This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-reso...This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-resolution satellite images to assess the long term deforestation from 2001 to 2009 and also to identify episodic forest cutting areas appeared during the conflict period of Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008. There are only 58 ha of deforestation identified during the conflict period while 1268 ha of gross annual deforestation were assessed during last eight years. Most of the deforestation patches persist around the administrative boundaries at sub-district levels (tehsils) which can be attributed to ambiguity in unclear jurisdiction between the forest official. The results highlight that the forest cutting appeared in Swat and Shangla during the conflict period is not as significant when compared with the long term deforestation pattern in the area. On the one side the results of the study are supportive to the picture that emerges from international studies which report high rate of deforestation in the country and on the other side it negates any relation between the security situation and the increasing deforestation in the north western Pakistan. The study concludes that deforestation assessments require verification by independent sources of data, such as satellite imagery to improve our understanding of deforestation processes.展开更多
The northeastern China, the United States, and the western Europe are important agricultural regions both on the global and regional scales. The westem Europe has a longer history of agricultural land development than...The northeastern China, the United States, and the western Europe are important agricultural regions both on the global and regional scales. The westem Europe has a longer history of agricultural land development than the eastem United States. These two regions have changed from the deforestation and reclamation phase in the past to the current land abandonment and reforestation phase. Compared with the two regions, large-scale land exploitation has only been practiced in the northeastern China during the last century. After a short high-intensity deforestation and reclamation period, agricultural and forest lands are basically in a dynamic steady state. By comparing domestic and international agro-forestry development and considering the ecological environment and socio-economic bene- fits that can be derived from agro-forestry, this paper suggests that large area of reforestation would be inevitable in future though per- sistent and large agricultural demand in coming decades even more. And local reforestation at slope farmland with ecological vulner- ability should be imperative at present to avoid severer damage. At the same time, from the perspective of Land Change Science, the results demonstrate that the research on land use change in the agro-forestry ecotone is typical and critical, particularly those dealing with the analysis of spatial and temporal characteristics and the simulation of climate, hydrology, and other environmental effects.展开更多
The role of forests is being actively considered under the agenda of REDD＋ （Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus） aimed at reducing emissions related to changes in forest cover and fore...The role of forests is being actively considered under the agenda of REDD＋ （Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus） aimed at reducing emissions related to changes in forest cover and forest quality. Forests in general have undergone negative changes in the past in the form of deforestation and degradation, while in some countries positive changes are reported in the form of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stock. The present study in the Kashmir Himalayan forests is an effort to assess historical forest cover changes that took place from 1980 to 2009 and to predict the same for 2030 on the basis of past trend using geospatial modeling approach. Landsat data （Multispectral Scanner （MSS）, Thematic Mapper （TM） and Enhanced Thematic Mapper （ETM＋）） was used for the years 1980, 199o and （2001, 2009） respectively and change detection analysis between the dates was performed. The maps generated were validated through ground truthing. The study area （3375.62 km^2） from 1980-2009 has uffered deforestation and forest degradation of about 126 km^2 and 239.02 km^2 respectively which can be claimed under negative options of REDD＋, while as the area that experienced no change （1514 km^2） can be claimed under conservation. A small area （23.31 km^2） observed as positive change can be claimed under positive options. The projected estimates of forest cover for 2030 showed increased deforestation and forest degradation on the basis of trend analysis using Cellular Automata （CA） Markov modeling. Despite the fact that country as a whole has registered a net positive change in the past few decades, but there are regions like Kashmir region of western Himalaya which have constantly undergoing deforestation as well as degradation in the past few decades.展开更多
Many studies have indicated that traditional cooking stoves are inefficient and their use leads to the acceleration of deforestation, the decline of land productivity, subsequently triggering climate changes and human...Many studies have indicated that traditional cooking stoves are inefficient and their use leads to the acceleration of deforestation, the decline of land productivity, subsequently triggering climate changes and human health problems. On the other hand, the introduced ＂improved cooking stoves＂ also have their own disadvantages. Therefore, the case study was conducted aiming to study the rationale of using traditional stoves and document the innovative biomass energy saving practices of the community. The research studied two pilot areas in rural community with different agro-ecology and farming systems. Moreover, individual and focus group discussions were conducted among women households using transect and random sampling. The f＇mdings indicate that use of traditional stoves is dominant practice due to flexibility, simplicity and multi-functionality. Moreover, the biomass fuel use is integral part of the fanning system, socio-cultural framework and habits and customs of local community. The study has documented local innovation practices of biomass energy saving by improving stoves and chimney, combining different crops in food cooking, improving local beer processing, shifting crop-land to woodland. Moreover, the study reveals that the enclosure of communal forests due to the modem extension services is attributed with long distance travel to collect fuel wood, leading to conflicts and declines livelihood diversity of the poor population. Hence, consideration of local initiatives in development of appropriate and sustainable technology is essential.展开更多
基金the financial assistance by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Pakistan through the Pakistan Wetlands Programme
文摘This study examines the spatial and temporal forest cover changes in Swat and Shangla districts to understand the deforestation pattern in context of the recent security conflict in these districts. We used multi-resolution satellite images to assess the long term deforestation from 2001 to 2009 and also to identify episodic forest cutting areas appeared during the conflict period of Oct. 2007 - Oct. 2008. There are only 58 ha of deforestation identified during the conflict period while 1268 ha of gross annual deforestation were assessed during last eight years. Most of the deforestation patches persist around the administrative boundaries at sub-district levels (tehsils) which can be attributed to ambiguity in unclear jurisdiction between the forest official. The results highlight that the forest cutting appeared in Swat and Shangla during the conflict period is not as significant when compared with the long term deforestation pattern in the area. On the one side the results of the study are supportive to the picture that emerges from international studies which report high rate of deforestation in the country and on the other side it negates any relation between the security situation and the increasing deforestation in the north western Pakistan. The study concludes that deforestation assessments require verification by independent sources of data, such as satellite imagery to improve our understanding of deforestation processes.
基金Under the auspices of Strategic Pilot Science and Technology Projects of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No.XDA05090310)
文摘The northeastern China, the United States, and the western Europe are important agricultural regions both on the global and regional scales. The westem Europe has a longer history of agricultural land development than the eastem United States. These two regions have changed from the deforestation and reclamation phase in the past to the current land abandonment and reforestation phase. Compared with the two regions, large-scale land exploitation has only been practiced in the northeastern China during the last century. After a short high-intensity deforestation and reclamation period, agricultural and forest lands are basically in a dynamic steady state. By comparing domestic and international agro-forestry development and considering the ecological environment and socio-economic bene- fits that can be derived from agro-forestry, this paper suggests that large area of reforestation would be inevitable in future though per- sistent and large agricultural demand in coming decades even more. And local reforestation at slope farmland with ecological vulner- ability should be imperative at present to avoid severer damage. At the same time, from the perspective of Land Change Science, the results demonstrate that the research on land use change in the agro-forestry ecotone is typical and critical, particularly those dealing with the analysis of spatial and temporal characteristics and the simulation of climate, hydrology, and other environmental effects.
文摘The role of forests is being actively considered under the agenda of REDD＋ （Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus） aimed at reducing emissions related to changes in forest cover and forest quality. Forests in general have undergone negative changes in the past in the form of deforestation and degradation, while in some countries positive changes are reported in the form of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stock. The present study in the Kashmir Himalayan forests is an effort to assess historical forest cover changes that took place from 1980 to 2009 and to predict the same for 2030 on the basis of past trend using geospatial modeling approach. Landsat data （Multispectral Scanner （MSS）, Thematic Mapper （TM） and Enhanced Thematic Mapper （ETM＋）） was used for the years 1980, 199o and （2001, 2009） respectively and change detection analysis between the dates was performed. The maps generated were validated through ground truthing. The study area （3375.62 km^2） from 1980-2009 has uffered deforestation and forest degradation of about 126 km^2 and 239.02 km^2 respectively which can be claimed under negative options of REDD＋, while as the area that experienced no change （1514 km^2） can be claimed under conservation. A small area （23.31 km^2） observed as positive change can be claimed under positive options. The projected estimates of forest cover for 2030 showed increased deforestation and forest degradation on the basis of trend analysis using Cellular Automata （CA） Markov modeling. Despite the fact that country as a whole has registered a net positive change in the past few decades, but there are regions like Kashmir region of western Himalaya which have constantly undergoing deforestation as well as degradation in the past few decades.
文摘Many studies have indicated that traditional cooking stoves are inefficient and their use leads to the acceleration of deforestation, the decline of land productivity, subsequently triggering climate changes and human health problems. On the other hand, the introduced ＂improved cooking stoves＂ also have their own disadvantages. Therefore, the case study was conducted aiming to study the rationale of using traditional stoves and document the innovative biomass energy saving practices of the community. The research studied two pilot areas in rural community with different agro-ecology and farming systems. Moreover, individual and focus group discussions were conducted among women households using transect and random sampling. The f＇mdings indicate that use of traditional stoves is dominant practice due to flexibility, simplicity and multi-functionality. Moreover, the biomass fuel use is integral part of the fanning system, socio-cultural framework and habits and customs of local community. The study has documented local innovation practices of biomass energy saving by improving stoves and chimney, combining different crops in food cooking, improving local beer processing, shifting crop-land to woodland. Moreover, the study reveals that the enclosure of communal forests due to the modem extension services is attributed with long distance travel to collect fuel wood, leading to conflicts and declines livelihood diversity of the poor population. Hence, consideration of local initiatives in development of appropriate and sustainable technology is essential.
