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Copyright of Grundwasser is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Understanding the relationship between urban form and urban shrinkage is crucial for developing sustainable urban policies, particularly in medium-sized cities facing demographic and economic challenges. This study investigates the complex relationship between urban form and urban shrinkage in medium-sized Polish cities (population of 20,000 to 100,000), highlighting the implications for sustainability. Utilising a comprehensive multi-factor approach, it analyses the shrinkage and growth trends over 15 years (2006–2021) by establishing a shrinkage/growth score based on social, demographic, and economic factors for each city. It examines spatial aspects, particularly urban form compactness and population density, using Corine Land Cover (CLC) spatial data, making the methodology applicable to urban areas across Europe. The findings reveal no significant overall correlation between urban compactness and shrinkage/growth score across all cities. However, a positive correlation exists within "urban municipalities", indicating that less compact urban areas tend to experience more shrinkage. Additionally, a temporary negative correlation between population density and shrinkage/growth score was observed from 2006 to 2016, which shifted to a positive trend in "urban municipalities" from 2016 to 2021. These results highlight urban shrinkage's complex and dynamic nature and its potential ties to urban form. The study concludes with recommendations for urban policymakers and planners regarding compact and dense urban strategies to mitigate the adverse effects of shrinkage and enhance urban resilience and sustainability. While the trends change, the study highlights the need for further analysis of these relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural landscapes contribute positively to the visual texture of the city and change over time. In this context, this study aims to determine the visual landscape quality of agricultural landscapes based on parameters on expert approach the hypothesis; it is important and necessary to determine the visual landscape values based on the change in agricultural landscapes over time. Within the framework of the developed hypothesis, it aims to make an expert-based visual landscape assessment of the agricultural landscapes of Tekirdağ Province, located in the northwestern part of Türkiye, based on nine subclasses created according to the CORINE land cover (CLC) classes, on the basis of 4 main parameters. Using the AHP technique, the priorities of the parameters and agricultural landscape classes and the relationships between basic parameters and visual preferences were determined. In this direction, the questions; What are the priorities of parameters that are effective in determining the visual quality of agricultural landscapes on the basis of expert approach?; What kind of changes have occurred in agricultural landscapes during the years 1990-2000-2006-2012-2018 in 9 subclasses created according to the CLC classes? and; How should the visual landscape quality values of the agricultural landscape subclasses created according to the CLC classes be ranked? The results of the study can be used as a tool in landscape planning and management studies as a factor in strengthening landscape quality.

Abstract This study investigated the germination capacity (endogenous factor) of Petagnaea gussonei (Spreng.) Rauschert, an endemic monospecific plant considered as a relict species of the ancient Mediterranean Tertiary flora. This investigation focused also on the temporal trends of soil-use, climate and desertification (exogenous factors) across the natural range of P. gussonei. The final germination percentage showed low values between 14 and 32%, the latter obtained with GA3 and agar at 10 °C. The rising temperatures in the study area will further increase the dormancy of P. gussonei, whose germination capacity was lower and slower at temperatures higher than 10 °C. A further limiting factor of P. gussonei is its dormancy, which seems to be morpho-physiological. Regarding climate trends, in the period 1931–2020, the average temperature increased by 0.5 °C, from 15.4 to 15.9 °C, in line with the projected climate changes throughout the twenty-first century across the Mediterranean region. The average annual rainfall showed a relatively constant value of c. 900 mm, but extreme events grew considerably in the period 1991–2020. Similarly, the land affected by desertification expanded in an alarming way, by increasing from 21.2% in 2000 to 47.3% in 2020. Soil-use changes created also a complex impacting mosaic where c. 40% are agricultural areas. The effective conservation of P. gussonei should be multilateral by relying on germplasm banks, improving landscape connectivity and vegetation cover, and promoting climate policies.

The goal of this research was a quantitative-spatial high-resolution analysis of population distribution based on residential building data extracted from topographic objects database. Attribute information on residential buildings (location, volume, function) provides opportunities to estimate the number of residents. The recalculation of the population from the urban units of Cracow into new spatial units was based on the area-weighted aggregation method. The location of residential buildings constituted a limiting variable, and the total square meterage (calculated as the area of the buildings and the number of their floors) constituted the binding variable. The introduction of additional binding variables related to the type of building and its location, as well as various methods of determining the square meterage per building type, resulted in the creation of a total of nineteen maps of population. As a result, the best methods for the correct geographic scale and segmentation of residential building type—single family or multifamily—were identified. For the input data, based solely on the amount of population in urban units, the calculated value of the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) in the 1 × 1 km grid was 310.8 percent, and for the root mean square error (RMSE) was 1,476 people. In the dasymetric method, directly associating the population with the volume of residential buildings, the errors fell to 21.9 percent and 632 people, respectively. The best result was obtained for the variant based on minimizing the RMSE, associating the number of residents to single-family buildings (2.88 people/building) and associating the number of residents to the square footage in multifamily buildings (37.1 m2/person; MAPE = 19.2 percent, RMSE = 556 people). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grasslands are one of the most widespread terrestrial biomes. In Europe, the majority of grasslands depends on human management, and as a result, grassland areas are facing different dynamics and transitions to other land cover types. This study identifies the trajectories in grassland cover in Europe from 1990 to 2018. Using a 1 km × 1 km grid spanning most European countries, we identified increasing, decreasing and mixed development trajectories of grassland cover. For each development trajectory, we selected four representative hotspots and identified the land cover and its changes over different periods. Our results reveal that the decreasing development trajectory occurred on 35% of the aggregated grids with hotspots in Eastern Europe, the Mediterranean region and the UK. The increasing development trajectory occurred on 20% of the aggregated grids, centred in Central Europe, and the mixed development trajectory occurred on 3% of the aggregated grids. Within the selected hotspots, the development trajectories were linked to transitions among agricultural land cover classes or to transitions with shrubs and urban areas. The development trajectories also indicated strong country-specific differences, suggesting a strong impact of national policies. The generated outcomes of this study can be used to support decision-making on future pathways for grassland habitats on a European scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-cover change dynamics were investigated in a Mediterranean coastal wetland to evaluate the long-term effectiveness of nature reserve management. A multitemporal analysis of land cover maps was conducted, utilizing visual interpretation of aerial orthophotos from the summer seasons of 1996, 2008, 2015, and 2021. Landscape changes were evaluated by transition matrices and chord diagrams. Maps were classified in accordance with CORINE land cover types at a fourth level of detail. The multitemporal analyses provided a comprehensive overview of landscape changes within the reserve over the past 25 years. The most notable changes were the increase of wetland areas and the reduction of agricultural and artificial areas. Moreover, seminatural vegetation constantly extended over time. These changes reflected the continuous management activities within the nature reserve, encompassing agreements for water supply, restoration projects, and measures to counteract illegality. These operational actions induced fine-grained ecological changes (outcomes at ecosystem level). This study highlighted the importance of remote sensing and landscape analysis, matched with fine-grained management data, as tool for long-term monitoring. Such an approach provides valuable support in evaluating the effectiveness of strategies promoted in nature reserves hosting wet coastal ecosystems of high conservation concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary goal of asthma management is to achieve and maintain asthma control, which can be influenced by environmental factors. This longitudinal study aimed to construct a comprehensive environmental indicator to predict asthma control in children with asthma in Palermo, Italy. The study included 179 asthmatic children aged 5–16 years. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was used to measure green cover, and the Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) framework was used to assess land use based on each home address. A land use regression (LUR) model centered on the home address estimated NO2 exposure for each child using GIS. An environmental indicator, including environmental and personal exposure, was formulated using an additive value model approach. A logistic regression mixed model assessed the association between the environmental indicator and uncontrolled asthma. A probability map of uncontrolled asthma was constructed. In conclusion, a comprehensive environmental indicator proved effective in identifying areas at higher and lower risk of uncontrolled asthma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective forest management systems based on comprehensive tools need to be developed for the analysis and assessment of forest cover change. This requires a wide range of data, starting from old maps, which allow the reconstruction of spatially referenced information on past forest areas, to recently collected data. The research methodology proposed in this paper involves a combined analysis of data from different sources, using statistical, comparative, and visual analysis methods. The case study is Jurbarkas District of the Republic of Lithuania characterized by a high land productivity score. The research found that the highest forest cover areas were in the 19th century and the lowest in the 20th century. It can be seen that during the period under research, forest areas 'migrated' from an area favorable for agricultural activities to a less favorable area with higher slopes. Permanent forest cover areas and the age of the dominant trees have been identified. The age of the trees in the forest areas has allowed for the identification of the periods when the most intensive logging took place. The rate of forest cover change made it possible to predict the total disappearance of the forest areas provided that the factors influencing forest cover change at that time remained unchanged. If the trends in forest change in Jurbarkas District had been maintained in the period between the 19th and 20th centuries, the forest would have disappeared in 2006. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-Based solutions (NBS) are the measures supported by natural processes that can adapt to changing climates and generate diverse social, economic, and environmental benefits. Recognising the potential for additional NBS benefits, and quantifying these benefits is essential as it encourages decision-makers to implement and scale-up NBS initiatives. This paper presents findings from a systematic literature review. The review focused on tools and methodologies used for assessing the environmental benefits of implementing NBS. This review provides a detailed compilation of environmental indicators supported by assessment tools. It also includes a catalogue of tools for evaluating environmental benefits, thereby identifying research gaps. Moreover, this research proposes a methodology that uses an ArcGIS (Architecture of Geographic Information Systems) toolbox to identify habitat changes resulting from the implementation of NBS. The methodology translates CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) land cover classes to EUNIS (European Nature Information System) habitat classes. The developed toolbox was applied to two case studies: Denmark (12 NBS) and the Netherlands (3 NBS). The assessment aimed to compare the habitat changes between 2000 and 2018 as two extreme time points for NBS implementation for both case studies. Results indicate that NBS implementation can change habitats leading to an increase in the Red-necked Grebe population in Denmark and a decline in the Black-tailed Godwit population in the Netherlands (two threatened species). The population change highlights the potential positive and potential negative impacts of NBS in their respective cases. These findings suggest Denmark could benefit from lake construction and restoration projects. At the same time, the Netherlands could invest in wetlands and meadows construction and restoration projects to protect the respective species. They could establish designated breeding zones to ensure their population does not decline rapidly.

We mapped the distribution for the past 18 years (2004-2022) of five protected amphibian species across Bulgaria using a spatial resolution of 100 m2 in CORINE Land Cover 2018 (CLC). Since the altitudinal distribution and habitat preferences of these species in the country make them potentially vulnerable to agricultural activities, the primary aim was to establish what part of the known records of each species falls within agricultural lands. Results indicated that all five studied species inhabit CLC types falling within the general type "Agricultural areas" (CLC Level 1: 2), with four species predominantly occurring in such regions. In total, three species (Bombina bombina, Triturus cristatus and T. ivanbureschi) had more than 50% of their distribution records in agricultural areas. In another species, Triturus dobrogicus, the percentage was above 40%. The lowest number (under 36%) was for B. variegata. For T. dobrogicus, nearly 32% of all records were concentrated in the CLC Level 3 category "Non-irrigated arable lands". This data suggests that a large percentage of the populations of these protected species across Bulgaria are potentially exposed to agricultural practices such as pesticide use, or crop land aggregation and highlight the need for regional approach for species protection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The landscapes and, implicitly, the surfaces of secondary grasslands in the mountain areas have been intensively modified and transformed by humans. In this context, this paper analyses the spatial and temporal changes of grassland surfaces following the impact of human population reduction. Thus, the study proposes the implementation of the Grassland Anthropic Impact Index (GAII) as a "measurement tool" to functionally link the two components, grassland surface and human population. The spatiotemporal analyses are based on Corine Land Cover data and demographic data, processed via Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methods and the Land Change Modeler (LCM) tool. The research shows that over a period of 28 years, the population, which was continuously decreasing, caused a series of transformations to the grasslands over an area of 33343 ha. The influence of the reduction in the number of inhabitants was also demonstrated by the direction of the changes produced in the grassland surfaces: in the better populated areas, the grasslands expanded over lands with other uses, and in the sparsely populated areas, they were abandoned. GAII values generally increase with the decrease of the population in the target area, meaning that for an inhabitant (potential user) a greater grassland surface is reported, resulting in a greater responsibility for the management of this resource on a space and time scale. Following the evaluation of the trend of the last 28 years, it was observed that the depopulation of mountain areas can be seen as a threat to grassland ecosystems, either through the transition to other categories of use, or through abandonment. The implications of these phenomena are much broader: they produce chain reactions and affect other components of the regional geosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landscapes are dynamic areas which can be studied from the perspective of different, but related, disciplines. The application of GIS methods to study landscape change is an interesting resource to help understand and explain landscape dynamics. Thus, the objective of this paper is to characterize land cover dynamism and identify land cover change 'hotspots'. The method used here generates raster maps in which each pixel value represents the number of times each pixel has changed land cover between 1990-2018. Furthermore, it provides three of these maps, since it works with the 3 taxonomic levels of Corine Land Cover datasets, giving us different levels of detail in the analysis. On the other hand, the statistical treatment of the data has been done at the municipal level. The most important results reveal that Agüimes is the municipality with the most dynamic land cover change in the three levels, while Tejeda, in level 1, and Valsequillo, in levels 2 and 3, have the least changing land cover. These outputs are complemented with other statistical analyses which allow the integration of different data types such as those related to population, tourism and agriculture. Subsequently, some of the methodological issues and findings are discussed and put in context with the scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The land use, in any geographical region, is constantly changing, under the action of natural and/or anthropogenic factors. The changes produced on land use categories can have positive and/or negative consequences on terrestrial ecosystems or can be reflected in the profile of human activities. In this context, the purpose of the research included in this study was to identify the changes produced in time and space in the land use, in the Crisul Alb river basin, over a period of approximately thirty years. Starting from the results obtained, by quantifying the "mobilized" surfaces, an alarm signal was raised on the risks associated with these changes or their benefits were highlighted. In rural areas, in general, but also in the case of the study area, there were situations of afforestation of grasslands, in contact with forestry, the abandonment of fruit plantations and the transition of these lands to other ways of use. On the other hand, in areas with agricultural activities, accessible and better populated, the expansion of arable land and the establishment or "revitalization" of fruit plantations was highlighted, Based on the results obtained in this study, it can be stated that monitoring changes in land use is particularly important in management strategies, at local and regional level.

ABSTRACTCORINE Land Cover is one of the most relevant Land Use Cover (LUC) databases in Europe because of its degree of detail and long time series. Although some studies have assessed the uncertainty and inconsistencies of the database for specific years and periods, no work has been found that analyses all the available CORINE time series (1990–2018). In this study, we analyse the inconsistencies of the CORINE time series for a specific Spanish region (Asturias). To this end, we compare and analyse the CORINE status layers (CLC) and the CORINE layers of changes (CHA) for each of the mapped periods: 1990–2000, 2000–2006, 2006–2012, 2012–2018. Results show how CLC and CHA layers provide different information, especially after the change of production of CORINE Spain in 2012. The last two CORINE editions (2012, 2018) show a lot of technical changes that make the use of CLC layers very uncertain. In addition, mixed categories, whose definition is imprecise and, therefore, more uncertain, are behind most of detected change in both types of CORINE layers (CHA, CLC).

CORINE Land Cover is one of the most relevant Land Use Cover (LUC) databases in Europe because of its degree of detail and long time series. Although some studies have assessed the uncertainty and inconsistencies of the database for specific years and periods, no work has been found that analyses all the available CORINE time series (1990–2018). In this study, we analyse the inconsistencies of the CORINE time series for a specific Spanish region (Asturias). To this end, we compare and analyse the CORINE status layers (CLC) and the CORINE layers of changes (CHA) for each of the mapped periods: 1990–2000, 2000–2006, 2006–2012, 2012–2018. Results show how CLC and CHA layers provide different information, especially after the change of production of CORINE Spain in 2012. The last two CORINE editions (2012, 2018) show a lot of technical changes that make the use of CLC layers very uncertain. In addition, mixed categories, whose definition is imprecise and, therefore, more uncertain, are behind most of detected change in both types of CORINE layers (CHA, CLC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista de Ciencias is the property of Universidad del Valle and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Cuadernos de Investigación Geográfica is the property of Universidad de la Rioja, Servicio de Publicaciones and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The landscapes and, implicitly, the surfaces of secondary grasslands in the mountain areas have been intensively modified and transformed by humans. In this context, this paper analyses the spatial and temporal changes of grassland surfaces following the impact of human population reduction. Thus, the study proposes the implementation of the Grassland Anthropic Impact Index (GAII) as a “measurement tool” to functionally link the two components, grassland surface and human population. The spatiotemporal analyses are based on Corine Land Cover data and demographic data, processed via Geographic Information Systems (GIS) methods and the Land Change Modeler (LCM) tool. The research shows that over a period of 28 years, the population, which was continuously decreasing, caused a series of transformations to the grasslands over an area of 33343 ha. The influence of the reduction in the number of inhabitants was also demonstrated by the direction of the changes produced in the grassland surfaces: in the better populated areas, the grasslands expanded over lands with other uses, and in the sparsely populated areas, they were abandoned. GAII values generally increase with the decrease of the population in the target area, meaning that for an inhabitant (potential user) a greater grassland surface is reported, resulting in a greater responsibility for the management of this resource on a space and time scale. Following the evaluation of the trend of the last 28 years, it was observed that the depopulation of mountain areas can be seen as a threat to grassland ecosystems, either through the transition to other categories of use, or through abandonment. The implications of these phenomena are much broader: they produce chain reactions and affect other components of the regional geosystem.

Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) datasets are widely used across disciplines, with many users demanding more and better information. Understanding the uncertainties and errors associated to the main LULC datasets is a required step to facilitate their correct use, as well as to identify what could be improved in the future production of these products. CORINE Land Cover is probably the most well-known and used LULC dataset in Europe, especially valuable for the rich time-series that it provides. Despite being produced through a change mapping first approach, which tries to avoid technical errors and uncertainties in the temporal analysis of LULC changes, the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service distributes status layers of CORINE (CSL), which are not valid for change analysis because of their associated errors and uncertainties. The CORINE layers of changes (CHA) remove a lot of these issues, but do not meet the needs of many users. In Portugal, the national authority in charge of producing CORINE, the DGT, has implemented a backdating approach to produce consistent CSL layers that allow change analysis with low levels of uncertainty. Throughout this paper, we evaluate the changes that can be analyzed through all available CORINE layers in Portugal: Copernicus CSL layers; the national DGT CSL layers; and CHA layers. To this end, we aim to assess what type of changes can be studied through each type of layer, their associated sources of uncertainty and the relevance and utility of the Portuguese backdating approach to produce a consistent time-series of LULC maps. The results prove how the Portuguese CORINE layers distributed by the Copernicus Land Monitoring Service contain important sources of uncertainty, which however have been removed through the national backdating methodology. This methodology can be therefore exported for the production of CORINE in other European countries.

Land degradation impacts most terrestrial biomes across all world regions. To address global change challenges emanating from degrading natural resources, many countries voluntarily set themselves the goal of achieving Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). Baseline conditions are to be established over a reference period (2000 – 2015). With seven more years to monitor this Sustainable Development Goal 15 indicator — SDG15.3.1 until the year 2030, the scientific basis for operationalizing LDN is still evolving. The non-availability of annual land use-land cover maps of sufficient resolution in various countries, among them Switzerland, is a major factor hampering the assessment at national and local levels. Land cover change is assessed for seven land categories (that is, Tree-covered area, Grassland, Cropland, Wetland, Artificial Surfaces, Otherland, and Waterbody). Land cover change is a major LDN sub-indicator required to assess the proportion of degraded land to total land area (SDG15.3.1). Annual land cover datasets from 2015 to 2020 were produced at 10 m from Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 images using a Remote Sensing and Geographic Information System-based workflow. An evaluation of degradation in land cover is presented in support of the operationalization of LDN in Switzerland. Drawing upon the understanding that changes made to land use-land cover may act as precursors to land degradation processes, transitions relating to the loss of natural cover were identified based on the land cover change criteria during the reference and the monitored periods. The criteria were developed for relating land cover transitions to degrading and non-degrading processes. Such transitions were grasslands to tree-covered areas and croplands to artificial surfaces due to settlement development. For example, the amount of cropland converted to artificial surface areas was greater in absolute terms during the monitored period than during the reference period. Also, the regeneration of natural cover involving transitions from otherland to grassland and from grasslands to tree-covered areas was found. Overall trends between 2000 and 2020 in Switzerland are the increasing settlement areas in the Central Plateau, the Alpine valleys of Valais and Ticino, largely at the expense of croplands and the bush encroachment of pastures such as in the Jura. This study’s contributions include an enhanced workflow for annual land cover mapping for the entire Switzerland and the adaptation of the land cover change criteria to fit the Swiss context. The proposed mapping method has the potential to fill the gap between the production cycles of the Swiss Corine and Arealstatistik land use data.

This study investigated the relationship between landscape structure at different distances from the Drava River in South Hungary and the food composition of the Common Barn-owl. Pellets were collected from 15 villages between 2006 and 2008. Based on the CORINE land cover elements, five land use types were determined, and five landscape metrics were calculated to compare land use and landscape structure in the three distance zones. There were significant differences in the Shannon and Simpson diversity of small mammal assemblages between the three areas. A positive relationship was detected between the distance categories and the abundance distribution of the Striped Field Mouse and Field Vole. The relative abundance of the Striped Field Mouse in the diet of Common Barn-owl was influenced by the increase in the mean perimeter/area ratio and the mean of the contiguity index. The value of the trophic level index was negatively influenced by the decrease in crop patches and the increase in pasture and grassland areas, which land use types facilitate the distribution of insectivores. Our results suggest that landscape characteristics influence prey occurrence in hunting areas and the frequency-dependent availability of small mammal prey, which determines the resource utilization of Common Barn-owl. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon sequestration in earth surface is higher than the atmosphere, and the amount of carbon stored in wetlands is much greater than all other land surfaces. The purpose of this study was to estimate soil organic carbon stocks (SOCS) and investigate spatial distribution pattern of Yuksekova wetlands and surrounding lands in Hakkari province of Turkey using machine learning and remote sensing data. Disturbed and undisturbed soil samples were collected from 10-cm depth in 50 locations differed with land use and land cover. Vegetation, soil, and moisture indices were calculated using Sentinel 2 Multispectral Sensor Instrument (MSI) data. Significant correlations (p≤0.01) were obtained between the indices and SOCS; thus, the remote sensing indices (ARVI 0.43, BI −0.43, GSI −0.39, GNDI 0.44, NDVI 0.44, NDWI 0.38, and SRCI 0.51) were used as covariates in multi-layer perceptron neural network (MLP) and gradient descent–boosted regression tree (GBDT) machine learning models. Mean absolute error, root mean square error, and mean absolute percentage error were 3.94 (Mg C ha −1), 6.64 (Mg C ha−1), and 9.97%, respectively. The simple ratio clay index (SRCI), which represents the soil texture, was the most important factor in the SOCS estimation variance. In addition, the relationship between SRCI and Topsoil Grain Size Index revealed that topsoil clay content is a highly important parameter in spatial variation of SOCS. The spatial SOCS values obtained using the GBDT model and the mean SOCS values of the CORINE land cover classes were significantly different. The land cover has a significant effect on SOC in Yuksekova plain. The mean SOCS for continuously ponded fields was 45.58 Mg C ha−1, which was significantly different from the mean SOCS of arable lands. The mean SOCS in arable lands, with significant areas of natural vegetation, was 50.22 Mg C ha−1 and this amount was significantly higher from the SOCS of other land covers (p<0.01). The wetlands had the highest SOCS (61.46 Mg C ha−1), followed by the lands principally occupied by natural vegetation and used as rangelands around the wetland (50.22 Mg C ha−1). Environmental conditions had significant effect on SOCS in the study area. The use of remote sensing indices instead of using single bands as estimators in the GBDT algorithm minimized radiometric errors, and reliable spatial SOCS information was obtained by using the estimators. Therefore, the spatial estimation of SOCS can be successfully determined with up-to-date machine learning algorithms only using remote sensing predictor variables. Reliable estimation of SOCS in wetlands and surrounding lands can help understand policy and decision makers the importance of wetlands in mitigating the negative impacts of global warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our research, we investigated the surface cover of the Karcsa Lake, a relic of the former Tisza riverbed, by digitising and evaluating images from several dates (1966, 2000, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2020) over the past 50 years. In addition to monitoring the changes in land cover over the past decades, our results have been used to draw conclusions about the extent to which the lake environment may be pressuring the lake and the proportion of ecologically valuable areas. By evaluating the above, we can draw conclusions about the future of a valuable lake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in land use patterns induced by different agricultural practices are reflected territorially through transformations at the level of elementary landscape units, with an impact on territorial identity and cohesion. The aim of this study is to highlight the dynamics of the territorial structures in the post-communist period (1990-2018), diachronically reflected in the transformations of the landscape of the Guruslău Depression, using the landscape metrics. The main direction of the scientific research was based on the analysis of land use changes and the identification of the spatial elements of structural-landscape distinction with impact on land degradation process. The evaluation of the landscape dynamics in the current context uses several effective metrics and tools, which increasingly require the identification of interdisciplinary methods of analysis, with a decisive impact on territorial development. Besides, the present approach is also motivated by the increasing environmental impact of climate change. The methodology used in the present paper is based both on the geoprocessing of vector data using GIS tools and correlated spatial analysis, and on the identification of landscape types using a new process of reclassifying land use categories, according to a set of landscape definition variables. The results of the research highlighted both the particularities of landscape transformations that occurred in the reference interval, as well as the favourable conditions for addressing biocultural diversity, by identifying traditional agricultural practices and the resilience of geographical landscapes given the adaptation to changing development strategies. Meanwhile, by detecting the landscape structures affected by change, in correlation with the impact induced on the biodiversity of the territory, the present study has a wide applicability in the most appropriate implementation of local development policies, as well as in identifying the forms of sustainable valorisation of the landscape in the study area.

The search for the best landscape predictors explaining the spatial variability of stream water chemistry is one of the most important and recent research issues. Thus, in the current study, relationships between land cover indices and selected water quality parameters were evaluated regarding the example of 54 lowland temperate streams located in central Poland. From November 2021 to March 2022, water samples were collected in the monthly timescale, and the concentrations of NH4+, NO3−, and NO2−, as well as electrical conductivity, were correlated with the percentage of land cover types calculated for total catchment area, buffer zones, cut buffer zones, and radius. For such computing, Corine Land Cover 2018 and Sentinel 2 Global Land Cover datasets were used. In the case of both datasets, results indicate significant dependence of NO3−, and NO2− concentrations, as well as EC values on cover metrics. Overall, agricultural lands favored higher concentrations of NO3− and NO2−, whereas mainly coniferous forests reduced nitrogen pollution. Significant correlations were not documented in the case of NH4+ ions, the concentrations of which could be linked to point sources from municipal activity. Correlation performance was slightly better in the case of the S2GLC dataset, while the best spatial scales were generally seen for wider buffer zones (250 and 500 m) and total catchment area. The study provided spatially extensive insight into the impact of land cover predictors at different scales on nitrogen compounds in a lowland landscape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The structure of land cover in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) and the Republic of Serbia has been constantly changing due to a number of different factors. The war profoundly influenced life, particularly the socio-economic structure, which furthermore has a meaningful impact on current land cover. In this research CORINE land cover (CLC) databases are used (from 2000 to 2018) for analysis and comparison of land cover in the aforementioned countries. The analysis is conducted by ArcGIS Pro 2.9.0 software to interpret changes in land cover over the period 2000-2018. The result showed that in the period from 2000 to 2018 agricultural land has a trend of a significant decrease in both countries. In addition, artificial surfaces enlarged their surface, especially to the detriment of all agricultural categories which is directly linked with the process of the post-war reconstruction of the countries. In this paper, land cover changes in Serbia and BiH that occurred during the period 2000-2018 are analyzed and presented in graphical forms. The results show that the period 2000-2006 has undergone the most intense changes. A total of 1,223.14 km2 of agricultural land was transferred to other types of land cover in Serbia in the period 2000-2006 while in BiH it amounted to 1,045.76 km2 . Most of these changes can be attributed to the past war and its implications, but also to the challenges of the current economic situation. The CLC database established in this way serves as a necessary framework for providing information on vulnerable ecosystems and habitats, as well as a basis for regional spatial planning, natural resource inventory and environmental monitoring.

• State-of-the-art research tools and methodologies to assess environmental benefits. • Proposed methodology to identify habitat area change using global Copernicus data. • Translation of land use, land cover classes to habitat classification system. • ArcGIS toolbox developed and applied to Denmark and Netherlands study area. • Positive or negative effect evaluation of the measure from biodiversity response. Nature-Based solutions (NBS) are the measures supported by natural processes that can adapt to changing climates and generate diverse social, economic, and environmental benefits. Recognising the potential for additional NBS benefits, and quantifying these benefits is essential as it encourages decision-makers to implement and scale-up NBS initiatives. This paper presents findings from a systematic literature review. The review focused on tools and methodologies used for assessing the environmental benefits of implementing NBS. This review provides a detailed compilation of environmental indicators supported by assessment tools. It also includes a catalogue of tools for evaluating environmental benefits, thereby identifying research gaps. Moreover, this research proposes a methodology that uses an ArcGIS (Architecture of Geographic Information Systems) toolbox to identify habitat changes resulting from the implementation of NBS. The methodology translates CORINE (Coordination of Information on the Environment) land cover classes to EUNIS (European Nature Information System) habitat classes. The developed toolbox was applied to two case studies: Denmark (12 NBS) and the Netherlands (3 NBS). The assessment aimed to compare the habitat changes between 2000 and 2018 as two extreme time points for NBS implementation for both case studies. Results indicate that NBS implementation can change habitats leading to an increase in the Red-necked Grebe population in Denmark and a decline in the Black-tailed Godwit population in the Netherlands (two threatened species). The population change highlights the potential positive and potential negative impacts of NBS in their respective cases. These findings suggest Denmark could benefit from lake construction and restoration projects. At the same time, the Netherlands could invest in wetlands and meadows construction and restoration projects to protect the respective species. They could establish designated breeding zones to ensure their population does not decline rapidly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main purpose of the paper is to explore the relationship between the CORINE Land Cover (CLC) classification and the MAES typology in order to develop a basis for mapping of ecosystems at national level in Bulgaria, which could ensure a spatial framework for mapping and assessment of the ecosystem services provided by the natural heritage. Identifying the necessary data for our purposes, we found that, in spatial terms, CLC data is the only appropriate data source. The subtypes of ecosystems at Level 3 of the classification of ecosystems in Bulgaria (based on the European MAES classification) are identified as mapping units. Firstly, we decided to analyze the links between the CLC and the MAES BG classes through five categories of correspondence: 1) full correspondence – one CLC class corresponds to one MAES BG subtype; 2) multi-directional links – one or more CLC classes correspond to one MAES BG subtype; 3) discrepancies that necessitate further analyses; 4) CLC classes that are not found in Bulgaria; 5) MAES BG subtypes that have no correspondence to a CLC class. Secondly, we prepared a comparison table to determine the correspondence between the CLC classes and ecosystem subtypes, which we integrated into the GIS environment. Thirdly, we developed an algorithm for modifications of the spatial distribution of ecosystem subtypes. The algorithm was applied particularly to grasslands, where at Level 3 of CLC there are two classes of "grassland”, whereas at Level 3 of the classification of ecosystems in Bulgaria, the subtypes are five. This algorithm was applied to the 2018 CLC spatial data so as to develop a GIS database providing the basis for subsequent analyzes related to ecosystems. The database was used to delineate and map the ecosystems at national level in Bulgaria. Furthermore, a map of the potential of the natural heritage to provide ecosystem services was produced.

The aim of this paper is to assess the agricultural potential of the mountainous area in southwestern Banat, by methods and geospatial materials that can complete or replace analog cartographic materials, especially in areas where they are lacking. As a case study, two administrative-territorial units from the Banat Mountains were selected: Ciclova Română and Sasca Montană. The fact that the study area overlaps over a large altitudinal range, between 123 - 1131 m, determines the variability of environmental conditions and is implicitly reflected in the use of land. The scientific information and geospatial data used in the research were processed in the GIS environment. The map of the land use for the analyzed area was obtained by processing the Corine Land Cover database, 2018 edition. Thus, it was found that, in the analyzed area, the forest areas occupy more than half of the territory, the pastures are found on approx. 17 % of the surface, and the arable lands, in lower percentages, on small areas, in the areas with low altitude. Land resources are of particular importance given the rural nature of the area and specific traditions.

The goal of this study is to investigate the impact of high-resolution SRTM and Corine Land Cover on the number of cloud–ground lightning flashes and their spatial distribution simulated by a numerical weather-prediction model. Two lightning episodes were selected: (1) over a non-complex terrain and (2) over a complex terrain, the Alps. Significant discrepancies were found in the geographical distribution of the land-cover classes and also in the topography between Corine Land Cover and 30-arc seconds USGS. In general, the timing and the spatial distribution of Cloud-to-Ground (CG) lightning by the model were well-represented when compared to the observations. In general, more CG flashes were calculated by the simulation with USGS Land Cover and topography than the simulation with Corine Land Cover and SRTM topography. It appears that the differences in sensible and latent heat fluxes between the simulations were caused by the differences in land-cover classes. Moreover, differences in the vertical wind speeds, specific humidity, temperature and the convective available potential energy were found when compared to observations, resulting in the differences in cloud–ground lightning flashes between the simulation with the SRTM topography and Corine Land Cover and the simulation with the USGS Land Cover and topography. Using the high-resolution land cover and topography data may help to reduce uncertainties in CG lightning calculations by the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: The spread of invasive bryophytes in Central Europe started in the 2nd half of the twentieth century. However, still it is not known which climatic and land-use factors shape their potential niche. Objectives: We aimed to develop regional-scale species distribution models based on climate, land-use, and distance to the earliest records (propagule pressure proxy) for Campylopus introflexus and Orthodontium lineare in Poland to test whether country-scale models will reveal differences in habitat suitability among regions. Methods: We assessed the importance of bioclimatic variables, CORINE Land Cover types, and distance from previous introduction sites in country-scale species distribution models for two invasive bryophytes: C. introflexus and O. lineare. We collected species distribution data in Poland and we developed MaxEnt models in 2.5' resolution (~ 5 km). Results: Climatic variables had total importance of < 10%, land-use-related variables of 33.5% and 17.1%, and propagule pressure of 56.8% and 75.6%, for C. introflexus and O. lineare, respectively. The most important land-use types were coniferous forests and urban areas. Western and southern Poland provides more sites suitable for colonization, covering 11.2% and 19.0% of the country. Actual range saturation is 11.8% and 5.9%, respectively, indicating the early stage of studied species invasions. Conclusions: We provided species distribution models for invasive bryophytes, accounting for climatic, land-use, and introduction history variables. The impact of anthropogenic land-use types indicated the importance of disturbance as the driver of studied species invasion. This is important for early detection, spread prevention, and management of studied species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Durante los últimos 50 años se han producido cambios significativos en las cubiertas y usos del suelo, principalmente aquellos catalogados como artificiales. Este proceso, y su generalización a escala global, afectan de forma directa a las funciones básicas del suelo, acrecentando otros problemas como pueden ser la pérdida de biodiversidad, contaminación, degradación edáfica, inundaciones, o los efectos del cambio climático. En el área de estudio (Mazarrón, Región de Murcia) el problema anterior resulta ejemplar: el binomio desarrollo urbano asociado al turismo de sol y playa y la agricultura intensiva (bajo invernaderos) alteran de forma drástica la naturaleza del suelo. El objetivo es establecer un modelo de clasificación supervisada que distinga, con un error asumible, las distintas clases establecidas, destacando sobre todas ellas las que supongan superficies sellantes y, además, realizar una comparación con la información del último Corine Land Cover disponible (2018). Para ello, se seleccionaron imágenes del satélite Sentinel 2A y se ejecutó una clasificación de máxima verosimilitud. Para validar los resultados, se elaboró una matriz de confusión en la que se obtuvo una precisión general del 89 %. Finalmente, se observó una subestimación significativa, por parte del Corine Land Cover, del 75 % de las superficies selladas debido a su resolución.

Over the last 50 years there have been significant changes in land cover and land use, mainly those classified as artificial. This process, and its generalisation on a global scale, affect directly the basic functions of the soil, increasing other problems such as the loss of biodiversity, pollution, soil degradation, flooding and the effects of climate change. In the study area (Mazarrón, Region of Murcia) this problem is exemplary: the binomial urban development associated with the increase of beach tourism and intensive agriculture (under greenhouses) alter drastically the nature of the soil. The aim of this paper is twofold: to establish a supervised classification model that distinguishes, with an assumable error, the different classes established, highlighting those considered as sealed surfaces and, in addition, to make a comparison with the latest Corine Land Cover available information (2018). For this purpose, Sentinel 2A satellite images were selected and a maximum likelihood classification was performed. To validate the results, a confusion matrix was developed and an overall accuracy of 89% was obtained. Finally, a significantly underestimation by the Corine Land Cover of 75% of the sealed surfaces was observed, mainly due to its resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proximity of mineral extraction sites to settlements is a conflicting issue for urban studies. This study aims at exploring the change in the proximity of mines to settlements in Turkey between the years 2012 and 2018 and determining the cities which continue to be near mineral extraction sites. For this aim, analysis tools of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) are used with the mineral extraction sites and urban settlements layers of the Coordination of Information on the Environment (CORINE) land cover data of Turkey for these years. The findings of this study showed that the area of mines adjacent to settlements is increased from nearly 19905 hectares to nearly 21305 hectares and the area of mineral extraction sites within 1 and 500 meters to the nearest settlements is increased from nearly 16421 hectares to nearly 19967 hectares from 2012 to 2018.

Mosquitoes, as vectors, are important focal insects of disease ecology. Therefore, it is essential to develop predictive models showing the rules in the distribution of mosquito species at different scales of the landscape structure. However, little is known about the macrotoposcape-scale habitat preference of the mosquitoes. Based on the above deficiency, the main aim of our study was to reveal characteristic landscape factors being decisive in the occurrence of species significant in terms of human harm. We used the 10 × 10 km UTM grid scale and a Central European area with a heterogeneous landscape for the study. 6,751 presence–absence data of 54 taxa were digitised in 929 UTM quadrats. A 1:100,000 scale Corine Land Cover map was used to determine the relative surface cover of different habitat types at the scale of the topographical macro-, meso- and microregions. For the statistical analyses, Spearman's rank correlation, Canonical Correspondence Analysis and Generalised Linear Model were used. According to our results, landscape heterogeneity of natural habitats at mesoregional scale (2–3 km2 sized subregions) significantly increases the diversity of mosquitoes. Cover of the habitat types was also effective at mesoregional scale. We found no statistical correlation at macro- and microregional scales between parameters of the habitat structure and the distribution of mosquitoes. It is important that most of the species which harm humans were attached to natural habitats. Based on this fact, biological control of mosquitoes needs complex ecological planning (reducing vector organisms with the protection of landscape-scale ecosystems). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The protection and the restoration of rivers is one of the most important challenges of our time, due to the impact of human activities. The aim of the research was to assess the land use changes in the Hungarian riparian landscape. Several landscape corridors of different (50-100-300-500 m) widths near rivers were analyzed since 1990, using the CORINE Land Cover database. Positive changes in the land use of riparian landscape can be seen: continuous increase in the case of forest areas; and slight decrease in the extent of agricultural land since 1990. Unfortunately, the extent of grasslands and other near-natural areas is reduced; and there has been a steady increase in built-up areas. Examining the changes in builtup areas in more detail, a big increase is shown by the extent of urban green areas. As a continuation of the research, an evaluation methodology is being developed to determine the restoration potential of urban rivers on study area level and on national level. The results presented in this paper on land use changes and land use conditions can be useful for the research about restoration potential at national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]