Land Use Change and Trends
Addressing critiques refines global estimates of reforestation potential for climate change mitigationBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Protect, manage and then restore lands for climate mitigationBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Carbon dynamics with stand structure and species diversity in the Hindu Kush Himalaya ranges of PakistanBackgroundGlobal climate change and biodiversity loss underscore the importance of forests in climate change mitigation and ecosystem stability, as highlighted by UN Sustainable Development Goals 13 and 15. The Hindu Kush Himalaya region in Pakistan is a critical biodiversity hotspot and a significant carbon reservoir. However, the relationships among forest structure, species diversity, and carbon storage in this region remain poorly understood, particularly under current management exclusions and anthropogenic pressures. Open access copy available |
The drivers and impacts of Amazon forest degradationBackgroundThis research examines the growing threat of forest degradation across the Amazon, a region critical to global carbon balance and biodiversity. Beyond deforestation, widespread disturbances such as fire, edge effects, selective logging, and extreme drought have emerged as major causes of ecological and social disruption. These human-driven stressors, intensified by climate change, now affect approximately 2.5 million km²—around 38% of remaining Amazon forests—posing risks comparable to deforestation itself. Open access copy available |
Reclamation at the Ranger Uranium Mine, AustraliaBACKGROUND:The reclamation of the Ranger Uranium Mine, situated within Kakadu National Park, presents distinct challenges due to the inherent complexities of managing radioactive waste. This paper explores the extensive reclamation efforts undertaken to restore the landscape, ensuring adherence to stringent environmental regulations and addressing the vital concerns of Aboriginal landowners. The paper also describes the regional climate, ecological significance, and the diverse flora and fauna of Kakadu, emphasizing the broader environmental and cultural context in which the mining operations and reclamation activities occur. Open access copy available |
Herbaceous plant diversity in forest ecosystems: patterns, mechanisms, and threatsBACKGROUND:Recent studies have expanded our ecological understanding by focusing on forest herbs, highlighting that while trees dominate ecological theory, they represent only a small fraction of forest plant diversity. Forests showcase varying plant diversity due to human activities like land-use changes, invasive species, climate change, and overabundant herbivores, necessitating comprehensive management strategies. By understanding the complex interplay of these factors, the research aims to promote effective long-term conservation and sustainability of herbaceous plant communities in these environments. Available with subscription or purchase |
REDD’ing Forest Conservation: The Philippine PredicamentBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Forests, food, and fuel in the tropics: the uneven social and ecological consequences of the emerging political economy of biofuelsBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Against political ecologyBackgroundAvailable with subscription or purchase |
Violent enclosures, violated livelihoods: environmental and military territoriality in a Philippine frontierBackgroundHistorically, agrarian change in the Philippines involved shifts in land enclosure, from colonial and church usurpation to capitalist intensification and protected areas, sparking peasant resistance and the rise of insurgent groups like the New People's Army (NPAs). Currently, in Palawan, military operations against the NPA often conflate peasants and insurgents. These military actions converge with conservation in national park buffer zones, creating restrictive and politically charged spaces for indigenous groups like the Tagbanua. Authorities frequently stigmatize their traditional land use as criminal, such as swidden farming. Available with subscription or purchase |
