scholarly journals Aboveground Biomass Distribution in a Multi-Use Savannah Landscape in Southeastern Kenya: Impact of Land Use and Fences

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 381
Author(s):  
Edward Amara ◽  
Hari Adhikari ◽  
Janne Heiskanen ◽  
Mika Siljander ◽  
Martha Munyao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Laser Scanning ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Land Cover Map

Savannahs provide valuable ecosystem services and contribute to continental and global carbon budgets. In addition, savannahs exhibit multiple land uses, e.g., wildlife conservation, pastoralism, and crop farming. Despite their importance, the effect of land use on woody aboveground biomass (AGB) in savannahs is understudied. Furthermore, fences used to reduce human–wildlife conflicts may affect AGB patterns. We assessed AGB densities and patterns, and the effect of land use and fences on AGB in a multi-use savannah landscape in southeastern Kenya. AGB was assessed with field survey and airborne laser scanning (ALS) data, and a land cover map was developed using Sentinel-2 satellite images in Google Earth Engine. The highest woody AGB was found in riverine forest in a conservation area and in bushland outside the conservation area. The highest mean AGB density occurred in the non-conservation area with mixed bushland and cropland (8.9 Mg·ha−1), while the lowest AGB density (2.6 Mg·ha−1) occurred in overgrazed grassland in the conservation area. The largest differences in AGB distributions were observed in the fenced boundaries between the conservation and other land-use types. Our results provide evidence that conservation and fences can create sharp AGB transitions and lead to reduced AGB stocks, which is a vital role of savannahs as part of carbon sequestration.

scholarly journals The Role of Land Use Types and Water Chemical Properties in Structuring the Microbiomes of a Connected Lake System

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophi Marmen ◽  
Lior Blank ◽  
Ashraf Al-Ashhab ◽  
Assaf Malik ◽  
Lars Ganzert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Lake System ◽  
Land Use Types

scholarly journals Analysis of land stability and land-use change processes in the 19–20th centuries: a case study in Gödöllő Hillside, Hungary

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-49
Author(s):  
Krisztina Demény ◽  
Csaba Centeri ◽  
Dániel Szalai
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Change Processes ◽  
Anthropogenic Influence ◽  
Land Uses ◽  
Corine Land Cover ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Arable Fields ◽  
Land Cover Map

Abstract The manuscript presents land-use change processes based on former military map analyses. Military maps were derived from the 1770s until the 1890s and later from the CORINE Land Cover map. I observed the transition direction of areal distribution of various land uses. Digitalized maps showed 19-20th century land-use conditions; besides them, we created a grouping system which is based on the intensity of land use. We distinguished six land-use types, ranking them according to the anthropogenic influence (1. built-up areas; 2. arable fields; 3. orchards and vineyards; 4. meadows and pastures; 5. forests; 6. wetlands).

Ecology of pastoralism in Ngorongoro Conservation Area, Tanzania

1987 ◽  
Vol 108 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katherine Homewood ◽  
W. A. Rodgers ◽  
K. Arhem
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Food System ◽  
Ecological Factors ◽  
Household Survey ◽  
Size Composition ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Variation ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Study Sites

SummaryThis management-oriented study of range, livestock and Maasai ecology in the wildlife conservation and pastoralist land use Ngorongoro Conservation Area (NCA) quantifies spatial and temporal variation in range resources for three main study sites over a 2-year period. Livestock response is analysed in terms of biomass densities, habitat and pasture utilization, activity, herd size, composition and dynamics. Milk production is investigated together with the main ecological factors influencing yields. A household survey of the Maasai food system suggests that pastoral products now provide an annual average of 40% dietary energy intake, the remainder being supplied by grain. These findings form the basis of our analysis of the growing friction between the Conservation Authority and the pastoralists. Pastoralist livestock closely resemble wild ungulate utilization of NCA range resources. A combination of disease interactions and administrative restrictions allow wildlife to establish preferential access to critical grazing resources. Our results in the context of other work suggest that contrary to popular opinion pastoralist land use is an ecologically appropriate and efficient form of livestock management. There is no adverse impact on the conservation values of NCA. Despite average fertility and mortality levels pastoralist herds show progressive decline due to offtake for grain purchase. Imposed policies restrict grazing, ban cultivation and maintain poor conditions for livestock trade and grain supply. Possible interventions and their potential impacts are considered and management compromises which could benefit both pastoralists and wildlife are proposed.

scholarly journals Mapping Vegetation and Land Use Types in Fanjingshan National Nature Reserve Using Google Earth Engine

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu Tsai ◽  
Douglas Stow ◽  
Hsiang Chen ◽  
Rebecca Lewison ◽  
Li An ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
National Nature Reserve ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Google Earth Engine

Impact of Land-Use Change on Carbon Stocks in Meadow Steppe of Northeast China

2011 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 262-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pei Yong Lian ◽  
De Hui Zeng ◽  
Jin Ye Liu ◽  
Fan Ding ◽  
Zhi Wei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Northeast China ◽  
Carbon Stock ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Meadow Steppe ◽  
Organic C ◽  
C Storage ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
The Impact

An improved understanding of changes in carbon storage of terrestrial ecosystems is very important for assessing the impacts of increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration and climate change on the terrestrial biosphere. Accurately predicting terrestrial carbon (C) storage requires understanding the carbon stock, because it helps us understand how ecosystems would respond to natural and anthropogenic disturbances under different management strategies. We investigated organic C storage in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and soil organic matter (SOM) in five land-use types (i.e. artificial pasture, AP; natural meadow, NM; corn plantation, CP; temperate savanna, TS; and bush wood, BW) in meadow steppe of Northeast China. The primary objective of this study was to ascertain the impact of different land-use types on the carbon stock. The total C storage (including C stored in aboveground biomass, litter, roots, and 0–100-cm soil layers) did not significantly differ between one and another type among the five pairs (P>0.05), with the exception of AP2-BW pair. The total C storage changes in value varying from 5958.09 g C m-2 for plot NM2 to 11922.87 g C m-2 for plot CP1. The C stored in the aboveground biomass was less than 1177.96 g C m-2, accounting for negligible amounts (<1% of the total) of total C storage in the ecosystem except corn plantation. The amount of C stored in SOM accounted for less than 85% of the total C storage in TS, AP2, and NM3, and the C stored in litter was very low (<1.5%), compared to other pools in the ecosystem. The amount of C stored in the roots varied from 0 g C m-2 for plot BW, CP1, and CP2 to 2032.32 g C m-2 for plot NM3, and it accounted for less than 20% of C storage in the grassland.

Do we need more trees to achieve carbon neutrality on livestock farms? Accounting for the negative emissions on small tropical livestock farms in Ecuador

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Pablo Iñamagua Uyaguari ◽  
Pamela Sangoluisa ◽  
David R Green ◽  
Nuala Fitton ◽  
Pete Smith
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Use Change ◽  
Aboveground Biomass ◽  
Secondary Forest ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Google Earth ◽  
Landsat 8 ◽  
Livestock Farms ◽  
Livestock Systems

&lt;p&gt;Ecuador, as a signatory to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in its Nationally Determined Contribution, has expressed its intention to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), with a focus on the energy and forest sectors. Despite the socio-economic importance and the growing pressure of agricultural and livestock activities on land use change, this sector is not explicitly considered in the national mitigation goals. Currently, grasslands occupy 57% of agricultural land in Ecuador and cattle, being the main livestock activity, is responsible for at least 46% of agricultural emissions, the third largest source of GHG emissions, after land use change and energy. The foot and mouth disease national eradication campaign carried out in 2016, shows that the cattle population is distributed over approximately 275000 farms, where 80% of these farms can be considered as subsistence systems (&lt;20 animals/farm). Due to the heterogeneity of these systems, mitigation strategies focused on reducing methane from enteric fermentation can be difficult to apply, measure, and report. Another possibility for cattle livestock systems is to focus the mitigation opportunities on maintaining carbon stocks and enhancing carbon sequestration through the management of trees on farms. This study analyses the contribution of trees in pasture areas and forests on small livestock systems for offsetting GHG emissions from cattle activities. In 2018, a survey was performed on 101 farms distributed across the Amazon and coastal region in Ecuador, where herd characteristics and management were recorded. &amp;#160;Farmers were asked to draw the boundaries of the farm on a Google Earth map, identifying the extent of primary and secondary forest areas. Trees in pasture areas were measured on plots of 1000m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, with two plots per farm. A UAV survey was performed using a DJI Mavic Pro quadcopter, equipped with an RGB camera, over plots off 125m&lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt;, and at a flying altitude of 70m. For this work, 37 farms were selected (13 in the Amazon region and 24 in the Coastal region) and GHG emissions calculated from cattle livestock activities using IPCC Tier 1 equations. The aboveground biomass for pasture areas was estimated using the Jucker et al., 2017 equation, with tree characteristics derived from the UAV survey. Average results were extrapolated to the total pasture area reported by farmers in the survey. Primary and secondary forest areas were identified from satellite images. Forest state (degradation level) was estimated using NIR data from SENTINEL-2/LANDSAT 8/PlanetScope. Aboveground biomass estimates for forests were obtained from published data using similar site conditions. Emissions from cattle activities are expressed as carbon equivalent. Biomass carbon was estimated as 0.47 of total biomass.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals Analyzing the Role of Shallow Groundwater Systems in the Water Use of Different Land-Use Types in Arid Irrigated Regions

Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 634 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongyang Ren ◽  
Xu Xu ◽  
Quanzhong Huang ◽  
Zailin Huo ◽  
Yunwu Xiong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Water Use ◽  
Shallow Groundwater ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Groundwater Systems

scholarly journals Spatial-temporal Changes in Land Use Land Cover and its Impacts on Wildlife Conservation in Meru Conservation Area, Kenya

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Kiria Edwin ◽  
Magana Adiel ◽  
Njue Cyprian
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Land Cover ◽  
Protected Areas ◽  
Wildlife Conservation ◽  
Satellite Images ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Land Use Patterns ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
The Impact

Habitat conversion can be a major threat to biodiversity. Recent and current levels of human activities on landscapes appear to be overriding the natural changes to ecosystems brought about by climate variations in the past millennia. The impact of anthropogenic activities on wildlife habitat and species vary depending on the spatial and temporal scales considered and the persistence of the activities in the landscape. This study was carried out in Meru Conservation Area (MCA) to examine land use and land cover changes (LULC) that have taken place within and around the Protected Area (PA) from 1985 with an emphasis of anthropogenic activities which have altered wildlife habitat and species. The distribution of land use types within and around MCA has produced land use patterns which this study seeks to establish the extent and effects in relation to wildlife conservation. To establish the LULC, Landsat satellite images of medium resolution were acquired and interpretation done using ArchGIS. Four satellite images with a span of three decades from 1985 to 2015 were acquired for analysis. The results revealed significant changes in MCA ecosystem over the study period, accounting for 9.9% and 6.1% increase in grassland and bareland respectively. This means that agricultural activities are encroaching towards the protected areas in the land that was formerly used as wildlife corridors and dispersal areas. It is also an indication that there is a significant change in the forestland and shrubland which has reduced by 2.3% and 15.7% respectively resulting to bareland and grassland. The results of the study provide an insight on the threat to the future survival of wildlife in their ecosystems due to declining ecosystems productivity as well as socioeconomic livelihood of communities living around the MCA. The results of this study therefore call for an integrated planning approach towards management of protected areas in order to meet wildlife and human needs in view of the changing climate regimes.

scholarly journals Analysis of the Spatial Relationship between Cattle and Wild Ungulates across Different Land-Use Systems in a Tropical Savanna Landscape

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey W. Kinga ◽  
John Mironga ◽  
Wilfred O. Odadi
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Spatial Relationship ◽  
Distribution Data ◽  
Spatial Relationships ◽  
Wild Ungulates ◽  
Land Use Systems ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
Body Sizes

In many African savanna landscapes, domestic and wild herbivores cooccur across different land-use systems, but the role of land-use in shaping their spatial relationship is poorly understood. We evaluated the spatial relationship between cattle and wild herbivores categorized by body sizes and feeding habits across different land-use types, namely, private ranches (PR), transitional lands (TRL), and pastoral grazing areas (PGA), in Laikipia County, Kenya. Cattle and wild herbivores spatial distribution data were obtained from Kenya’s Department of Resources Survey and Remote Sensing (DRSRS). Spatial relationships between cattle and different wild herbivore guilds were analyzed using Ripley’s bivariateK12function. In PR, wild herbivore guilds showed significant attraction to cattle at short distances. In TRL, wild grazers, mixed feeders, megaherbivores, and medium-sized ungulates exhibited significant attraction to cattle. Additionally, repulsion was observed between cattle and browsers at short distances under this land-use system. In PGA, wild grazers, mixed feeders, and megaherbivores repelled strongly with cattle at short distances while browsers and medium-sized ungulates were significantly attracted to cattle. Cattle and wild herbivores were more randomly and independently distributed in PR than in TRL and PGA. These spatial relationships imply better coexistence between cattle and wild herbivores in PR than in TRL and PGA.

scholarly journals Effects of the environment on species richness and composition of vascular plants in Manaslu Conservation Area and Sagarmatha region of Nepalese Himalaya

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Rai ◽  
S. Sharma ◽  
K. K. Shrestha ◽  
J. P. Gajurel ◽  
S. Devkota ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Vascular Plants ◽  
Vascular Plant ◽  
Slope Angle ◽  
Conservation Area ◽  
Temperature And Precipitation ◽  
Land Use Types ◽  
River Valleys

This study analyzed how the environmental conditions constrained the species richness and composition in the four river valleys of Central Nepal i.e. two from Manaslu Conservation Area (MCA) and two from Sagarmatha region. Topographical, bioclimatic and measured variables were used to analyze their effects on the vascular plant diversity along elevation and land use gradients. Altogether, 148 plots were established at five elevation levels between 2,200 m and 3,800 m above the mean sea level. Four land use types namely crop field, meadow, exploited forest and natural forest were sampled at each elevation level. Altogether, 790 species of vascular plants belonging to 114 families were recorded; Asteraceae had the highest number of species (84) followed by Rosaceae (52) and Poaceae (50). Explorative data analysis of species composition by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the topographical variables explained the composition better than both the bioclimatic set of variables and the logger data. However, all groups of variables revealed significant effects on species composition. Generalized Linear Model (GLM) also revealed significant effects of elevation, land-use types, slope angle, aspect, temperature and precipitation on species richness. Banko JanakariA Journal of Forestry Information for NepalVol. 26, No. 1, Page: 3-16, 2016

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document