Land Use and Land Cover Change Resource Scarcity
The land story: Country experiences with reporting on land degradation and drought. United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
• Research & Reports
WHAT IS PLANETARY HEALTH?
Land Use and Land Cover Change
The conversion of natural habitat to land used for agriculture and industry is occurring rapidly on a global scale, with dire consequences for the structure and function of ecosystems.
Demographic shifts and increased demand for food, animal products, biofuel, and even cosmetics continue to drive the destruction of ecosystems and their services. This extractive activity leads to negative environmental and human health impacts including:
90% Tropical deforestation driven by agriculture, according to the World Wildlife Fund's 2024 Living Planet Report
- Substantial reduction of biological diversity
- Increased local air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from land clearing by burning, which is particularly problematic in tropical and subtropical regions where oil palm cultivation is rapidly increasing
- Soil degradation, which reduces soil ecosystem services such as carbon storage, and increases the risk of desertification
- Nitrogen and phosphorus deposition from agricultural field runoff
- Decreased water quality and quantity
- Increased exposure to water-borne, zoonotic, and vector-borne diseases
The complex interactions between changes in land use, land cover, ecosystem services, and the attendant impacts on human health require longitudinal study across geographic regions in addition to urgent action to re-wild and restore many of the planet’s natural habitats.
Land Use and Land Cover Change Resources
Land Use and Land Cover Change Built Environment and Urbanization
Tracking progress toward urban nature targets using landcover and vegetation indices: A global study for the 96 C40 cities. GeoHealth.
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Land Use and Land Cover Change Built Environment and Urbanization
Where and how to invest in greenspace for optimal health benefits: A systematic review of greenspace morphology and human health relationships. The Lancet Planetary Health.
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Biodiversity Loss Land Use and Land Cover Change
Responses of soil and water-related ecosystem services to landscape dynamics in the eastern Afromontane biodiversity Hotspot. Heliyon.
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Biodiversity Loss Land Use and Land Cover Change
Biodiversity impact assessment considering land use intensities and rragmentation. Environmental Science & Technology.
• Research & Reports
