natural landscapes
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2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 671
Author(s):  
Eija Yli-Panula ◽  
Eila Jeronen ◽  
Eila Matikainen ◽  
Christel Persson

In the context of landscape, both the natural environment and the built environment can be linked with human health and well-being. This connection has been studied among adults, but no research has been conducted on young people. To fill this gap, this case study aimed to elucidate students’ views on landscapes worth conserving and the landscapes that affect and support their well-being. The participants (n = 538) were Finnish, Norwegian and Swedish students from grades 3–6. The students drew the landscapes they wanted to conserve. The drawn landscapes and the welfare-supporting features they contained were analysed using inductive and abductive content analyses. The students from all three countries preferred water, forest and yard landscapes. In the drawings of natural landscapes, the most recurring themes were sunrise or sunset, forest, beach and mountain landscapes. Physical well-being was manifested in the opportunity to jog and walk. Social well-being was reflected in the presence of friends, relatives and animals. Therapeutically important well-being-related spaces—the so-called green (natural areas), blue (aquatic environments) and white (e.g., snow) areas—were also depicted in the participants’ drawings. It can be concluded that the drawn landscapes reflect several values that promote students’ well-being.


2022 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 519
Author(s):  
Akash Jamil ◽  
Muhammad Zubair ◽  
Syed Amir Manzoor ◽  
Mamoona Wali Muhammad ◽  
Ghulam Yasin ◽  
...  

The rapidly increasing population of human beings in semi-arid areas is often considered as a major factor of land degradation. Only a few studies have examined the dynamics of human settlements on the composition, diversity, structure and palatability of range vegetation in Southern Punjab Pakistan. The current study aims to assess whether the distance from settlements had any effect on the range vegetation’s diversity and cover. In order to determine the impact of human settlements on the vegetation, the sampling area (Thal rangeland) was classified into three categories, i.e., Near (1–2 km from human communities), Away (2–4 km from human communities), and Far (4–6 km from human settlements). A total of 75 transects in all of the three sites were placed in the study sites. Along the transects, a quadrate of 1 m2 after every 10 m was randomly placed. The study site yielded floral diversity of a total of 29 species, representing 23 genera and belonging to 9 families. Results showed that the areas away from the human communities had higher species diversity (20), while the site near to human settlements depicted lower diversity (14). It was observed that, although the site near to communities had lower diversity, it depicted higher plant density, while the highest diversity along with the lowest plant density was observed in sites away from the communities. The study concluded that the diversity of range grasses, especially desirable species, was affected by distance to human settlements. These findings could be useful to detect flora changes, establish habitat protection priorities and improve efforts for conserving natural landscapes.


Author(s):  
Maksim Lebedev ◽  

The Middle Holocene epoch in northeastern Africa was marked by a steady trend towards aridization. However, the transformation of ecosystems and natural landscapes was gradual and had a complex nature. This change directly affected the development of the first ancient Egyptian centralized state as well as the development of its resource base beyond the Nile Valley. This study addresses the problem of using ancient Egyptian epigraphic sources (expeditionary inscriptions) for the study of both paleolandscapes and ecosystems of the Western (Libyan) Desert and the possible socio-economic impact of their change. The author studies several graffiti, which are believed to have preserved information on natural conditions near the Dakhla oasis and in the region of Wadi Toshka during the time of construction of the great pyramids (Fourth Dynasty). The author concludes that it is quite easy to make misleading assumptions when interpreting expeditionary artefacts. At the same time, as an example with an unusual toponym from the quarries near Wadi Toshka demonstrates, even the shortest graffiti can provide researchers with important additional information on possible changes in the ancient climate and landscape.


Al-Burz ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-44
Author(s):  
Mir hazar Khan

When the industrial revolution and progressive tendencies in the nineteenth century influenced every sphere of life, literature could also not escape such trends. At that time, fiction (short story) was introduced as a new genre in literary world and soon it managed to generate a distinction. Like the other languages ​​of the world, fiction writers of Brahui literature also effectively adopted this genre. Among the pioneer Brahui fiction writers, the name of Gul Bangulzai is also well known who initiated the fiction writing. The effects of the progressive literary movement can be seen in his fiction writings. Gul Bangulzai in his book of fiction, Darhd ata Guachi, centralized the topic on the problems of ordinary individuals and lower class of the region. The book was first published in 1984, thus, standing the second book in Brahui literature after Dr. Taj Raisani's book, Anjeer na Phul. In, Darhd ata Guachi, Gul Bangulzai mainly reflected the problems of village life in a unique manner. Gul Bangulzai skillfully identified the problems of farmers, laborers, women, shepherds, and gypsies. Additionally, the themes also include poverty, starvation, the hardships of weather, cruelties of higher class, the culture and traditions of people of Baluchistan, and their mentality.  The fiction also depicted the stunning natural landscapes of this region. In the fictions of Gul Bangulzai frustration, deprivation, helplessness, cruelties, and poverty are observable. However, ultimately, the message it conveys that after the dark night there is a dawn of new morning and hope which is another distinguished beauty of the fictions of Gul Bangulzai, bestows him a unique status in Brahui literature wherein most fictions revolves around the complications of village life.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-112
Author(s):  
Carolyn Aguilar-Dubose ◽  
Maite García-Vedrenne

Studying old maps showing the transformation of Mexico City can unveil possible footprints of historic facilities and utilities that have disappeared in the process of urban modernization. The objective of this exercise is to uncover the location of old structures of Pre-Hispanic and Colonial Mexico City as a basis for creating a new footprint of urban memory and identity. A city of promenades proposes the remembrance and use of public space, such as the recuperation of lost cultural and geographic landscapes. It takes the routes and paths, the aqueducts, the roads, the moats, the ramparts, the gates of the historic city and its connections to other villages, which now conform this great metropolitan area and it revives them in order to bring communities together. Inhabitants experience a sense of belonging to a meaningful place, while looking back to the past of a growing city. These paths will serve as initiators of projects and actions which will improve patterns of use and sense of identity, offering landmarks, establishing linear parks as connectors of different scales of existing parks and, through modern design, creating a rediscovered footprint of monuments, landscapes and infrastructures long gone. This proposal is an integral project for the Mexico City Metropolitan Area. It begins at the neighbourhood level and forms part of an urban park system; connecting the surrounding natural landscapes and woodlands, the urban parks, sports clubs, neighbourhood parks, squares, bridges, central reservations, sidewalks, tree and flower beds, chapels, rights of way, unused railways, roads, avenues, greenhouses, agricultural trails, cemeteries, brooks and waterways, ravines, canals, terraces, balconies, cloisters and convent patios, archeological sites and unbuilt urban block cores. The city of paths and strolls, of boulevards, of old roads to haciendas and convents, of dikes, gateways, old custom house gates, water fountains and springs, canals, causeways, watermills and aqueducts is an academic exercise with students and teachers to find a meaningful representation of the layers of history that builds a city and creates identity.


Author(s):  
J. Kvitsjøen ◽  
B. C. Braskerud ◽  
A. Borge ◽  
V. Nilsen ◽  
U. Zühlke

Abstract A number of cost-effective and environmentally friendly flood reduction measures can provide detention of runoff from natural landscapes upstream of urban areas, with multiple added benefits. This study presents a methodology for assessing the needs for and feasibility of natural flood detention facilities. The candidate catchments for natural flood detention facilities were identified by GIS analysis and further assessed using data from maps and field inspections. Results for two case catchments show that a suitable topography and nature and biodiversity are key feasibility criteria for natural flood detention facilities. The study concluded that it is possible to streamline the process of selecting the location and type of natural flood detentions facilities. Map analyses, field inspections and interdisciplinary collaboration are all important when planning natural flood detention facilities. As a result of the study, the City of Oslo will construct several natural flood detention facilities upstream of the city to gain practical experience with such facilities. While it is not expected that natural flood detention will solve all flooding problems in urban areas, it is expected that natural flood detention can positively contribute to future resilient stormwater management and the implementation of the EU Strategy on Adaptation to Climate Change.


2021 ◽  
pp. 100-111
Author(s):  
Natalia Unagaeva ◽  
Irina Fedchenko ◽  
Alexey Lipovka ◽  
Olga Bliankinshtein ◽  
Natalia Popkova ◽  
...  

The open public spaces (OPS) of Krasnoyarsk are analyzed from the perspective of the global trend in the comfortable urban environment formation. The given classification reflects the unique natural landscapes and objects of the existing landscape-planning structure of the city. The methodological approach to the complex analysis of their current state is based on the assessment of the territory development potentials and is carried out, inter alia, with the use of geoinformation data analysis. The unique and unified factors influencing the development of the OPS are identified and recommendations are given for their transformation into indicators and parameters of the environment comfort. The principles are formulated and the prospects for the further development of OPS in Krasnoyarsk are outlined.


2021 ◽  
Vol 946 (1) ◽  
pp. 012037
Author(s):  
A Yu Sanin ◽  
V Kulakovskaya

Abstract Adverse and dangerous natural processes are a deterrent factor in the economic, in particular, recreational use of the coastal territories of Russia. They significantly reduce their tourist potential. At the same time, a decrease in the recreational value of territories is one of the consequences of human impact on the natural landscapes of the coastal zone. It seems important to consider the impact of adverse and dangerous natural processes specifically for coastal recreational areas due to their exceptional importance for domestic tourism. It, in turn, plays a huge role both for the economy of Russia and certain regions of our country, and for Russians themselves: tourists and local residents. As a result of the research, for each of the seaside recreational areas available in Russia, the study revealed the most characteristic adverse and dangerous natural processes. Some of them are more or less manifested everywhere, for example, abrasion processes or storms. Others, in particular, seismic threat, are characteristic only for certain coastal territories. Measures to counteract dangerous natural processes are also somewhat similar for all the regions considered. However, when developing measures to counteract adverse and dangerous natural processes, the peculiarities of coastal regions should also be taken into account. Such features include climatic and relief characteristics, the landscapes of the region, the existing structure of human activity and the intensity of economic development of the region, the types of tourism that are characteristic of it, and the level of popularity of the region among recreants, as well as its recreational potential.


2021 ◽  
Vol 937 (2) ◽  
pp. 022006
Author(s):  
O Zhurlov

Abstract Currently, the methods used for sampling soil do not meet modern requirements when conducting comprehensive studies of ecological state of soils. Stratified sampling of soil samples does not allow us to judge the gradients of distribution of agrochemical parameters and microbial communities of surface soil layer in natural landscapes. The use of method of GPS positioning of equidistant points of surface layer of soil in a comprehensive study of agrochemical parameters of soil, the composition of microbial communities of landscape makes it possible to draw up a summary map-scheme (GIS). The article analyzes methodological features of selection of soil samples for agrochemical, bacteriological, and molecular biological analysis. Using example of southern alkaline chernozem with gradient of pH distribution from 7.5 to 8.5 units, the distribution of microbial communities and agrochemical parameters in surface layer of soil of a perennial fallow is shown. The range of changes in agrochemical indicators on site with an area of 1 ha for organic matter was (1.4 ± 0.3% - 5.4 ± 0.5%), ammonium (12.3 ± 1.2 - 26.7 ± 2.7 mg/kg), and nitrate nitrogen (0.9 ± 0.1 - 3.9 ± 0.6 mg/kg). The change in microbial communities corresponded to gradient of soil agrochemical parameters.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (23) ◽  
pp. 4731
Author(s):  
Whittaker Schroder ◽  
Timothy Murtha ◽  
Charles Golden ◽  
Andrew K. Scherer ◽  
Eben N. Broadbent ◽  
...  

Airborne laser scanning has proven useful for rapid and extensive documentation of historic cultural landscapes after years of applications mapping natural landscapes and the built environment. The recent integration of unoccupied aerial vehicles (UAVs) with LiDAR systems is potentially transformative and offers complementary data for mapping targeted areas with high precision and systematic study of coupled natural and human systems. We report the results of data capture, analysis, and processing of UAV LiDAR data collected in the Maya Lowlands of Chiapas, Mexico in 2019 for a comparative landscape study. Six areas of archaeological settlement and long-term land-use reflecting a diversity of environments, land cover, and archaeological features were studied. These missions were characterized by areas that were variably forested, rugged, or flat, and included pre-Hispanic settlements and agrarian landscapes. Our study confirms that UAV LiDAR systems have great potential for broader application in high-precision archaeological mapping applications. We also conclude that these studies offer an important opportunity for multi-disciplinary collaboration. UAV LiDAR offers high-precision information that is not only useful for mapping archaeological features, but also provides critical information about long-term land use and landscape change in the context of archaeological resources.


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