Determining a Carbon Reference Level for a High-Forest-Low-Deforestation Country

Research Highlights: A transparent approach to developing a forest reference emissions level (FREL) adjusted to future local developments in Southern Cameroon is demonstrated. Background and Objectives: Countries with low historical deforestation can adjust their forest reference (emission) level (FREL/FRL) upwards for REDD+ to account for likely future developments. Many countries, however, find it difficult to establish a credible adjusted reference level. This article demonstrates the establishment of a FREL for southern Cameroon adjusted to societal megatrends of strong population—and economic growth combined with rapid urbanization. It demonstrates what can be done with available information and data, but most importantly outlines pathways to further improve the quality of future FREL/FRL’s in light of possibly accessing performance-based payments. Materials and Methods: The virtual FREL encompasses three main elements: Remotely sensed activity data; emission factors derived from the national forest inventory; and the adjustment of the reference level using a land use model of the agriculture sector. Sensitivity analysis is performed on all three elements using Monte Carlo methods. Results: Deforestation during the virtual reference period 2000–2015 is dominated by non-industrial agriculture (comprising both smallholders and local elites) and increases over time. The land use model projections are consistent with this trend, resulting in emissions that are on average 47% higher during the virtual performance period 2020–2030 than during the reference period 2000–2015. Monte Carlo analysis points to the adjustment term as the main driver of uncertainty in the FREL calculation. Conclusions: The available data is suitable for constructing a FREL for periodic reporting to the UNFCCC. Enhanced coherence of input data notably for activity data and adjustment is needed to apply for a performance-based payment scheme. Expanding the accounting framework to include forest degradation and forest gain are further priorities requiring future research.

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Historical Changes in CO2 Emissions and Removals from Land Use and Land Cover Changes in Sudan Savannah Ecological Zone of Ghana

Journal of Environment and Ecology ◽

10.5296/jee.v11i2.17239 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 1

Author(s):

Mah Coulibaly ◽

Stephen Adu Bredu ◽

Badabate Diwediga ◽

Souleymane S. Traore ◽

Noëllie A. YAO ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Cover ◽

Land Cover Change ◽

Good Practice ◽

Forest Degradation ◽

Ecological Zone ◽

Activity Data ◽

Historical Changes ◽

The Difference ◽

Plot Design

Assessment of changes in carbon stock from land use and land cover change in necessary for carbon emissions/removals monitoring and enable countries to comply in line with the Good Practice Guidance of IPCC. This study aimed to estimate and map the historical changes in carbon emission and removal from land use and land cover change from 1986 to 2016 in Sudan savannah ecological zone of Ghana. Nested plot design was applied for field measurement, and Random forest algorithm was used to classify images. The zone was stratified into four Districts and each District further stratified into various land use and land cover (LULC) classes. Emission factors were determined for each LULC. Activity data were obtained from the spatial analysis. The overall carbon released from forest degradation and deforestation was found to be 554,684.96 Mg CO2 or 77.19% with 163,956.93 Mg or 31.84% removed. The inter-annual changes exhibited a decrease from 1986 to 1999, 1999 to 2006 and 2006 to 2016 with value being 642,342.79, 545,125.53 and 445,142.17 Mg CO2, respectively. More CO2 was released from forest degradation and in the area where cropland and forest have been converted to shrub/grassland; whereas carbon was removed in the area where shrub/grassland has been converted to cropland and/or forest land. However, more carbon was recorded in cropland compared to forest and shrub/grassland, which explains the difference in emission factor from carbon. Based on this finding reforestation and REDD+ implementation will be an efficient strategy for sustainable development in the Sudan Savannah ecological zone. In addition, farmers should be encouraged to maintain more trees on their farms to compensate for the forest loss.

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Land-use types shape soil microbial compositions under rapid urbanization in the Xiong'an New Area, China

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145976 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 777 ◽

pp. 145976

Author(s):

Can Wang ◽

Abolfazl Masoudi ◽

Min Wang ◽

Jia Yang ◽

Zhijun Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Soil Microbial ◽

Land Use Types

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Sources of and Control Measures for PTE Pollution in Soil at the Urban Fringe in Weinan, China

Land ◽

10.3390/land10070762 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 762

Author(s):

Lei Han ◽

Rui Chen ◽

Zhao Liu ◽

Shanshan Chang ◽

Yonghua Zhao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Pollution Sources ◽

Urban Fringe ◽

Control Measures ◽

Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry ◽

Human Beings ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Kriging Interpolation Method ◽

The Impact

The environment of the urban fringe is complex and frangible. With the acceleration of industrialization and urbanization, the urban fringe has become the primary space for urban expansion, and the intense human activities create a high risk of potentially toxic element (PTE) pollution in the soil. In this study, 138 surface soil samples were collected from a region undergoing rapid urbanization and construction—Weinan, China. Concentrations of As, Pb, Cr, Cu, and Ni (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, ICP-MS) and Hg (Atomic Fluorescence Spectrometry, AFS) were measured. The Kriging interpolation method was used to create a visualization of the spatial distribution characteristics and to analyze the pollution sources of PTEs in the soil. The pollution status of PTEs in the soil was evaluated using the national environmental quality standards for soils in different types of land use. The results show that the content range of As fluctuated a small amount and the coefficient of variation is small and mainly comes from natural soil formation. The content of Cr, Cu, and Ni around the automobile repair factory, the prefabrication factory, and the building material factory increased due to the deposition of wear particles in the soil. A total of 13.99% of the land in the study area had Hg pollution, which was mainly distributed on category 1 development land and farmland. Chemical plants were the main pollution sources. The study area should strictly control the industrial pollution emissions, regulate the agricultural production, adjust the land use planning, and reduce the impact of pollution on human beings. Furthermore, we make targeted remediation suggestions for each specific land use type. These results are of theoretical significance, will be of practical value for the control of PTEs in soil, and will provide ecological environmental protection in the urban fringe throughout the urbanization process.

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Spatiotemporal Influence of Land Use/Land Cover Change Dynamics on Surface Urban Heat Island: A Case Study of Abuja Metropolis, Nigeria

ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information ◽

10.3390/ijgi10050272 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (5) ◽

pp. 272

Author(s):

Auwalu Faisal Koko ◽

Wu Yue ◽

Ghali Abdullahi Abubakar ◽

Akram Ahmed Noman Alabsi ◽

Roknisadeh Hamed

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Land Cover ◽

Land Surface ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Urban Heat Islands ◽

Sustainable Land Use ◽

Land Use Land Cover ◽

Urban Centers ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Urban Heat

Rapid urbanization in cities and urban centers has recently contributed to notable land use/land cover (LULC) changes, affecting both the climate and environment. Therefore, this study seeks to analyze changes in LULC and its spatiotemporal influence on the surface urban heat islands (UHI) in Abuja metropolis, Nigeria. To achieve this, we employed Multi-temporal Landsat data to monitor the study area’s LULC pattern and land surface temperature (LST) over the last 29 years. The study then analyzed the relationship between LULC, LST, and other vital spectral indices comprising NDVI and NDBI using correlation analysis. The results revealed a significant urban expansion with the transformation of 358.3 sq. km of natural surface into built-up areas. It further showed a considerable increase in the mean LST of Abuja metropolis from 30.65 °C in 1990 to 32.69 °C in 2019, with a notable increase of 2.53 °C between 2009 and 2019. The results also indicated an inverse relationship between LST and NDVI and a positive connection between LST and NDBI. This implies that urban expansion and vegetation decrease influences the development of surface UHI through increased LST. Therefore, the study’s findings will significantly help urban-planners and decision-makers implement sustainable land-use strategies and management for the city.

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A roadmap: Social distancing physical activity data collection to protect those with intellectual disabilities

Journal of Intellectual Disabilities ◽

10.1177/17446295211009655 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174462952110096

Author(s):

Whitley J Stone ◽

Kayla M Baker

Keyword(s):

Physical Activity ◽

Data Collection ◽

Intellectual Disabilities ◽

Research Methods ◽

Virus Transmission ◽

Future Research ◽

Activity Data ◽

Physical Activity Data ◽

Social Distancing ◽

Novel Coronavirus

The novel coronavirus may impact exercise habits of those with intellectual disabilities. Due to the mandated discontinuation of face-to-face research, investigators must adapt projects to protect all involved while collecting objective physical activity metrics. This brief report outlines a modification process of research methods to adhere to social distancing mandates present during COVID-19. Actions taken included electronic consent and assent forms, an electronic survey, and mailing an accelerometer with included instructions. The amended research methods were implemented without risk for virus transmission or undue burden on the research team, participant, or caregiver. Recruitment was likely impacted by the coronavirus-mediated quarantine, plausibly resulting in bias. Objective physical activity data collection can be sufficiently modified to protect those with intellectual disabilities and investigators. Future research designs may require greater participant incentives and the creation of in-home participation.

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Elevated Risk of Ecological Land and Underlying Factors Associated with Rapid Urbanization and Overprotected Agriculture in Northeast China

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11226203 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (22) ◽

pp. 6203 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Shuhan Liu ◽

Dongyan Wang ◽

Guoping Lei ◽

Hong Li ◽

Wenbo Li

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Urban Expansion ◽

Black Soil ◽

Residential Area ◽

Risk Level ◽

Ecological Value ◽

Urbanization Process ◽

Rapid Urbanization ◽

Important Indicator ◽

Farming Area

Ecological land with considerable ecological value can be regarded as an important indicator in guaranteeing ecosystem function and sustainable development. Generally, the urbanization process has been considered to be the primary factor affecting ecological land use. However, the influence of agricultural development, particularly in a typical farming area, has rarely been studied. In this paper, we present a method to assess the ecological risk of ecological land (ELER) in a black soil area in northeastern China. Furthermore, the underlying factors were detected using the geographically weighted regression model, which took into account conditions of natural elements, the urbanization process, and grain production conditions. The results indicate that ecological land experienced remarkable changes with an evident loss and decline from 1996–2015. The ELER progressively increased in the concentrated farming area and the western agro-pastoral ecotone, and the ecological land in the eastern forest area was always at a high risk level. According to the regression coefficients, the relationships between influence factors and ELER could be better explained by the variables of elevation, slope, proportion of rural residential area, and ratio of cultivated land area to residential area. To summarize, agricultural occupation and urban expansion were verified as the two main causes of ecological land loss, as well as elevated risks. In light of the current situation, measures such as policy adjustment and ecological restoration should be taken to avoid risk and optimize land use.

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