2. Land Use/Cover Changes, Degradation and Environmental Implications
This special issue includes articles that highlight the critical issue of land degradation and its far-reaching environmental implications. The research encompasses diverse regions and landscapes. For example, a study in Iran by Mazloum et al. (2020) highlights the tension between urbanization, population growth, and the finite availability of land resources. Converting rangelands for residential, industrial, and agricultural purposes jeopardizes ecosystems and biodiversity, reflecting a common struggle in regions pursuing economic growth without compromising ecological equilibrium. Additionally, the study in northern China’s Hexi Corridor by Zhu et al. (2021) brings out the susceptibility of arid regions to climatic fluctuations through the movement of aeolian materials and changing dune formations. This study indicates that even remote areas remain susceptible to the consequences of land degradation, potentially resulting in habitat depletion, diminished soil quality, and altered ecosystems. Feng et al. (2021) introduce novel indicators to assess vegetation landscape stability in their study. These indicators are applied in a semiarid grassland coal mine area, where they successfully capture landscape dynamics across various types. In the Andaman Islands, India, Velmurugan et al. (2021) reveal the fragility of island ecosystems. The worsening of forest-cover loss due to land degradation in these islands endangers biodiversity and heightens the vulnerability of these regions to further ecological disturbances. Furthermore, a study on the Dong River upstream basin in China (Li et al., 2021) exemplifies the complex interplay between ecological restoration efforts and rapid urban expansion. While restoration initiatives aim to improve vegetation cover, urbanization’s unchecked growth accelerates land degradation and weakens the ecosystem’s capacity to provide essential services. Further, Li et al. (2021) explore the intricate relationship between restoration efforts and urban expansion’s impact on China’s land-use changes. The study reveals shifts in land-use types and their impacts on landscape patterns, including the drivers and consequences of land-use changes in this region. Lastly, in a study of the Betwa River Basin in India, Palmate et al., (2021) emphasize the relationship between climatic variables and land dynamics. It stresses that unplanned urban expansion, industrialization, and unsustainable land use practices intensify soil erosion and disrupt the balance of ecosystems. This degradation affects soil health and vegetation cover and has cascading impacts on water quality, hydrological patterns, and biodiversity. These studies emphasize the urgent need for proactive and holistic land management strategies to curb land degradation in various landscapes.