Volumen 13 (2020): Edición 2 (September 2020)

Land use / land cover (LULC) has been considered as one of the important bio-physical parameters and have significant affect on local environmental change, particularly increasing anthropogenic temperature. Remote sensing images from Landsat series satellites are a major information source for LULC change analysis. In the present investigation, long term changes in LULC and its negative impact on land surface temperature (LST) were analyzed using multi-temporal Landsat satellite images between 2000 to 2016. firstly LULC of the study area has been classified and temporal changes in land use classes were quantify, and observed that in most of the land use classes such as vegetation (-1.28 %), water bodies (-1.65 %), agriculture (-3.52) and open land (-2.43 %) have shown negative change, however large scale positive changes in built-up area (+8.87 %) has been observed during the analysis, which is mainly due to continuous urbanization and growth of population in the area. The classified thermal images from the same period also show mean temperature of the area has increased by 1.60 °C since last 16 years. The observation from the present study reveals that due to the large-scale land use change practices in urban and peri-urban area witnessed for the rising temperature due to loss natural vegetation and other natural resources.

Mansonia altissima A. Chev., a redwood producer species in tropical Africa, occurs as one small, isolated population in a highly anthropized landscape in Republic of Benin. We accessed the landscape pattern and population status to inform restauration action for the species. We established 20 one-ha permanent plots divided in 320 subplots (25 m × 25 m) in-situ and counted and measured M. altissima plants with diameter ≥ 1cm at base and 1.30 m above ground (DBH) in February 2017, 2018 and 2019. Based on the main disturbance factors, such as fire, human-caused damage to seedlings, harvesting of wood for fuel, and agriculture, we assigned the plots to one of three disturbance levels: poor, moderate, and strong. We grouped the plants into four life stages according to diameter size (cm): seedling (1 ≤ DBH < 5), sapling (5 ≤ DBH < 10), premature (10 ≤ DBH < 20), and mature (DBH ≥ 20). We used Landsat data of years 1986, 2002 and 2017 to quantify and analyze landscape changes and fragmentation. Results showed that the landscape was dramatically changed and fragmented between 2002 and 2017 due to disturbance increase. Semi-deciduous forest (SDF) containing M. altissima decreased, whereas woodlands and savannas increased. SDF was severely fragmented and disaggregated. In plots with strong disturbance, mortality rate was higher, whereas in plots with poor disturbance, it was lower and recruitment was highest. Mortality rate differed significantly among life stages and disturbance levels. Experimental restoration is required to identify locations where the species can establish young viable populations. Fire and other anthropogenic disturbance have to be controlled to ensure this natural population can provide seeds for restoration and conservation projects.

This paper discusses the threats to the running water habitats that are highly important to biodiversity the European Community in the Continental Biogeographical Region (CBR) of Europe, specifically in Poland. This study covers four water course habitat types distinguished in Natura 2000, which is a network of nature protection areas in the territory (3260, 3220, 3240, 3270 - the code of the habitat, as in Annex I of the Habitat Directive), occurring in 806 Special Areas of Conservation in Poland. Based on a multivariate analysis, we found significant differences in the conservation status of running water habitats resulting from a variety of threats, pressures, and activities. Agriculture has a number of negative impacts on running water habitats, which are most evident for the following habitats: 3260 > 3270. Forest management may have both negative (3260) and positive effects on habitats (3270). Natural system modifications strongly affect habitats 3240, 3270 > 3260. Among the negative anthropogenic influences are pollution (3260 > 3220); human intrusions, disturbances, and tourism (reported most often) (3260, 3270); transportation and service corridors (3260, and 3270); urbanization, residential, and commercial development tourism (3260); biological resource use other than for agriculture and forestry (3270 > 3260); and mining, extraction of materials, and energy production (3270). Geological events and natural catastrophes—most often inundation—were identified as important hazards for habitat 3240. The development of alien and invasive species strongly affects habitats 3240 > 3260, 3270, and natural biotic and abiotic processes affect habitats 3220 > 3260. Negative impacts associated with climate change were detected mostly for habitat 3260. Taking into account the threats identified, a list of recommended practices for running water habitat types is presented, to be considered in habitat conservation programmes.

Changes in the ecological conditions of the cultivated coenosises caused by anthropogenic load have been shown by the example of several of the largest botanical gardens in Ukraine. That complex influence leads to the transformation of coenosises at stages II and III of anthropogenic degression. Changes in phyto- and avidiversity compositions have been shown using a transformation gradient. Positive correlations between compositions and diversity indices of bird communities and vegetation composition (diversity indices, dominance indices, evenness indices) have been detected. The values of the phytodiversity indices showed greater deviation from the normal conditions.

Development of forest plantation is mainly intended to provide income opportunity and to ensure the improvement of the socioeconomics of society. Sabah Softwood Berhad (SSB) is one of the private companies that pioneered the development and commercialization of fast growing timber species and forest plantation. The Eucalyptus plantation in SSB was initiated in response to the emergence of fungal disease that implicated the environment. Nevertheless, the impacts of plantation to the environment regarding water use, soil erosion, nutrient loss, pest and disease, biodiversity, soil quality and hydrology are reviewed. The disputes among various scientists over the physiological and plantation aspects of Eucalyptus, especially their implication towards the environment are also discussed. This paper aims to present information on the impacts posed by the Eucalyptus plantation that will guide the planters and policy makers in facilitating a management plan to mitigate the impacts of this species to the environment.

It is pre-requisite to conserve and protect the forest cover, therefore mapping of the forest distribution and monitoring of their temporal changes are also necessary. In the field of forestry, radar datasets have a high potential due to its ability to derive/extract information from the surface, sub-surface and even from the depth. The current work tries to utilize the capability of C-band radar datasets provided by Sentinel 1A/B mission to derive the required information for sensing the disturbances in the forest areas. Application of SAR or microwave remote sensing for forest disturbance mapping with dual-polarization is partially developed and have been attempted by limited researchers to process and interpret the derived results. Microwave datasets can map the areas with frequent cloud-cover due to its cloud penetrating capabilities in day-night operation mode. The present work tries to identify and locate the disturbances in forest areas to organize better understanding of detailed information for further analysis with the help of open archive microwave datasets incoherent to optical datasets.

The importance of communication in conflict situations between conservationists and farmers about problems related to agricultural practices such as erosion, biodiversity loss, and water quality has been highlighted frequently. However, in the Czech Republic, there is a very limited amount of scientific data about this issue. This article presents a literature review summarising evidence on how conflicts between farmers and environmentalists proceed; steps that can be taken to achieve progress in face-to-face communication and there is also a case study of a specific collaborative partnership from a small parish in South Moravia that focuses on improving natural values. Recommendations on how to build more constructive dialogue and develop cooperation between various groups are analysed, and principles that enhance dialogue and may contribute to overcoming disagreements through partnership are indicated. The collaborative partnership in the case study involves a farmer working together with a municipality and other stakeholders on a local level to improve nature conservation and ecosystem services. The majority of the general principles of collaboration and communication for conflict resolution that were identified in the literature review were fulfilled; nevertheless, the partnership currently has limited outreach as the two agribusiness companies which manage the majority of the land in the parish have not been included.