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This study followed an interdisciplinary mixed approach that consisted of social research methods and geospatial technology to investigate the livestock mobility of four pastoralist groups from Sudan and two Ethiopian pastoralist groups who fled to Sudan due to the conflict in the Tigray region. The study area is a shared borderland located between the two countries and is part of Gadarif State in Sudan and the Tigray and Amhara regions in Ethiopia. The findings of the study showed that there are diverse types of pastoral mobility in the borderland, ranging from short and circular movement to wide and directional type of mobility in response to seasonal variations, the spread of mechanised farming and the eruption of insecurity events. Despite facing numerous challenges including the governments’ restrictions on cross-border movement and the prevalence of looting and rustling, trans-boundary mobility is practised by most pastoralist groups in the borderland. Pastoralist leaders are playing an important role in facilitating cross-border mobility. The recent conflict in the Tigray region forced many Ethiopian pastoralists to flee to Sudan with their animals, and they have had to cope with this situation by reducing the number of head they own and limiting their mobility to a more confined area. Despite competing claims by both governments, there is a pressing need for a cooperative land management policy applying soft border arrangements that incorporate customary land use rights for pastoralists from both sides, instead of the hardline border policies currently in place.

Abstract Background Prevention policies against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) focus solely on individual healthy lifestyle behaviours, while an increasing body of research recognises the involvement of environmental determinants (ED) (cultural norms of land management and planning, local foodscape, built environment, pollution, and neighbourhood deprivation). Precise knowledge of this relationship is essential to proposing a prevention strategy integrating public health and spatial planning. Unfortunately, issues related to the consistency and synthesis of methods, and results in this field of research limit the development of preventive strategies. This systematic review aims to improve knowledge about the relationship between the risk of developing T2DM in adulthood and long-term exposure to its ED during childhood or teenage years. Methods This protocol is presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) tools. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, EBSCO, and grey literature from the Laval University Libraries databases will be used for data collection on main concepts such as ‘type 2 diabetes mellitus’, ‘zoning’ or ‘regional, urban, or rural areas land uses’, ‘local food landscape’, ‘built environment’, ‘pollution’, and ‘deprivation’. The Covidence application will store the collected data for selection and extraction based on the Population Exposure Comparator Outcome and Study design approach (PECOS). Studies published until December 31, 2023, in English or French, used quantitative data about individuals aged 18 and over that report on T2DM, ED (cultural norms of land management and planning, local foodscape, built environment, and neighbourhood deprivation), and their association (involving only risk estimators) will be included. Then, study quality and risk of bias will be conducted according to the combined criteria and ratings from the ROBINS-E (Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies—of Exposures) tools and the ‘Effective Public Health Practice Project’ (EPHPP). Finally, the analytical synthesis will be produced using the ‘Synthesis Without Meta-analysis’ (SWiM) guidelines. Discussion This systematic review will summarise available evidence on ED associated with T2DM. The results will contribute to improving current knowledge and developing more efficient cross-sectoral interventions in land management and public health in this field of research. Systematic review registration PROSPERO CRD42023392073.

This study aimed to map and analyze the patterns of environmentally vulnerable regions to land degradation in the Omo-Gibe River Basin. The study used GIS techniques to map land sensitivity to degradation. The multifactorial approach-MEDALUS method, which used three quality indicators-soil, climate, and vegetation and nine parameters were used. About 48% of the basin was highly vulnerable to land degradation, and 36% showed clear signs of degradation. 15.8% of the area had a low potential for land degradation. Implementing proper land management strategies should focus on severely degraded areas to achieve sustainable agriculture and hydroelectric energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Habitat conversion is the number one threat to biodiversity. The loss of biodiversity due to habitat loss might be exacerbated if species are harmed by fragmentation per se—the breaking apart of natural habitat that remains (hereafter fragmentation). However, the evidence that species are harmed by habitat fragmentation is mixed. Studies at the patch scale tend to show that fragmentation reduces diversity due to negative demographic effects on species' dispersal, survival and fecundity. In contrast, studies at the landscape scale tend to show that fragmentation increases diversity. This discrepancy may be partly due to geometric effects, defined as greater species turnover between patches in more fragmented landscapes. Although these effects have been demonstrated theoretically and are expected to be stronger across larger spatial extents, it is unclear whether they are likely to occur in real‐world settings with both realistic landscape patterns and communities. Here, we investigated the possibility of geometric effects using simulations combined with real‐world landscape and community data. Location: New Jersey, northeastern USA. Time period: Current. Taxa studied: Bees. Methods: We focused on landscape sizes within the typical range for protected areas (36–576 ha), simulated forest loss using real landscape patterns, and simulated forest‐bee communities based on field data we collected. Results: We found weak but positive effects of fragmentation: immediately following forest destruction, the most fragmented forests harboured up to 7.3% more species than the least fragmented forests of the same area, in agreement with observational studies of biodiversity along fragmentation gradients. In contrast to expectations, however, the overall effects of fragmentation did not change with spatial extent. Conclusions: Our results suggest that fragmentation can mitigate biodiversity loss immediately following habitat destruction, but that the benefits do not vary strongly with spatial extent in real‐world landscapes and at extents relevant to land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is set in the environs of the Eastern Anatolian town of Palu at the turn of the twentieth century. At the heart of this investigation is a puzzle: how did the local elite manage to maintain their power in the face of first Tanzimat (1839–1876) and then Hamidian centralization (1876–1908)? Based on the study of a range of primary sources, it appears that the local elites were able to 'use' the Armenian Question, and the fears of the central authorities, to their advantage. The elites increasingly presented themselves as 'loyal Muslims' in the face of supposedly 'seditious Armenians' to maintain control of the land. In addition to British Foreign Office documents, our article relies primarily on a voluminous legal file compiled from the catalogues of the Ottoman Archives, Istanbul composed by different segments of the region's population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land use types and soil management have a significant effect on soil properties. However, their impact on the stratification of soil properties, carbon management index (CMI) and soil degradation index (SDI) is still poorly documented in coastal light soils of south-eastern India. Soil samples were collected from six divergent land use types, Sugarcane (SC), Fallow-Tobacco (F-T), Paddy-Maize-Fallow (P-M-F), Eucalyptus + Bamboo (AF), Oil Palm (OP), and Forest (NF). The soil samples were collected at 0–5, 5–15, 15–30, and 30–45 cm soil depths, and contents of total organic carbon (TOC), labile organic carbon (LC), non-labile organic carbon (NLC), total nitrogen (TN), their stocks, stratification ratios (SRs), CMI, and SDI were determined. Results showed that the contents of TOC, LC, NLC, and TN in NF were significantly higher followed by OP, whereas the parameters were lower in F-T followed by P-M-F. The proportion of SOC and N stocks under NF were higher than F-T by 56.6% and 50.3%, respectively. With NF as a reference, the mean CMI followed the order of OP (78) > AF (60) > SC (59.5) > P-M-F (43.8) > F-T (36.3). The SR values of SOC and TN were highest (1.34 to 2.70) for NF, whereas it was lowest (1.10 to 1.54) in F-T in all soil depths. The highest cumulative SDI of −133.2% was observed in F-T followed by P-M-F (−117%). The CMI, SRs were lower and SDI was higher under F-T and P-M-F indicating poor soil quality and its degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transaction costs, related to either investigating improved land management practices (ILMP), engaging in adoption support programs for these practices and/or implementing changes on-ground, create barriers to ILMP adoption. Perceived and actual transaction costs have long been hypothesised as a potential barrier to grazier adoption of ILMPs in catchments to the Great Barrier Reef. Applying a framework derived from transaction cost theory, we assess this hypothesis. Through semi-structured interviews of a sample of participants in two ILMP programs, we find that ILMP adoption support program characteristics have a large influence on perceived and actual transaction costs of landholders seeking to engage in ILMP programs or adopt ILMPs. The importance of establishing and nurturing relationships between landholders and extension officers was also highlighted as critical to reducing landholder transaction costs. The degree to which relationships reduce transaction costs demonstrates the importance of fostering landholder leadership in ILMP program design as well as targeted extension in supporting adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Proposals to increase protected area networks to 30% of land area globally will, given habitat conversion, require ecosystem restoration. Trait‐based approaches provide tools for this and highlight priorities for protected area expansion—both where functional diversity has the highest values and where it is higher than expected given species richness. Maps of sampled angiosperm species from across Africa show where these diversity metrics deviate. These maps also show the 30% of land with greatest potential to support functional diversity at national and continental scales, of which less than a quarter is protected, demonstrating the need for coordinated trans‐national plant conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the ecological impact of human activities and the space occupied by construction and arable land on the Tibetan Plateau were examined, focusing on changes in the net primary productivity (NPP) as a key indicator of ecological health. With the utilization of land use data and multiyear average NPP data from 2002 to 2020, we analyzed the effects of the conversion of zonal vegetation into construction and arable land on carbon sequestration and oxygen release in Chengguan District, Lhasa city. Our findings indicated a marked spatial difference in the NPP among different land types. Regarding the original zonal vegetation, the NPP ranged from 0.2 to 0.3 kg/m2. Construction land showed a decrease in the NPP, with values ranging from 0.16 to 0.26 kg/m2, suggesting a decrease in ecological productivity. Conversely, arable land exhibited an increase in the NPP, with average values exceeding 0.3 kg/m2. This increase suggested enhanced productivity, particularly in regions where the original zonal vegetation provided lower NPP values. However, this enhanced productivity may not necessarily indicate a positive ecological change. In fact, such increases could potentially disrupt the natural balance of ecosystems, leading to unforeseen ecological consequences. The original zonal vegetation, with NPP values ranging from 0.12 to 0.43 kg/m2, exhibited higher ecological stability and adaptability than the other land types. This wider NPP range emphasizes the inherent resilience of native vegetation, which could sustain diverse ecological functions under varying environmental conditions. These findings demonstrate the urgent need for sustainable land use management on the Tibetan Plateau. This study highlights the importance of considering the ecological impact of land use changes in regional development strategies, ensuring the preservation and enhancement in the unique and fragile plateau ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the article, the author discusses how to restore lands in Texas used for oil and gas production, particularly the use of emission reduction credits by producers to plug abandoned and orphaned wells. Also cited are the well plugging program of the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC), the RRC's Oil & Gas Regulation and Cleanup Fund (OGRC), and the blanket bond requirement for permit approvals.

Through four tableaux, this article explores the historical efforts of the Siekopai (Secoya) people to claim territorial rights over Pëekë'ya—an area of black water lagoons and flooded forests on the border between Peru and Ecuador—and unfolds their various enactments of land through performative acts of contestation and collaboration. By emulating shamanic thoughts about the wetland as a transition zone between villages and worlds, the tableaux as form represent a rethinking of land as multiple and partially overlapping realities where shifting territorial and conservation management regimes never result in stable environmental subjectivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote sensing image is a vital basis for land management decisions. The protection of remote sensing images has seen the application of blockchain's notarization function by many scholars. Yet, research on efficient retrieval of such images on the blockchain remains sparse. Addressing this issue, this paper introduces a blockchain-based spatial index verification method using Hyperledger Fabric. It linearizes the spatial information of remote sensing images via Geohash and integrates it with LSM trees for effective retrieval and verification. The system also incorporates IPFS as an underlying storage unit for Hyperledger Fabric, ensuring the safe storage and transmission of images. The experiments indicate that this method significantly reduces the latency in data retrieval and verification without impacting the write performance of Hyperledger Fabric, enhancing throughput and providing a solid foundation for efficient blockchain-based verification of remote sensing images in land registry systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Soils under organic farming systems exhibit better quality and higher biological activity than conventional systems. Manure addition, especially coupled with reduced or no tillage, significantly enhances microbial biomass and activity by improving soil physical properties and providing carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) sources. While several studies have examined the effects of transitioning from conventional to organic farming on soil chemistry and biochemistry, limited research has explored the influence of land use variations on soil fertility within long‐term organic farming systems. Aims: Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess how three different land uses—pasture, vegetable crops, and orchard—affected soil fertility under a long‐term organic farming system. Methods: Soil samples were collected from the 0 to 15 cm layer of plots used for pasture, vegetable crops and orchard, being the latter cover cropped with legumes, and analyzed to determine chemical and biochemical soil parameters. Results: Contrary to expectations, high land use intensity (vegetable crops and orchard soils) resulted in increased soil organic C and total N, compared to low intensity (pasture). Such an increase was ascribed to farmyard manure addition that counteracted the negative impact of tillage. Consequently, microbial biomass C and activity also increased. The greatest availability of organic substrates favored bacteria, particularly gram‐positive strains, shaping the microbial community. However, despite changes of microbial biomass and of the main microbial groups, microbial activity was only slightly affected, suggesting high functional redundancy of microorganisms in long‐term organic farming soil. Conclusions: Results suggested that if land use intensification provides for organic supply, its negative impact on soil fertility may be mitigated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Across the Middle East, military professionals, private militias, and other security actors often play a central role in the management of urban planning, public administration, and other state affairs. However, security studies scholarship offers few theoretical tools for understanding this deep and overt inter-twinement of security and governance, framing it as an outcome of authoritarian practices of coup-proofing or a symptom of 'weak' states. This article analyzes spatial planning and land management practices in Egypt and Lebanon to propose two concepts, 'hyphenated identities' and the 'boundless security field', as alternative theoretical tools for thinking about security. I argue that security logics are deeply enmeshed with the identity of the nation, its histories of conflict, and its experiences of state formation, creating a security field that is boundless and non-discrete. Within this field are a set of 'hyphenated identities', or categories of actors who perform dual roles as managers of security and managers of other governance matters. The influence of these actors on governance practices illustrates the extent to which security logics can be imbedded in the structures of the state and its modus operandi, thereby reinforcing the boundlessness of the security field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Washington State in the US, the story of the Washington Department of Natural Resources' (WA DNR) work to manage increased wildfire threat and the resulting internal and external shifts in agency policy and practices is the subject of this analysis. A narrative policy framework is a lens adopted to examine how the elected leadership of the agency sought to institute adaptive change and increase available resources to implement such change through the initiation and support of a key piece of legislation and through strategic shifts in its land management emphasis. These changes were initiated to increase agency land management and firefighting capacity while not abandoning its long-standing mandate to generate financial returns for the State trusts. Although the implementation of these policy changes is in an initial stage, we suggest the lessons from these shifts in policy and practice are relevant to many other land management agencies facing similar challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tallgrass prairie is among the most threatened ecosystems but is often fragmented and surrounded by human‐modified landscapes. Small mammals are integral components of tallgrass prairies. However, little is known about how landscape composition, configuration, and management impact small mammals in tallgrass prairies.We conducted a systematic literature review to identify species‐specific and community associations with three broad topics: landscape composition, landscape configuration, and management practices.We identified 61 studies that assessed our variables of interest. We categorised the location, species assessed, variables monitored, and results by species and for the community.The majority of studies (64%) were conducted in two states, Illinois and Kansas. Deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), prairie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), and white‐footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) showed specific associations with landscape variables, with deer mice preferring bare ground and recently burned plots, and prairie voles preferring thatch and negatively associated with prescribed fire. White‐footed mice were frequently associated with wooded areas.Small mammal biodiversity was positively associated with patchy habitats containing greater diversity in vegetative composition and management regime. Management and land composition were both relatively well studied for several species; habitat configuration was understudied.We identified significant gaps in our understanding of small mammal landscape ecology in tallgrass prairies. With tallgrass prairie restoration a growing trend in this region, a greater understanding of drivers of small mammal populations will be crucial to successful restoration efforts. Future research should focus on understudied areas and species, and examine how habitat heterogeneity impacts small mammal biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ghana's customary land sector holds great prospects in lending impetus to the country's socio-economic development. Using the Bolgatanga Customary Land Secretariat in the Bolgatanga Traditional Area as the study area, this study examined the current challenges encountered by Customary Land Secretariats in Ghana in delivering on their mandates of streamlining customary land administration. Findings indicate that the Bolgatanga Customary Land Secretariat is well committed to streamlining customary lands management in the Traditional Area. Nonetheless, staff inadequacy, absence of technological integration, low level of patronage, and inadequate cooperation between stakeholders are impeding the Secretariat in achieving the intended objectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The island ecosystem is influenced by the maritime climate and endemic flora and fauna that predominate the food production system. The observed variations and projected changes in rainfall and temperature severely affect the small islands and island states (SIS) more than large countries. In this study, we analyse the long-term changes in total rainfall, its seasonal variations, the number of rainy days and extreme events based on standardized global datasets and ground observations for SIS, including island regions of India, to identify suitable adaptation options in order to ensure sustainable food production. We link these climatic parameters with the observed waterlogging, moisture stress and salinity, compounded by the sea-water intrusion, which severely affects agricultural diversification and food production. In these areas, climate-smart alternative land management (ALM) methods, viz. raised beds, paddy–fish, farm ponds with broader dykes, etc. have been demonstrated and evaluated against these climate change-linked challenges at smallholder farms in the Andaman Islands and Sundarbans region of India. The results showed that the ALM methods created favourable conditions for crop growth and agricultural diversification by excluding sea-water intrusion, harvesting rainwater, reducing salinity and facilitating drainage amidst extreme events experienced during the observation period (2010–2020). ALM enhanced on-farm food production (2.7–34.6 tonne ha–1 rice equivalent yield), sustainability (0.23–0.79, measured as sustainable yield index) and net mitigation benefit (2.2–5.7 Mg CO2 eq. year–1), providing greater scope for its upscaling in the island and coastal regions as adaptation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Visitation at national parks and other public lands has surged to record levels, a trend intensified in many places by the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately, the popularity of public lands has led to congestion, a degraded outdoor experience, and damage to natural resources. In response, land managers have adopted capacity limits, reservation requirements, and other access restrictions. The growing restrictions on access to public lands raise serious concerns. They threaten individual benefits that public lands generate for physical and mental health, as well as collective benefits to cultural identity and national unity. Restrictions on access often have disparate impacts on those who are economically disadvantaged or lack technological savvy. In addition, land managers sometimes institute these restrictions with little or no notice or opportunity for public input. Although public land managers have various tools to accommodate high visitation, they sometimes have to ration access to public lands. Closures and other restrictions may be necessary to ensure public safety, maintain the quality of visitor experiences, or protect wildlife and other resources. This Article explores guidelines to assist land managers as they make difficult decisions about the restriction and allocation of access to public lands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This comprehensive study investigates the intricate interplay between geodiversity, geohazards, and anthropogenic influences within the Kratovska Reka catchment—an area distinguished by its remarkable geosites. Kratovska Reka, spanning a length of 17.3 km, serves as the left tributary to Kriva Reka. The watershed of Kratovska Reka, covering an area of 68.5 km2, is situated on the northwestern inclines of the Osogovo Mts in North Macedonia. Despite harboring exceptional geodiversity, the area lacks protective measures for its myriad geosites. Evaluating susceptibility to geohazards, including excessive erosion, landslides, and flash floods, this research identifies heightened risk zones, particularly in the valley of Kratovska Reka and its tributaries. A multi-hazard model reveals that 56.07% of the basin is vulnerable to geohazards. The study correlates lithological composition, relief features, and morphometric characteristics with geohazards, emphasizing the significance of paleovolcanic relief in resisting excessive erosion. Human-induced factors, notably deforestation and inappropriate land use, amplify geohazards. This research underscores the urgent need for geosite protection and sustainable land management to mitigate geohazards' impacts. Additionally, it explores the correlation between land use practices and geodiversity, emphasizing the importance of responsible land management in safeguarding the geological and geomorphological values of the researched area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are a source of natural capital that provide and regulate a range of ecosystem services (ES) and play an important role in sustaining human welfare. Nonetheless, the quality and quantity of soil ecosystem services (SES) delivery over the long term depend on the use of sustainable land management practices. In the present study, we assessed seven SES using a set of soil quality indicators in four production systems based on yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil) in the Araucaria Forest biome of Southern Brazil: two sites were under traditional agroecological agroforestry management, one was a silvopastoral system with dairy pasture, and the last one was a monoculture yerba mate production system. The SES measured were soil fertility, carbon sequestration, erosion control, nutrient cycling, plant provision, biodiversity, and health. Soil samples were collected at various depths and analysed for chemical, physical, and biological attributes. A principal component analysis on the dataset showed that the soil quality indicators that best represent the variance between the systems at the 0–10 cm layer were acidity, microbial activity (FDA), total nitrogen, (TN), structural stability index (SSI), cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, sum of bases (SB), microbial quotient (qMic), density of earthworms (EwD), bulk density (BD), and carbon stocks (Cstock). Soil quality indicators ranging from 0 to 1 were used to graphically represent the set of SES. The indicator-based approach used to explain the differences among the four production systems was able to capture the soil functions and offered a good starting point for quantifying SES provision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wright fishhook cactus is a small globose cactus endemic to an area of 280,000 ha in south-central Utah and was listed as endangered in October of 1979 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). There is a general paucity of information about this species, and no published data on the seed bank for any species in the genus. Our objective with this study was to provide insight into the established seed bank density for this species. We processed 500 soil samples from various locations near individual cacti and potential neighboring nurse plants. We found that the species had a detectable seed bank of a size similar to other members of the Cactaceae family. Seed bank densities were the highest immediately adjacent to, and downslope from, parent plants. Our data indicate that areas within 20 cm of seed-producing cacti contain by far the greatest density of seeds. These areas should be given special consideration in future management plans for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding nine billion people by 2050 will be a challenge due to climate change. There is a significant portion of abandoned and unused marginal lands across the nation and in the Puglia region, in Southern Italy. Innovative techniques and practices in the frame of climate-smart agriculture can help rehabilitate marginal lands into productive and profitable areas. The objective of this study was to systematically review the literature on marginal areas in Puglia, responding to the lack of information in this context and evaluate their revitalization potential. We systematically reviewed the literature on unused/marginal areas and identified related studies dealing with different types of marginal areas and their potential for sustainable rural development. Marginal areas in Puglia represent a range of historical rural landscapes that support biodiversity, the economy, and ecological services. However, the analysis of the current situation in Puglia's marginal areas indicates a lack of infrastructure and scarce resources, which led to land abandonment and the migration of local residents, resulting in the deterioration of the ecological system. Therefore, establishing a sustainable policy is crucial for preserving the local heritage and economy of the region. However, policymakers should carefully study the challenges and opportunities arising from local contexts before embarking on ambitious place-based innovation strategies. The analysis indicates that both biophysical and socio-economic factors are strategic elements for improving the revitalization potential of marginal areas for sustainable development. This review provides useful information regarding the revitalization potential of marginal areas for food, feed, and non-food production, which is crucial in the implementation of a sustainable development strategy for rural communities in Puglia but can also be applied to similar areas in other countries. However, the success of the sustainable development strategy in Puglia's marginal areas should consider the vital function of farmers' self-organization and social capital as key factors in the adoption of agricultural innovations for the revitalization of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The floodplains of the Southeast's stream network once hosted immense brakes of rivercane (Arundinaria gigantea), a disturbance-dependent native bamboo with both cultural and ecological significance. Ecologically, rivercane alters its local environments, boosts biodiversity and biomass, and protects streambanks from erosion and storm damage. Indigenous peoples of the Southeast have used rivercane for millennia, for material and cultural purposes, and formerly maintained its health and extent through harvesting and fire. Settler-colonial incursions largely destroyed rivercane, through the more intense disturbance of different land management practices, and brakes now exist mainly in relatively small areas. While numerous rivercane restoration projects are in process throughout its natural range, no comprehensive inventory of living rivercane exists. In this paper, we present both human context and the results of LiDAR analysis that identifies canebrakes based on the physical characteristics of the plant and brake. In our study area on the Little Tennessee River in western North Carolina, we found rivercane on about 9 percent of the floodplain area, based on QL1 LiDAR data available from the state of North Carolina. The technique can be applied in any part of rivercane's range, and the resulting inventory used in support of both cultural and ecological goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Automated built-up infrastructure classification is a global need for planning. However, individual indices have weaknesses, including spectral confusion with bare ground, and computational requirements for deep learning are intensive. We present a computationally lightweight method to classify built-up infrastructure. We use an ensemble of spectral indices and a novel red-band texture layer with global thresholds determined from 12 diverse sites (two seasonally varied images per site). Multiple spectral indexes were evaluated using Sentinel-2 imagery. Our texture metric uses the red band to separate built-up infrastructure from spectrally similar bare ground. Our evaluation produced global thresholds by evaluating ground truth points against a range of site-specific optimal index thresholds across the 24 images. These were used to classify an ensemble, and then spectral indexes, texture, and stratified random sampling guided training data selection. The training data fit a random forest classifier to create final binary maps. Validation found an average overall accuracy of 79.95% (±4%) and an F1 score of 0.5304 (±0.07). The inclusion of the texture metric improved overall accuracy by 14–21%. A comparison to site-specific thresholds and a deep learning-derived layer is provided. This automated built-up infrastructure mapping framework requires only public imagery to support time-sensitive land management workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light pollution significantly interferes with animal and human life and should, therefore, be included in the factors that threaten ecosystems. The main aim of this research is to develop a methodology for monitoring environmental and social elements subjected to light pollution in anthropogenic areas. This research is based on yearly and monthly photographs acquired from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) onboard the Suomi National Polar-Orbiting Partnership (Suomi NPP) satellite; land cover data from the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) program; and environmental data from the European Environment Agency (EEA) and the World Database on Protected Areas (WDPA). The processing of input data for further analyses, the testing of the methodology and the interpretation of the final results were performed in GIS-type software (ArcGIS Pro). Light pollution in the investigated area was analyzed with the use of maps generated for the years 2014 and 2019. The environmental and social elements were spatially identified in five light pollution classes. The research results demonstrate that the proposed methodology allows for the identification of environmental and social elements that emit light, as well as those that are subjected to light pollution. The methodology used in this work allows us to observe changes resulting from light pollution (decreasing or increasing the intensity). Owing to the use of publicly available data, the methodology can be applied to light pollution monitoring as part of spatial planning in anthropogenic areas. The proposed methodology makes it possible to cover the area exposed to light pollution and to observe (almost online) the environmental and social changes resulting from reductions in light emitted by anthropogenic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presented a method of characterizing landform dynamics that integrates a divide stability metric and hypsometric analysis. Chi (χ) - a proxy for steady-state river channel elevation - indicated a drainage divide stability. Simultaneously, the hypsometric analysis provided information on a basin's geologic development stage and erosion proneness. The study used a 30 m SRTM digital elevation data, the DivideTool/TopoToolbox of MATLAB, and the SWAT model. The tool computed χ values following the stream network, enabled the selection of divide sections, extracted channel head's χ values, determined divide stability by predicting migration direction for unstable divides, and produced histograms of χ values for each divide section. Equal χ values at the channel heads of opposing river networks indicated a stable divide. In contrast, a difference in χ values suggested an unstable divide and a potential to migrate from low χ values towards the divide's high χ values side. The study proposed the mean χ difference (χmd) metric to indicate the degree of divide mobility. Meanwhile, the SWAT model defined the basins and subbasins and set the hypsometric analysis parameters. Each subbasin's hypsometric integral (HI) was used to create a continuous surface of HI values. The combination of χmd and HI analysis revealed nine subbasins with highly mobile divides and high erosional areas, identifying them as high-priority conservation zones. River basin characterization can utilize the new approach to target areas for location-specific land and water conservation measures and other developmental goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Prevention policies against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) focus solely on individual healthy lifestyle behaviours, while an increasing body of research recognises the involvement of environmental determinants (ED) (cultural norms of land management and planning, local foodscape, built environment, pollution, and neighbourhood deprivation). Precise knowledge of this relationship is essential to proposing a prevention strategy integrating public health and spatial planning. Unfortunately, issues related to the consistency and synthesis of methods, and results in this field of research limit the development of preventive strategies. This systematic review aims to improve knowledge about the relationship between the risk of developing T2DM in adulthood and long-term exposure to its ED during childhood or teenage years. Methods: This protocol is presented according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P) tools. PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, EBSCO, and grey literature from the Laval University Libraries databases will be used for data collection on main concepts such as 'type 2 diabetes mellitus', 'zoning' or 'regional, urban, or rural areas land uses', 'local food landscape', 'built environment', 'pollution', and 'deprivation'. The Covidence application will store the collected data for selection and extraction based on the Population Exposure Comparator Outcome and Study design approach (PECOS). Studies published until December 31, 2023, in English or French, used quantitative data about individuals aged 18 and over that report on T2DM, ED (cultural norms of land management and planning, local foodscape, built environment, and neighbourhood deprivation), and their association (involving only risk estimators) will be included. Then, study quality and risk of bias will be conducted according to the combined criteria and ratings from the ROBINS-E (Risk of Bias in Non-randomised Studies—of Exposures) tools and the 'Effective Public Health Practice Project' (EPHPP). Finally, the analytical synthesis will be produced using the 'Synthesis Without Meta-analysis' (SWiM) guidelines. Discussion: This systematic review will summarise available evidence on ED associated with T2DM. The results will contribute to improving current knowledge and developing more efficient cross-sectoral interventions in land management and public health in this field of research. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD42023392073. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Jianghuai-Huai Hilly Region (JHHR), being a crucial agricultural and forestry hub within the Yangtze River Economic Belt, holds immense significance in investigating land use dynamics under diverse scenarios. Such exploration not only facilitates the sustainable utilization of land resources but also contributes to ecological environmental preservation and the advancement of regional economic and social development. This study aims to analyze the spatial and temporal characteristics and driving forces of land use in JHHR over the past three decades (1990-2020) using 18 driving factors selected from both the natural environment and social economy. We have considered four different scenarios, including Natural Development (ND), Rapid Development (RD), Cultivated Land Protection (CLP), and Ecological Protection (EP). We used the PLUS model to simulate land use changes in JHHR until 2040, and we analyzed the spatial distribution pattern of land under different objectives. The results show that: (1) The main types of land use in the Jianghuai hilly area are arable land and woodland. In the past 30 years, the land use changes have been relatively stable, the area of arable land and woodland has continued to decrease, and the construction land has continued to grow; unused land and grassland have the highest dynamic degree, with the highest comprehensive dynamic degree from 2000 to 2005, at 0.42%; (2) In 2020, the simulation accuracy of land use in different time spans is high, with a Kappa coefficient higher than 0.85 and an overall accuracy higher than 92%, both higher than the standard. (3) The main driving factors for land expansion from 1990 to 2020 were natural factors such as DEM and slope, and the driving forces for construction land mainly came from socio-economic factors. (4) There are obvious gaps in land use changes under different scenarios. A comprehensive comparison of the growth of other types of land use to varying degrees under the ecological protection scenario and under the protection of ecological land use can be used as the optimal development scenario model. The scenario simulation can provide an effective reference for the rational planning and management of land in the Jianghuai hilly area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study allowed us to understand the challenges and issues related to the problem of planning and land management in Sotouboua, Central Region, Togo, through the prism of the intervention of traditional chiefs. The nature of urban planning in Togo tends to be based on northern standards and methods but without significant impact. This study draws on recent empirical research that examines the activities of traditional leaders on urban land development. Although land use planning that is based on state control has limited practical impact, urban land tenure is physically structured and planned by urban dwellers who aspire to establish legitimate forms of tenure through customary authorities. Out of 75% of the subdivision operations in 2015 and 92% in 2022 that were carried outside the master plan, traditional chiefs are involved in 64% and 87.5% of land transactions, respectively. Therefore, chiefdom occupies a central place in land transactions. All land transactions are subject to the scrutiny of traditional chiefs, who become intermediaries in land exchanges. Therefore, the participatory approach to urban planning should be reshaped to involve traditional leaders in decision-making and even in conceptualization. The challenges range from the institutional and administrative frameworks of urban planning to land rights and contradictions that are inherent in land use planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, we present the analysis of publication of the “Project of the Simplest Land and Water Arrangement of the Nadymsky District of the Yamal (Nenets) Okrug of the Omsk Oblast”, prepared on the basis of the outcomes of the 1933–1934 Nadym Land Management Expedition, the materials of which are stored in the funds of the State Archives of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The compiler and executive editor of this volume is E.A. Volzhanina, a well-known specialist in demography and land use of the Nenets, as well as in land management of the northern boundaries of Western Siberia. The scrupulous source study analysis of the archive of the Nadym Land Management Expedition, a description of the methodology for systematization and classification of documents, an overview of the cartographic materials available in the archive, and population censuses indicating the occupation, social status and places of residence or wandering, by the national councils, represent a particular value. Publication of the documents of the “Project of the Initial Land and Water Arrangement of the Nadymsky District of the Yamalo-Nenets Okrug” includes an introduction and three parts: “A Brief Physical and Geographical Review of the Nadymsky District”, “Economic Description of the Nadymsky District” and “Land Distribution Project”. The high standard of systematization of the archival material, the presence of notes that allow comparing and synthesizing data from different documents, as well as the high information potential of the published sources that could be in demand in historical, ethnographic, socio-economic, and socio-geographical research, are being noted.

In this research, we used the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Geographical Information System (GIS) to predict the annual rate of soil loss in the District Chakwal of Pakistan. The parameters of the RUSLE model were estimated using remote sensing data, and the erosion probability zones were determined using GIS. The estimated length slope ($LS$), crop management ($C$), rainfall erosivity ($R$), soil erodibility ($K$), and support practice ($P$) range from 0–68,227, 0–66.61%, 0–0.58, 495.99–648.68 $\; MJ/mm.t.ha^{-1}.year^{-1}\comma \;$ 0.15–0.25 $MJ/mm.t.ha^{-1}.year^{-1}$, and 1 respectively. The results indicate that the estimated total annual potential soil loss of approximately 4,67,064.25 $t.ha^{-1}.year^{-1}$ is comparable with the measured sediment loss of 11,631 $t.ha^{-1}.year^{-1}\;$ during the water year 2020. The predicted soil erosion rate due to an increase in agricultural area is approximately 164,249.31 $t.ha^{-1}.year^{-1}$. In this study, we also used Landsat imagery to rapidly achieve actual land use classification. Meanwhile, 38.13% of the region was threatened by very high soil erosion, where the quantity of soil erosion ranged from 365487.35 $t.ha^{-1}.year^{-1}$. Integrating GIS and remote sensing with the RUSLE model helped researchers achieve their final objectives. Land-use planners and decision-makers use the result's spatial distribution of soil erosion in District Chakwal for conservation and management planning.

The aquatic landscapes of the Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta (hereafter, the Delta) and Suisun Bay represent both a significant past and future soil carbon stock. Historical alterations of hydrologic flows have led to depletion of soil carbon stocks via emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), and loss of elevation as a result of subsidence. Optimizing ecosystem hydrology in the Delta and Suisun Bay could both reduce and reverse subsidence while also providing significant opportunities for climate mitigation and adaptation. Emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs)—notably CO2, methane (CH4 ), and nitrous oxide (N2O)—contribute to global warming at different rates and intensities, requiring GHG accounting and modeling to assess the relative benefits of management options. Decades of data collection, model building, and map development suggest that past and current management actions have both caused—and can mitigate—losses of soil carbon. We review here the magnitude of potential GHG offsets, management options that may be achievable, and trade-offs of carbon storage under different land management. Using a land-use/land-cover framework to assess these management options, we describe the potential of three interventions (impoundment to reverse subsidence, agricultural management, and tidal reintroduction and/or maintained connectivity), both in acreage and radiative balance to clarify their relative influence on the region’s GHG balance today and in relation to its millennial history. From floodplains to farming to floating aquatic vegetation, we find specific scalable strategies to manage hydrology that can alter regional GHG balance. Preservation of soil carbon stocks and restoration of net atmospheric CO2 fluxes into soils are the primary route to net negative emissions in the Delta and Suisun Bay, with CH4 emission management occurring in a supporting role. Over a 40-year horizon of climate-mitigation markets, the resilience of different aquatic habitats introduces the most uncertainty, from expected and unexpected hydrologic changes associated with land, ocean, and operational water flows.

Accurate and up-to-date information on urban built-up areas is significant for managing urban growth and development. Earth Observation (EO) data are valuable sources for meeting this demand. However, the extraction of urban built-up areas from EO data is challenging due to the limitations of EO data sources. To overcome this challenge, this study follows an approach that assesses the performance of optical (Sentinel-2), radar (Sentinel-1) and fused (Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2) data to extract urban built-up areas using machine learning algorithms including Random Forest (RF), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) and KDTree KNN. The results were statistically analyzed by considering the Overall Accuracy (OA) and kappa coefficient. In addition, 15 cm GSD (Ground Sample Distance) aerial photography of the study area was used to validate the results. According to the results, Sentinel-2 produced better representation and accuracy of urban built-up areas than Sentinel-1 and even the fused image. Regarding to machine learning algorithms classification performance, RF performed better in both OA and Kappa coefficient along all datasets. The research findings can have significant implications for various domains, such as urban planning, land use management and open avenues for further comparisons of different EO data sources and machine learning algorithms for built-up areas extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Soil organic nitrogen (SON) levels can respond effectively to crop metabolism and are directly related to soil productivity. However, simultaneous comparisons of SON dynamics using isotopic tracing in diverse agroecosystems are lacking, especially in karst areas with fragile ecology. Methods To better understand the response of SON dynamics to environmental changes under the coupling of natural and anthropogenic disturbances, SON contents and their stable N isotope (δ15NSON) compositions were determined in abandoned cropland (AC, n = 16), grazing shrubland (GS, n = 11), and secondary forest land (SF, n = 20) from a typical karst area in southwest China. Results The SON contents in the SF (mean: 0.09%) and AC (mean: 0.10%) profiles were obviously lower than those in the GS profile (mean: 0.31%). The δ15NSON values ranged from 4.35‰–7.59‰, 3.79‰–7.23‰, and 1.87‰–7.08‰ for the SF, AC, and GS profiles, respectively. Decomposition of organic matter controlled the SON variations in the secondary forest land by the covered vegetation, and that in the grazing shrubland by goat excreta. δ15NSON ranges were controlled by the covered vegetation, and the δ15NSON fractionations during SON transformation were influenced by microorganisms in all surface soil. Conclusions The excreta of goats that contained 15N-enriched SON induced a heavier δ15NSON composition in the grazed shrubland. Long-term cultivation consumes SON, whereas moderate grazing increases SON content to reduce the risk of soil degradation. This study suggests that optimized crop-livestock production may benefit the sustainable development of agroecosystems in karst regions.

Tulisan ini menganalisis bagaimana peran badan bank tanah sebagai land manager, khususnya dikaitkan atas fungsi sosial atas tanah. Tulisan ini disusun dengan menggunakan metode penelitian doktrinal. Mengingat bahwa negara berhak untuk mengatur dan menyelenggarakan peruntukan, penggunaan, persediaan dan pemeliharaan bumi, air dan ruang angkasa tersebut sehingga makna dari Hak Menguasai dari Negara yang dimaksud oleh Pasal 33 ayat (3) Undang-Undang Dasar Negara Republik Indonesia Tahun 1945 jo Pasal 4 ayat (1) Undang-Undang Nomor 5 Tahun 1960 tentang Peraturan Dasar Pokok Pokok Agraria. Adapun fungsi land management mencakup manajemen pertanahan yang merupakan bagian dari management asset secara keseluruhan dan fungsi analisis, penetapan strategis dan pengelolaan implementasi yang berkaitan dengan tanah. Bank tanah hadir sebagai sarana yang mewadahi perolehan tanah publik atau penguasaan tanah umum yang disimpan untuk melaksanakan kebijakan terkait penggunaan tanah pada masa yang akan datang. Mengingat tanah memiliki fungsi sosial yang sangat berkaitan dengan penguasaan atas tanah, para pemegang hak atas tanah seyogyanya menggunakan dan/atau memanfaatkan tanahnya tersebut. Penggunaan dan pemanfaatan tanah tersebut harus sesuai dengan kepentingan masyarakat atau khalayak umum yang dibuktikan dengan adanya proyek strategis nasional demi terciptanya kesejahteraan bagi masyarakat. Tujuan lembaga badan bank tanah adalah untuk mengakomodir kerja sama yang dilakukan dengan pemerintah pusat, pemerintah daerah, badan usaha milik negara, badan usaha milik daerah, badan usaha, badan hukum milik negara, badan hukum swasta, masyarakat dan koperasi dan atau pihak lain yang sah. Singkatnya, peran bank tanah sebagai land manager dan dikaitkan dengan fungsi sosial atas tanah harus tetap berpedoman pada ketentuan peraturan perundang-undangan yang berlaku, kemudian terkait dengan proses perolehan dan pengelolaan aset, bank tanah harus benar-benar melakukan pengkajian terhadap siapa saja yang memenuhi kriteria sebagai penerima aset berupa hak pengelolaan, bank tanah harus tetap memperhatikan asas kemanfaatan dan asas prioritas sehingga sasaran penggunaan atas tanah tersebut menjadi tepat, efektif dan efisien. Harus ada kriteria guna penetapan peruntukan bank tanah sehingga terciptanya kepastian hukum dari fungsi land management itu sendiri bank tanah tersebut.

Mitigating the global climate crisis and its consequences, such as more frequent and severe droughts, is one of the major challenges for future agriculture. Therefore, identifying land use systems and management practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and promote water use efficiency (WUE) is crucial. This, however, requires accurate and precise measurements of carbon dioxide (CO 2) fluxes and evapotranspiration (ET). Despite that, commercial systems to measure CO 2 and ET fluxes are expensive and thus often exclude research in ecosystems within the Global South. This is especially true for research and data of agroecosystems in these areas, which are to date still widely underrepresented. Here, we present a newly developed low-cost, non-dispersive infrared (NDIR)-based CO 2 and ET flux measurement device (∼ EUR 200) that provides reliable, accurate and precise CO 2 and ET flux measurements in conjunction with manually operated closed chambers. To validate the system, laboratory and field validation experiments were performed, testing multiple different low-cost sensors. We demonstrate that the system delivers accurate and precise CO 2 and ET flux measurements using the K30 FR NDIR (CO 2) and SHT31 (RH, relative humidity) sensor. An additional field trial application demonstrated its longer-term stability (> 3 months) and ability to obtain valid net ecosystem C balances (NECBs) and WUE. This was the case, even though environmental conditions at the field trial application site in sub-Saharan Africa were rather challenging (e.g., extremely high temperatures, humidity and rainfall). Consequently, the developed low-cost CO 2 and ET flux measurement device not only provides reasonable results but also might help with democratizing science and closing current data gaps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Theoretical, methodological and applied aspects of assessment of loss and damage to soil resources are considered. As of 24 February 2023 the cost was of the order of $US 34.4 billion but this is provisional and dynamic. Bibliometric analysis suggests inadequate attention to the issue of assessing the impact of wars on soil and land quality and determining loss and damage. This is a first attempt to plug the gap and encourage further work on the methodology, as well as the assessment of just compensation to ensure the restoration of war-damaged soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background Land Monitoring is critical for continuous implementation of land reforms and general growth and development in the sector. It guides the deployment of policy by identifying and highlighting the fundamental problems affecting sustainable land development. Kenya in the recent past, has been involved in land monitoring activities including Land Governance Assessment Framework (LGAF) by the World Bank and the Global Land Indicators Initiative (GLII) by UN Habitat. The reporting under these monitoring activities have been affected by unavailability of data. Goal and Objectives: The objectives of the exercise were: to establish the existence of comprehensive policies and extent to which the policy formulation process is consultative; Determine the extent of land tenure security and proportion of women and men with legally recognized documentation; Establish the extent of land disputes and the access to effective resolution; Establish the efficiency of land administration services and generation of revenue by government from the land services; and Determine the capacity of land administration systems and determine sustainability of land use. Methodology: The exercise was carried out by a multi-agency National Land Monitoring Working Group (NLMWG) whose membership was drawn from technical staff from the various Government Agencies in Kenya. The basis of data collection was a land monitoring framework with the six indicators areas. Secondary data from administrative sources was collected and key informant interviews were carried among the land registrars, surveyors, physical planners, valuers, land adjudicators and judiciary registrars. The quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis, narrative analysis and framework analysis. Results: The total area of land under cadastral maps/land information system was approximately 11,288,916.12 ha, representing 19.38 % of the total land area. The exercise further established that 1.58 % of the total filed court cases were land related in 2021/2022. In the same year, 2.17 % and 2.60 % of resolved and pending respectively of the total court cases were land related. The exercise further established that forest land decreased by 0.5 percent (255,851 ha) between the year 2008 and 2018. The data indicated that 10 out of 47 Counties (21.27 %) have prepared and approved County Physical and Land Use Plans. The exercise recommended the need to disaggregate land related data at the point of collection, design and fund new strategies for collection and managing data, develop National Land use/Land cover mapping and modernize land information management to allow for easier collection, collation, storage and dissemination of land information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and Background: The specialised land court in Zambia is known as the Lands Tribunal, and it was created in 1996 through the 1995 Lands Act. The Tribunal was established with the objective of achieving speedy, low cost, flexible and efficient means of settling conflicts over land. Inspite of being existence for 27 years, little has been done on the progress and challenges of the Lands Tribunal in resolving conflicts over land in the country. Goal and Objectives: This paper aims at establishing the progress made by the Lands Tribunal in resolving conflicts over land and investigating the challenges faced by the Lands Tribunal in resolving conflicts over land. Methodology: The study incorporated the use of both primary and secondary data collected between January and October 2023. Secondary data were obtained through documents which include peer-reviewed journal articles, theses, books, media, Zambian land laws, and technical reports. Secondary data was supplemented by primary data obtained from three purposively selected institutions: Lands Tribunal, Law Association of Zambia, and Zambia Land Alliance (Kitwe office). The data collection method used with the key informants was in-depth face-to-face interviews. Office management at each institution chose the key informant based on their expertise and experience on the subject. Results: In order to strengthen the Tribunal's operations, the Lands Tribunal Act of 2010 was enacted, enhancing the Tribunal's operations by granting it more authority and responsibilities (that is, expanding jurisdiction). Research findings showed that between 2014 and 2023, the Lands Tribunal handled 3318 cases. According to research findings, if the Tribunal was operating efficiently and effectively, it could have handled more than 3,318 cases between 2014 and 2022 considering the numerous problems facing the general courts which adversely affect the general public to resolve their land conflicts. However, the Tribunal could not handle more cases because of various challenges which include inadequate funding, Inadequate staff, poor conditions of service for members of the Tribunal, inadequate transport, delay in the delivery of judgments, low public awareness of the Lands Tribunal, centralised operations of the Lands Tribunal, and forum shopping [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background: This study explored the relevance of smart land governance (SLG) for sustainable development in Nigeria. Generally, land governance plays a critical role in land accessibility, security, economic growth, social equity, and environmental preservation. In fairness, Nigeria has recorded numerous successes in the land governance system. Yet, various deficiencies in the land sector are yet to be addressed, disrupting the system effectiveness. These deficiencies impose insecurity on stakeholders while gradually depreciating national values. Reforming the land sector in a smart way is a recent practice that addresses land governance deficiencies using newly developed technological innovations, which are important to accomplish traditional, political, and social goals. This helps to create an inclusive society through equal and accessible land distribution by reshaping policy instruments, financing mechanisms, rules, protocols, and guidelines that govern land matters using technology tools for sustainable development to prevent harm from the present and future generations. Goal and Objectives: The relevance of smart land governance (SLG) in the study area was examined to enhance stakeholders’ proper decision-making in the land sector to promote sustainable development in Nigeria. The objectives examined; a. how smart land governance could enhance the proper decision making of stakeholders in the land sector; b. the ways smart land governance could promote sustainable development for the present and future generations in Nigeria; and c. develop a framework that could enhance smart land governance. Methodology: The study used quantitative research methods to obtain meaningful and useful information. Purposive, systematic, and stratified research sampling techniques, i.e., mixed methods of data collection and analysis, were used. Primary and secondary data were sourced. 120 questionnaires were distributed, and 108 were retrieved. Key stakeholders who are in strategic positions in both the formal and informal land sector were surveyed. Results: The study revealed that smart land governance (SLG) system in Nigeria is possible but require full stakeholder support to maximize their workability and effectiveness, as it will promote transparency and boast an inclusive society for the benefit of present and future generations. Also, an insight into the benefits of smart land governance (SLG) was presented. A framework to enhance stakeholder and policy-maker decision-making was developed. Hence, it was concluded that an investment in advanced technological implements is necessary to stimulate strategic principles with respect to the principal multidimensional mechanisms of SLG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]