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.