M. Lourdes González-Arqueros, J. Arturo Muñiz-Jauregui, Armando Navarrete-Segueda, Erna Martha López-Granados
Water erosion is the main soil degradation process in landscapes under human pressure. The assessment of soil losses according to biophysical factors is the key to understanding erosion processes. This study aimed to assess the biophysical and anthropological factors controlling the change in water soil erosion rates under different morphological units as an indicator of geological evolution, topographic variety, and land use. The revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model was employed to estimate the soil erosion rates and evaluate soil loss. The geographic information system was used to present the spatial distribution of soil erosion and its change induced by geological and morphological factors. Nonparametric multidimensional scaling ordinations were applied to evaluate similarities in soil erosion parameters between six geomorphological units. The analysis showed a clear clustering between morphological units, both in terms of absolute soil loss (stress value: 0.15, ANOSIM: R = 0.61, p = 0.001) and in the distribution pattern of erosion rates (stress value: 0.17, ANOSIM: R = 0.74, p = 0.001). Significant differences were observed in erosion rates, which range between 2.5 up to 65.9 t ha−1 yr−1, although 82% of the La Primavera present rates below 15 t ha−1 yr−1. The most eroded unit produces 351 thousand t yr−1, displaying a rate of 23.3 t ha−1 yr−1, while the least eroded unit produces 10 thousand t yr−1, displaying a rate of 2.5 t ha−1 yr−1. This study shows that integrating landscape evolution and morphology into soil erosion research enhances understanding of erosion processes, strengthening the LS Factor. Forest land use is often linked to preventing water erosion, but this study shows it depends on vegetation type; secondary vegetation can have higher erosion rates than conservation agriculture. Soil loss patterns show that each unit combines unique biophysical and human factors, requiring discrete units for systematic erosion analysis.
{"title":"Evolution of the Contemporary Landscape: Relevance of Land Use Management Over Environmental Drivers of Soil Erosion","authors":"M. Lourdes González-Arqueros, J. Arturo Muñiz-Jauregui, Armando Navarrete-Segueda, Erna Martha López-Granados","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5486","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5486","url":null,"abstract":"Water erosion is the main soil degradation process in landscapes under human pressure. The assessment of soil losses according to biophysical factors is the key to understanding erosion processes. This study aimed to assess the biophysical and anthropological factors controlling the change in water soil erosion rates under different morphological units as an indicator of geological evolution, topographic variety, and land use. The revised Universal Soil Loss Equation model was employed to estimate the soil erosion rates and evaluate soil loss. The geographic information system was used to present the spatial distribution of soil erosion and its change induced by geological and morphological factors. Nonparametric multidimensional scaling ordinations were applied to evaluate similarities in soil erosion parameters between six geomorphological units. The analysis showed a clear clustering between morphological units, both in terms of absolute soil loss (stress value: 0.15, ANOSIM: <i>R</i> = 0.61, <i>p</i> = 0.001) and in the distribution pattern of erosion rates (stress value: 0.17, ANOSIM: <i>R</i> = 0.74, <i>p</i> = 0.001). Significant differences were observed in erosion rates, which range between 2.5 up to 65.9 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, although 82% of the La Primavera present rates below 15 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. The most eroded unit produces 351 thousand t yr<sup>−1</sup>, displaying a rate of 23.3 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>, while the least eroded unit produces 10 thousand t yr<sup>−1</sup>, displaying a rate of 2.5 t ha<sup>−1</sup> yr<sup>−1</sup>. This study shows that integrating landscape evolution and morphology into soil erosion research enhances understanding of erosion processes, strengthening the LS Factor. Forest land use is often linked to preventing water erosion, but this study shows it depends on vegetation type; secondary vegetation can have higher erosion rates than conservation agriculture. Soil loss patterns show that each unit combines unique biophysical and human factors, requiring discrete units for systematic erosion analysis.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"65 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143055185","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hui Wang, Chunheng Mu, Jiaqi Li, Lin Sun, Gailing Wang
Soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization is vital for the mitigation of global climate change and retention of soil carbon stocks. The Loess Plateau is a crucial ecological zone in China and even worldwide for major ecosystem protection. However, in the Loess Plateau, there are knowledge gaps about the response of SOC sources and stabilization to different ecological transitions of jujube economic forests. Therefore, our study used clean-cultivated jujube orchards as a control (CK) and selected five main ecosystem transformation models of abandoned jujube orchards on Lvliang Mountain: abandoned farmland (AF), replanted with Astragalus-Bupleurum (AB), replanted with alfalfa (AL), replanted with Chinese pine (CP), and replanted with Chinese arborvitae (PO). The soil properties, sources and physical fractions of organic carbon and their correlations in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer at each sample site were analyzed. The results show that the ecosystem transformation significantly increased the SOC by affecting plant- and microbe-derived carbon and altering its components. Different treatments have varying impacts on the SOC content. The lignin phenol (VSC) content in the soils in the five ecosystem transformation models was greater than that in the CK and had the following ranking: CP > AL > PO > AF > AB (p < 0.05). The ecosystem transformation also significantly increased the soil total amino sugar (TAS) content, microbial residue carbon (MRC), and its contribution to organic carbon. Additionally, it promoted the accumulation of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and positively impacted the carbon stability. Among the five ecosystem transformation models, CP had the greatest impact on lignin phenols, amino sugars, SOC content, and stability, whereas AF and AB contributed the least to SOC. The results of this study provide a scientific basis to assess and select optimal transformation modes for the ecosystem transformation of commercial jujube forests.
{"title":"Impacts of the Ecosystem Transformation in Red Jujube Commercial Forests on the Soil Organic Carbon Sources and Stability in the Lvliang Mountains","authors":"Hui Wang, Chunheng Mu, Jiaqi Li, Lin Sun, Gailing Wang","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5492","url":null,"abstract":"Soil organic carbon (SOC) stabilization is vital for the mitigation of global climate change and retention of soil carbon stocks. The Loess Plateau is a crucial ecological zone in China and even worldwide for major ecosystem protection. However, in the Loess Plateau, there are knowledge gaps about the response of SOC sources and stabilization to different ecological transitions of jujube economic forests. Therefore, our study used clean-cultivated jujube orchards as a control (CK) and selected five main ecosystem transformation models of abandoned jujube orchards on Lvliang Mountain: abandoned farmland (AF), replanted with <i>Astragalus-Bupleurum</i> (AB), replanted with <i>alfalfa</i> (AL), replanted with Chinese pine (CP), and replanted with <i>Chinese arborvitae</i> (PO). The soil properties, sources and physical fractions of organic carbon and their correlations in the 0- to 20-cm soil layer at each sample site were analyzed. The results show that the ecosystem transformation significantly increased the SOC by affecting plant- and microbe-derived carbon and altering its components. Different treatments have varying impacts on the SOC content. The lignin phenol (VSC) content in the soils in the five ecosystem transformation models was greater than that in the CK and had the following ranking: CP > AL > PO > AF > AB (<i>p</i> < 0.05). The ecosystem transformation also significantly increased the soil total amino sugar (TAS) content, microbial residue carbon (MRC), and its contribution to organic carbon. Additionally, it promoted the accumulation of particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC) and positively impacted the carbon stability. Among the five ecosystem transformation models, CP had the greatest impact on lignin phenols, amino sugars, SOC content, and stability, whereas AF and AB contributed the least to SOC. The results of this study provide a scientific basis to assess and select optimal transformation modes for the ecosystem transformation of commercial jujube forests.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143055180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The páramos, with their high biodiversity and benefits to humanity, are crucial ecosystems in Colombia. Despite their importance, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the extent of land cover changes and the identification of planning regulatory milestones on these ecosystems. The Rabanal Páramo Regional District, a water supplier for the capital city of Tunja, is under threat. The protected area faces land use conflicts, and updated information needs to be provided on how natural covers have been affected by grazing or the expansion of the agricultural frontier. Considering this, the main goal of this research was to recognize land cover changes in the Rabanal Páramo from 2000 to 2020. To achieve this, we conducted a multi‐temporal analysis using the Corine Land Cover methodology adapted for Colombia. Additionally, we identified the various planning regulations that have contributed to this ecosystem's conservation and restoration efforts. Results showed that the bush cover has significantly decreased, from 27.9% of the total area in 2000 to 20.5% in 2020. In contrast, the mosaic of crops, pastures, and natural spaces has expanded from 2.5% of the total area in 2000 to 8.1% in 2020. The primary strategy in the páramo management plan involves using zoning and land type regulations. Urgent action is needed to balance the demands of agricultural development with the preservation of the páramo ecosystem to ensure a sustainable existence between human activities and the environment.
{"title":"Multitemporal Analysis of Land Cover Changes in the Rabanal Páramo Ecosystem (Colombia) From 2000 to 2020 and Its Planning Regulations","authors":"Paulina Vergara, Irene De Pellegrin Llorente","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5493","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5493","url":null,"abstract":"The páramos, with their high biodiversity and benefits to humanity, are crucial ecosystems in Colombia. Despite their importance, there is a significant knowledge gap regarding the extent of land cover changes and the identification of planning regulatory milestones on these ecosystems. The Rabanal Páramo Regional District, a water supplier for the capital city of Tunja, is under threat. The protected area faces land use conflicts, and updated information needs to be provided on how natural covers have been affected by grazing or the expansion of the agricultural frontier. Considering this, the main goal of this research was to recognize land cover changes in the Rabanal Páramo from 2000 to 2020. To achieve this, we conducted a multi‐temporal analysis using the Corine Land Cover methodology adapted for Colombia. Additionally, we identified the various planning regulations that have contributed to this ecosystem's conservation and restoration efforts. Results showed that the bush cover has significantly decreased, from 27.9% of the total area in 2000 to 20.5% in 2020. In contrast, the mosaic of crops, pastures, and natural spaces has expanded from 2.5% of the total area in 2000 to 8.1% in 2020. The primary strategy in the páramo management plan involves using zoning and land type regulations. Urgent action is needed to balance the demands of agricultural development with the preservation of the páramo ecosystem to ensure a sustainable existence between human activities and the environment.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"40 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143050055","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ran Wang, Chong Jiang, Yixin Wang, Jie Liu, Ying Zhao, Wenyuan Fu, Xinhua Li, Jie Zhang, Buqing Wang, Yuexin Xiao
Ecosystem restoration projects (ERPs) are effective methods for reversing land degradation. However, the dynamic responses of the ecology–agriculture–economy nexus to ERPs and socioeconomic development have yet to be systematically analyzed. To address this issue, we adopted an ERP hotspot as a basis for exploring the evolution regimes of sectoral variables and their determinants. ERPs facilitated vegetation restoration and strengthened carbon sequestration and soil retention, whereas grain productivity declined sharply since 2000 because of industrial and planting structure adjustments. Economic growth was accompanied by marked industrial transformation; the dominant role of the primary industry was gradually replaced by that of other industries, with the population and employment structures changing accordingly. Rural population loss weakened the agricultural production capacity, with the promotion of economic crops further degrading the dominant role of grain crops. Such nexus shifts indicated that positive progress in the ecological and economic sectors should be further optimized to reserve sufficient space for agricultural production and industrial development, instead of relying solely on expanding afforestation areas. Notably, the temporary synergic co‐evolution of nexus sectors from 2008 to 2022 is not stable because of the low grain self‐sufficiency ratio, which might threaten the sustainability of social‐ecological systems. Therefore, agricultural production efficiency must be improved through large‐scale production and improvements in agricultural production conditions to sustain the grain supply. The nexus perspective enriches our understanding of interlinkages among sectors in different phases, facilitating the formulation of coordinated strategies for regional sustainable development.
{"title":"Examining Ecology–Agriculture–Economy Nexus Shifts to Propose Win–Win–Win Pathways for Sustainable Development in Mountainous Areas: Insights From the Greenest City in China","authors":"Ran Wang, Chong Jiang, Yixin Wang, Jie Liu, Ying Zhao, Wenyuan Fu, Xinhua Li, Jie Zhang, Buqing Wang, Yuexin Xiao","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5462","url":null,"abstract":"Ecosystem restoration projects (ERPs) are effective methods for reversing land degradation. However, the dynamic responses of the ecology–agriculture–economy nexus to ERPs and socioeconomic development have yet to be systematically analyzed. To address this issue, we adopted an ERP hotspot as a basis for exploring the evolution regimes of sectoral variables and their determinants. ERPs facilitated vegetation restoration and strengthened carbon sequestration and soil retention, whereas grain productivity declined sharply since 2000 because of industrial and planting structure adjustments. Economic growth was accompanied by marked industrial transformation; the dominant role of the primary industry was gradually replaced by that of other industries, with the population and employment structures changing accordingly. Rural population loss weakened the agricultural production capacity, with the promotion of economic crops further degrading the dominant role of grain crops. Such nexus shifts indicated that positive progress in the ecological and economic sectors should be further optimized to reserve sufficient space for agricultural production and industrial development, instead of relying solely on expanding afforestation areas. Notably, the temporary synergic co‐evolution of nexus sectors from 2008 to 2022 is not stable because of the low grain self‐sufficiency ratio, which might threaten the sustainability of social‐ecological systems. Therefore, agricultural production efficiency must be improved through large‐scale production and improvements in agricultural production conditions to sustain the grain supply. The nexus perspective enriches our understanding of interlinkages among sectors in different phases, facilitating the formulation of coordinated strategies for regional sustainable development.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"32 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143020252","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Liyan Yang, Tian Yang, Wanxu Chen, Meng Yang, Qingqing Liu, Guanzheng Wang, Jintao Yuan, Hang Xu, Jie Zeng
The decline in urban–rural population density (URPD) has consistently characterized China's rapid urbanization. Analyzing the spatiotemporal trends in URPD and their effects on habitats within the context of China's ecological civilization is crucial. However, quantitative studies on the decline in URPD are lacking, and the impact on natural habitats remains unclear. Therefore, using population census and land‐use data, we analyzed the spatiotemporal trends in URPD and habitat effects in China between 2000 and 2020. The results show that China's urban population density (UPD), rural population density (RPD), and habitat quality have decreased by 11.7%, 40.2%, and 2.1%, respectively, and they all tend to shift to lower values. The effects of UPD and RPD on natural habitats vary and exhibit regional heterogeneity. This study provides insights for promoting high‐quality urban–rural development and advancing ecological civilization.
{"title":"Declining Urban–Rural Population Densities: How Do They Affect Natural Habitat?","authors":"Liyan Yang, Tian Yang, Wanxu Chen, Meng Yang, Qingqing Liu, Guanzheng Wang, Jintao Yuan, Hang Xu, Jie Zeng","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5473","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5473","url":null,"abstract":"The decline in urban–rural population density (URPD) has consistently characterized China's rapid urbanization. Analyzing the spatiotemporal trends in URPD and their effects on habitats within the context of China's ecological civilization is crucial. However, quantitative studies on the decline in URPD are lacking, and the impact on natural habitats remains unclear. Therefore, using population census and land‐use data, we analyzed the spatiotemporal trends in URPD and habitat effects in China between 2000 and 2020. The results show that China's urban population density (UPD), rural population density (RPD), and habitat quality have decreased by 11.7%, 40.2%, and 2.1%, respectively, and they all tend to shift to lower values. The effects of UPD and RPD on natural habitats vary and exhibit regional heterogeneity. This study provides insights for promoting high‐quality urban–rural development and advancing ecological civilization.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"84 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143020247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Alexander Mabunga Msipa, Antoinette Lombard, Ilse Aucamp, Jussi Baade
Land degradation influences the natural resource‐based livelihoods of agricultural communities whose livelihoods are dependent on the productivity of the land. South Africa has been and still is considerably affected by land degradation which adversely influences livelihoods and well‐being. The article reports on the findings of a study aimed at determining how land degradation in the Ladybrand area, Free State Province, South Africa, influences the livelihoods of small‐scale farmers and land care workers, and what land management strategies can mitigate land degradation for sustainable livelihood outcomes. The explorative study adopted a qualitative research approach and an instrumental case study research design. A purposive sampling method was used to select 13 small‐scale farmers (general and commonage) and 14 land care workers for the study. Data were collected through focus group interviews and were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated the causes of land degradation in Ladybrand that jeopardise land management practices for sustainable livelihoods, namely, the high volume of invasive plants, land pollution, overgrazing, unsecure land tenure systems and poor access to markets. Strategies recommended to mitigate land degradation and improve land management practices for sustainable livelihoods include rotational grazing, tenure security for small‐scale farmers, increasing access to markets and institutional support to small‐scale farmers and land care workers. This study documents the insights of small‐scale farmers and land care workers on land degradation and their commitment to practise sustainable land management.
{"title":"Land Degradation's Influence on Livelihoods of Small‐Scale Farmers and Land Care Workers in Ladybrand, South Africa","authors":"Alexander Mabunga Msipa, Antoinette Lombard, Ilse Aucamp, Jussi Baade","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5474","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5474","url":null,"abstract":"Land degradation influences the natural resource‐based livelihoods of agricultural communities whose livelihoods are dependent on the productivity of the land. South Africa has been and still is considerably affected by land degradation which adversely influences livelihoods and well‐being. The article reports on the findings of a study aimed at determining how land degradation in the Ladybrand area, Free State Province, South Africa, influences the livelihoods of small‐scale farmers and land care workers, and what land management strategies can mitigate land degradation for sustainable livelihood outcomes. The explorative study adopted a qualitative research approach and an instrumental case study research design. A purposive sampling method was used to select 13 small‐scale farmers (general and commonage) and 14 land care workers for the study. Data were collected through focus group interviews and were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated the causes of land degradation in Ladybrand that jeopardise land management practices for sustainable livelihoods, namely, the high volume of invasive plants, land pollution, overgrazing, unsecure land tenure systems and poor access to markets. Strategies recommended to mitigate land degradation and improve land management practices for sustainable livelihoods include rotational grazing, tenure security for small‐scale farmers, increasing access to markets and institutional support to small‐scale farmers and land care workers. This study documents the insights of small‐scale farmers and land care workers on land degradation and their commitment to practise sustainable land management.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"33 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991971","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This study aims to uncover the characteristics of land use/cover (LULC) changes over a macro‐scale and long‐term period, as well as to assess their associated ecological risks. LULC changes are closely tied to ecological and environmental processes such as climate change, biodiversity, soil conservation, and water purification. With global population growth and urbanization, LULC changes have left a significant ecological footprint. To achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, understanding the negative impacts of LULC changes is essential. This study employs GIS spatial models to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of LULC changes in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries post‐BRI proposal, using remote sensing monitoring and the InVEST model. During the ancient Silk Road period, living and production spaces occupied only 2.15% of the area. By 2013, this had expanded to 12.98% due to agricultural land growth, notably in central India and the Eastern European Plain. From 2013 to 2021, living and production spaces continued to increase, while ecological spaces decreased, with notable expansions in southeastern coastal China, Java, and the Mediterranean. Post‐BRI, LULC changes led to the decreased quality risks of landscape fragmentation, carbon emissions, and nitrogen eutrophication, but increased the quality risks of habitat quality degradation, soil erosion, and phosphorus eutrophication.
{"title":"Ecological Risks and Patterns Associated With Land Use/Cover Changes Along the Belt and Road Initiative Routes","authors":"Yinjie He, Xinran Liu, Dafang Wu, Shuangcheng Li, Ping Zhou","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5483","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5483","url":null,"abstract":"This study aims to uncover the characteristics of land use/cover (LULC) changes over a macro‐scale and long‐term period, as well as to assess their associated ecological risks. LULC changes are closely tied to ecological and environmental processes such as climate change, biodiversity, soil conservation, and water purification. With global population growth and urbanization, LULC changes have left a significant ecological footprint. To achieve the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, understanding the negative impacts of LULC changes is essential. This study employs GIS spatial models to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution of LULC changes in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries post‐BRI proposal, using remote sensing monitoring and the InVEST model. During the ancient Silk Road period, living and production spaces occupied only 2.15% of the area. By 2013, this had expanded to 12.98% due to agricultural land growth, notably in central India and the Eastern European Plain. From 2013 to 2021, living and production spaces continued to increase, while ecological spaces decreased, with notable expansions in southeastern coastal China, Java, and the Mediterranean. Post‐BRI, LULC changes led to the decreased quality risks of landscape fragmentation, carbon emissions, and nitrogen eutrophication, but increased the quality risks of habitat quality degradation, soil erosion, and phosphorus eutrophication.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"11 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142992027","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Nataliya Bilyera, Benjamin L. Turner, Xuechen Zhang, Huadong Zang, Maxim Dorodnikov, Yakov Kuzyakov
Soil health is pivotal to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and ensure the health of plants, animals, and ultimately humans. Global changes—such as climate warming, elevated CO₂ atmospheric concentration, droughts, and floods—as well as human impacts like land-use change, chemical contamination, and application of fertilizer and pesticides, threaten soil health. Protecting soil health and raising global awareness on this topic are now critical to ensure sustainable management of natural and agricultural ecosystems under global change. This Special Issue includes 19 studies in three thematic groups. The first group includes methodological advances in the assessment of soil health, exploring new tools, techniques, and approaches for accurate evaluation. The second group encompasses studies examining how soil health responds to land-use change, agricultural and forestry practices. The third group addresses human-induced pollution and its effects on soil health. Overall, these studies provide contemporary insight into soil health in managed and natural ecosystems and methods for soil health evaluation. These contributions will shape strategies to sustain soil functions and preserve healthy soils for future generations, including efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st century.
{"title":"Soil Health Under Global Change and Human Impact","authors":"Nataliya Bilyera, Benjamin L. Turner, Xuechen Zhang, Huadong Zang, Maxim Dorodnikov, Yakov Kuzyakov","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5487","DOIUrl":"10.1002/ldr.5487","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Soil health is pivotal to sustain biological productivity, maintain environmental quality, and ensure the health of plants, animals, and ultimately humans. Global changes—such as climate warming, elevated CO₂ atmospheric concentration, droughts, and floods—as well as human impacts like land-use change, chemical contamination, and application of fertilizer and pesticides, threaten soil health. Protecting soil health and raising global awareness on this topic are now critical to ensure sustainable management of natural and agricultural ecosystems under global change. This Special Issue includes 19 studies in three thematic groups. The first group includes methodological advances in the assessment of soil health, exploring new tools, techniques, and approaches for accurate evaluation. The second group encompasses studies examining how soil health responds to land-use change, agricultural and forestry practices. The third group addresses human-induced pollution and its effects on soil health. Overall, these studies provide contemporary insight into soil health in managed and natural ecosystems and methods for soil health evaluation. These contributions will shape strategies to sustain soil functions and preserve healthy soils for future generations, including efforts to meet Sustainable Development Goals for the 21st century.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"36 3","pages":"683-688"},"PeriodicalIF":3.6,"publicationDate":"2025-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143020249","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The influence of various types of forests on the storage of C in forest soil is significantly more concerned in recent decades, as these ecosystems are crucial for mitigation of the effects of global climate change. Nevertheless, uncertainties remain surrounding the impact of different forest types on the stability and distribution of SOC. The influence of forest types on the content and distribution characteristics in CPOC, FPOC, MAOC fractions. Importantly, we found that the forest types significantly affect the content of SOC (p = 0.020), POC (p < 0.001), and MAOC (p < 0.001), there was a significant forest type × region interaction effect (SOC: p = 0.019, POC: p = 0.025, and MAOC: p = 0.003). The random forest analysis showed that FPOC and MAOC were the main factors affecting SOC which indicated FPOC and MAOC have higher relative importance to SOC. The subtropical forests POC and MAOC storage and distribution are driven by separate environmental factors. POC storage in subtropical forests is mainly controlled by exogenous C inputs and soil transformation processes, while subtropical forests’ MAOC storage is primarily controlled by constraints on C inputs and C stabilization mechanisms. Different environmental factors result in forest types with faster decomposition rates having more C stored in the total soil C pool in the MAOC. Altogether, this research emphasizes the importance of different forest types to SOC pools and provides valuable information for the distribution and stability of SOC fractions in different forest types.
近几十年来，各种类型的森林对森林土壤中碳储量的影响受到了更大的关注，因为这些生态系统对减缓全球气候变化的影响至关重要。然而，不同森林类型对土壤有机碳稳定性和分布的影响仍存在不确定性。森林类型对CPOC、FPOC、MAOC组分含量及分布特征的影响。重要的是，我们发现森林类型显著影响SOC （p = 0.020）、POC （p < 0.001）和MAOC （p < 0.001）的含量，存在显著的森林类型与区域交互效应（SOC: p = 0.019, POC: p = 0.025, MAOC: p = 0.003）。随机森林分析结果表明，FPOC和MAOC是影响土壤有机碳的主要因子，说明FPOC和MAOC对土壤有机碳的相对重要性较高。亚热带森林POC和MAOC的储存和分布受不同环境因子的驱动。亚热带森林POC储存量主要受外源C输入和土壤转化过程的控制，而亚热带森林MAOC储存量主要受C输入约束和C稳定机制的控制。不同的环境因子导致不同的森林类型分解速率更快，土壤总碳库中储存的碳更多。综上所述，本研究强调了不同森林类型对有机碳库的重要性，为不同森林类型有机碳组分的分布和稳定性提供了有价值的信息。
{"title":"Effects of Forest Types on Soil Particulate Organic Carbon Contents and Distribution Along a Subtropical Climate Transect in China","authors":"Zhiheng Zheng, Qinqin Xu, Yalin Hu","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5467","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5467","url":null,"abstract":"The influence of various types of forests on the storage of C in forest soil is significantly more concerned in recent decades, as these ecosystems are crucial for mitigation of the effects of global climate change. Nevertheless, uncertainties remain surrounding the impact of different forest types on the stability and distribution of SOC. The influence of forest types on the content and distribution characteristics in CPOC, FPOC, MAOC fractions. Importantly, we found that the forest types significantly affect the content of SOC (<i>p</i> = 0.020), POC (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and MAOC (<i>p</i> < 0.001), there was a significant forest type × region interaction effect (SOC: <i>p</i> = 0.019, POC: <i>p</i> = 0.025, and MAOC: <i>p</i> = 0.003). The random forest analysis showed that FPOC and MAOC were the main factors affecting SOC which indicated FPOC and MAOC have higher relative importance to SOC. The subtropical forests POC and MAOC storage and distribution are driven by separate environmental factors. POC storage in subtropical forests is mainly controlled by exogenous C inputs and soil transformation processes, while subtropical forests’ MAOC storage is primarily controlled by constraints on C inputs and C stabilization mechanisms. Different environmental factors result in forest types with faster decomposition rates having more C stored in the total soil C pool in the MAOC. Altogether, this research emphasizes the importance of different forest types to SOC pools and provides valuable information for the distribution and stability of SOC fractions in different forest types.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"120 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991970","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Subrata Saha, Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Al Amin Al Abbasi, Ismat Ara Begum, Panam Parikh, Maria Fay Rola-Rubzen
Land mortgaging plays a significant role in Bangladesh's economy due to the reliance of a significant portion of its population on agriculture and the growing importance of land tenure systems in promoting agricultural development and employment diversification. Yet, little is known about its role in rural transformation. The objective of this research is to examine the role of land mortgaging in the rural transformation in Bangladesh. The effect of land mortgaging is examined on two measures of rural transformation—(1) the share of high-value agricultural commodities and (2) the share of nonfarm employment opportunities across small, medium, and large farms. The study utilizes panel data for 64 districts from 2000 to 2016 using the Household Income and Expenditure Survey data and employing econometric modelling. Using the Fixed Effects Model, Ordinary Least Squares, and Feasible Generalized Least Squares, we found a positive and statistically significant relationship between the amount of land mortgaged out and rural transformation. The findings reveal that land mortgaging acts as a significant catalyst for rural transformation, facilitating investment in high-value agriculture and diversifying income through non-farm employment. The analysis further highlights the variability of this effect across different farm sizes, with smaller farms showing a more pronounced positive effect. Access to electricity and technology were also found to have significant positive associations with rural transformation, underscoring the role of infrastructure and technological advancements in agricultural productivity and employment diversification. The findings suggest that targeted policy interventions that consider the intricate effects of land mortgaging can enhance agricultural efficiency and support the economic diversification of rural areas in Bangladesh.
{"title":"The Effect of Rural Land Mortgaging on Rural Transformation at the Regional Level in Bangladesh","authors":"Subrata Saha, Mohammad Jahangir Alam, Al Amin Al Abbasi, Ismat Ara Begum, Panam Parikh, Maria Fay Rola-Rubzen","doi":"10.1002/ldr.5476","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.5476","url":null,"abstract":"Land mortgaging plays a significant role in Bangladesh's economy due to the reliance of a significant portion of its population on agriculture and the growing importance of land tenure systems in promoting agricultural development and employment diversification. Yet, little is known about its role in rural transformation. The objective of this research is to examine the role of land mortgaging in the rural transformation in Bangladesh. The effect of land mortgaging is examined on two measures of rural transformation—(1) the share of high-value agricultural commodities and (2) the share of nonfarm employment opportunities across small, medium, and large farms. The study utilizes panel data for 64 districts from 2000 to 2016 using the Household Income and Expenditure Survey data and employing econometric modelling. Using the Fixed Effects Model, Ordinary Least Squares, and Feasible Generalized Least Squares, we found a positive and statistically significant relationship between the amount of land mortgaged out and rural transformation. The findings reveal that land mortgaging acts as a significant catalyst for rural transformation, facilitating investment in high-value agriculture and diversifying income through non-farm employment. The analysis further highlights the variability of this effect across different farm sizes, with smaller farms showing a more pronounced positive effect. Access to electricity and technology were also found to have significant positive associations with rural transformation, underscoring the role of infrastructure and technological advancements in agricultural productivity and employment diversification. The findings suggest that targeted policy interventions that consider the intricate effects of land mortgaging can enhance agricultural efficiency and support the economic diversification of rural areas in Bangladesh.","PeriodicalId":203,"journal":{"name":"Land Degradation & Development","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.7,"publicationDate":"2025-01-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142991290","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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