and physical soil and water conservation measures, exclosure establishment, afforestation, and reforestation programs are the most common intervention measures of preventing and restoring degraded lands. SLM practices such as intercropping systems, composting, crop rotation, zero grazing, minimum tillage, agroforestry and rotational grazing has been implemented across the country. However, land security and the absence of clearly defined property rights are the major factors that influence farmers' decisions for a long-term investment on land resources. Thus the SLM practices and various restoration interventions remain a critical requirement to address the growing concerns of land degradation in Ethiopia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal-waste dumps in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin are usually colonized by tall grass Calamagrostis epigejos and Solidago canadensis, which influence the direction of vegetation formation and the soil chemistry. The aim of this study is to analyze and determine the content of major elements (Fe, Ca, P, Mg, Al, Na, K, S) and trace elements (Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Mn, Sr, Cd, Cr) in aboveground and underground parts of the plants and the soil at the thermally active coal-waste dump. Analysis of the heavy metal concentrations reveals that they are higher in plant materials than in soil materials within the root zone of the plants. Environmental indicator analysis (geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, translocation factor) shows that the studied species exhibit varying degrees of pollution, with cadmium and zinc showing the highest accumulation rates. The content of elements in the analyzed species, both in washed and unwashed specimens, does not show significant differences, which is confirmed by the enrichment factor. Statistical analysis shows a positive correlation between the amount of microelements in plants (roots, aerial part) and soil samples in both thermally active and inactive zones. These findings broaden the scientific inquiry and hold practical significance for the reclamation of post-industrial areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is expected to be severe in many countries, mainly in arid countries such as Kuwait. Thus, assessing the vulnerability of these countries is fundamental in designing mitigation and adaptation plans. In this study, a qualitative approach was used to conduct a climate change vulnerability assessment (CCVA) targeting Kuwait's most impacted sectors: marine and fisheries, water resources, land management, and health. Increasing sea surface temperature and seawater salinity significantly affect the marine and fisheries sectors; the consequences are very complicated and interconnected with water resources. Mitigation and adaptation options to these stressors are minimal. In the land management sector, establishing adaptive land-use policies will minimize the impact of sea-level rise, land degradation, and floods. Increasing dust storm events and heat waves have a diverse effect on public health. The CCVA framework efficiently revealed the interrelationships among the studied sectors and can be applied to design CCVAs for other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wind erosion is one of the main causes of land degradation and desertification. Clarifying the spatiotemporal variations of wind erosion and the dominant factors of its spatial characteristics and the temporal trend will contribute to the establishment of appropriate wind erosion control and management practices, which is essential for combating global land degradation and strengthening ecological protection in drylands. Here, we assessed wind erosion in Africa during 2001–2020 based on the Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ). We also analyzed the influential factor of spatial characteristics and temporal variation based on machine learning and other methods under different aridity. Results revealed that the average annual wind erosion modulus was 16,672 t/km2/a in Africa during 2001–2020, with hyper‐arid areas and arid areas accounting for more than 90% of the total wind erosion modulus. The spatial characteristics of wind erosion were dominated by natural factors but not anthropogenic activities. Except in hyper‐arid areas, wind speed and vegetation coverage together dominated the spatial characteristics. Wind speed was the dominant factor in wind erosion change, while in arid and semi‐arid areas, the capability of vegetation coverage to affect wind erosion change was comparable to wind speed. It can be concluded that, although revegetation does contribute to the reduction of wind erosion in arid and semi‐arid areas, taking into account water resource constraints and land use conflicts, large plantations can be replaced with windbreaks to increase vegetation coverage while reducing near‐surface wind speed, which improves the sustainability of ecological projects aimed at combating land degradation and desertification. Plain Language Summary: Wind erosion can decrease soil fertility and is the main cause of dust storms in drylands. Therefore, clarifying the spatial and temporal dynamics of wind erosion is very important for combating land degradation and desertification. We used the Revised Wind Erosion Equation to assess the wind erosion in Africa over the period 2001–2020 and analyzed its driving forces. This study found a fluctuating decline of wind erosion in Africa over the past 20 years, with severe wind erosion mainly in the Sahara Desert, the Somali Peninsula, and Southern Africa, and with hyper‐arid areas and arid areas accounting for more than 90% of the wind erosion modulus. Wind speed was the dominant factor in the spatial and temporal dynamics of wind erosion, especially in the hyper‐arid areas where wind erosion was most severe. However, vegetation coverage also played an equally crucial role in reducing wind erosion in arid and semi‐arid areas. Therefore, slowing down the wind speed and increasing the vegetation coverage are both important approaches to restricting wind erosion, but considering the limitation of water resources, the related ecological projects should replace large‐scale planting with windbreaks to realize sustainability in combating land degradation and desertification. Key Points: Wind erosion in hyper‐arid and arid areas accounted for more than 90% of Africa's total wind erosion modulusWind speed dominated the spatial characteristics of wind erosion in Africa and contributed to an 81.66% variation in the wind erosionSubstituting large‐scale plantations with windbreaks can enhance the sustainability of ecological engineering projects to combat land degradation and desertification [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a context of land shortage with high rates of land degradation and soil erosion due to unsustainable agriculture practices in Burundi, vocational agriculture education needs to prioritize competencies that enable graduates to be effective change-agents in addressing sustainable agriculture challenges. This study aimed at identifying context-relevant competencies for change-agents to be able to foster sustainable agriculture. The paper used the Delphi technique to collect data from 28 experts (comprising of 14 teachers and 14 practitioners). The findings identified 11 context-relevant competencies that are considered by experts to be most important for change-agents working on sustainable agriculture. The competence 'facilitator of change' was found to be most relevant and the recommendation is that it should be prioritized in vocational agriculture education curriculum design. Other competencies, such as innovation and creativity, planning, system thinking, domain expertise, continuous learning, interdisciplinarity, and leadership, were also indicated as highly relevant. The competencies stewardship, self-determination and engagement were considered to be comparatively less important, although still relevant. The findings of this study provide insight so that the curricula of vocational agriculture schools can be designed around forming a competence-based education model toward fostering sustainable agriculture. The paper contributes to sustainability competence theory by taking the debate to the domain of vocational agriculture education within the context of Burundi. The study utilized the Delphi process to capture the context-relevance of sustainable agriculture competencies that need to be prioritized in vocational agriculture education in Burundi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ski tourism's popularity is driving a rise in the number of ski resorts. This study aims to present the impact of ski infrastructure on soil erosion processes in the example from a small catchment in the Gubałowskie Foothills in southern Poland, where landscape changes before (since 1879) and after the construction of the ski station (2007) are presented. The analyses of changes in flow accumulation, slope morphometry, and drainage ditches were conducted in the test area. Quantitative analyses were performed using repeated DEMs derived from aerial LiDAR survey and detailed geodetic measurements, complemented by geomorphological mapping done in the field. The study has revealed that the ski infrastructure has not only directly transformed the hillslope by flattening and constructing escarpments (up to 3 m high) but has also created alternating patterns of erosion and accumulation. In the test area, the drainage ditch was poorly designed. It was filled with materials (0.1–0.5 m), and two new outlets formed. The escarpment of the analyzed ski run has been diminished by 0.5 m. An alluvial fan (0.1–0.22 m thick) has developed on the flattened surface below the escarpment with drainage ditch outlets. This fan is eroded by subsurface flow that creates a piping system. The gully below the alluvial fan has retreated upslope, accelerated by subsurface erosion. This study enables the presentation of hillslope adjustments and processes in response to the new conditions caused by ski infrastructure. Such results may support more effective land management in regions changed by ski infrastructure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stability of property rights is a key factor in incentivizing farmers to engage in land use and protection activities, which, in turn, serve to mitigate or prevent the degradation of land resources and enhance the effectiveness of agricultural management practices. This research uses Scientometric analysis according to PRISMA guidelines to thoroughly examine academic landscape related to the stability of farmland property rights and its impact on farmers' land utilization and protection behaviors. By examining 4165 publications from 2014 to 2023 in Web of Science and Scopus databases, the study conducts a comprehensive analysis. Theoretical frameworks elucidate three primary avenues through which property rights influence farmers' behavior: the assurance effect, collateral effect, and realizable effect. Through document co‐citation analysis 11 distinct thematic clusters were revealed, highlighting the prominence of land tenure security (Cluster #0). Notably, Ma X's publication experienced a significant 4‐year surge, indicating its key influence. Author co‐citation analysis outlined author clusters, emphasizing the increasing relevance of authors like Cotula L, Angelsen A, and De Schuttero during specific periods. Journal co‐citation analysis revealed cohesive journal clusters such as Development and Change and Journal of Peasant Studies, showcasing thematic boundaries within clusters. Keywords co‐citation analysis (CO‐DESC) identified thematic clusters around "China," "agricultural land," and "land use," with keywords like "land degradation" exhibiting substantial bursts. This systematic analysis highlights influential publications, authors, journals, and thematic clusters, emphasizing the structured landscape within farmland property rights research and revealing critical aspects impacting farmers' behavior and land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To combat land degradation through conserving soil and water resources, Ethiopia has undergone vigorous implementation of soil and water conservation (SWC) measures, predominantly physical structures. To evaluate the effectiveness of these implemented structures, various researches have been conducted through using both measured and simulated approaches. This study was initiated to analyze the reliability of SWAT‐based simulated studies results on the effectiveness of SWC measures toward erosion reduction potential against the measured dataset using unpaired t‐test statistical analysis. In this study, 123 published papers were downloaded, of which 70 were found to be more related to the objective of the review. After applying four refining criteria, only 43 were found more compatible with the study objective and used for data analysis. Studies conducted by different scholars show up to 98% and 93.50% soil loss reduction effectiveness by SWC measures in measured and simulated approaches, respectively. The simulated SWC measure efficiency output was also evaluated with respect to the ground‐measured data of the same structure within the same agroecology class. Finally, the unpaired t‐test results indicated that the grass strip in the mid‐highland agroecology showed a significant difference from the measured one at a 95% significance level. However, none of the other measures showed significant differences between the measured and simulated datasets. Hence, the SWAT model can effectively simulate the effectiveness of physical SWC measures on soil loss reduction if it is well‐calibrated and validated with sediment yield data. Refining model parameters that can be sufficiently captured and represent biological measures (grass strip), incorporating additional field data for calibration and validation coupled with exploring alternative modeling approaches that efficiently simulate biological SWC was set as a recommendation to obtain an effective biological measure simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) include a goal on land degradation: indicator 15.3.1 (proportion of degraded land over total land). It is not always easy to monitor the SDGs, and remote sensing could be an effective tool for monitoring several SDGs. This study assessed land degradation in Bangladesh's Khulna Division over the past two decades. The Trends.Earth toolset was used to assess land degradation during the baseline period (2001–2015) and the reporting period (2016–2020). Inputs include data from the United Nations Convention on Desertification, and outputs include three sub-indicators: land productivity, land cover change, and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks. Over the past 20 years, the land use and land cover, land productivity, and SOC content of the study area have undergone substantial changes. A significant change was observed in croplands, water bodies, and built-up areas. Croplands have been converted into settlements and tree cover. Nonetheless, there is an increase in land productivity in the area (>64 %) accompanied by a small percentage of decreasing productivity (approximately 9 %). Accordingly, the SOC in major land areas (84.68 %) is stable with 66,475 tons of carbon lost from croplands. Overall, this area reveals substantial progress in SDG indicator 15.3.1 with a clear transformation of degraded land (from 10.38 % to 8.46 %) into stable land (32.09 %–64.01 %). Land degradation is mostly seen in Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Kushtia, and Jashore areas. Land covers change for urbanisation, developments, water logging, and salinity intrusion cause land degradation. Despite poor representation of the SOC and normalised difference vegetation index datasets in the waterlogged areas, the Trends.Earth-generated results are informative and stand alone. With the results of this study, policymakers may be able to develop more appropriate land management plans by better understanding the complex interconnections of land change processes.

Land use and land cover changes such as agricultural land abandonment along with soil erosion are perceived to be important factors that add to land degradation worldwide. In this study, we used aerial imagery, archival-Structure from Motion (SfM) reconstruction and airborne-LiDAR surveys to reconstruct land abandonment along with pipe collapse and gully development in a semi-arid Mediterranean catchment area of the Ebro Valley (Spain) during 1957–2021. Agricultural land dynamics were analysed from the study of planform changes to field crops. Land degradation associated to pipe collapse and gully development was inferred from the geomorphic change detection deduced from the comparison of topographic models obtained from archival-SfM and LiDAR datasets. Through spatial correlation analysis, we identified that higher, steeper, and more hydrologically connected field crop areas were the first to be abandoned. Additionally, the extent of pipe collapses and gullying processes was significantly correlated with the degree of land abandonment over the duration of the study period. Our findings reveal that approximately 20 % of agricultural lands within the study area were abandoned during said study period, with up to 15 % of the abandoned area directly impacted by pipe collapse and gullying processes. Erosion rates associated with these processes within the catchment, implied erosion areas of 3.9 ha and 1.5 ha for the period 1977–2009 and 2009–2021, ranging between 120 Mg/ha yr−1 and 203.2 Mg/ha yr−1, respectively. Our study highlights that abandonment in said area is predominantly conditioned by land degradation resulting from pipe collapses and gully development. The recognition and protection of piping and gully affected areas as geodiversity sites is presented as an alternative at a local level to mitigate the economic impacts of soil degradation. Understanding the effects that pipe collapse and gully development have on arable lands over long-term study periods (i.e., >50 years) is essential in order to shed light on the interconnected factors influencing land productivity and agricultural sustainability. This ultimately guides us to make informed policy decisions that mitigate these detrimental effects.