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Land
Special Issues
Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes
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Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2025) | Viewed by 7302

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jianjun Cao

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Guest Editor
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Interests: ecology; ecological (environmental) economics; natural resource management; human–environment interactions
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Asim Biswas

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Environmental Sciences, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
Interests: soil physics; vadose zone hydrology; precision agriculture; proximal soil sensing; digital soil mapping; soil spatial variability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Geography and Environmental Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Interests: ecological (environmental) geography; remote sensing of resources and environment; geographic information systems; land use and land cover change; environmental assessment
Prof. Dr. Dewei Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: human geography; rural transition; land use sustainability; geo-socio-ecological modeling; climate change mitigation and adaptation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the impact of alterations in land use on ecosystems has significantly intensified, emerging as a pivotal force driving global transformations. Imprudent land utilization has led to a spectrum of ecological threats, encompassing land desertification, soil erosion, substantial depletion of forest reserves, biodiversity loss, pollution concerns, and a decline in the functionality of ecosystem services. Furthermore, it contributes to the heightened frequency of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Given the escalating global tensions between population growth, resource availability, and environmental preservation, there is an urgent imperative for assessing the ecological disaster risks associated with changes in land use. This assessment is crucial for promoting ecological rejuvenation and advancing sustainable development efforts.

The primary objective of this Special Issue is to disseminate the most recent research findings concerning the assessment of ecological and disaster risks associated with changes in land use. Its overarching goal is to mitigate the adverse impacts on ecosystems and promote sustainable development across regional economies, societies, and environments. This Special Issue aims to propose well-reasoned strategies for responding to ecological and disaster risks effectively.

The scope of this issue encompasses a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Analyzing current and future ecological and disaster risks resulting from land use changes at both global and regional scales.
  2. Introducing innovative technologies, frameworks, and methodologies for assessing these risks and predicting their magnitude.
  3. Implementing proactive management, policies, and governance to prevent potential ecological disasters.
  4. Advancing sustainable development in the context of land use.

We welcome submissions that present groundbreaking methodologies for understanding and addressing these environmental challenges, as well as manuscripts that provide empirical case studies exploring the scientific, managerial, and policy dimensions of ecological and disaster risk assessment associated with changes in land use.

Dr. Jianjun Cao
Dr. Asim Biswas
Dr. Jian Zhang
Prof. Dr. Dewei Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • ecological or disaster risk
  • risk assessment
  • risk prediction
  • ecosystem services
  • land use change
  • land use policy
  • sustainable development

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 12268 KiB  
Article
Ecological Risk Assessment of Watersheds Based on Adaptive Cycling Theory—A Case Study of Poyang Lake Ecological and Economic Zone
by Yixi Gu, Jiaxuan Wang, Xinyi Su and Kaili Zhang
Land 2025, 14(6), 1265; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061265 - 12 Jun 2025
Abstract
Under the global urbanization context, irrational land use patterns have exacerbated ecosystem imbalance. Developing watershed ecological risk assessment methods based on adaptive cycle theory holds significant scientific importance for flood risk prevention. This study established a watershed ecological risk assessment framework within the [...] Read more.
Under the global urbanization context, irrational land use patterns have exacerbated ecosystem imbalance. Developing watershed ecological risk assessment methods based on adaptive cycle theory holds significant scientific importance for flood risk prevention. This study established a watershed ecological risk assessment framework within the adaptive cycle framework, focusing on the Poyang Lake Ecological Economic Zone in the middle-lower Yangtze River Basin. The results revealed that high-risk ecological areas clustered around the Poyang Lake water system with scattered urban distribution, while medium-risk zones dominated the study area. Low-risk regions primarily concentrated in the Yuanhe Plain of southwestern region. The system exhibited significant spatial heterogeneity in “exposure” and “disturbance” risks. Medium–high exposure pixels accounted for 43.3% with a dispersed distribution, whereas disturbance pixels concentrated in Poyang Lake waters and developed urban areas (64.34%), indicating that disturbance exerted a stronger influence on risk assessment outcomes. Governance practices demonstrated that policy preferences may introduce biases into watershed ecological risk evaluations. Multi-scenario simulations using an Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) algorithm identified risk-uncertain zones in southeastern hilly areas and northern Poyang Lake waters, while distinguishing stable high/low-risk regions unaffected by decision-making influences. These findings provide critical references for formulating sustainable watershed management strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes)
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18 pages, 5091 KiB  
Article
Ecological Monitoring and Service Value Assessment of River–Lake Shores: A Case Study of the Huanggang and Taihu Segments of the Yangtze River
by Xiaoyuan Zhang, Kai Liu, Shudong Wang and Xueke Li
Land 2025, 14(5), 1038; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051038 - 9 May 2025
Viewed by 331
Abstract
Riverine and lacustrine shorelines are crucial for human survival and development, but their natural and ecological environments are highly fragile and sensitive. Intensified human activities have placed unprecedented pressure on the shoreline ecosystem of the Yangtze River Basin. This study investigates the degradation [...] Read more.
Riverine and lacustrine shorelines are crucial for human survival and development, but their natural and ecological environments are highly fragile and sensitive. Intensified human activities have placed unprecedented pressure on the shoreline ecosystem of the Yangtze River Basin. This study investigates the degradation of river and lake shorelines and its cascading effects on ecological service functions. Using Sentinel-2 as the primary data source, we analyzed land use/cover changes and ecosystem service values (ESV) in the Huanggang and Taihu sections of the Yangtze River from 2018 to 2022. The supervised classification results using the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm exceeded 95% accuracy. In the Huanggang section, vegetation was significantly converted into cultivated land and built-up areas (−6.17 km2), while in the Taihu section, water bodies were largely transformed into agricultural land (−3.77 km2). In this study, we quantified changes in ESV using the unit area equivalent factor method, adjusted based on net primary productivity, precipitation, and the soil conservation coefficient. The results indicate that the ESV ranking in both sections follows the order: water conservation > environmental purification > biodiversity > soil conservation. From 2018 to 2022, the ESV in the Huanggang section declined due to forest and grassland loss and an increase in bare land. In contrast, ecological restoration and habitat protection policies contributed to an improvement in ecosystem service functions in the Taihu section, with various ESV components increasing as follows: soil conservation (8.79%) > biodiversity (6.67%) > environmental purification (5.98%) > water conservation (5.52%). These findings provide valuable insights for decision-making in the protection and management of the Yangtze River Basin ecosystem. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes)
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16 pages, 18082 KiB  
Article
Land-Use-Change-Driven Erosion and Sediment Transport in the Yaqui River Sub-Basin (Mexico): Insights from Satellite Imagery and Hydraulic Simulations
by Omar Salvador Areu-Rangel, Miguel Ángel Hernández-Hernández and Rosanna Bonasia
Land 2024, 13(11), 1846; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111846 - 6 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1640
Abstract
Soil erosion and sediment transport are significant concerns in the Yaqui River sub-basin in northwest Mexico, driven by land use changes and environmental degradation. This study aims to evaluate erosion processes between 2000 and 2020 using a combination of satellite imagery and numerical [...] Read more.
Soil erosion and sediment transport are significant concerns in the Yaqui River sub-basin in northwest Mexico, driven by land use changes and environmental degradation. This study aims to evaluate erosion processes between 2000 and 2020 using a combination of satellite imagery and numerical simulations with Iber software (Version 2.5.2). The primary objective is to assess the impacts of land use changes, particularly the conversion of forest to grassland, on erosion rates and sediment transport. Satellite images from 2000 and 2020 were analyzed to detect land cover changes, while Iber’s sediment transport module was used to simulate erosion patterns based on the Meyer–Peter and Müller equation for bedload transport. Hydrological and topographical data were incorporated to provide accurate simulations of flow velocity, depth, and erosion potential. The results reveal a 35.3% reduction in forest cover, leading to increased erosion and sediment transport in steep areas. Simulation predictions highlighted areas with high future erosion potential, which are at risk of further soil loss if current trends continue. Flow velocity increased, contributing to riverbank destabilization and higher sediment yield, posing a risk to infrastructure such as the Álvaro Obregón Dam. This study underscores the need for targeted erosion control measures and sustainable land management practices to mitigate future risks and protect vital infrastructure in the Yaqui River Basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes)
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17 pages, 4441 KiB  
Article
The Application of Soil Erosion Models of an Agroforestry Basin under Mediterranean Conditions from a Geotechnical Point of View
by Ana Paula Leite, António Canatário Duarte, Leonardo Marchiori, Maria Vitoria Morais, André Studart and Victor Cavaleiro
Land 2024, 13(10), 1613; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101613 - 4 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1291
Abstract
Soil erosion has been causing an imbalance in nature and the environment. It is mainly caused naturally but is also due to human interventions leading to desertification and possible contamination. Therefore, engineering, geography, and cartography have been allies in applying erosion models to [...] Read more.
Soil erosion has been causing an imbalance in nature and the environment. It is mainly caused naturally but is also due to human interventions leading to desertification and possible contamination. Therefore, engineering, geography, and cartography have been allies in applying erosion models to predict, address, and remediate the impacts. Therefore, the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) linked to Geographic Information Systems (GISs) could boost decision making as tools to mitigate issues. This study applies the RUSLE and SWAT models from a geotechnical point of view to analyze a sub-watershed at Idanha-a-Nova (Portugal) over 4 years, showing a predominant erosion risk class with losses lower than 5 t.ha−1.year−1 (60 to 86%), characterized as very low risk. The modeling permitted the development of soils erosion susceptibility charts, in addition to material availability and the suitability for construction areas, exposing a replicable methodology that could contribute to minimizing environmental impacts while encouraging a more intelligent use of the land towards a greener exploration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes)
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20 pages, 13988 KiB  
Article
Landscape Ecological Risk and Drivers of Land-Use Transition under the Perspective of Differences in Topographic Gradient
by Xuebin Zhang, Jiale Yu, Haoyuan Feng, Litang Yao, Xuehong Li, Hucheng Du and Yanni Liu
Land 2024, 13(6), 876; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060876 - 18 Jun 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
Human activities have caused different degrees of land-use change on different topographic gradients, with impacts on the landscape and ecosystem. Effectively preventing and addressing ecological risk (ER) and achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature are important aspects of sustainable development. In this [...] Read more.
Human activities have caused different degrees of land-use change on different topographic gradients, with impacts on the landscape and ecosystem. Effectively preventing and addressing ecological risk (ER) and achieving harmonious coexistence between humans and nature are important aspects of sustainable development. In this study, we used Gansu Province as an example, adopted five periods of land-use data in 1980, 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020, and used the geoinformatic Tupu method and the terrain distribution index to study land-use changes under different topographic gradients, and then constructed the landscape ecological risk assessment (LERA) model based on the landscape pattern index to analyze landscape ecological risk (LER) spatiotemporal changes under different topographic gradients, and finally explored the LER driving factors using the geodetector model. The results showed that (1) the dominant land-use types were unused land and grassland, accounting for approximately 74% of the land. The situation of transferring and changing each type was more drastic. The distribution and changes in cropland and built-up land were easily found in low topographic gradient areas with low elevations and small slopes; the distribution and changes in woodland, grassland and water areas were easily found in high topographic gradient areas with high elevations and large slopes. (2) The landscape ecological risk index (LERI) was 0.018, 0.019, 0.019, 0.019 and 0.020, respectively, with spatial expressions of high in the northwest and low in the southeast. Low LER was concentrated in high topographic gradient ecological reserves; high LER was concentrated in low topographic gradient human interference areas and high topographic gradient natural environmental complex areas. (3) Natural factors mainly acted on the LER on moderate and high topographic position gradients; socioeconomic factors mainly acted on the LER on low topographic position gradients. Human interference interacted with natural factors more than human interference alone on LER. This study can provide a scientific basis for ensuring ecological security and sustainable development in areas with complex topography and geomorphology. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes)
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21 pages, 6313 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Uncertainties in Ecological Risk Based on the Prediction of Land Use Change and Ecosystem Service Evolution
by Chang You, Hongjiao Qu, Shidong Zhang and Luo Guo
Land 2024, 13(4), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040535 - 17 Apr 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1604
Abstract
With the rapid progress in urbanization and economic development, the impact of land use change (LUC) on ecosystem services is becoming increasingly significant. However, the accuracy of ecological risk assessment faces challenges due to the presence of uncertainty factors. Using the PLUS model, [...] Read more.
With the rapid progress in urbanization and economic development, the impact of land use change (LUC) on ecosystem services is becoming increasingly significant. However, the accuracy of ecological risk assessment faces challenges due to the presence of uncertainty factors. Using the PLUS model, this study aims to simulate and predict land use changes (LUCs), focusing on the southern hilly regions in southeastern China as a case study, conducting an in-depth assessment of ecological risk uncertainty. Firstly, a spatiotemporal simulation of LUCs in the southern hilly region from 1990 to 2030 was conducted under multiple scenarios. Subsequently, differences in the spatial and temporal distribution of ecosystem service value (ESV) across different years and forecast scenarios in the southern hilly region were revealed, followed by a detailed analysis of the impact of LUCs on ESV. Finally, by calculating the Ecological Risk Index (ERI), the study systematically analyzed the evolution trend of ecological risk in the southern hilly region of China from 1990 to 2030. The main research findings are as follows: (1) the conversion proportions of different land use types vary significantly under different scenarios. Compared to 2020, under the 2030 National Development Scenarios (NDSs), there has been a slight decrease of around 3% in the total conversion area of farmland, forest, and grassland. However, under the Ecological Protection Scenario (EPS) and Urban Development Scenario (UDS) scenarios, there has been an increase in the area of forest and grassland, with a rise of approximately 1.5% in converted built-up land. (2) Western cities (e.g., Yueyang and Yiyang), central cities (e.g., Jiujiang), and northeastern cities (e.g., Suzhou) of China exhibit a relatively high ESV distribution, while ESV significantly decreased overall from 2010 to 2020. However, under the EPS and UDS, ESV shows a significant increasing trend, suggesting that these two scenarios may play a crucial role in ecosystem restoration. (3) The conversion of forest and water bodies to farmland has the most significant inhibitory effect on ESV, especially during the period from 1990 to 2000, providing substantial data support for relevant policy formulation. (4) From 1990 to 2030, ecological risk gradually increased in western, central, and southwestern cities of the southern hilly region, with the highest ecological risk values under the EPS scenario in northern cities (e.g., Chizhou and Tongling). Under the UDS scenario, there has been a significant decrease in ecological risk, providing valuable insights for future ecological conservation and sustainable development. However, a limitation lies in the need for further enhancement of the scenario’s simulation authenticity. This study offers a new perspective for understanding the impact of LUCs on ecosystem services and the uncertainty of ecological risks, providing crucial reference points for land resource management and the formulation of ecological conservation policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes)
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