Articles tagged with Land Use
A new study reveals that land-use change was the primary cause of biodiversity loss on Mount Kilimanjaro's lower slopes over the last century. Human activities such as population growth and economic development led to a decline in plant species diversity, with up to 75% lost per square kilometer.
A new study finds that wetlands along the Mississippi River Basin effectively clean up nitrogen runoff from agricultural fields. The researchers show that restoring these wetlands can lead to significant savings for local drinking water treatment facilities, with potential annual benefits of $200 million.
Minimum lot size regulations can cause racial segregation through both economic and voluntary choices, according to new research. Households with higher incomes are more willing to pay for larger lots, while Black households show a lower willingness to pay, highlighting a racial preference effect.
A new study by Dr Irene Fernández-Molina from the University of Exeter reveals that EU legal ambiguity on the Western Sahara conflict is a significant disadvantage for the Polisario Front and its Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. The study highlights how lawfare has been successfully used to challenge these ambiguities, leading to accu...
A study by Politecnico di Milano reveals China's increasing demand for animal proteins sustains the consumption of natural resources in Brazil. The research shows that soybean imports to China have a significant impact on Brazilian land use, water resources, and deforestation.
The winners of the Applied Microbiology International Horizon Awards 2025 have been recognized for their groundbreaking contributions to global challenges through applied microbiology. The awards celebrate excellence across various domains, including drug discovery and sustainable agriculture.
Human-driven climate change makes wildfires in parts of South America and Southern California much larger and more destructive. Climate models warn that severe heatwaves and droughts will make extreme wildfires more frequent and intense worldwide.
The UK food system is under pressure due to climate change, global shocks, and poor diets. A new report calls for radical transformation in three key areas: more resilient farming, smarter land use, and healthier diets.
The DIST-ALERT system uses five satellites to receive more frequent images of global land surfaces, enabling scientists to track lands changing due to human activity, weather events, and natural causes. Land surface changes in 2023 were primarily driven by natural climatic variations and shifts in human-led management.
Farmers in Middle East prioritized viticulture over olive growing due to irrigation, which maintained grape cultivation. This suggests that grapes and wine held cultural and economic value.
The study reveals that when physical constraints are removed, human mobility follows a power-law pattern, decreasing steadily with distance. The researchers found this pattern across five orders of magnitude, from 10 meters to hundreds of kilometers.
The EU's Farm to Fork strategy aims to halve the nitrogen surplus by 2030 but calculations show a 10-16% reduction is necessary. Countries like Germany and the Netherlands would need to reduce fertilizer use, while others might see yield losses, impacting food production.
Research suggests that black-tailed prairie dogs can reduce wildfire behavior by altering landscape features and promoting the growth of fire-resistant vegetation. By incorporating prairie dog activity into fire behavior models, land managers could develop more effective strategies for prevention and mitigation.
A new study reveals that human influence has reduced global natural land carbon stocks by 24%, equivalent to 344 billion metric tons of carbon, mainly due to expanded pasture and croplands, as well as forest management.
Key findings include halting food waste by 75% and restoring half of degraded lands by 2050; the authors recommend shifting agricultural subsidies towards sustainable smallholder farms and implementing land-based taxes or tariffs to reward sustainable low-impact farming.
A new study by researchers from IIASA found that Brazil's mining industry does not deliver sustained economic benefits and instead contributes to deforestation, particularly in the Amazon. Informal mining is a major driver of forest loss, while industrial mining has no strong connection to forest damage.
A groundbreaking single-day study on Crete's soil microbiome has provided new insights into the environmental factors influencing microbial diversity. The researchers identified several key drivers, including soil moisture and nutrient availability, which can inform strategies for preserving biodiversity.
A study analyzing data from 2002 to 2022 found a 50% decline in economic gains from fishing due to the introduction of exotic species. The size of native fish decreased, while invasive species increased in body size and abundance.
A new study warns of the dangers of human interactions with wildlife, particularly feeding wild animals, which can lead to habituation and dangerous encounters. The research found that provisioning food to wild animals can cause them to become bolder and more prone to causing problems.
A new study found that restored floodplain wetlands can recover within a year and show substantial ecosystem benefits rapidly. The study revealed that managing freshwater wetlands for carbon benefits also boosts flood and drought resilience.
New research claims adding lime to agricultural soils can remove CO2 from the atmosphere, rather than cause emissions. The study, based on over 100 years of data, shows that the addition of acidity is the main driver for CO2 emissions from soils.
Researchers at The University of Osaka develop AI-powered method to analyze urban vegetation color, structure, and seasonal changes using street view imagery. This allows city planners to enhance the 'feel-good' factor of urban green spaces throughout the year.
A new analysis reveals that religion, politics, and war can drive evolutionary changes in urban wildlife, leading to population differences and genetic drift. The study's findings have implications for city planning and management, highlighting the need for researchers to record changes as they happen using digital technology.
Climate anxiety is growing, especially amongst young people, due to the polarized debate around climate change. Professor Beattie's book offers psychological tips on how to handle climate anxiety, including writing personal narratives about difficult emotional experiences. Strategies focus on improving mental well-being and empowering ...
A study of 23 European mountain regions identifies climate change and population loss as major threats to these areas' biodiversity and value chains. Local agents proposed over 160 adaptation mechanisms to mitigate the impact, which could reduce vulnerability by up to 50%.
Researchers discovered a massive 330-acre ancient agricultural site in Michigan, featuring raised field systems and clustered garden beds. The site, dating back to the 10th century, reveals intensive farming practices by ancestral Native Americans, challenging previous estimates.
Researchers from UC3M and UCA propose an integrated approach to tackle rural depopulation, focusing on spatial planning, economic diversification, and infrastructure development. Municipalities with up-to-date urban planning strategies show a 10% average population growth, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions.
The AI system uses evolutionary computing to find optimal policy solutions that balance trade-offs between carbon storage, economic disruptions, and environmental benefits. It recommends nuanced approaches to land-use strategies, such as replacing crop land with forest, rather than simply converting all land into forests.
Researchers propose reawakening ancient native crops to address climate change, leveraging knowledge from Indigenous communities. The alternative approach combines food production and biodiversity protection, offering a low-input solution for adapting to changing climate conditions.
A recent study from POSTECH University evaluated ground-level NO2 concentrations using satellite remote sensing data, revealing significant socioeconomic disparities in air pollution exposure. The research found that areas with higher socioeconomic levels had higher NO2 concentrations, contradicting previous findings in other countries.
A new study by University College London researchers suggests that intensifying existing farmland can degrade local biodiversity more than expanding agricultural land, depending on factors like region and crop type. The study highlights the need for sustainable intensification techniques to mitigate the impact of farming on the environ...
Researchers from the University of Waterloo have developed a method to restore tens of thousands of oil and gas exploration sites in western Canada using native moss. The technique involves transplanting moss onto decommissioned well pads, effectively recreating peatlands and supporting ecosystem development.
A new study by Simon Fraser University found gaps in BC's extreme heat response plans, with urban greening being the most common mitigation strategy. The research highlights the need for co-operation and co-ordination across jurisdictions to improve neighbourhoods and address socio-economic disparities.
Modelling analysis reveals sediment levels and nitrogen concentrations will increase with development and forest conversion upstream. The study forecasts water quality degradation at drinking water intakes across the regional watershed.
Researchers from Politecnico di Milano developed a study analyzing agrivoltaics' potential to reduce global conflict over land use. The coexistence of photovoltaic panels and agricultural crops can help solve the pressure on arable land due to growing energy demand and food production needs.
Biomass is crucial for Europe's ability to reach its climate targets, providing both energy and negative emissions. Excluding biomass from the European energy system would increase costs by 169 billion Euros per year.
A new study in PNAS examines the rise and fall of Piast Poland, identifying key factors that contributed to its collapse. The research highlights the importance of balancing capital accumulation with social connectivity for sustainable political systems.
A new approach is needed to monitor species and protect them from climate change, land use, pollution, and invasive non-native species. The study proposes a framework that integrates all available methods for studying insects, including comparing diversity and abundance over time and across different habitats.
A new study from the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research finds that failing to account for declining forest carbon storage capacity could make reaching Paris agreement targets impossible and costly. Immediate action is recommended to safeguard carbon stocks, prevent escalating costs, and promote sustainable land use practices.
A study by Eawag and the University of Zurich found that human impacts on biodiversity are widespread and severe, with average species declines of 20% across all biogeographic regions. The composition of species communities is also shifting, with environmental pollution and habitat changes having a particularly negative impact.
A study conducted at Osaka Metropolitan University found that the opening of a multifunctional facility called ONIKURU significantly increased residents' daily walking time, especially among female young adults. The results suggest that such architecture-scale interventions can contribute to building health-promoting environments.
A new study by the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology reveals striking quantitative similarities between ancient and modern cities regarding elite wealth concentration. As cities grow larger, elite wealth increases in a sublinear way, with diminishing returns on each increase in city size.
New University of Sheffield research reveals agrivoltaics can meet UK electricity demand four times over, boosting crop yields and conserving water. Regions identified for effective deployment include Cambridgeshire, Essex, Lincolnshire, and the broader East and South East of England.
A new study reveals that vast areas are allocated to golf courses, exceeding the land required for current installed capacity of solar and wind facilities. This highlights the need to rethink land use priorities and consider alternative uses for underutilized land.
A study of 17,972 wells in Brazil reveals that more than half of the country's rivers could suffer reduced flow due to groundwater seepage. The São Francisco River basin and MATOPIBA region are particularly critical areas, with intensive agricultural activity and climate change exacerbating the problem.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that cows with certain personalities tend to graze more widely or stick close to the herd. Researchers used sweet molasses feed to induce grazing behaviors, revealing insights into optimal cattle distribution and nutrition.
Archaeologists reconstructed human land use and land cover over the past 12,000 years in South Asia, revealing hunter-gatherer practices as dominant across periods. The study provides critical information for modeling climate impacts of human populations.
The book critically examines the region's borderlands, remoteness, and geopolitics, highlighting the entanglement of conservation, knowledge production, and power relations. The authors shed light on the Maya Forest as a discourse promoting new developmental agendas, including the Maya Train project.
A new study from the University of Illinois explores how differences in ownership motivation affect willingness to control invasive plants and pests. The research suggests that providing subsidies to the weakest link, such as recreationist landowners, can optimize the effect of control efforts and reduce costs.
New research reveals alfalfa-almond intercropping reduces winter soil nitrate leaching and field water loss via evaporation. The practice can capture and convert nitrogen losses into revenues for almond farmers during the non-productive winter season.
A new method combining Random Forest and Compound Maximum a Posteriori algorithms reduces invalid transitions and improves LULC classification, correcting 99.92 km2 of errors. The study outperforms traditional methods, especially in detecting changes in mountainous regions.
Researchers found that international trade has caused over 90% of biodiversity loss in tropical regions due to agricultural land conversion. The study tracked land use changes between 1995 and 2022, revealing a significant impact on species loss in countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, and Madagascar.
A study found that climate- and land use change will alter the availability of wild traditional foods in the Russian Far East, affecting Indigenous Peoples' health and livelihoods. Rural households heavily rely on these foods for income, with losses predicted in central and southern areas.
Researchers found that soil contains antibiotic resistance genes that can be transmitted to humans, making it a pressing public health threat. The study reveals how these genes spread through the environment and highlights the importance of understanding soil ecosystems to control antibiotic resistance.
A new report from Simon Fraser University recommends building mass utility-scale solar mega-projects to diversify Canada's energy mix and reduce reliance on hydroelectric power. The study suggests that prioritizing rapid deployment of utility-scale projects in optimal sunlight locations can have a transformative effect on the electrici...
International team of scientists calculates total land area for climate action plans, revealing a big divide between expected and actual potential. The plans could lead to major conflicts over land use, exacerbating problems with high-intensity agriculture and unsustainable land use.
A new report assesses water resources in the southern US states, finding that forestry best management practices can mitigate climate and land use effects on water quality. The study projects future scenarios of water stress due to extreme precipitation events, emphasizing the importance of adaptive management.
A new research collaboration between the K’ómoks First Nation and Simon Fraser University highlights how Indigenous cultural heritage policies can protect archaeological sites threatened by development. The study found that the K’ómoks First Nation’s Cultural Heritage Policy provides a pathway to reconciliation and greater certainty fo...
Researchers estimate a total ice mass loss of 3213 Gt, equivalent to 8.9 mm global sea level rise, from 1996 to 2021. The Antarctic Ice Sheet's mass loss accelerated since 2006, with an increase in annual losses.
A new study reveals gentrification's complex impact on residential communities in Seoul, Korea, finding that state-led urban change can lead to emotional displacement of residents. Meanwhile, property-led redevelopment has resulted in direct displacement and replacement of industrial clusters with high-rise residential construction.