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Understanding relationship between plant diversity, microbial activity and carbon sequestration is crucial for mitigating climate change and promoting sustainable land management, particularly in agroforestry systems such as homegardens. This study evaluated five Land Management Type (LMT) which consist of three homegarden classes: Small Homegardens (SHG) (less than 0.2 ha), Medium Homegardens (MHG) (0.2–0.4 ha), and Large Homegardens (LHG) (more than 0.4 ha), forest area (Fo) a natural land use, and a treeless open area (TrO) in the North central laterite Agro-Ecological Unit of Kerala, India for assessing their impact on soil carbon, nutrient cycling, tree diversity, and microbial activity. Plant diversity was found to be highest in the forest (22.85 ± 0.06) and was on par with small homegardens (SHG) (2.71 ± 0.0), which exceeded the diversity observed in medium (MHG) and large homegardens (LHG). Soil organic carbon (SOC) stock up to a depth of 1 m was highest in forest (202.21 Mg C ha−1), which was on par with SHG (157.62 Mg C ha−1), and significantly different from MHG (135.79 Mg C ha−1), followed by LHG (119.60 Mg C ha−1) and TrO (24.29 Mg C ha−1). Microbial activity also followed the same trend for the bacterial and fungal population. A Hierarchical cluster analysis based on euclidean distance grouped the five LMT into four clusters, among that the MHG and LHG falls into single cluster due to its similarities. From the PCA and the inter cluster distances, the SHG exhibited characteristics that closely resemble natural forests, as compared to other three LMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the significant issue of rapid land use and land cover (LULC) changes in Lahore District, which is critical for supporting ecological management and sustainable land-use planning. Understanding these changes is crucial for mitigating adverse environmental impacts and promoting sustainable development. The main goal is to evaluate historical LULC changes from 1994 to 2024 and forecast future trends for 2034 and 2044 utilizing the CA-Markov hybrid model combined with GIS methodologies. Landsat images from various sensors (TM, OLI) were employed for supervised classification, attaining high accuracy (> 90%). Historical LULC changes from 1994 to 2024 were analyzed, revealing significant transformations in Lahore. The build-up area expanded by 359.8 km², indicating rapid urbanization, while vegetation cover decreased by 198.7 km² and barren lands by 158.5 km². Water bodies remained relatively stable during this period. Future LULC trends were projected for 2034 and 2044 using the CA-Markov hybrid model (CA-MHM), which achieved a high prediction accuracy with a kappa coefficient of 0.92. The research indicated significant urban growth at the expense of vegetation and barren land. Future forecasts suggest ongoing urbanization, underscoring the necessity for sustainable land management techniques. This research is a significant framework for urban planners, providing insights that combine development with ecological conservation. The results highlight the necessity of incorporating predictive models into urban policy to promote sustainable development and environmental preservation in quickly changing areas such as Lahore. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land degradation in Ethiopia is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. Although various sustainable land management options have been introduced through top-down approaches, farmers have shown low adoption rates. The objective of this research was to assess the community prioritization of landscape restoration technologies and the appropriation of ecosystem services in the Basona-Worena and Doyo-Gena woredas of Ethiopia. The evaluation of land management option tool was used to survey farmers' preferences and compare different land management options based on input, cost, perceived advantages, and potential drawbacks. Data from 64 participants revealed that farmers were interested in a wide range of benefits. However, their top three preferences were increased food supply, enhanced soil fertility, and improved water supply. The study emphasized the need for site-specific land management measures. Farmers in Basona-Worena favored terrace and bund practices, while farmers in Doyo-Gena preferred exclosure and agroforestry practices. Conversely, the propensity of terracing to attract rodents and pests, the lengthy time takes to see results from bunding, and the cost of gabions were among the shortcomings that farmers identify in conservation techniques. Terracing was the first option for supplying fundamental ecosystem services in both locations, followed by biological measures, water percolation pits, and bunds. All farmers ranked the business-as-usual option as their least preferred option because they perceived it to have limited potential for yielding desired benefits. These findings provide a robust model for informed decision-making on suitable restoration technologies, holding promise for landscape restoration initiatives in Ethiopia and similar locations worldwide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to examine how tax incentives resulting from the so-called Amazon Law (Law No. 27037) affect small- and medium-sized agro-industrial producers (SMEAPs) in the Junín and Huánuco regions in Peru. This research fills a void that relates to the exclusion of these producers regarding the Law's incentives that aim to encourage investment in the Amazon. In this study, the research design was non-experimental, and since the data were descriptive–correlational in nature, a structured questionnaire with a Likert scale was used to gauge participants' opinions about economic progress and tax benefits. The survey participants included 72 co-operatives drawn from a population of 88, and their awareness and use of tax incentives were targeted. SPSS and similar statistical analysis tools were used and showed that there was a positive correlation between tax benefits and economic development, with a correlation coefficient of 0.873, indicating a strong relationship. However, most co-operatives ranked the benefits only as average or poor, with 34.72% rating them as regular and 31.94% as poor. This study indicates that the present laws do not provide these producers with sufficient opportunities for development. The authors suggest that changes to the Law are required to improve the inclusion of small- and medium-sized agricultural producers so that proposals for improvements in their economic development and management of the agricultural lands in the Amazon region can be promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Huang-Huai-Hai Plain, a vital agricultural area in China with a significant amount of arable land, plays a pivotal role in influencing grain production, ecological carbon cycles, and global climate change through its shifts in land use. Within this research, we have employed the ArcGIS tool and the In-VEST-Geodetector-PLUS methodology to scrutinize the shifts in carbon storage from the year 2000 to 2020, determine the pivotal influences behind these shifts, and anticipate the projected carbon storage for 2030. Although there has been a slight increase in forested areas as a result of environmental policies, the conversion of cropland to impervious surfaces due to urbanization has led to a persistent decrease in carbon storage, with a cumulative loss of 272.79 million metric tons over the two decades. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Night-Time Lights (NTL), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and Population (POP) are critical factors impacting carbon storage, reflecting the intricate connection between socio-economic development and natural ecosystems. The multi-scenario simulations for 2030 suggest that the least reduction in carbon storage would occur under the scenario of protecting arable land, while the most significant decrease would be under the urban expansion scenario, highlighting the impact of urbanization. The study's results emphasize the critical need to harmonize agricultural land conservation with economic progress for the enduring growth of the Huang-Huai-Hai region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study emphasizes the role of Prosopis cineraria (Druce) in promoting sustainability through its contribution to carbon sequestration and climate change mitigation. The accurate quantification of the aboveground biomass (AGB) of Druce trees is essential for assessing their potential in reducing carbon emissions, yet remains a significant challenge. To address this, the study aimed to (1) estimate the AGB using destructive sampling; (2) analyze variability in existing allometric biomass equations; (3) evaluate remote sensing and machine learning techniques for estimating AGB and carbon sequestration; and (4) develop and validate new allometric equations based on field and remote sensing data. The Druce trees, with diameters at breast height ranging from 20.7 to 28.97 cm, exhibited an AGB of 208.3 kg per tree, which corresponds with a carbon sequestration stock of 97.89 kg C/tree. This translates to an annual carbon dioxide sequestration potential of 0.36 t C/tree. The newly developed allometric model (Model-2) was found to demonstrate superior accuracy, with performance metrics including a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 2.6%, relative bias of 5.3%, R2 of 0.906, mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.151, and root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.189. These improvements highlight the significant role of remote sensing technologies in advancing sustainable carbon monitoring and offer a more precise tool for enhancing global carbon sequestration models. By integrating field-based measurements and advanced technologies, this study strengthens our ability to assess the carbon sequestration potential of trees, contributing to more sustainable management and climate resilience strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The Rain-fed uplands of Cascaded Tank Village Systems (CTVS) in the Sri Lankan dry zone are degrading while challenging the food security, economy and ecological sustainability of the nation. Farmers' unawareness of land degradation (LD), and irresponsibility for land conservation are often accused of the LD, yet with limited empirical evidence. Therefore, this study aims at providing empirical evidence on farmers' awareness of LD by investigating farmers' perceived indicators and causes of LD i.e., deforestation, soil erosion, soil fertility decline, and their perceived responsibility to halt LD. Research Method: A questionnaire survey was administered among conveniently sampled 291 farmers in the Ranpathiwila CTVS area along with interviews and field observations. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including Multiple response analysis in SPSS 18. Findings: Farmers are aware of LD by physically examining and qualitatively assessing the relevant indicators of LD (E.g., onsite and offsite, and present and past consequences of LD) and recognizing both relevant natural and anthropogenic causes of LD. Moreover, farmers' awareness embraces the holistic nature of their land resources. Although farmers feel high moral responsibility for the causes of LD, they feel low or partial moral responsibility to take action to halt LD. Value: The empirical evidence provides a basis for policymakers to avoid stereotyping of land-users as ignorant of LD in conservation interventions, thus suggesting to consider possible other factors affecting farmers' conservation behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background This study describes a long-term farmer innovation project (local farmer research committees (Spanish acronym: CIALs)) in a remote hillside region of Honduras that has succeeded in intensifying land use under annual food crops towards sustainable food and agroforestry production. The findings add to evidence of what actually happens in long term participatory development and also suggest how some of the Sustainable Development Goals are being met in practice. The objectives of this study were (1) to compare the characteristics of the CIAL program members to non-members; (2) to examine how the CIAL program contributed to changes in sustainable land use practices among small-scale farmers in the hillsides of rural Honduras; and (3) to describe how the changes facilitated through farmer participation within the CIAL program connect to broader efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goals related to poverty alleviation, food security, and sustainable land management. Data for the study were drawn from two household surveys (2013 and 2017) conducted in the three rural municipalities of Yorito, Sulaco, and Victoria, Honduras. Survey data were complemented by ongoing, long-term ethnographic research and engagement. Results Comparisons were made between old CIAL members (5 or more years of membership), new CIAL members (less than 5 years of membership), and non-members (no participation in CIALs). In 2013, benefits of CIAL membership appeared primarily concentrated among CIAL members. Of note, 88.2% of old CIAL members and 73.6% of new CIAL members reported that their income had improved because of CIAL membership. CIAL members were also more likely to invest in household resources and agricultural activities as well as hold savings than non-members. Over time, participatory bean breeding conducted through the CIALs has made improved bean seed available to all three study groups, which has translated into improved bean yields across households. Furthermore, data suggest that sustainable agricultural practices have scaled across study locations. Conclusions Farmer participatory research and plant breeding have succeeded in increasing yields of maize and beans, helping to alleviate food insecurity among hillside farmers, as well as providing a source of income, primarily through bean sales. Furthermore, land previously held under extensive food cultivation has been converted to coffee production, mostly in conjunction with agroforestry, supporting additional income and savings. Scaling this initiative to small scale farmers through distribution of improved maize and bean seed is underway across Honduras. The experience from the Honduran hillsides provides evidence of the impacts of long-term participatory development and, simultaneously, of a possible route towards achievement of some of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Land degradation in Ethiopia is a pressing issue that demands immediate attention. Although various sustainable land management options have been introduced through top-down approaches, farmers have shown low adoption rates. The objective of this research was to assess the community prioritization of landscape restoration technologies and the appropriation of ecosystem services in the Basona-Worena and Doyo-Gena woredas of Ethiopia. The evaluation of land management option tool was used to survey farmers' preferences and compare different land management options based on input, cost, perceived advantages, and potential drawbacks.Data from 64 participants revealed that farmers were interested in a wide range of benefits. However, their top three preferences were increased food supply, enhanced soil fertility, and improved water supply. The study emphasized the need for site-specific land management measures. Farmers in Basona-Worena favored terrace and bund practices, while farmers in Doyo-Gena preferred exclosure and agroforestry practices. Conversely, the propensity of terracing to attract rodents and pests, the lengthy time takes to see results from bunding, and the cost of gabions were among the shortcomings that farmers identify in conservation techniques. Terracing was the first option for supplying fundamental ecosystem services in both locations, followed by biological measures, water percolation pits, and bunds. All farmers ranked the business-as-usual option as their least preferred option because they perceived it to have limited potential for yielding desired benefits. These findings provide a robust model for informed decision-making on suitable restoration technologies, holding promise for landscape restoration initiatives in Ethiopia and similar locations worldwide.

Being located in the middle of Southern Europe, and thus likely representing a particularly dynamic member of Mediterranean Europe, Italy has experienced a sudden increase in early desertification risk because of multiple factors of change. Long-term research initiatives have provided relatively well-known examples of the continuous assessment of the desertification risk carried out via multiple exercises from different academic and practitioner stakeholders, frequently using the Environmentally Sensitive Area Index (ESAI). This composite index based on a large number of elementary variables and individual indicators—spanning from the climate to soil quality and from vegetation cover to land-use intensity—facilitated the comprehensive, long-term monitoring of the early desertification risk at disaggregated spatial scales, being of some relevance for policy implementation. The present study summarizes the main evidence of environmental monitoring in Italy by analyzing a relatively long time series of ESAI scores using administrative boundaries for a better representation of the biophysical and socioeconomic trends of interest for early desertification monitoring. The descriptive analysis of the ESAI scores offers a refined representation of economic spaces in the country during past (1960–2010 on a decadal basis), present (2020), and future (2030, exploring four different scenarios, S1–S4) times. Taken as a proxy of the early desertification risk in advanced economies, the ESAI scores increased over time as a result of worse climate regimes (namely, drier and warmer conditions), landscape change, and rising human pressure that exacerbated related processes, such as soil erosion, salinization, compaction, sealing, water scarcity, wildfires, and overgrazing.

Aotearoa New Zealand's aquatic ecosystems are declining despite widespread awareness of mitigation needs. This study employs storytelling to address this issue, testing the role of the messenger in encouraging freshwater restoration in rural catchment communities. We quantified peer-to-peer knowledge exchange on three cognitive processes (retention and extraction of information, motivation to reproduce modelled restoration behaviour, and recall of acquired information), using ArcGIS® ‘StoryMaps’. We created two restoration stories; one told through the voice of a respected catchment group member known for leadership, and one through a collective catchment group voice. We surveyed freshwater community members (N = 82) before and after reading the stories, and one month later, and found that participants reading either catchment restoration story (1) accepted both the catchment collective and the respected individual member as a trusted source, and could therefore relate to either, and (2) thought the story was informative and contained new details, independent of the time span land holders have been actively restoring. While our study found no significant differences between individual or collective storytellers, it confirms the value of trusted messengers as restoration knowledge brokers in rural catchment communities, a critical step in value-led freshwater restoration at large scales.

The Rothamsted Carbon (RothC) model was developed to simulate soil organic carbon dynamics under different types of land use, different climate conditions, and different agricultural technologies. The model has been effectively applied across different scales and in different environmental zones; however, it is sensitive to key input variables. This study estimates the sensitivity of soil carbon storage projections in response to variations in climate inputs using the RothC model. Two climate data sets were used for the sensitivity analysis: the Climatic Research Unit (CRU) dataset (CRU TS v4.05, 1901–2020), which has a spatial resolution of about 50 × 50 km2 and is derived from interpolated data from ground-based weather stations, and TerraClimate database, which is built based on CRU data and enhances the resolution to around 4 × 4 km2 through additional modeling and data inputs. Sequestration estimates for Rostov oblast have been derived using the CRU database. The accuracy of estimates for Rostov oblast is of particular importance, since the proportion of Chernozems in the total land structure is almost 65%. The sensitivity analysis has revealed that the replacement of the CRU data with TerraClimate meteorological data significantly underestimates the sequestration rate. On average, this underestimation was about 100 kg C ha–1 year–1 across all scenarios. For application in Rostov oblast, the TerraClimate database should be adjusted, particularly in the range of minimum precipitation values, using data from local meteorological stations or other models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since 2020, the project of the Global Soil Partnership of the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations has been implemented to create a Global Map of the Carbon Sequestration Potential in the upper 0- to 30-cm layer of cropland (Global Soil Organic Carbon Sequestration Potential Map, GSOCseq). The first version of the national Russian map has been developed by local specialists using a standardized methodology. It is based on global databases, which do not account for specific local peculiarities. The aim of the study was to test new approaches in the pilot region with broad distribution of black soils for estimating the organic matter entering the system to quantitatively approximate it to real values. This paper describes the methodology for the transition of the input data block responsible for information about net primary products from global available resources to the local statistics of the Rosstat Municipal Database. The yield for the main crops, taking into account the cultivated area for each municipality, was recalculated into plant biomass using regression equations for determining the mass of plant residues according to the yield of the main product and then converted to an absolutely dry mass and multiplied by the coefficient of conversion of plant residues into carbon. After applying the new approach, differentiation was achieved at the municipal level and an increase in the results of the redistribution of climatic potential between territories was recorded. As part of the work, maps of the potential for sequestration of organic carbon by the upper 30-cm layer of arable soils in Rostov oblast have been constructed for the first time using Rosstat data. Previously, Rostov oblast was assessed as a carbon emitter according to previous methods; according to the new estimates, the entire Rostov oblast accumulates carbon; the average carbon sequestration is 0.032 t C ha–1 per year even under the business-as-usual scenario. At the same time, according to the indicator of absolute sequestration rate, a significant increase in the sequestration rate has been recorded in the southern chernozem zone (Calcic Chernozems) and its slight decrease in the zone of ordinary chernozems (Haplic Chernozem). When implementing soil sustainable management scenarios, carbon can accumulate at an average rate of 0.063 to 0.161 t C ha–1 per year and the total potential for carbon fixation can be estimated at 475–1244 Kt per year. The simulation results for Rostov oblast have shown that this approach can also be applied to federal subjects of the Russian Federation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulation of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic in the environment has become a global issue. A substantial amount of HDPE wastes ends up in the mangroves posing a significant menace to the ecology. Mitigation techniques using mycoremediation to treat the HDPE are gaining ground due to its sustainable approach. This study aims to screen and identify fungi isolated from a mangrove located in Kampung Kuala Lukut, Malaysia, that can degrade HDPE. From this study, eight fungi species were shown able to grow on HDPE as a sole carbon source in a Bushnell-Hass Broth culture. The identity of these isolates was confirmed using morphological observation and molecular identification using ITS1 and ITS4 primers. The ability of these eight fungi species to degrade plastic was assessed based on the percentage of weight loss of HDPE and the increment of fungal biomass. Results from this study show Aspergillus niger has the highest biomass increment, but Leptobacillium sp. shows the highest percentage of weight loss of HDPE. Thus, Leptobacillium sp. has the best potential to be developed as an efficient agent to degrade HDPE in an integrated plastic waste management system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soils are the largest terrestrial reservoir of organic carbon, yet they are easily degraded. Consistent and accurate monitoring of changes in soil organic carbon stocks and net greenhouse gas emissions, reporting, and their verification is key to facilitate investment in sustainable land use practices that maintain or increase soil organic carbon stocks, as well as to incorporate soil organic carbon sequestration in national greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. Building up on an initial review of monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) schemes with a focus on croplands, grasslands, and forestlands we develop a framework for a modular, scalable MRV system. We then provide an inventory and classification of selected MRV methodologies and subsequently "score" them against a list of key characteristics. It appears that the main challenge in developing a unified MRV system concerns the monitoring component. Finally, we present a conceptual workflow that shows how a prototype for an operational, modular multi-ecosystem MRV tool could be systematically built. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land public interest litigation (LPIL) has emerged as a vital mechanism for addressing China's land crisis. It serves dual purposes: mitigating the tragedy of the commons and safeguarding the legitimate rights of vulnerable groups reliant on land. Over the past decade, China's LPIL framework has evolved significantly, with enhanced legislation and consistent judicial practices contributing to the prevention of further land degradation. However, an empirical analysis of 208 LPIL cases reveals a judiciary-led litigation model, with procuratorial bodies initiating 94.71% of cases, while non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and individuals account for only 3.85% and 0%, respectively. This narrow plaintiff base, coupled with significant regional disparities—74.52% of cases concentrated in the top ten provinces—and a mere 25% filing rate for administrative cases, limits the system's effectiveness. These constraints hinder vulnerable groups' ability to protect their rights and obscure systemic issues underlying efficient operations. To advance LPIL, China must expand plaintiff eligibility, empower NGOs, and clarify departmental boundaries. These reforms can enhance land governance, ensure equitable resource management, and contribute to sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being located in the middle of Southern Europe, and thus likely representing a particularly dynamic member of Mediterranean Europe, Italy has experienced a sudden increase in early desertification risk because of multiple factors of change. Long-term research initiatives have provided relatively well-known examples of the continuous assessment of the desertification risk carried out via multiple exercises from different academic and practitioner stakeholders, frequently using the Environmentally Sensitive Area Index (ESAI). This composite index based on a large number of elementary variables and individual indicators—spanning from the climate to soil quality and from vegetation cover to land-use intensity—facilitated the comprehensive, long-term monitoring of the early desertification risk at disaggregated spatial scales, being of some relevance for policy implementation. The present study summarizes the main evidence of environmental monitoring in Italy by analyzing a relatively long time series of ESAI scores using administrative boundaries for a better representation of the biophysical and socioeconomic trends of interest for early desertification monitoring. The descriptive analysis of the ESAI scores offers a refined representation of economic spaces in the country during past (1960–2010 on a decadal basis), present (2020), and future (2030, exploring four different scenarios, S1–S4) times. Taken as a proxy of the early desertification risk in advanced economies, the ESAI scores increased over time as a result of worse climate regimes (namely, drier and warmer conditions), landscape change, and rising human pressure that exacerbated related processes, such as soil erosion, salinization, compaction, sealing, water scarcity, wildfires, and overgrazing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aotearoa New Zealand's aquatic ecosystems are declining despite widespread awareness of mitigation needs. This study employs storytelling to address this issue, testing the role of the messenger in encouraging freshwater restoration in rural catchment communities. We quantified peer-to-peer knowledge exchange on three cognitive processes (retention and extraction of information, motivation to reproduce modelled restoration behaviour, and recall of acquired information), using ArcGIS® 'StoryMaps'. We created two restoration stories; one told through the voice of a respected catchment group member known for leadership, and one through a collective catchment group voice. We surveyed freshwater community members (N = 82) before and after reading the stories, and one month later, and found that participants reading either catchment restoration story (1) accepted both the catchment collective and the respected individual member as a trusted source, and could therefore relate to either, and (2) thought the story was informative and contained new details, independent of the time span land holders have been actively restoring. While our study found no significant differences between individual or collective storytellers, it confirms the value of trusted messengers as restoration knowledge brokers in rural catchment communities, a critical step in value-led freshwater restoration at large scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on the effectiveness of the Swiss policy mix promoting sustainable permanent grassland (PG) management in the country. We used the Cascade Framework and stakeholder's sentiment analysis to qualitatively assess propagation pathways for generating policy effectiveness in terms of PGs' deliverance of ecosystem services (ESs), to ultimately enable sustainable PG management. We employed a mixed-method approach combining a review of governmental documents, formal policies and policy evaluations with semi-structured interviews with Swiss stakeholders. Through this analysis, we identified 16 policy instruments influencing PG management, including 3 regulatory instruments, 11 incentive instruments, and 2 informational instruments. Results showed that these instruments primarily aim to promote sustainable PG management by employing measures targeting the very structure and composition of the landscape. As such, we found gaps in the types of instruments employed, particularly in terms of demand-side policies, which can explain the poor policy outcomes in relation to a number of environmental quality objectives. In parallel, we found that most of the interviewed stakeholders considered Swiss grassland policy as generally effective, mainly because it was perceived as democratic. While this study focuses on Switzerland, its novel conceptual and methodological approach of using the cascade-framework for policy analysis can be applied to other biogeographical regions and socio-economic contexts. Our findings can improve the calibration of future policy instruments to enable land managers and grassland landscape users to restore or maintain PGs in good ecological condition, by targeting mechanisms that can ensure achieving environmental quality objectives while remaining democratically legitimate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustaining agricultural production in arid and semi‐arid regions is of paramount importance to food security, geo‐political independence, and social stability. In this context, it is vital to understand the effectiveness of policies. In this article, we aim to answer the question of what role the state and its policies play for soil protection in rainfed agriculture in Tunisia, and why. Beyond evaluating soil protection, this work contributes to explaining the role of the Tunisian state throughout the current phase of democratization for natural resource protection. That way it enhances our understanding of policy implementation in democratizing countries and contribute to theorizing of the policy process. We use qualitative methods and literature to understand the state infrastructural power of the Tunisian state in regard to soil protection. Land degradation in Tunisia remains a large problem. We explain the weak role of the state in effectively protecting soils as a result of subnational variation, and interrelated capabilities and weight of the state. Besides the overarching fiscal crisis that becomes worse over the years, neopatrimonial traits of the Tunisian state facilitate discrimination of rural areas, marginalization of parts of the farming population, and rainfed agriculture. Thereby, willingness and abilities of farmers and administrations to implement sustainable land management are undermined. Together with institutional uncertainty in administrations as a result of the current open‐ended democratization process, neopatrimonialist traits weaken administrative capacities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the Andean Social–Ecological Observatory Network (ROSA, for Red de Observatorios Socioecológicos Andinos), a continent-wide monitoring initiative established to address major challenges in the management of knowledge on social–ecological systems (SES) in the Andes. The Andes, the longest mountain chain in the world, provide key ecosystem services for human wellbeing across the continent. However, the region faces multiple impacts associated with climate change and land-use change related to demographic transitions, and thus long-term monitoring is key for developing adaptation strategies to this environmental change. ROSA constitutes a bottom-up initiative to systematize and integrate social and ecological monitoring efforts into observatories, and to do so under a coproduced framework that fosters science–policy dialogue and promotes sustainable land management. The main research questions addressed by these social–ecological observatories include understanding how distant and proximate drivers of change interact with local social, cultural, economic, and environmental contexts to influence the functioning of different SES in the Andes at multiple spatial and temporal scales. We describe the origins, structure, objectives, and strategies of ROSA and key challenges faced by different monitoring networks working in the region with regard to data generation and knowledge transfer. Currently, ROSA consists of 8 nodal observatories, comprising more than 50 monitoring initiatives focused on hydroclimate, ecological, and land-use dimensions. The bottom-up structure of ROSA is founded on proven expertise in long-term data gathering and analyses and on the strong commitment of nodal monitoring groups. Effective codesign and participatory monitoring are being developed so that ROSA can contribute to knowledge coproduction for sustainable land management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Indigenous communities worldwide face increasing challenges from modernization, migration, and economic pressures, which threaten their traditional agricultural systems and cultural heritage. These dynamics often lead to shifts in land use, the erosion of ancestral knowledge, and the weakening of cultural identity. Understanding how these communities adapt to such changes is crucial for sustainable development. This research examines how indigenous communities, particularly San José Chiltepec in Oaxaca, balance the preservation of cultural heritage with adapting to evolving agricultural practices and land use transformations. It emphasizes the critical role of indigenous knowledge in sustainable land management and the importance of cultural identity amidst socio-economic pressures. A mixed-methods approach was employed, integrating geostatistical data, spatial analysis, and qualitative insights from municipal development plans and community-based observations. This provided a detailed understanding of how local conditions and external forces shape land use and conservation. The findings reveal that, while irrigated agriculture and pasturelands have declined, the community has shown resilience through the preservation of seasonal farming and the expansion of secondary vegetation. San José Chiltepec serves as a model for how indigenous communities can maintain cultural and environmental heritage while adapting to modern economic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional agricultural land consolidation and ecological restoration measures can address the challenges faced by agricultural land in the short term, but they often overlook the ecological benefits of the land and human well-being. Here, while emphasizing foreseeable project outcomes, we define a conceptual framework of Agricultural Land Consolidation and Ecological Restoration through Nature-based Solutions (ALC&ER-NbS) from three dimensions: ecological sustainability, economic viability, and human well-being, integrating the NbS concept with engineering project evaluation. Our study establishes 8 guidelines and 27 indicators, including scientific restoration, ecological connectivity, biodiversity enrichment, economic feasibility, public participation, benefit coordination, dynamic monitoring, and the promotion of successful cases. This results in an evaluation checklist covering 63 engineering and management details throughout the entire project design life cycle. By using a self-assessment tool for quantifying compatibility, the aim is to quickly verify the project's degree of adaptation. This study is significant as it introduces a comprehensive evaluation system that not only addresses ecological and economic challenges but also prioritizes human well-being, distinguishing it from previous research. The innovative integration of NbS into agricultural land consolidation ensures sustainable development and offers a new approach for enhancing biodiversity and ecosystem services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Optimization of land management and agricultural practices require precise classification of soil properties. This study presents a method to fine-tune deep neural network (DNN) hyperparameters for multiclass classification of soil properties using genetic algorithms (GAs) with knowledge-based generation of hyperparameters. The focus is on classifying soil attributes, including nutrient availability (0.78 ± 0.11), nutrient retention capacity (0.86 ± 0.05), rooting conditions (0.85 ± 0.07), oxygen availability to roots (0.84 ± 0.05), excess salts (0.96 ± 0.02), toxicity (0.96 ± 0.01), and soil workability (0.84 ± 0.09), with these accuracies representing the results from classification with variations from cross-validation. A dataset from the USA, which includes land-use distribution, aspect distribution, slope distribution, and climate data for each plot, is utilized. A GA is applied to explore a wide range of hyperparameters, such as the number of layers, neurons per layer, activation functions, optimizers, learning rates, and loss functions. Additionally, ensemble methods such as random forest and gradient boosting machines were employed, demonstrating comparable accuracy to the DNN approach. This research contributes to the advancement of precision agriculture by providing a robust machine learning (ML) framework for accurate soil property classification. By enabling more informed and efficient land management decisions, it promotes sustainable agricultural practices that optimize resource use and enhance soil health for long-term ecological balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Warehouse and industrial sites (W&Is) have been extensively developed in the urbanised areas, especially with regional trade gateways. However, recent years have shown that warehouse areas are also being developed in less invested spaces, including regions with little industrial development and focused on preserving natural assets. W&Is consume large shares of land, attract high volumes of truck movement and greatly affect the environment. The aim of this research is to analyse spatial changes in the distribution of W&Is in the north‐eastern part of Poland, called Europe's green lungs, with particular emphasis on changes in land use mix, road accessibility, the size of neighbouring cities and existing W&Is. The share of the W&Is in the built‐up areas of the Warmian‐Masurian region is for the present 7.14%. The largest W&Is are concentrated in the western part of the region. In the period from 2014 to 2022, this area increased by 311.77 ha. Both the government and the public must work together to facilitate effective regulation of warehousing externalities and equitable distribution of associated environmental influences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study uses logistic and Poisson regression models to examine the factors influencing the adoption of sustainable land management (SLM) practices in Mali using two rounds of the nationally representative survey Enquête Agricole de Conjoncture Intégrée aux Conditions de Vie des Ménages. The SLMs considered include the application of organic fertilizers, the application of inorganic fertilizers, the use of improved seeds, and the practice of intercropping. On average the application of organic fertilizers (39.2%), and inorganic fertilizers (28.7%) are the most frequent SLM practices among Malian farmers, and between 2014 and 2017, we observe a decline in the practice of intercropping. The regression results show that farmers’ adoption of different SLMs is significantly associated with biophysical factors (average temperature, climate type, plot size, plot shape, and location), demographic factors (age, gender, education, household size), and socioeconomic factors (number of cultivated plots, livelihood diversification, type of crop grown, market access, credit access, economic shocks, and social capital). Our findings suggest that policymakers and agricultural development agencies in Mali need to adopt a multidimensional policy framework to unlock the untapped potential of SLM practices in promoting sustainable agriculture and food security.

The phosphate solubilizing properties of Lysinibacillus macroides ST-30, Pseudomonas pelleroniana N-26, and Bacillus cereus ST-6 were tested for the chickpea crop of the Tarai region of Uttarakhand. These microbially inoculated plants have shown significant (p > 0.05) improvement in the plant health and crop health parameters, viz., root length, shoot length, fresh weight, dry weight, nodule number, nodule fresh weight, nodule dry weight, chlorophyll content, and nitrate reductase. The highest shoot length (46.10 cm) and chlorophyll content (0.57 mg g-1 fresh weight) were observed in ST-30 at 75 DAS with 20 kg P2O5/ha. Similarly, for plant P content, an increase of 90.12% over control was recorded in the same treatment. Treatments consisting of Lysinibacillus macroides ST-30 along with 20 kg/ha P2O5 were found to be most suitable as phosphatic fertilizer. Conclusively, sustainable agriculture practices in the Tarai as well as the field region may be developed based on a strategy of exploring microbial inoculants from the pristine region of the Western Himalayas. The presence and abundance of bacterial inoculants were confirmed through qRT-PCT. We conclude that the effective plant growth-promoting bacterium Lysinibacillus macroides ST-30 broadens the spectrum of phosphate solubilizers available for field applications and might be used together with 20 Kg/ha P2O5. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil and water loss, as well as nutrient depletion in croplands and grazing areas, are major problems for smallholder farmers in the highlands of Ethiopia. This review aims to synthesize the main constraints, effectiveness, and potential scenarios of sustainable land management (SLM) initiatives. The findings of the review show that the main barriers to the adoption of the SLM initiatives have been the inability to monitor the conserved catchment through the establishment of an enabled institution at the local administration level (Kebele) and labor difficulties related to composting and terrace maintenance. The discontinuity of poorly constructed terracing, the undervaluing of local knowledge and skills, and the insufficient integration of various soil management techniques all impeded the implementation of the SLM initiatives. Terraces do not effectively control total soil loss, maintain soil moisture, stop nutrient depletion, or increase crop yield, despite their considerable contribution to minimizing soil loss caused by rill and sheet erosion. The most efficient way to keep soil, water, and nutrient losses at an acceptable level while simultaneously increasing production sustainably was to combine the use of terraces stabilized by multifunctional vegetation, drainage ditches, and agronomic methods between terraces. Thus, the planning and implementation of any sustainable land management initiative must be based on the idea that structural, vegetative, and agronomic land management practices at a given field and watershed level should be combined with an appreciation of indigenous skills and knowledge. The application of land management strategies to croplands and grazing areas should be complemented by controlled grazing and a cut-and-carry grazing system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding and estimating the economic value that society places on agricultural soil quality protection and improvement can guide the development of policies aimed at mitigating pollution, promoting conservation, or incentivizing sustainable land management practices. We estimate the general public's willingness to pay (WTP) for agricultural soil quality protection and improvement in Spain (n = 1000) and the UK (n = 984) using data from a cross-sectional survey via Qualtrics panels in March–April 2021. We use a double-bound dichotomous choice contingent valuation approach to elicit the individuals' WTP. We investigate the effect of uncertainty on the success of policies aiming at achieving soil protection. In addition, to understand the heterogeneity in individuals' WTP for agricultural soil quality protection and improvement, we model individuals' WTP through individuals' awareness and attitudes toward agricultural soil quality protection and the environment; trust in institutions; risk and time preferences; pro-social behavior; and socio-demographics in Spain and the UK. We found that there is significant public support for agricultural soil quality protection and improvement in Spain and the UK. We also found that the support does not vary significantly under uncertainty of success of policies aiming at achieving soil protection. However, the individual's reasons for supporting agricultural soil quality protection and improvement are found to depend on the level of uncertainty and country. Hence, promoting public support for soil protection needs to be tailored according to the level of the general public's perceived uncertainty and geographic location. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bamboo-based agroforestry systems have emerged as a sustainable and promising approach for land management, offering enhanced productivity, sustainability, and resource preservation. Intercrops play a pivotal role in agroforestry systems, significantly contributing to their overall productivity and sustainability. This article explores the potential of bamboo agroforestry in diversifying agroecosystems, generating income streams, and contributing to sustainable rural development. The study evaluates the performance (yield and biomass) of two intercrops, okra and black gram, within Dendrocalamus brandisii-based agroforestry model and assesses their impact on soil nutrient status. Okra cultivation commenced once the bamboo plants had matured to 12 months, while black gram was introduced at the 18-month stage. Results indicate that wider spacing between bamboo plants significantly enhances intercrop yields, emphasizing the economic viability of bamboo agroforestry. The harvest index analysis reveals efficient resource utilization in intercropped systems, harvest indices for vegetables (okra) typically range between 30 and 40 percent, whereas pulses, such as black gram, often exhibit higher harvest indices, falling within the range of 70 to 90 percent. Importantly, the study finds that bamboo growth remains unaffected by intercrops, highlighting the compatibility of bamboo cultivation with diverse agricultural practices. Furthermore, the impact of intercrops on soil physico-chemical properties is examined, with okra cultivation negatively influencing soil moisture, bulk density, pH, and electrical conductivity, while black gram cultivation positively affects soil nitrogen, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur. These findings contribute valuable insights for optimizing bamboo agroforestry systems, promoting sustainable land use, and ensuring food security in diverse agroecological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivated land resources are crucial for food security and economic and social development. However, with the acceleration of urbanization and shifts in land use, cultivated land fragmentation (CLF) has emerged as a significant factor constraining the sustainable development of agriculture in China. As the most urbanized region, optimizing cultivated land resources and coordinating urban and rural development has become an urgent issue for rural sustainable development in Guangdong Province. This study analyzes the spatiotemporal characteristics of CLF in Guangdong Province from 2000 to 2020 using landscape pattern indices, CRITIC empowerment, and a multiscale geographically weighted regression (MGWR) model. The cultivated land fragmentation index (CLFI) for Guangdong Province reveals a fluctuating trend from 2000 to 2012, increasing from 0.453 in 2012 to 0.641 in 2020. The CLFI is notably high in the Pearl River Delta region, as well as in Meizhou and Maoming. The results show the dynamic changes of the driving factors of CLF at the county scale in 2000, 2010, and 2020. Slope and grain output consistently emerge as key driving factors of CLF. Furthermore, agricultural benefits played a significant role in 2000 and 2020, whereas the coefficient for social economic development was more pronounced in 2010. By identifying the heterogeneity of the driving factors, this study suggests that strategies to address CLF should comprehensively consider aspects such as the optimization of cultivated land resources, farmers' interests, industrial restructuring, and the multifunctional development of farmland. The study findings can assist government policy-making for rural sustainable development, addressing CLF and food insecurity, and alleviating the regional development imbalance and urban–rural income gap, with the ultimate aim of achieving common prosperity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social-ecological systems (SESs) possess a great diversity of land use and land cover (LULC) types with unique assemblages of biodiversity and ecosystem services. However, LULC changes due to landscape fragmentation are emerging as major threats to the system productivity of SESs around the world. This study examined changes to LULC extent and landscape patterns in the Village Tank Cascade Systems (VTCSs) of Sri Lanka using satellite imagery and GIS techniques between 1994 and 2021. Multispectral Landsat images (5 TM and 8 OLI/TIRS) obtained from Google Earth Engine were classified using machine learning algorithms. Overall accuracies obtained were 85.9% (1994) and 88.6% (2021). The LULC change matrix and spatial pattern metrics were used to examine LULC and landscape pattern change dynamics over the VTCS landscapes. LULC change matrix results revealed that forest, which is the dominant LULC class covering 73.7% of the total land area was reduced by 206,725 ha due to transformation into agricultural (70.43%) and scrub (24.33%) lands between 1994 and 2021. Over this time landscape pattern of the VTCS has gradually changed from forest to agricultural land-dominated landscape, with forest and agricultural land types showing a significant negative correlation (p < 0.001; R2 > 0.868), particularly in the southeastern region. Landscape patterns were analysed based on eight spatial metrics calculated at both the landscape and class levels using FRAGSTATS spatial pattern analysis software. At the landscape level, the structure became more dispersed and complex in shape. Heterogeneity was noted to have gradually increased with weakening connectivity, whereas the fragmentation process had gradually accelerated. At the class level, the dominance of forest patches decreased, fragmentation and isolation increased, and connectivity and shape complexity reduced leading to the loss of fragmented forest habitats. The number of patches within the agricultural class increased and became more aggregated and complex in shape. Landscape performance indicators show that VTCSs have experienced a gradual loss of environmental sustainability. Assessment of LULC along with fragmentation can help to monitor the spatial pattern impacts that determine ecological integrity. Thus, the study provides scientific guidance for ecological restoration in degraded VTCSs to effectively improve ecological productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A third of the world's ecosystems are considered degraded, and there is an urgent need for protection and restoration to make the planet healthier. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 15.3 aims at protecting and restoring the terrestrial ecosystem to achieve a land degradation-neutral world by 2030. Land restoration through inclusive and productive growth is indispensable to promote sustainable development by fostering climate change-resistant, poverty-alleviating, and environmentally protective economic growth. The SDG Indicator 15.3.1 is used to measure progress towards a land degradation-neutral world. Earth observation datasets are the primary data sources for deriving the three sub-indicators of indicator 15.3.1. It requires selecting, querying, and processing a substantial historical archive of data. To reduce the complexities, make the calculation user-friendly, and adapt it to in-country applications, a module on the FAO's SEPAL platform has been developed in compliance with the UNCCD Good Practice Guidance (GPG v2) to derive the necessary statistics and maps for monitoring and reporting land degradation. The module uses satellite data from Landsat, Sentinel 2, and MODIS sensors for primary productivity assessment, along with other datasets enabling high-resolution to large-scale assessment of land degradation. The use of an in-country land cover transition matrix along with in-country land cover data enables a more accurate assessment of land cover changes over time. Four different case studies from Bangladesh, Nigeria, Uruguay, and Angola are presented to highlight the prospect and challenges of monitoring land degradation using various datasets, including LCML-based national land cover legend and land cover data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an in-depth analysis of land use and land cover change on the Kerch Peninsula over a period spanning three decades. Convolutional neural networks were employed in conjunction with satellite imagery analysis to map and quantify the changes in land use and cover. This revealed significant trends and transformations within the peninsula's landscape. The analysis revealed a notable increase in urban expansion, particularly at the expense of natural ecosystems. Furthermore, there was a notable reversion of agricultural lands to grasslands, driven by economic downturns and reduced agricultural activity. These land cover changes underscore the urgency of implementing sustainable land management policies. The study recommends the establishment of conservation easements to protect remaining natural ecosystems, the initiation of reforestation programs to restore degraded lands, and the development of comprehensive water management strategies to address the peninsula's hydrological challenges. Furthermore, the study underscores the pivotal importance of integrating change analysis and predictive modeling to anticipate future land cover scenarios and inform effective land management strategies. The model developed through this research, which employs advanced remote sensing and GIS technologies, provides a robust framework for understanding and managing land use and land cover change. This model can serve as a reference for similar regions globally, offering insights that can inform sustainable land use practices and policy decisions. The findings of this study have implications that extend beyond the Kerch Peninsula. They provide insights that can inform the management of land use changes and the conservation of natural landscapes in regions facing comparable socio-economic and environmental challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]