Articles tagged with Land Use
A recent study found that biodiversity loss is no longer within the safe limit in most parts of the world. The greatest changes have happened in areas where most people live, affecting physical and psychological wellbeing. Conservation efforts are needed to preserve remaining natural vegetation and restore human-used lands.
A new study projects a four percent increase in acres burned by wildfire in the Southeast by 2060, with substantial uncertainties and variations by state and ecoregion. Climate change models and societal changes, including land use and population growth, are key drivers of this projected increase.
Researchers found that diverse land use can balance out uncertainties and provide optimal multitasking for ecosystem services. The area mosaic concept resulted in 46% forestry utilization with indigenous alders and exotic pines, balancing out 10% extensive pasture and 20% intensive pasture utilization.
A study found that Chukchi Sea polar bears spent more time on land during summer sea ice loss, with minimal access to preferred prey. The increased land use may lead to increased nutritional stress and human-polar bear interactions.
Research in Mato Grosso reveals nearly two-thirds of remaining forests and carbon reserves are on private properties owned by large landowners. The study suggests continued focus on larger properties is crucial to preserving forest cover.
A study published in Archives of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation found that living in areas with greater mixed land use was associated with poorer perceived health among New Jersey residents with spinal cord injury. This contrasts with general population studies, which suggest benefits from more populated areas with mixed land use.
Researchers at UMass Amherst propose a multivariate simulation approach to assess climate-land use effects on watersheds. The study recommends increased green infrastructure and best management practices to enhance watershed resilience.
A new study by Lily Tsai of Massachusetts Institute of Technology found that citizens in rural China engage in 'constructive noncompliance' to prompt government policy changes, often based on issues like property. The research suggests a greater willingness to disobey laws in situations where citizen input is more likely.
Urbanization leads to more thunderstorm initiation events, posing dangers like lightning and flash floods with little warning. The risk is higher on weekdays due to increased aerosol levels from commuters.
Researchers found that future carbon accumulation rates are highly sensitive to land use changes, with afforestation and deforestation impacting rates. Forests in the region are relatively resilient to natural disturbances, but aging forests and land use transitions can slow down accumulation.
Researchers used geolocalized tweets to identify land use patterns in Manhattan, Madrid, and London. They found that nighttime tweet activity is concentrated on weekends in Madrid and weekdays in Manhattan, while daytime leisure areas are prominent in London. This study shows the potential of social media data for urban planning.
Researchers found afforestation and intense pasturing to be effective ways to increase environmental and economic value of abandoned farmlands. Afforestation with native Andean alder had a positive impact on climate and water balance, while intense pasturing scored higher on ecological scale.
A recent study by University of Leicester researchers found a higher number of fast-food outlets within 500m of inner-city neighbourhoods with high-density non-white ethnic minority groups and socially deprived areas. The study suggests a postcode lottery that increases the risk of developing diabetes or obesity.
A USGS study predicts that bird species will breed, feed, and live in the conterminous US differently by 2075. Climate change and human activities like land use and deforestation are expected to drive these shifts.
Despite government promises, satellite analysis shows no significant increase in civic facilities in Sri Lanka's Valikamam High-Security Zone. The area has seen a sharp increase in residential housing-type structures and development.
A new approach measures the combined impact of climate and land use on biodiversity risk, highlighting areas vulnerable to losses in ecosystem function. The study suggests that regions like the Great Plains and Northeast US will face increased risks due to the combined effects of climate and land use change.
Researchers identified associations between community and neighborhood land uses and community participation among adults with acquired chronic disabilities. Living in communities with diverse land use and open spaces was linked to decreased reporting of social and physical participation.
Hundreds of agricultural fires burn across Sierra Leone, predominantly due to slash and burn agriculture. The fires, which peak in March and April, release greenhouse gases and particulates posing a threat to human health and regional climate.
The study reveals approximately 400 years of intensive land use around Mahendraparvata, with significant changes in water management practices from the 12th century. Soil erosion and vegetation change indicate a marked environmental impact on the Phnom Kulen plateau.
Researchers argue that separate targets for gross deforestation and reforestation would increase progress toward forest conservation and climate change goals. Monitoring changes in forest cover using satellite data is now technically feasible, but resource allocation remains a challenge.
A new study warns that Brazil's oil palm expansion could lead to extremely high emissions of carbon dioxide if not strictly controlled. The researchers found that if plantations spill over into conservation or indigenous areas, the total amount of CO2 emissions may exceed the carbon intensity of petroleum diesel.
Historic global trends predict that global forest cover will decline by 10% over the next century unless new technologies boost yields or strategies to decrease food consumption are introduced. Reforestation may increase global forest cover to 35% within 70 years if food production and consumption stabilize.
A new NREL report provides detailed land-use data for solar power plants, showing that a large fixed tilt photovoltaic plant requires an average of 2.8 acres for solar panels to generate 1 gigawatt-hour per year. The study found that small single-axis PV systems require on average 2.9 acres per annual gigawatt-hour, while concentrating...
A study published in Science magazine found that current agricultural policies result in considerable financial and environmental costs. The research suggests refocusing public policies could improve the situation by rewarding farmers for ecosystem services like climate change mitigation, biodiversity conservation, and water regulation.
Researchers connect local consumption to global land use through tracking international trade flows, revealing a significant impact on developed countries' domestic resources. The study highlights the importance of developing economies like China and India in addressing environmental pressures.
A study by Elizabethtown College researchers found that residential lawns in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, release more carbon dioxide than corn fields, primarily due to soil temperature. Temperature variations within developed areas contribute to smaller-scale urban heat islands.
Researchers analyzed decades-long data from 22 streams in 7 experimental forests across the US, highlighting regional patterns of change in stream nitrogen concentrations. The study's findings underscore the importance of long-term monitoring in informing best management practices for protecting water resources.
A University of York-led study reveals that strategically placed habitat 'stepping stones' can accelerate species range expansion, even in fragmented landscapes. The research offers a new approach to conservation planning, prioritizing areas where gaps between habitats are most difficult to cross.
A team led by Assistant Professor Noah Molotch will identify thresholds of change in land use, forest management, and climate that may compromise the sustainability of trans-basin water diversions. The project aims to provide projections on future water supply and demand changes due to climate change.
Despite reducing greenhouse gas emissions, many biofuels lead to environmental pollution, such as acid in soil and polluted lakes and rivers. Only a few biofuels have a better ecobalance than petrol, with biogas from residues and waste materials showing promise.
Archaeological tools from an ancient site outside Jerusalem provide insights into land use patterns and sustainable resource management during extreme climate change. The study, published in PLOS ONE, suggests that Neolithic humans adapted to changing environments by clearing forests for fields and grazing lands.
Conservation biologist Krithi K. Karanth receives National Geographic's 10,000th grant to study human-wildlife conflicts and habitat destruction in five Indian parks. The project aims to identify risks and consequences for local people and wildlife species like elephants, wild pigs, leopards, and tigers.
Historical data analysis reveals significant increase in forest fires in Valencia province starting from the 1970s. The shift can be attributed to depopulation, land use changes, and increased flammable vegetation. Fires are now more frequent and larger, posing challenges for long-term management.
Patricia Soranno is pioneering landscape limnology, a new field of research that studies bodies of water as integrated elements in the landscape. The goal is to create a new understanding for natural resource managers to address unique freshwater resources in a landscape context.
A study by Spanish researchers finds that changes in land use have led to the expansion of wild ungulates such as roe deer and red deer. The expansion is also linked to official protection measures and human mobility.
A Baylor University study reveals Native Americans significantly altered the eastern North American landscape and floodplain development hundreds of years prior to European settlement. The research found that prehistoric indigenous land use caused widespread ecological change and increased sedimentation in hydrologic systems during the...
The University of Maryland is leading a multidisciplinary project to investigate the complex dynamics between water and the built urban environment in the Chesapeake Bay region. The research aims to simulate land conversion patterns and predict future land development under various policy scenarios.
A new study suggests Oregon's land use planning program has largely protected farm and forest operations while promoting scenic views, water quality, and environmental amenities. However, it has also enabled the growth of 'hobby farms' that may not prioritize agricultural production, but still contribute to rural beauty and job creation.
Researchers used computational modeling to simulate different land use practices in ancient societies, finding that a combination of shifting cultivation and grazing leads to more erosion runoff but also fertile farmland around tiny hamlets. The study sheds light on the importance of threshold effects when people alter landscapes for a...
A new report by the Ecological Society of America highlights the need to address potential effects of land-use choices on ecosystems. Native perennial crops, such as switchgrass, are recommended as an inexpensive feedstock option that improves soil quality and provides habitat for native species.
A new analysis by the ASB Partnership reveals that a porous definition of forest in the REDD plan could lead to large areas of deforested landscapes being overlooked. The researchers propose broadening the plan to include all alterations to land cover that release or retain greenhouse gases.
A new study by Purdue University researchers suggests that local and regional strategies such as creating green spaces and buffer zones in urban areas could help address climate change. The study found that greener land cover contributes to cooler temperatures, while any other change leads to warmer temperatures.
A new study by researchers at the University of Maryland and Purdue University found that most land-use changes contribute to warming, except for conversion to agricultural use, which results in relative cooling. The study used a novel analytical approach called OMR and confirmed its robustness.
The study reveals that human activities are directly linked to the intensity of forest fires in Indonesia, with population density and land use being key factors. The research also highlights the impact of climate change and other meteorological phenomena on fire frequency and severity.
A new study by University of Toronto scientists links Indonesian forest fires to changes in land use and population density, revealing a direct impact on haze disasters and greenhouse gas emissions.
Researchers at Rice University developed a method to predict Wi-Fi coverage using basic topography and street locations, promising cheaper and easier network deployment. The technique was tested on two high-profile networks and showed promising results.
The new satellite tool provides daily observations of small areas, allowing for improved yield assessments and modeling of water transfer. This enables the reorientation of irrigation towards crop parcels where it is most needed, facilitating significant improvements in cultivation practices.
A new study suggests that urban sprawl has continued to grow significantly in the US over the past few decades, particularly in exurban areas. The research found significant increases in fragmentation of land use patterns, with housing development juxtaposed with agricultural or forested areas.
Researchers found that natural resources did not limit Cherokee settlement patterns, contradicting long-held assumptions. The studies focused on the year 1721 and used historical data, mathematical models, and statistical inference to analyze town placement and population.
A study of Baltimore's surface soils found a mosaic of soil types, with high chemical variability and differences in potassium, phosphorus levels, and bulk density due to fertilization and trampling. The researchers discovered no relationships between land use and heavy metal levels, instead finding correlations with surface rock types.
A K-State geography professor is researching how land use and land cover changes affect human health and food security. He uses remote sensing technology to monitor the spread of infectious diseases, such as hantavirus, and identify ecological context factors contributing to disease emergence.
Changes in land use have significant effects on the global environment, such as climate and ecosystem functions. In San Mariano, a 48,000-hectare area underwent transformation from forested to intensive rice and maize cultivation.
Scientists at the Woods Hole Research Center have developed high-resolution maps of the built environment for the Chesapeake Bay watershed, capturing impervious surface cover and its implications for biogeochemical and hydrological processes. The new maps are being used to assess water quality and inform restoration efforts in the region.
Research in East Africa highlights the dual nature of land use, with positive impacts on local economies but negative consequences for native plants and wildlife. LUCID project explores links between social systems and environmental changes, aiming to understand why some communities maintain biodiversity despite agricultural expansion.
A recent study by Esaïe Gandonou found that reducing distance to the market has slight positive effects on grain yields and soil conservation. This is largely due to the increased use of artificial fertilizers, which require soil conservation measures.
A new protocol uses path analysis to track the impact of land use on streams, identifying key entities and processes that influence aquatic health. By analyzing 10 watersheds, researchers have developed a valuable approach to understanding the 'land-cover cascade' and its effects on stream ecosystems.
The loss of 6% of mountain gorilla habitat in the Virunga National Park is a significant step backward for the endangered species. Scientists are using NASA satellite imagery to monitor land changes and develop a monitoring system with conservation groups to protect the remaining habitats.
A Princeton University study found that changes in U.S. forests caused by land use practices have increased the emission of smog-producing chemicals from trees, which may have worsened ozone pollution in some parts of the country. The study suggests that intensified tree farming and other land use changes have altered the mix of trees ...
A new study by Georgia Institute of Technology researchers found that China's rapid urbanization has led to a significant increase in the region's surface temperature, with a mean rise of 0.09 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1979. The nighttime low temperatures have also risen faster than daytime high temperatures, resulting in an ...
The study used high-resolution commercial imagery from the IKONOS satellite to simulate future development scenarios in the Washington-Baltimore metropolitan area. It found a 39% increase in developed land between 1986 and 2000, with significant changes around the Dulles Airport area.