scholarly journals Environmental Problems of Agricultural Land Use in the Samara Region

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 75-80
Author(s):  
Sergey Zudilin ◽  
Alyona Konakova

The zones of ecological trouble cover about 15% of the territory of Russia, where the main production capacities and the most productive agricultural lands are concentrated. The Samara region is characterized by a distinct natural zonality from a typical forest-steppe in the North with a forest cover close to 30%, to an open dry steppe in the South with a natural forest cover of only 0.1...0.2%. The article presents an analysis of land use in the Samara region on the example of the Borsky municipal district. Research methods include environmental analysis and statistical data analysis.The article presents an analysis of the land use of the Borskiy municipal district. During zoning, the territory of the district is divided into the northern, central and southern parts. Assessment of environmental and economic parameters showed heterogeneity of the territory and the need for detailed consideration of climatic, soil, economic conditions in the design of landscape optimization systems, even in the municipal area. In general, the district's land fund experiences an average anthropogenic load, the ecological stability of the territory as a whole is characterized as unstable stable. In comparison with other areas of the Central MES, the municipal Borskiy district belongs to the category with an average ecological intensity with a stabilization index of 0.59 units due to the beneficial influence of the Buzuluksky area.

2013 ◽  
pp. 79-94
Author(s):  
Ngoc Luu Bich

Climate change (CC) and its impacts on the socio-economy and the development of communities has become an issue causing very special concern. The rise in global temperatures, in sea levels, extreme weather phenomena, and salinization have occurred more and more and have directly influenced the livelihoods of rural households in the Red River Delta – one of the two regions projected to suffer strongly from climate change in Vietnam. For farming households in this region, the major and traditional livelihoods are based on main production materials as agricultural land, or aquacultural water surface Changes in the land use of rural households in the Red River Delta during recent times was influenced strongly by the Renovation policy in agriculture as well as the process of industrialization and modernization in the country. Climate change over the past 5 years (2005-2011) has started influencing household land use with the concrete manifestations being the reduction of the area cultivated and the changing of the purpose of land use.


2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-117
Author(s):  
Solomon Jeremiah Sembosi

Rural settlements in mountainous regions are a typical process that occurs in many places around the world and have a number of implications on the landscape. Among them is a threat it possesses to the conservation and management of Afromontane ecosystems. This study assessed the socio-economic factors that drive the changes in land use and forest cover and the extent of land use and vegetation cover in and around Magamba Nature Reserve. Focus group discussion, direct field observation and household survey were used to acquire socio-economic information that impacts land use and forest cover. Through the use of Remote Sensing and GIS methods Landsat satellite images of 1995, 2008 and 2015 were employed to identify the extent of the changes in land use and forest cover. The perceived factors for the changes include education level, unemployment, landless/limited, landholding, population pressure, expansion of built-up areas and agricultural land at the expense of other land covers. This study revealed the transformation of natural forest and associated vegetation from one form to another. There was a decrease in natural vegetation from 61.06% in 1995 to 26.02% in 2015 and increase in built-up areas by 6.69% and agricultural areas by 4.70%. This study recommends conservation monitoring and strong law enforcement relating to natural resources so as to promote sustainable use of resources to rescue the diminishing ecosystem services.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aman Srivastava ◽  
Pennan Chinnasamy

AbstractThe present study, for the first time, examined land-use land cover (LULC), changes using GIS, between 2000 and 2018 for the IIT Bombay campus, India. Objective was to evaluate hydro-ecological balance inside campus by determining spatio-temporal disparity between hydrological parameters (rainfall-runoff processes), ecological components (forest, vegetation, lake, barren land), and anthropogenic stressors (urbanization and encroachments). High-resolution satellite imageries were generated for the campus using Google Earth Pro, by manual supervised classification method. Rainfall patterns were studied using secondary data sources, and surface runoff was estimated using SCS-CN method. Additionally, reconnaissance surveys, ground-truthing, and qualitative investigations were conducted to validate LULC changes and hydro-ecological stability. LULC of 2018 showed forest, having an area cover of 52%, as the most dominating land use followed by built-up (43%). Results indicated that the area under built-up increased by 40% and playground by 7%. Despite rapid construction activities, forest cover and Powai lake remained unaffected. This anomaly was attributed to the drastically declining barren land area (up to ~ 98%) encompassing additional construction activities. Sustainability of the campus was demonstrated with appropriate measures undertaken to mitigate negative consequences of unwarranted floods owing to the rise of 6% in the forest cover and a decline of 21% in water hyacinth cover over Powai lake. Due to this, surface runoff (~ 61% of the rainfall) was observed approximately consistent and being managed appropriately despite major alterations in the LULC. Study concluded that systematic campus design with effective implementation of green initiatives can maintain a hydro-ecological balance without distressing the environmental services.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1497-1511
Author(s):  
Alexey Naumov ◽  
Varvara Akimova ◽  
Daria Sidorova ◽  
Mikhail Topnikov

AbstractDespite harsh climate, agriculture on the northern margins of Russia still remains the backbone of food security. Historically, in both regions studied in this article – the Republic of Karelia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) – agricultural activities as dairy farming and even cropping were well adapted to local conditions including traditional activities such as horse breeding typical for Yakutia. Using three different sources of information – official statistics, expert interviews, and field observations – allowed us to draw a conclusion that there are both similarities and differences in agricultural development and land use of these two studied regions. The differences arise from agro-climate conditions, settlement history, specialization, and spatial pattern of economy. In both regions, farming is concentrated within the areas with most suitable natural conditions. Yet, even there, agricultural land use is shrinking, especially in Karelia. Both regions are prone to being affected by seasonality, but vary in the degree of its influence. Geographical location plays special role, and weaknesses caused by remoteness to some extent become advantage as in Yakutia. Proximity effect is controversial. In Karelia, impact of neighboring Finland is insignificant compared with the nearby second Russian city – Saint Petersburg.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pawan Thapa

Abstract Background: Soil erosion causes topsoil loss, which decreases fertility in agricultural land. Spatial estimation of soil erosion essential for an agriculture-dependent country like Nepal for developing its control plans. This study evaluated impacts on Dolakha using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model; analyses the effect of Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) on soil erosion. Results: The soil erosion rate categorized into six classes based on the erosion severity, and 5.01% of the areas found under extreme severe erosion risk (> 80 Mg ha-1yr-1) addressed by decision-makers for reducing its rate and consequences. Followed by 10 % classified between high and severe range from 10 to 80 Mg ha-1yr-1. While 15% and 70% of areas remained in a moderate and low-risk zone, respectively. Result suggests the area of the north-eastern part suffers from a high soil erosion risk due to steep slope. Conclusions: The result produces a spatial distribution of soil erosion over Dolakha, which applied for conservation and management planning processes, at the policy level, by land-use planners and decision-makers.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 307-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Bragée ◽  
F. Mazier ◽  
A. B. Nielsen ◽  
P. Rosén ◽  
D. Fredh ◽  
...  

Abstract. Decadal-scale variations in total organic carbon (TOC) concentration in lake water since AD 1200 in two small lakes in southern Sweden were reconstructed based on visible–near-infrared spectroscopy (VNIRS) of their recent sediment successions. In order to assess the impacts of local land-use changes, regional variations in sulfur, and nitrogen deposition and climate variations on the inferred changes in TOC concentration, the same sediment records were subjected to multi-proxy palaeolimnological analyses. Changes in lake-water pH were inferred from diatom analysis, whereas pollen-based land-use reconstructions (Landscape Reconstruction Algorithm) together with geochemical records provided information on catchment-scale environmental changes, and comparisons were made with available records of climate and population density. Our long-term reconstructions reveal that inferred lake-water TOC concentrations were generally high prior to AD 1900, with additional variability coupled mainly to changes in forest cover and agricultural land-use intensity. The last century showed significant changes, and unusually low TOC concentrations were inferred at AD 1930–1990, followed by a recent increase, largely consistent with monitoring data. Variations in sulfur emissions, with an increase in the early 1900s to a peak around AD 1980 and a subsequent decrease, were identified as an important driver of these dynamics at both sites, while processes related to the introduction of modern forestry and recent increases in precipitation and temperature may have contributed, but the effects differed between the sites. The increase in lake-water TOC concentration from around AD 1980 may therefore reflect a recovery process. Given that the effects of sulfur deposition now subside and that the recovery of lake-water TOC concentrations has reached pre-industrial levels, other forcing mechanisms related to land management and climate change may become the main drivers of TOC concentration changes in boreal lake waters in the future.


2014 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 12-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHRISTOPHER M. HAMILTON ◽  
WAYNE E. THOGMARTIN ◽  
VOLKER C. RADELOFF ◽  
ANDREW J. PLANTINGA ◽  
PATRICIA J. HEGLUND ◽  
...  

SUMMARYLand-use change around protected areas limits their ability to conserve biodiversity by altering ecological processes such as natural hydrologic and disturbance regimes, facilitating species invasions, and interfering with dispersal of organisms. This paper informs USA National Wildlife Refuge System conservation planning by predicting future land-use change on lands within 25 km distance of 461 refuges in the USA using an econometric model. The model contained two differing policy scenarios, namely a ‘business-as-usual’ scenario and a ‘pro-agriculture’ scenario. Regardless of scenario, by 2051, forest cover and urban land use were predicted to increase around refuges, while the extent of range and pasture was predicted to decrease; cropland use decreased under the business-as-usual scenario, but increased under the pro-agriculture scenario. Increasing agricultural land value under the pro-agriculture scenario slowed an expected increase in forest around refuges, and doubled the rate of range and pasture loss. Intensity of land-use change on lands surrounding refuges differed by regions. Regional differences among scenarios revealed that an understanding of regional and local land-use dynamics and management options was an essential requirement to effectively manage these conserved lands. Such knowledge is particularly important given the predicted need to adapt to a changing global climate.


Author(s):  
A.P. Belousova ◽  
N.N. Nazarov

The research of forest cover development on agricultural lands in the Perm Prikamye was carried the example of taiga and forest-steppe types of landscapes. The Babkinsko-Yugovskoy and Irensko-Kungursky landscapes were select for research. Received information about the geosystem condition in different years using remote sensing data. All landscape changes were record during the formed stable snow cover. As a result, was divide into two classes - forested and treeless areas. Established, the main natural factors of land differentiation by an areas and a pace of withdrawal from agricultural use are the small contours of agricultural land and differences in soil fertility. The growth pace of forest geosystems within the forest-steppe landscape was 2.5 times higher than of the taiga. The research of the dynamics of forest cover showed that in the Perm Prikamye in the forest-steppe landscape substitution of anthropogenic geosystems with natural-anthropogenic ("wild") accompanied by the development of forest biogeocenosis, not steppe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Halake Guyo Rendilicha ◽  
Patrick Home ◽  
James M. Raude ◽  
Charles M. M’Erimba ◽  
Stellamaris Muthoka

The study assessed the impact of land-use types on the groundwater quality of the mid River Njoro catchment, Kenya. Groundwater samples were collected from eight boreholes between the period of October 2017 to February 2018 and analyzed for pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrate, ammonium, and total phosphorus. These parameters were used to calculate the Groundwater Quality Index (GQI) value of the study area. The concentration maps (“primary maps I”) were constructed using Kriging interpolation of ArcGIS software from the seven groundwater quality parameters. The “primary maps I” were standardized with the KEBS and WHO standards to the “primary maps II” for ease of integration into a GIS environment. The “primary maps II” were then rated and weighted using a polynomial function to generate “rank maps” before calculating the GQI using spatial analyst tools of ArcGIS software. The land use map was prepared from a high-resolution Google earth satellite imagery of 2015. The mean GQI values for the different land use polygons were calculated and compared using GIS techniques. The GQI ranged from 68.38 to 70.92, indicating a high groundwater quality of mid River Njoro catchment. The major land-use types identified include settlement area, forest cover, agricultural land and mixed area. The agricultural land dominated the study area, followed by settlement area, forest cover and finally mixed area. The mean GQI value in each land use type varied minimally and this could be because of the diffuse nature of the land use types of the study area. Settlement area had low GQI, followed by agricultural land, mixed area and the forest cover had the highest mean GQI value, which corresponds to good quality of groundwater. Even though the variation is insignificant in this particular study, it somehow indicates the adverse effects of different land use on the quality of groundwater.


Author(s):  
Miroslava Pytulyak ◽  
Mykola Pytulyak ◽  
Lesia Zastavetska ◽  
Taras Zastavetskyi ◽  
Natalya Taranova

The article presents an ecological and geographical analysis of the current state of land resources. The structure of land resources in UTC (United Territorial Community) is dominated by lands of agricultural and forestry use. They occupy the largest areas - 67072.3 hectares, 40004.8 hectares and their share in the structure of the land fund is 57.8%, 34.4%, respectively. The structure of agricultural lands of the district is dominated by agricultural lands, namely arable land. Its area is 67072.3 hectares (97.3%) The largest area of agricultural land is concentrated within the central part of the district. The largest area in the structure of agricultural land is occupied by arable land - 2500 - 3570.8 hectares. In the eastern and south-eastern parts of the district the share of arable land in the structure of agricultural lands is the highest (more than 70%). The share of pastures and hayfields in the structure of agricultural lands is 18.2% and 16.8%, respectively. The smallest share in the structure of lands of perennial plantations (1.6%). The largest areas of hayfields and pastures in the northern and northeastern part of the district, which is due to the natural features of the territory. Peculiarities of forestry use of land resources on UTC area are analyzed. Lands covered with forest vegetation there are unevenly distributed and are mainly subordinated to Brody Forestry. The largest areas of forestry land in the northern and southern parts of the district. Forests in the northern part are located within Male Polissya. Here in the area there is the highest forest cover (45 - 67%). Forest cover in the southern part of the district is 45 - 67%. The structure of lands occupied by forest vegetation is dominated by forest areas (96.0%), including covered with forest crops (71.0%) On the basis of the defined indicators the analysis of ecological stability of lands in UTC is carried out, also the anthropogenic loading on agricultural lands of the area is defined. This figure depends on the area of land of different species. Using the method of Shyshchenko P. H. (1982) we have determined the anthropogenic load on the agricultural lands of the district. This figure depends on the area of the land of different species. Within the district there are spatial differences in this indicator. The greatest anthropogenic load on agricultural land is in the central part of the district. Here the anthropogenic load is more than 6.6 (strongly converted). In the north-western part of the district this indicator is the lowest: 5.2-5.3. On the territory of other village councils agricultural lands are moderately transformed (6.1 - 6.5) The results of the study of the ecological condition of the land resources of the district are presented. The level of plowing, agricultural development of the district is analyzed. The central and southern part of the district is characterized by an unbalanced structure of land use, as there is a fairly high rate of plowing of agricultural land. The share of arable land here is more than 70% of the total area of agricultural land. The average value of this indicator is around 57.7%. The highest agricultural development is in the central part of the district (except for Brody town territorial community), and in the southern part (more than 60%). The maximum indicators of agricultural development are - 86.8-91%. The ecological condition of the land resources of the district was assessed and five groups with different levels of this indicator were identified. The ecological condition of land resources varies from optimal to catastrophic, depending on the ratio of arable land (R) and the share of ecological and stabilizing lands (ESL). Optimal and satisfactory ecological condition of land resources in the region on the area of 40.6%, critical - 25.7%, crisis - 20.4%, catastrophic - 13.3% Land resources are one of the most important resources of the district. In modern conditions, productive agricultural lands should be involved in intensive agricultural cultivation, and the rest should remain in a natural state, which will ensure ecological sustainability and balanced nature management. Key words: land resources, agricultural lands, agricultural development, ecological condition, ecological stability.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document