<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>More than 40% of China’s arable land is degraded. This paper reviews the direct and indirect consequences of soil degradation in China. Soil degradation has observable and measurable impacts, which include soil nutrient loss, salinization, acidification, and desertification. It also has a number of indirect consequences, in particular, a reduction of the agricultural output due to a drop in soil nutrient; an increase in the frequency and magnitude of floods and landslides; a decline in livestock production due to a decrease in grass density available to roaming livestock; an intensification of dust storms and sandstorms which affects health, the productivity of the land, and visibility; and a faster accumulation of silt in dams, which damages their structure, reduces their water storage capacity, and compromises their original functions, in particular their electricity generation capacity.</abstract>

The consequences of soil degradation in China: a review

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Smart defence in NATO may in its very nature represent not only automated remote solutions for battle activities, but harmonized and efficient system of geospatial support of deployed units as well. The objective of this study is to uncover the essence of allied geospatial support mechanism, determine critical spots and propose appropriate system enhancements. Wealth of experience of members of the Armed forces of the Czech Republic was utilized to summarize the state of geospatial support in NATO. It is preferentially experience from foreign operations ISAF and KFOR, cooperation with NATO Headquarters SHAPE and from participation in Multinational Geospatial Support Group. Presented proposals for improvements of geospatial support might have significant impact on intelligence service and military units themselves.<bold>Highlights for public administration, management and planning:</bold>• Multinational Geospatial Support Group will become a single complex executive component of NATO geospatial support for foreign operations.• Financial and capacity means for geospatial support must be centralized directly within NATO structure to reach maximum efficiency.• Production of standardized-only scale set maps covering territory of NATO and areas of interest is to be obligatorily for all member nations.• Access to the web service CoreGIS should be granted for all NATO nations at a national level.</abstract>

Smart defence: Joint geospatial support in NATO

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Old industrial cities abound with extensive infrastructures, which however no longer suit the economic purposes, for which they were originally built. However either their demolition or a complete rebuilding of new is often not a viable option, and thus the issue of their smart reuse emerged in urban studies. In this paper we combine literature on restructuring, brownfields, and industrial heritage to assess their significance both as a barrier and asset for future urban development. The main aim is to provide municipalities with an overview of the range of their possible reuses, and problems they might face in doing so. Furthermore, the selected examples show that contemplating new use should be guided by assessment of intrinsic features of the structures on one hand, and by general global trends on other. This new combination of the two might render the new use competitive. For this sake a case study of the old industrial city of Ostrava is employed, as this issue has been particularly pronounced given the city’s strong historical specialisation in heavy industry.</abstract>

Industrial culture as an asset, barrier and creative challenge for restructuring of old industrial cities: case study of Ostrava (Czechia)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>In the last 30 years the global supply chains and containerization transformed the world of production and stretched it across the globe. With the exodus of Process and Assembly (P&amp;A) segment of industrial production from the developed countries, the “global north” not only lost the production capacity itself, but more importantly, the know-how in making that is a basis of industrial culture.The neoliberal attitudes in industrial production were the main force behind slow but persistent abandonment of the automotive industry in Detroit, or closing down of the coal and iron industry in the Ruhr region in Germany. Contemporary urban renewal strategies of industrial areas rely on injection of tourism based on design, popular art, cultural and leisure activities, like the Emscher Landschaftspark in Ruhr region, Germany. However, tourism-based redevelopment is economically questionable in small industrial towns. For such areas we need to envision alternative agencies that industrial past and industrial production can offer. One of the most underrated aspects of industrial production is the know-how imbedded in the P&amp;A segment of industrial process. We argue for the industrial production know-how as a relevant part of the new innovation economy of small towns and of the local culture. This paper will trace the capacity of industrial production for culture-making by referring to production-innovation models described in regional geography. Firstly the paper identifies the P&amp;A know-how worth reshoring. Secondly, it describes two models of neo-industrialization in order to thirdly identify a new hybrid type of a regional model and its culture.</abstract>

Neo-industrialization models and industrial culture of small towns

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The article presents the population problem of urban functional area around selected medium-sized cities in Poland and the Czech Republic. Research work refers to six cities (on the Polish side - Jelenia Góra, Legnica and Wałbrzych – located in Lower Silesia region; on the Czech side - Hradec Králové, Liberec and Ústí nad Labem). These core cities with suburban areas co-create the functional urban areas with varied demographic structure and development dynamics. In the analysed period, the population growth was observed only in Liberec. The largest total population among studied areas refers also to Liberec functional urban area. The population in suburban areas of the examined Polish and Czech cities is relatively younger than in the core cities. Functional approach for development of urban areas founding depart from perception of demographic problem and challenges only by prism of administrative borders becomes more important.</abstract>

Demographic potential in functional areas of the selected medium-sized cities in Poland and the Czech Republic

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The Lake Chad basin is one of the most unstable regions in Africa. The lake itself has shrunk and nowadays it covers less than 10 % of its area in 1960. These environmental changes have wider geopolitical consequences in the whole region, which encompasses countries such as Nigeria, Niger, Chad and Cameroon. Therefore, it seems that environmental threats may act as the detonators for larger political conflict as well as for a struggle for land and may cause growing instability in affected countries. The region is fragile, owing to the fact that several terrorist and Islamist groups are operating there. The most serious threat in the Lake Chad basin is militant Islamist group Boko Haram, which is based in north eastern Nigeria, but it is also active in neighbouring countries. As a result of both ecological changes and security threats, people are losing their traditional sources of income from herding and it is likely that there will be large waves of migration from the area. The paper focuses on the environmental challenges in the Lake Chad basin and their effect on the security in the region. The main attention will be paid to the strategies and actions of militant terrorist groups such as Boko Haram that will be analysed in the wider regional geopolitical context.</abstract>

Desiccation of Lake Chad as a cause of security instability in the Sahel region

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
A unified land use classification system with mutually exclusive definitions of each land use category helps to avoid inconsistencies in the planning process and, most importantly, ensures effective implementation of development control tools. In Bangladesh, the planning authorities prepare land use plans by independently deciding the land use classes. This study aims to explore the nature of inconsistencies in the land use classification systems followed by different planning institutions in Bangladesh and understand their corresponding consequences. To conduct the study, land use plans prepared by different planning institutions have been collected. Based on descriptive analysis, the study shows that the types of land use classes in land use plans change over time, between administrative units, and in different parts of the country. Even authorities are not consistent in maintaining a classification system in their subsequent plans. Moreover, the plans retain ambiguous definitions of land use classes. The classification and definitions of the land use classes are not well linked with different national acts, rules, and policies relating to environmental and natural conservation, which makes it difficult to control development and protect natural, environmental, and cultural resources. This study has the potential to help us understand the importance of a unified land use classification system. Utilizing concept hierarchy, the study has also developed a system for land use classification in Bangladesh that will assist in future research, planning, and policymaking.
</abstract>

Land use classification system in Bangladesh: Inconsistencies, their planning implications, and the way forward

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The present paper deals with the limited aspects of calculation of gender gap in terms of socio-economic variability measures in Sehore Municipal Council (Sehore M.C.), Madhya Pradesh, by partially utilizing Global Gender Gap Index of the World Economic Forum (WEF). Pronounced gender inequality in terms of Indian scenario and thrust of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) introduced by the United Nations, on Gender Equality (Goal-5), have made it pertinent to assess gender gap in terms of socio-economic variability. The present study, therefore aims to measure the gender inequality in the upcoming city of Sehore, a class I city as per 2011 Population Census, in Madhya Pradesh. The study adopts the methodology of the Global Gender Gap Index of the WEF, and applies it to 15 variables over 3 sub-indices obtained from the household survey of 940 women across selected 17 localities covering 4 wards in Sehore M.C. The methodology includes the standardization of the selected variables and preparation of the composite index. As per the composite index mapping, 35% of the localities belong to very poor category, while 29% of the localities belong to poor category. Nearly 12% of the localities belong to each satisfactory, good and very good categories. The study concludes with suggestions for the promotion of gender parity in the city apart from highlighting the ongoing activities of the government for the women’s empowerment in the Sehore city.
</abstract>

Measuring the Gender Gap Index using socio-economic variability: A case study based on Modified Global Gender Gap Index (Sehore Municipal Council, India)

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
A significant phenomenon of sacral complexes in a landscape is their cultural heritage dimension. They are part of historical landscape structures, representing a type of cultural landscape. In addition, they are often perceived as important landscape landmarks and symbols. In Slovakia (Central Europe), most such complexes are abandoned and deteriorated. In this context presented paper deals with the assessment and possible future human use of Calvary in Hliník nad Hronom (Slovakia) in order to preserve it for future generations. A central aspect of our research work presented in this contribution is to elaborate a sustainable and feasible concept for the Calvary following the integrated approach of its revitalization. Firstly, we analyzed Calvary´s historical and regional setting with the help of a thorough review of literature, historical maps, and pictures. Then we evaluated architectural, landscape, and vegetation values, as well as landscape structure changes using relevant methodologies. Based on this evaluation, much fieldwork, and social survey we were able to identify the current problems of the place connected with abandonment and use, evaluated values, socio-economic factors, and preservation policies. Subsequently, we prepared a future concept for the Calvary following the selected criteria and distinguishing features and looking at the Calvary as a result of collective work. Finally, recommendations were formulated for legal framework and spatial planning procedures in order to enforce better preservation of values of sacral complexes in the country.
</abstract>

Assessing current use and visions for sacral complexes in a landscape: An example from Central Europe

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
This study investigates the narratives surrounding COVID-19 in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. It assesses whether the narratives contained knowledge about the relationship between capitalist accumulation and expansion (CAnE) and the spread of COVID-19. Political ecologists argue that CAnE is associated with the spread of infectious zoonotic diseases like COVID-19. While studies on COVID-19 are growing, there has yet to be an exploration of ordinary people’s knowledge of the relationship between CAnE and COVID-19 spread, especially in Africa. Thus, this paper examines the narratives of COVID-19 in Nsukka to see whether they contain information about how COVID-19 spreads through CAnE. The findings revealed a significant evolution in the narratives of COVID-19 in Nsukka over time, reflecting changing perceptions and attitudes within the community. At the pandemic’s start, the dominant narratives centred around religious interpretations and scepticism about the virus’s reality. However, these initial religious and sceptical narratives gradually gave way to a different perspective, termed spatial othering, as the pandemic continued, suggesting that while acknowledging the virus as real, they believed it could not thrive in Nsukka or Nigeria. This shift was accompanied by the belief that the virus did not originate in the region and thus lacked agency to thrive there. The official government narrative, as observed in public health messages, primarily focused on hygiene and sanitation measures to curb the spread of the virus. Thus, it argues that political ecology knowledge about the pandemic is not acknowledged or endorsed in the ordinary people and government narratives, highlighting the need for diversified sources of knowledge, including non-conventional forms, to reach and educate local communities effectively. Hence, the central argument in the study is that even though CAnE can contribute to the spread of infectious diseases like COVID-19 as formulated by political ecologists; this idea is absent in the narratives surrounding the pandemic in Nsukka. Whilst not discounting other sources of the pandemics and alternative perspectives, the study called for resistance against practices associated with capitalist expansion, highlighting the role of education in raising awareness, resistance and activism to address the vulnerabilities associated with capitalist expansion in the context of public health crises.
</abstract>

Capitalism and infectious diseases spread? Narratives of COVID-19 in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Regions are main building blocks of larger territorial units, but they also display high dynamics affecting how regional identities can be studied. The regional dynamics and multilayered nature ultimately require new approaches to their visual representation. The goal of this article is to present a novel approach to visual presentation of the administrative regions’ dynamics by cartographic means of representation in a synthetic map that can assist in the research of regional identities. We adopt the theory of the institutionalisation of regions, the administrative division of the state is a process in which the borders and names of regions are constantly transformed causing changes in the perception of the population. Then we analyse the laws on administrative division reforms and old/historical map documents. This enabled us to identify the dynamics of individual borders and names of administrative regions (choronyms) that form spaces with a higher or lower degree of stability. We propose a visualisation approach to represent such dynamics, and we assert that through cartographic visualisation of the degree of transformation in these spaces it is possible to get an insight into population’s awareness about the named regions and their delimitation.
</abstract>

Visualising administrative division dynamics: transformation of borders and names in the Bohemian-Saxonian borderland

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Post-construction Support (PCS) services refer to all forms of assistance/support given to water service providers (WSPs) to enable them to detect, correct and maintain water system infrastructure or prevent future system faults. PCS enhances the quality and sustainability of water supply services. This paper examines the provision of PCS to state water authorities in Nigeria. Specifically, we identified the sources of PCS and relevance of PCS; then we discussed the pattern of occurrence of system faults the bureaucracy associated with PCS provision across the sampled states. Finally, we examined the constraints to PCS provision and the options for overcoming the challenges. The study used empirical data derived from questionnaire surveys, through key informant interviews (KIIs) and from published literature. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools. Results of the study revealed the current sources and patterns of PCS provision which vary widely across the sampled states. PCS is provided intermittently based on resource availability and on the willingness of the provider. The constraints and bureaucracies associated with PCS provision cause prolonged and avoidable delays and limit quality service delivery with often great consequences for the end users. WSPs lack legislative, and policy instruments to compel governments to act and ensure that PCS services are provided speedily and in a sustainable manner. The poor quality of service delivery in the area can be traced, in part, to a lack of needed PCS services. Consequently, the way forward for WSPs is to confront the dearth of PCS in the water supply sector frontally. Suggestions on how to surmount the dearth of PCS and improve the quality of service delivery in the area were advanced.
</abstract>

Provision of post construction support (PCS) services to state water authorities in Nigeria: constraints and the way forward

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>As satellite data of the Earth surface seems to be of vital importance for many applications, classification of land use and land cover has been found to vary dramatically in different approaches. In this paper, modified classification algorithm of remote sensing data is presented for processing medium and high spatial resolution satellite images like Landsat and Sentinel in Tashkent province of Uzbekistan. The results of NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index) profile analysis via Spectral Correlation Mapper classification are shown for the period 1994-2017. It is implied, that combination of optical and radar data with application of Spectral Correlation Mapper classification improve the results of classification for a specific dataset by considering such factors as overall classification accuracy and time and labor involved.</abstract>

Multi-temporal monitoring of cotton growth through the vegetation profile classification for Tashkent province, Uzbekistan

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Recent effects of globalization, urbanization and climate change have resulted in an increasing interest in the quality of life in cities and seeking pathways for its improvement. At the same time, there are changes in society and lifestyles that may challenge or facilitate these pathways. Community gardens (CGs) represent an effort to provide more sustainable urban economies, while reflecting on the public demand for cultivation of own crops. However, members of CGs may not perceive all the benefits that CGs provide for their surroundings. Using two case studied from Czechia (CG Kuchyňka and CG Vidimova in Prague) the aim of this paper is a comparison of the benefits perceived by community garden members and the evaluated net social benefits of community gardens in cities for all local residents. Through a questionnaire survey, the paper answers the research question of the benefits of community gardens perceived by community garden members. An economic assessment based on cost-benefit analysis was made to answer the question of the value of the net social benefits of community gardens in cities. Our comparison shows that the net social benefits are higher than perceived by their members. Net present benefits of EUR 31 550 for CG Kuchyňka and EUR 1 175 for CG Vidimova were quantified in a 50-year horizon. This economic analysis should contribute to greater support for community gardens by city governments and spatial planners.</abstract>

Improving the quality of life in cities using community gardens: from benefits for members to benefits for all local residents

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>In this article, we examine a relationship between population/economic size and resilience of Czech regions. More specifically, we ask if there are any significant differences among metropolitan cores and hinterlands, urban regions and rural regions in (post)crisis economic development in the period 2009–2013. Three aspects of resilience were considered: volatility of unemployment, renewal (increase in economic performance compared to other regions) and reorientation (measured by the intensity of structural changes in total employment). We found relatively small differences among particular types of regions and high intra-group heterogeneity. Specialized industrial urban regions exhibited the fastest economic growth in the (post)crisis period. Metropolitan cores lagged slightly behind, but experienced relatively stable economic development. Although rural regions exhibited the highest unemployment volatility, they did not lag behind in terms of value added growth. Regional resilience in a small open economy like Czechia seems to be predominantly driven by extraregional factors such as the position in global production networks and economic performance in particular industries or large transnational corporations.</abstract>

Resilience of metropolitan, urban and rural regions: a Central European perspective

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Landslides are among the major environmental hazards with large-scale socio-economic and environmental impacts that jeopardize socio-economic wellbeing in mountainous regions. Landslides are due to the interaction of several complex factors such as local or regional geology, geomorphology, topography, and seismic motions. The goal of this study is to review published articles on causes and effects of landslides in Central Asia throughout 2000–2020. In line with this goal, we have collected (using Scopus database), reviewed, and analyzed 79 papers published during 2000–2020. Our results revealed an increasing number of landslide studies in Central Asia during the period under investigation, with authors from Belgium dominating in the published outcomes (28% of total), followed by authors from Central-Asian countries. After then, the paper analyses the mostly applied models and frequently identified driving conditions and triggers of landsliding, such as aspect, altitude, soil types, precipitation, earthquakes and human interventions. Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing (RS) had not commonly been used in the papers between 2000 and 2010, and they have progressively been applied in landslide studies in Central Asia in the last decade. According to our analysis, geotechnical, geophysical and statistical methods were preferably used for the landslide studies in Central Asia.
</abstract>

Landslides in Central Asia: a review of papers published in 2000–2020 with a particular focus on the importance of GIS and remote sensing techniques

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Quarrying represents a major human impact on the landscape. The positive effects of quarrying have also been appreciated over the last several decades and concern the role of quarries as sites with the potential for geoscientific education and geotourism. In this paper we present a procedure for establishing a multitemporal database of abandoned quarries and their multicriterial assessment in order to determine sites suitable for geotourism purposes. The case of the České středohoří Protected Landscape Area in Northern Czechia is used, as an example of conflicting interest between nature conservation and intense quarrying. Using the combination of old maps and current orthophotomaps, we identified 80 (mid-19th Century), 57 (mid-20th Century) and 38 (2007) quarries. 104 of them were further evaluated according to criteria of scientific and educational value and ‘potential use’ value (visibility, accessibility and extent). This process enabled to determine sites with the highest suitability for geotourism purposes. Finally, we discuss management context for these sites, and possible threats to the sites caused by increased geotourism.</abstract>

Assessing the geotourism potential of abandoned quarries with multitemporal data (České Středohoří Mts., Czechia)

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