Threats of Changes in Land-Use and Drivers on Owabi and Barekese Watershed Forests in Ghana

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Samuel Ayesu ◽  
Victor Rex Barnes ◽  
Olivia Agbenyega

This study analyzes the patterns of land-use and land-cover changes for the last three decades (1986–2017) and its drivers for Owabi and Barekese watersheds in the moist semi-deciduous forest of Ghana. The study used Landsat satellite imageries of 1986, 1998, 2007, and 2017 and population data to analyze land cover and use changes of the two watersheds. A decline in natural vegetation cover by 57% and 71.3% has occurred for Owabi and Barekese watersheds respectively. Cropland increased by 77.1% and 105.2% while settlement has increased by 1,018% and 4%, respectively, for Owabi and Barekese watersheds. Cropland is the main form of land-use change for Barekese watershed while settlement is the main land-use change in the Owabi watershed. Annual expansion of settlement within the Owabi site was 38.1%, and cropland was 5.2% for the Barekese site. Population trends had a significant negative relationship with forest cover and a positive relationship with settlement and cropland. Catchment degradation was also influenced by the management model used.

Forests ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Jaworek-Jakubska ◽  
Maciej Filipiak ◽  
Anna Napierała-Filipiak

Though on a global scale, for ecological reasons, increased forest cover is universally regarded as positive, on a local scale, the reforestation of arable land may pose threats to cultural landscapes by removing characteristic landscape features. Particularly vulnerable are marginal rural areas, e.g., mountain regions, where most traditional land use systems have survived and which are subject to the most spectacular land use change. The purpose of this article is to draw attention to the issue of the management of forest cover in historical cultural landscapes in mountain territories in Poland within the context of widespread land use change in Eastern Europe. Land cover data were obtained from historical and contemporary aerial photographs, as well as topographic maps from five time points between 1824 and 2016. The study was conducted by means of spatio-temporal forest cover trajectory analysis (LCTA), transition and time–depth analysis, and land cover change calculations that were made by means of ArcGIS. Our research indicates that the rate of change has risen considerably in the last two decades, and the current share of forest cover is much bigger than that reflected in the official data. Eight principal forest cover trajectory types were identified. The biggest area is occupied by woodland of long-term stability. Another large group is constituted by forests created on the basis of arable land and grassland as a result of simple conversion at one point in time, mainly in the years 1824–1886 and 1939–1994. At the same time, a sizeable group is made up by areas that have been subject to unplanned cyclical or dynamic changes during various periods. A very important group is comprised new forests that were created in 1994–2016, predominantly as a result of natural succession, that are often not included in official land classifications. The constant expansion of woodlands has led to a shrinking of historical former coppice woodlands. This indicates that the current landscape management mechanisms in Poland are inadequate for protecting the cultural landscape. The barriers include the lack of intersectoral cooperation and the overlooking of the historical context of landscapes. The present situation calls not only for verification of the existing forest policy but also for increasing the role and engagement of local communities, as well as making comprehensive local development plans, all of which may be helped by the findings of our study and of similar research.


2010 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Ardhy Firdian ◽  
Baba Barus ◽  
Didit Okta Pribadi

<p>Enviromental carrying capacity was measured in three methods,i.e land capability, land carrying capacity and water carrying capacity. Garut Regency which is located at the upstream Cimanuk Watershed has an important role in the sustainability of capacity for downstream area. The aims of this study are: (1) to identify land use in Garut Regency in 2009, (2) to identify land capability in Garut Regency, (3) to assess the suitability of land use with land capability and space pattern in Garut Regency, (4) to identify the status of environmental carrying capacity in Garut Regency, and (5) to set a space pattern based on environmental carrying capacity. Based on the interpretation of Landsat Satellite Imagery in 2009, dryland agriculture has dominated the coverage about 45.4% and forest cover about 23.8%. This study also shows that most area in Garut Regency is belong to Class IV land capability (36.4% of the regency area) without Class I of land capability. Suitabilty evaluation between land cover and land capabilty describe that 48,45% area is suitable, 50.4% area is not suitable and 1.18% area is conditionally suitable depending on limitation factors that affect land capability. Another evaluation between space patern and land capability shown that 59.0% area is suitable, 32.1% area is not suitable, and 8.84% area is conditionally suitable. Both status of land carrying capacity and water carrying capacity are deficit. According to spatial pattern based on land capability and existing forest, space that can be use as the preservation area is about 58.5% of the area, and space that can be use as the cultivation area is about 41.5% of the area of Garut Regency.<br />Keywords : Land capability, land cover/use, spatial pattern, water carrying capacity</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 3203-3220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Ma ◽  
George C. Hurtt ◽  
Louise P. Chini ◽  
Ritvik Sahajpal ◽  
Julia Pongratz ◽  
...  

Abstract. Anthropogenic land-use and land-cover change activities play a critical role in Earth system dynamics through significant alterations to biogeophysical and biogeochemical properties at local to global scales. To quantify the magnitude of these impacts, climate models need consistent land-cover change time series at a global scale, based on land-use information from observations or dedicated land-use change models. However, a specific land-use change cannot be unambiguously mapped to a specific land-cover change. Here, nine translation rules are evaluated based on assumptions about the way land-use change could potentially impact land cover. Utilizing the Global Land-use Model 2 (GLM2), the model underlying the latest Land-Use Harmonization dataset (LUH2), the land-cover dynamics resulting from land-use change were simulated based on multiple alternative translation rules from 850 to 2015 globally. For each rule, the resulting forest cover, carbon density and carbon emissions were compared with independent estimates from remote sensing observations, U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization reports, and other studies. The translation rule previously suggested by the authors of the HYDE 3.2 dataset, that underlies LUH2, is consistent with the results of our examinations at global, country and grid scales. This rule recommends that for CMIP6 simulations, models should (1) completely clear vegetation in land-use changes from primary and secondary land (including both forested and non-forested) to cropland, urban land and managed pasture; (2) completely clear vegetation in land-use changes from primary forest and/or secondary forest to rangeland; (3) keep vegetation in land-use changes from primary non-forest and/or secondary non-forest to rangeland. Our analysis shows that this rule is one of three (out of nine) rules that produce comparable estimates of forest cover, vegetation carbon and emissions to independent estimates and also mitigate the anomalously high carbon emissions from land-use change observed in previous studies in the 1950s. According to the three translation rules, contemporary global forest area is estimated to be 37.42×106 km2, within the range derived from remote sensing products. Likewise, the estimated carbon stock is in close agreement with reference biomass datasets, particularly over regions with more than 50 % forest cover.


2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (13) ◽  
pp. 3524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Odawa ◽  
Yongwon Seo

Land cover and population is key in considering sustainable management of the environment. An assessment focusing on the two may aid planning for sustainable management of the ecosystems. This is particularly vital for the water tower ecosystems which are extremely vulnerable. This paper provides a scientific assessment on the extent of land cover change in Mau Water Tower Ecosystem from 1986 to 2015 using satellite images. It analyzes the implications of observed population dynamics and forecasts the extent of land cover change in this resource. The results indicate a sharp increase in the area covered by grassland with a drastic decline in forest cover. Cropland showed marked fluctuations during the entire period. The change in forest cover had a very strong significant negative relationship with the rapid population increase. Forecast on land cover change, based on a “Business as Usual” (BAU) scenario, indicated further decline in forest cover and an increase in the area covered by grassland. The results of the study suggest that land cover change and population growth within the water towers are closely interlinked and cause significant effects on these ecosystems. These findings lay the foundation for a review of conservation and agricultural policies in order to enhance sustainable management of Mau Water Tower.


2024 ◽  
Vol 84 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Raqeeb ◽  
A. Saleem ◽  
L. Ansari ◽  
S. M. Nazami ◽  
M. W. Muhammad ◽  
...  

Abstract Land use and land cover change are affecting the global environment and ecosystems of the different biospheres. Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of these changes is of utmost importance as they often results in several global environmental consequences such as land degradation, mass erosion, habitat deterioration as well as micro and macro climate of the regions. The advance technologies like remote sensing (RS) and geographical information system (GIS) are helpful in determining/ identifying these changes. In the current study area, changes in carbon stocks, notably in forest areas, are resulting in considerable dynamics of carbon stocks as a result of climate change and carbon sequestration. This study was carried out in the Diamer district of the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) Pakistan to investigate the change in cover change/land use change (particularly Forest Land use) as well as carbon sequestration potential of the forests in the district during almost last 25years. The land cover, temporal Landsat data (level 1, LIT) were downloaded from the USGS EROS (2016), for 1979-1989, 1990-2000 and 2001-2012. Change in land uses, particularly forest cover was investigated using GIS techniques. Forest inventory was carried out using random sampling techniques. A standard plot of size 0.1 ha (n=80) was laid out to determine the tree density, volume, biomass and C stocks. Simulation of C stocks was accomplished by application of the CO2FIX model with the data input from inventory. Results showed a decrease in both forest and snow cover in the region from 1979-2012. Similarly decrease was seen in tree volume, tree Biomass, dynamics of C Stocks and decrease was in occur tree density respectively. It is recommended we need further more like project such as BTAP (Billion Tree Afforestation Project) and green Pakistan project to increase the forest cover, to control on land use change, protect forest ecosystem and to protect snow cover.


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.


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