From 1992 to 2019, 600,000 square kilometers of natural floodplains were lost globally due to land conversion.
land use
Posted inNews
Tracking Land Use and Deforestation in the Amazon
A new study mapped 2 decades of deforestation in the Amazon and concluded that some types of land management are more effective than others.
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Conserving Biodiversity Could Alter Crop Production
Researchers examined the land use trade-offs that could come with protecting at-risk species. But some scientists question what should be prioritized.
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Mapping Wetland Loss Across Three Centuries
Millions of square kilometers of wetlands have been drained or converted to make room for crops, pastures, or development. In some places, up to 80% are gone.
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Satellites Show Magnitude of Human Influence on River Sediment Flux
Dam-building has decreased the amount of sediment transported by rivers, while land use changes have increased the amount.
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Peeking at Peatlands: Satellite Data Fuel New Findings
Researchers are combining hard-to-get field measurements with satellite imagery to gain new insight into where peatlands are and how they work.
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After a Hurricane, Coastal Systems Draw a Line in the Sand
A new study finds nature can’t have it both ways: On the basis of thousands of case studies from dozens of hurricanes, there’s always a trade-off between resistance and resilience.
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Deforestation Is Flooding West African Coasts
The lack of trees is contributing to increased rainfall along the coast of southwest Africa, where communities are already vulnerable to flash flooding.
Posted inEditors' Highlights
The Flowers that Bloom in the Spring (but Later)
Mismatch between the pace of climate change and crop phenology may signal a new challenge for climate change adaptation.
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Birds Are Getting Caged In at Brazil’s Savanna
Deforestation and climate change threaten life in the Cerrado. A new study shows how few places there are left to go.