scholarly journals Spatiotemporal Degradation of Abandoned Farmland and Associated Eco-Environmental Risks in the High Mountains of the Nepalese Himalayas

Land ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Chaudhary ◽  
Yukuan Wang ◽  
Amod Mani Dixit ◽  
Narendra Raj Khanal ◽  
Pei Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Level ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Environmental Risks ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Rock Falls ◽  
Farmland Abandonment ◽  
Abandoned Farmland ◽  
Aerial Vehicle

Globally, farmland abandonment has been a major phenomenon for eco-environmental and social landscape changes in the mountain regions. Farmland abandonment led to endangering the capacity of mountain ecosystems as well as variety of eco-environmental processes that play a pivotal role in regional as well local level eco-environment security. This research aims to (i) assess the spatiotemporal degradation of abandoned farmlands, (ii) identify the major causes of farmland degradation, and (iii) analyze the eco-environmental risks triggered or exacerbated by the degradation of abandoned farmlands. We conducted an inventory of the spatiotemporal distribution of abandoned farmlands and their degradation status with Google earth images and by modeling and interpreting low-height remote sensing images taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Geomorphic damages were mapped at the scale of individual abandoned farms. A multivariate regression statistical (MRS) model was used to identify the major causes of degradation. This research revealed that out of the total surveyed farmlands, 92% were already completely irreversibly damaged. The damages started with the disruption of terraces and bulging processes that occurred within the year after abandonment. This degradation induced diverse hazardous processes, such as landslides, debris flows, rock falls, the formation of gullies, soil erosion, and the development of sinkholes, which increase the negative effects of on both land resources and plant succession. Farmland abandonment does not automatically lead to plant colonization because geomorphic damage is intensified prior to colonization. Therefore, land management is required for plant colonization as well as other efforts to reduce degradation induced eco-environmental risk. This study thus could help land planners and environmentalists in the development of suitable guidelines (pre- or post-abandonment) plans, programmes, and legislation to effectively address the problem of abandoned farmland.

scholarly journals R-DFS: A Coverage Path Planning Approach Based on Region Optimal Decomposition

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (8) ◽  
pp. 1525
Author(s):  
Gang Tang ◽  
Congqiang Tang ◽  
Hao Zhou ◽  
Christophe Claramunt ◽  
Shaoyang Men
Keyword(s):  
Path Planning ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Simulation Experiments ◽  
Minimum Width ◽  
Coverage Path Planning ◽  
Optimal Paths ◽  
Planning Approach ◽  
Polygonal Area ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Working Distance

Most Coverage Path Planning (CPP) strategies based on the minimum width of a concave polygonal area are very likely to generate non-optimal paths with many turns. This paper introduces a CPP method based on a Region Optimal Decomposition (ROD) that overcomes this limitation when applied to the path planning of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) in a port environment. The principle of the approach is to first apply a ROD to a Google Earth image of a port and combining the resulting sub-regions by an improved Depth-First-Search (DFS) algorithm. Finally, a genetic algorithm determines the traversal order of all sub-regions. The simulation experiments show that the combination of ROD and improved DFS algorithm can reduce the number of turns by 4.34%, increase the coverage rate by more than 10%, and shorten the non-working distance by about 29.91%. Overall, the whole approach provides a sound solution for the CPP and operations of UAVs in port environments.

scholarly journals Estimation of Determinants of Farmland Abandonment and Its Data Problems

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 596
Author(s):  
Shinichi Kitano
Keyword(s):  
Census Data ◽  
Evaluation Research ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Third Party ◽  
Objective Data ◽  
Farmland Abandonment ◽  
Subjective Data ◽  
Research Attention ◽  
Abandoned Farmland ◽  
The Impact

Abandoned farmland is particularly problematic in developed countries where agriculture has a comparative disadvantage in terms of effective use of land resources invested over time. While many studies have estimated the causes of these problems, few have discussed in detail the impact of data characteristics and accuracy on the estimation results. In this study, issues related to the underlying data and the estimation of the determinants of farmland abandonment were examined. Most previous studies on farmland abandonment in Japan have used census data as the basis of their analyses. However, census data are recorded subjectively by farmers. To address this, surveys of abandoned farmland are being conducted by a third party, and the results are compiled into a geographic information system (GIS) database. Two types of datasets (subjective census data and objective GIS data) were examined for their estimation performance. Although the two sets of data are correlated, there are considerable differences between them. Subjective variables are compatible with subjective data, and objective variables are compatible with objective data (meaning that parameters are easily identified). Original data for analysis, such as policy variables, are compatible with objective data. In policy evaluation research, attention should be paid to objective data collection.

scholarly journals Environmental Vulnerability by Floods and Occupation of Permanent Preservation Area: An Approach about Three Cities of Midwest of Brazil

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Greyce Bernardes de Mello Rezende ◽  
Telma Lucia Bezerra Alves
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Urban Expansion ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Satellite Imaging ◽  
Environmental Vulnerability ◽  
Industrial Buildings ◽  
Araguaia River ◽  
The Government ◽  
Very High

The purpose of this article is to identify the areas of environmental vulnerability by flooding in urban areas of the municipalities of Barra dos Garças - MT, Pontal do Araguaia - MT and Aragarças - GO; and demarcate the occupations in permanent preservation areas (PPAs) in the study area. The methodology uses variables such as time series of maximum quotas of the Araguaia River, from 1968 to 2014, the frequency of those floods, as well as the local level curves. From the junction of these data, it was stipulated the levels of environmental vulnerability by floods in five levels: very high, high, medium, low and very low. The results indicate that areas with very high vulnerability correspond to approximately 1,58 square kilometers which equals to 0.5% of the total area studied; the high vulnerability areas, have only 3.19 square kilometers, corresponding to 1% of the area; the medium vulnerability areas have 7.66 square kilometers, which corresponds to 2.41% of the area; low vulnerability areas, have 11.18 square kilometers of extension relating to 3.52% of the area; and finally the remainder of the study area was characterized as very low vulnerability. After this mapping, it was found by satellite imaging from Google earth software dated 2014, the main occupations in PPAs. The main uses and occupations refer to human activities related to tourism, as well as commercial, residential and industrial buildings. It was found that it is of salutary importance that the Government enforces the fulfillment of the restrictions set out in the Forest Code, preventing that more occupations occur in PPAs and areas subject to flooding. Moreover, the mapping of areas of flooding is also a tool for future public policies that aim to guide the recommended areas to urban expansion, as well as ordering the use and occupation of land by developing zoning.

scholarly journals Integrating Food Culture with Socio-Environmental Recovery: Case Study Perspectives from the Global South

Humanities ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
Lea Rekow
Keyword(s):  
Urban Communities ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Environmental Restoration ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Marginalized Communities ◽  
Restoration Planning ◽  
Environmental Recovery

This paper discusses how local-level food systems, social remediation and environmental restoration can be linked to increase stability and build resilience inside extremely vulnerable communities. Specifically, it details how food culture entwines with socio-environmental restoration to benefit three low-income urban and peri-urban communities located in Thailand, India and Brazil. It aims to add to an existing body of knowledge that resides at the nexus of food, socio-environmental restoration and informality. It details effective, proven initiatives that have been regionally replicated to support marginalized communities to better cope with the negative effects of simultaneous stressors. It posits that imaginative visioning can be applied to simultaneously cultivate food security, remediate neglected lands and improve socio-economic opportunity. It provides a contribution to the field of social-ecological restoration planning in relation to food studies in lowest-income contexts.

scholarly journals A Synopsis of Farmland Abandonment and Its Driving Factors in Nepal

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suresh Chaudhary ◽  
Yukuan Wang ◽  
Amod Mani Dixit ◽  
Narendra Raj Khanal ◽  
Pei Xu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Land Reform ◽  
Agricultural Landscape ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Driving Factors ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Farmland Abandonment ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Development Processes

Farmland abandonment is considered as an important phenomenon for changing eco-environmental and sociocultural landscapes of mountainous rural landscape. Many studies have analyzed farmland abandonment, its driving factors, geophysical processes and consequences at landscape: however, very few have focused on mountainous developing countries such as in Nepal, which is a rapidly urbanizing country suffering from serious farmland abandonment. Therefore, our study was an attempt to (i) assess the spatiotemporal extent of farmland abandonment in Nepal, (ii) explore driving factors of farmland abandonment, and (iii) discuss on the eco-environmental and sociocultural consequences in Nepal. We reviewed various literature, documents, and national reports to obtain a dataset pertaining to the overall status of farmland use and changes along with political and socioeconomic changes, economic development processes, and policy and governance in Nepal. Our results showed that farmland abandonment is widespread; however, it is more prevalent in the hilly and mountainous regions of Nepal. A total of 9,706,000 ha, accounting for 23.9% of the total cultivated farmland in Nepal, was abandoned during the period of 2001 to 2010. The driving factors included population growth, scattered distribution of settlements, urbanization, socio-economic development, poor access to physical services, and poor implementation of agriculture development policies. Furthermore, the increasing extent of natural disasters, malaria eradication, land reform and resettlement programs, the complex system of land ownership, land fragmentation, political instabilities, and the intensification of trading in agricultural products also acted as drivers of farmland abandonment in Nepal. Farmland abandonment generates negative effects on rural societies eco-environmentally and sociologically. Abandoned plots were subjected to different forms of geomorphic damage (e.g. landslide, debris flows, gully formation, sinkhole development etc.). Farmland landscape fragmented into a group of smaller interspersed patches. Such patches were opened for grassland. Furthermore, farmland abandonment also has effects on the local population and the whole society in terms of the production of goods (e.g., foods, feed, fiber), as well as services provided by the multi-functionality (e.g. sociocultural practices, values and norms) of the agricultural landscape. Therefore, this study plays an important role in planning and implementing eco-environmental management and social development processes in Nepal.

scholarly journals Plant colonization, succession and ecosystem development on Surtsey with reference to neighbouring islands

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 5521-5537 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Magnússon ◽  
S. H. Magnússon ◽  
E. Ólafsson ◽  
B. D. Sigurdsson
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Plant Cover ◽  
Soil Formation ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Nutrient Input ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity

Abstract. Plant colonization and succession on the volcanic island of Surtsey, formed in 1963, have been closely followed. In 2013, a total of 69 vascular plant species had been discovered on the island; of these, 59 were present and 39 had established viable populations. Surtsey had more than twice the species of any of the comparable neighbouring islands, and all of their common species had established on Surtsey. The first colonizers were dispersed by sea, but, after 1985, bird dispersal became the principal pathway with the formation of a seagull colony on the island and consequent site amelioration. This allowed wind-dispersed species to establish after 1990. Since 2007, there has been a net loss of species on the island. A study of plant succession, soil formation and invertebrate communities in permanent plots on Surtsey and on two older neighbouring islands (plants and soil) has revealed that seabirds, through their transfer of nutrients from sea to land, are major drivers of development of these ecosystems. In the area impacted by seagulls, dense grassland swards have developed and plant cover, species richness, diversity, plant biomass and soil carbon become significantly higher than in low-impact areas, which remained relatively barren. A similar difference was found for the invertebrate fauna. After 2000, the vegetation of the oldest part of the seagull colony became increasingly dominated by long-lived, rhizomatous grasses (Festuca, Poa, Leymus) with a decline in species richness and diversity. Old grasslands of the neighbouring islands Elliđaey (puffin colony, high nutrient input) and Heimaey (no seabirds, low nutrient input) contrasted sharply. The puffin grassland of Elliđaey was very dense and species-poor. It was dominated by Festuca and Poa, and very similar to the seagull grassland developing on Surtsey. The Heimaey grassland was significantly higher in species richness and diversity, and had a more even cover of dominants (Festuca/Agrostis/Ranunculus). We forecast that, with continued erosion of Surtsey, loss of habitats and increasing impact from seabirds a lush, species-poor grassland will develop and persist, as on the old neighbouring islands.

Institutional embeddedness renewal or overembeddedness

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 148-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiang Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Textile Industry ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Business Groups ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Institutional Transition ◽  
Chinese Business ◽  
Institutional Embeddedness ◽  
Performance Effects

Purpose – Viewing business groups as institutionally embedded agents, the purpose of this paper is to theoretically addresses the distinctions between institutional embeddedness renewal and overembeddedness, and empirically analyzes the proposed effecting mechanisms in the context of China. Design/methodology/approach – The paper predicts the specific performance effects accompanying the collective and local processes governing systematic institutional embeddedness phenomena, and examine the proposed hypotheses using a real experimental setting of Chinese business groups during the period of enterprise reform and stock market liberalization, employing data on 38 business groups in the textile industry from 2000 to 2008. Findings – The results of the econometric analysis support an optimistic view that business groups can strategically renew their embeddedness even in the late stages of market-oriented institutional transition as in China. Specifically: first, the positive effect of the self-enhancing isomorphic pressure around both the new and the old institutions implies the relative dominance of systematic institutional embeddedness renewal within business group communities; second, at the local level, institutional strategies promoting the market orientation of adopted organizational forms bring about not only positive but also negative effects, suggesting the need to manage a simultaneous significant risk of overembeddedness. Originality/value – The paper establishes an institutional strategy framework to predict potential effects associated with systematic institutional embeddedness phenomena, such as institutional embeddedness renewal and overembeddedness, in the context of market-oriented institutional transition.

scholarly journals Planning the Location of Stop Smoking Services at the Local Level: A Geographic Analysis

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie N. Tomintz ◽  
Graham P. Clarke ◽  
Janette E. Rigby
Keyword(s):  
Planning Process ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Premature Death ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Stop Smoking ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
Small Area Level ◽  
Stop Smoking Services ◽  
New Policies ◽  
Location Strategies

AbstractSmoking is one of the major causes of premature death and its negative effects on a person's health are a global issue. Therefore, the United Kingdom has introduced new policies aimed at reducing the proportion of smokers from 26% in 2005 down to 21% by 2010. One mechanism to meet this policy target is the provision of stop smoking services. This article aims to estimate the Leeds smoking population at the small area level and especially to highlight the distribution of hard-to-reach groups such as heavy smokers (> 20 cigarettes/day) and pregnant women who smoke. Then optimal location strategies are discussed in relation to stop smoking services. The findings show the importance of adding a spatial component to find out where the smoking population or specific subgroups of smokers are to support policymakers or healthcare planners who are responsible for the planning process of the services.

scholarly journals Consequences of divergent monetary policies of the highly industrialised countries on global and local level

2016 ◽  
pp. 755-766
Author(s):  
Djordje Djukic
Keyword(s):  
Monetary Policy ◽  
Interest Rates ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Local Level ◽  
Foreign Debt ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Negative Interest Rates ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Buy Back

In contrast to the USA, negative interest rates in the Eurozone and other European countries, as a result of unprecedented expansionary monetary policy implemented by the European Central Bank since 2014, will have far-reaching negative consequences. Decisions of citizens to withdraw deposits from banks and keep them in safe deposit boxes, invest in real estate and land, and decisions of companies to hold large amounts of cash or to buy-back shares and close up, under conditions of divergent policies of central banks in highly industrialized countries, indicates the presence of risk of secular stagnation. Faster recovery of the USA economy and normalization of FED monetary policy through the cycle of increasing the key interest rate will contribute to further strengthening of the US dollar against the euro. It will significantly increase the burden of foreign debt servicing for highly indebted countries that have borrowed in US dollars. This is the case with Serbia. Continuation of ECB expansionary monetary policy would have a positive impact on real GDP growth in Serbia in 2017. Close to zero interest rates on the savings of citizens in Eurozone would negatively influence its future economic growth. Negative effects of such a policy will also be manifested in Serbia because the interest rates on savings in banks are also close to zero.

scholarly journals Seabirds and seals as drivers of plant succession on Surtsey

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 115-130
Author(s):  
Borgthór Magnússon ◽  
Gudmundur A. Gudmundsson ◽  
Sigmar Metúsalemsson ◽  
Sandra M. Granquist
Keyword(s):  
Plant Cover ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Present Species ◽  
Permanent Plots ◽  
Plant Colonization ◽  
Grey Seal ◽  
Breeding Area ◽  
Vegetation Development ◽  
Dense Patch ◽  
First Time

Plant colonization and succession on Surtsey have been monitored since 1965. In 2019, the 75th species of vascular plants was detected on the island, 62 species were present and about 40 species had established viable populations. Over the last decade colonization has slowed down and the number of present species not increased. The rising number of seagulls breeding on the island after 1985 had a great impact on plant colonization and vegetation development. While most parts of the island remained barren, a grassland area (13 ha in 2018) developed in the main seagull breeding colony on the southern part of the island. This development is attributed to transfer of nutrients from sea to land by the seagulls. In recent years a dense patch of vegetation, 2 ha in 2018, has also developed on the low, northern spit of the island, where a few pairs of seagulls breed in the spring and grey seals haul out and breed in the fall in considerable numbers. In a survey conducted during the grey seal pupping period in 2019, the seal abundance and spatial distribution was mapped accurately for the first time. The results show that the dense vegetation of the spit and seal distribution are clearly overlapping. The continuous shrinking of the island and its spit has led to an increasing concentration of the seals in their breeding area. Based on a literature survey we estimated the nitrogen (N) input from sea to land by the grey seals as 9-13 kg N/ha in 2019. This compares to an estimated input of 5-30 kg N/ha/yr by the seagulls breeding in the same area during 2015-2019. Within the grey seal and seagull breeding area on the spit of the island, a distinct community of shore plants has developed. Measurements of plant cover and biomass in permanent plots on Surtsey in 2018 and 2019 show that development on part of the spit is reaching a similar state as in the old gull colony on the southern part of the island. This suggests that the grey seals along with the seagulls are important drivers of plant succession on the northern spit. Further research on the effects of the seals on nutrient transfer from sea to land and ecosystem development on Surtsey is recommended.

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