Towards a process-based evaluation of land vulnerability to soil degradation in Italy

This paper illustrates a process-based approach aimed at classifying large areas into different classes of vulnerability to Mediterranean land and soil degradation (LD and SD). A wide set of environmental and socio-economic variables was used to describe five soil degradation processes (soil erosion, salinisation, sealing, contamination, and compaction) and climate taken together as the final determinants of LD in Italy. The elementary variables contributed to generate six thematic indicators which depict the level of vulnerability of the country to each degradation process. The Multivariate Soil Degradation Vulnerability Index (MSDVI) provided an estimation of the level of land vulnerability by aggregating the six indicators. Multidimensional analyses and Geographic Information System tools were used to derive the thematic indicators and the synthetic index. Results demonstrated that in Italy, climate, soil erosion, and soil compaction/agricultural intensification represent the soil degradation processes with a potentially higher role in determining vulnerability to LD, even if with different spatial configuration patterns. On average, the most vulnerable area was insular Italy, followed by southern Italy; northern and central Italy were found less vulnerable to LD, however the MSDVI was found locally high also in northern Italy. The validation tests performed on MSDVI by field assessment and comparison with ancillary data indicated that the index is a reliable proxy of land vulnerability to soil degradation. Advantages of this approach compared to other procedures aimed at assessing LD were finally discussed.     

Assessing trends in climate aridity and vulnerability to soil degradation in Italy

The present study illustrates a framework to analyze changes in climate aridity and soil degradation on a country scale in Italy. The spatial distribution of an indicator of soil vulnerability to degradation (the SQI, soil quality index) was compared with an aridity index (the ratio of annual rainfall to annual reference evapotranspiration) estimated on a decadal basis during 1951–2010. The aridity index decreased by 0.38% per year indicating increased aridity and a non-uniform spatial distribution of soil vulnerability to degradation. Changes in the aridity index were found associated with the lowest SQI classes, suggesting that the largest increase in climate aridity affects land with high-quality soils. Territorial disparities in the aridity index between high-quality and low-quality soils decreased over time indicating a more homogeneous and dry climate regime prevailing in the more recent decades. Results may inform sustainable land management policies and National Action Plans to combat desertification in the Mediterranean region. Areas classified at increased aridity and high vulnerability to soil degradation should be identified as a key target for climate change mitigation policies. Sustainable land management strategies are required to address the dependency between climate variations, land-use changes and soil degradation processes.     

Assessing household livelihood vulnerability to climate change: The case of Northwest Vietnam

This study applied livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) and livelihood effect index (LEI) to assess vulnerability from climate variability and change of three agricultural and natural resources dependent commune in northwest Vietnam, a country that is expected to bear some of the most severe impacts of climate change. Based on a survey of 335 farm household data, complemented with secondary data on climate factors, a composite index was calculated and differential vulnerabilities were compared. The results of the analysis suggest that one of the communities, “Pa Vay Su,” was more vulnerable than the others, particularly in relation to housing, knowledge and skills, socio-demographics, health and water security, social networks, and livelihood strategy. “Hien Luong” commune, on the other hand, was more vulnerable in relation to other LVI indicators with the exception of food security, climate variability, and natural disasters. “Moc Chau” community was more vulnerable in relation to water security, social demographic than Hien Luong commune. Overall, the article shows that three different vulnerability assessment indices can be broadly applied in comparable setting in other areas of country and they could usefully establish the basis for a nationally applicable index to identify and prioritize adaptation and mitigation needs.     

Performance evaluation and cost assessment of a key indicator system to monitor desertification vulnerability

A number of studies have dealt with the assessment of potential and actual desertification risk using composite indices. The Environmental Sensitivity Areas (ESA) approach, developed in the framework of MEDALUS project funded by the European Community, is one of the most used procedures to monitor land vulnerability to degradation in the Mediterranean region. The final output of this procedure is an index (ESI) composing four indicators of climate, soil, vegetation, and land management based on 14 elementary variables. Although applied to a number of case studies throughout southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East, the performance of this monitoring system has never been assessed. The present study evaluates the robustness of the ESI through an original procedure incorporating sensitivity analysis and data cost analysis. For each variable, the standard error of the estimate, the correlation coefficient with the ESI, the sensitivity score, and the estimated costs of data collection and handling were calculated in order to evaluate the stability of the final index and the relative importance of each composing variable. The overall performance of the ESI was computed by averaging the score of the four indicators. Variables such as vegetation cover, climate aridity, rainfall, and the degree of land protection provided the largest contribution to the ESI. The illustrated approach is suited to evaluate the overall performance of a set of variables composing a synthetic index. Moreover, to our knowledge, this is the first attempt to consider explicitly the monetary costs of data collection and handling within a composite index evaluation procedure.     

1980—2015年南四湖流域景观格局及其脆弱性

流域景观格局及脆弱性变化对流域生态环境具有重要影响.为保障南四湖流域生态环境安全,本研究以流域1980—2015年7期土地利用数据为基础,通过计算景观格局指数分析南四湖流域景观格局变化,利用景观适应度(LAI)和景观敏感度指数(LSI)构建景观格局脆弱度(LVI),并分析其空间分布与变化.结果表明: 1980—2015年,南四湖流域耕地面积比例下降4.6%,建设用地增加39.7%,其他土地利用类型呈波动变化,林地、草地、未利用地面积减少,水域面积增加.耕地一直是南四湖流域的优势景观类型.耕地和水域破碎度增加,其他地类破碎度降低.流域景观整体破碎度有所缓和,景观类型之间形成了较好的连接性,景观格局的不规则性和复杂性下降并朝着均匀化和多样化方向发展.各时期流域景观脆弱度大体上表现出东部高于西部、北部高于南部的趋势,其空间分布与流域地形,以及景观类型的分布、土地利用变化有关.研究期间,流域LVI整体下降,东部景观脆弱度严重地区的景观格局开始趋于分散,逐渐被低一级脆弱区所取代,西北部地区脆弱度的回升最明显,南部及西南部一直是低脆弱区.     

西北干旱区生态脆弱性时空演变分析

西部大开发政策实施以来,随着社会经济的发展和环境政策的调整,西北干旱区生态环境发生深刻变化。基于西北干旱区生态本底特征,选取土壤、地形、气候并结合夜间灯光数据构建西北干旱区生态脆弱性评价体系,运用空间主成分分析法（SPCA）、地理探测器对西北干旱区2000、2007、2012、2018年生态脆弱性时空演变及驱动力进行分析。结果表明：（1）从西北干旱区生态脆弱性时空演变特征来看,研究区生态脆弱性以重度脆弱性为主;从不同土地利用脆弱性来看,微度脆弱区以草地、林地为主,轻度脆弱区以草地为主,中度脆弱区和重度脆弱区以未利用地为主,18年来研究区生态脆弱性整体保持不变;（2）影响西北干旱区生态脆弱性分异的主导因素包括土壤有机质含量、地形位指数、气温、降水、夜间灯光指数,各因素对生态脆弱性的平均决定力分别为0.63、0.36、0.27、0.26和0.22。（3）基于生态脆弱性监测结果和驱动因素分析,将西北干旱区划分为5个生态功能区：生态核心保护区、生态综合监测区、生态优化关注区、生态恢复治理区、生态潜在治理区,并提出相应管理方案。研究可以为干旱区生态环境保护提供借鉴。     

Composite Subsidence Vulnerability Assessment Based on an Index Model and Index Decomposition Method

The threat of damage to buildings and other infrastructures resulting from land subsidence associated with groundwater pumping in urbanized areas is an ongoing problem requiring assessment. An important goal of subsidence vulnerability assessment is to construct a composite subsidence vulnerability index (SVI) that is represented by a set of indicators that focuses on four different thematic factors: physical, social, economic, and environmental vulnerability. These indicators are evaluated on the basis of indicator selection principles and then weighted by their contribution rate to the overall index. The weights reflect different measures assigned to the township-specific conditions. A complete and composite subsidence vulnerability assessment is developed in which future vulnerability management decision-making processes can be readily made. The vulnerability assessment includes not only the construction of the SVI, which involves selecting, assigning value to, weighting, and aggregating the vulnerability indicators, but also the presentation of the SVI decomposition. Research results demonstrate that a composite subsidence vulnerability assessment method can be made by first constructing and then decomposition-presenting the overall SVI. This allows for the relative comparison of subsidence vulnerability and the identification of the main vulnerable indicators; thus providing subsidence risk, which represents an important step toward vulnerability management of water resources.     

Agro-ecological field vulnerability evaluation and climate change impacts in Souma area (Iran), using MicroLEIS DSS

Soil erosion and contamination are two main desertification indices or land degradation agents in agricultural areas. Global climate change consequence is a priority to predict global environmental change impacts on these degradation risks. This agro-ecological approach can be especially useful when formulating soil specific agricultural practices based on the spatial variability of soils and related resources to reverse environmental degradation. Raizal and Pantanal models within the new MicroLEIS framework, the Ero&Con package, are database/expert system evaluation approach for assessing limitations to land use, or vulnerability of the land to specified agricultural degradation risks. This study was performed in Souma area with approximately 4100 ha extension in the North-West of Iran (west Azarbaijan). Based on 35 sampling soils, Typic Xerofluvents, Typic Calcixerepts, Fluventic Haploxerepts and Fluventic Endaquepts were classified as main subgroups. Climatological data, referred to temperature and precipitation of more than 36 consecutive years were collected from Urmieh station reports and stored in monthly Climate Database CDBm, as a major component of MicroLEIS DSS (CDBm) program. Climate data for a hypothetical future scenario were collected from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports for the 2080s period. The evaluation approach predicts that attainable water erosion vulnerability classes were none (V1) very low (V2) and moderately low (V4) in the total of 72%, 13% and 15% of the Souma area, respectively and they will not affected by climate change. On contrary, attainable wind erosion vulnerability classes will increase. Also, phosphorous and heavy metal contamination vulnerability risks will not differ in two compared scenarios while nitrogen and pesticides vulnerability classes will be improved.     

Indirect validation of the Environmental Sensitive Area Index using soil degradation indicators: A country-scale approach

The Environmental Sensitivity Area Index (ESAI) is one of the most used frameworks to monitor land vulnerability to degradation in southern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East. ESAI outputs were validated on the field at both local and regional scales, but a country or continental scale validation is still missing. Using non-parametric correlations and multivariate statistics, the present study contrasts the spatial distribution of the ESAI over 8100 local municipalities in Italy with 12 soil variables assessing individual soil attributes, soil degradation processes and the overall soil quality. Three supplementary variables assessing elevation, latitude and the urban–rural gradient have been also considered in the analysis. The ESAI correlated with both soil attributes (topsoil organic carbon) and degradation processes (soil contamination risk, landslide risk, grazing pressure and agricultural mechanization, considered a predisposing factor to soil compaction) varying in intensity along the elevation gradient. The approach illustrated provides an indirect evaluation of the reliability of the ESAI as a multi-domain indicator of land vulnerability to degradation in the Mediterranean region.     

气候变化背景下全球陆地干湿变化研究综述

气候变化背景下,全球水循环加剧,出现了大气变干与植被变绿等陆地干湿变化趋势的解耦现象,旱区面积变化也存在争议。为回答上述问题,在梳理常见干湿指标变化趋势与驱动因素的基础上,根据指标变化方向对其进行归类,然后从机理角度解析影响不同指标趋势耦合或解耦的关键要素,并提出未来干湿变化研究展望。结果表明,气候变化背景下,饱和水汽压差、干燥度指数和土壤水分指标显著变干,植被绿度和生产力显著变湿(增加),降水、径流、陆地水储量和其他复合指标区域分异明显、但整体趋势不显著。二氧化碳浓度增加、气温升高和土地利用变化是导致不同指标趋势分异的重要因素,不同指标的趋势分异也解释了旱区面积评估在不同维度上的差异。未来研究中应开展干湿变化的综合评估,其综合性主要体现在以下四个方面：1)关注大气-生态-水文多维度评估;2)解析自然与人类双重压力下,不同维度要素间的关联、互馈过程,及其对系统干湿演变的促进、限制与调节作用;3)重视干湿演变程中的极端灾害事件和空间上以旱区为代表的气候变化敏感性区域;4)构建以脆弱性评估与适应性治理为核心的气候变化应对路径。     

一种基于SWAT模型的干旱牧区生态脆弱性评价方法——以艾布盖河流域为例

针对干旱牧区生态脆弱性特点,以GIS为平台,利用气象、土壤、土地利用、水资源开发利用等数据,结合SWAT模型模拟结果,建立了一种基于SWAT模型子流域划分的干旱牧区生态脆弱性评价体系,对西北干旱牧区艾布盖河流域1990年、2010年生态脆弱性进行了评价。从评价结果可以看出,研究区北部及西部生态稳定性保持较好,生态脆弱等级下降主要发生在研究区的东南部,20年间耕地扩张造成的草地被侵占及水资源过度开发利用是造成生态退化的主要原因。评价体系紧紧围绕干旱牧区"水-草-畜"关系设置评价指标,将观测数据与水文模型模拟相结合,统计数据与空间地类相联系,点面结合,能够较好的反映出研究区20年间生态脆弱程度变化趋势及主要问题。     

Diversity and occurrence of herbaceous communities in West African savannas in relation to climate,land use and habitat

In the face of the current changes in land use and climate as well as habitat destruction, it is important to study herbaceous vegetation as an indicator of changes occurring in savanna ecosystems. We investigated the effects of climate, land use and habitat, both alone and in combination, on the diversity and occurrence of West African savanna herbaceous plant communities. Floristic data and environmental variables were sampled in Burkina Faso and subjected to ordination and indicator species analysis to explore the variation in nine vegetation types. Regression analyses showed that climate, land use, humidity gradient, soil fraction and vegetation structure discriminate herbaceous plant communities. Climate, habitat and their interaction had the greatest effect on the occurrence of these communities. Changes in species richness of the studied communities were mainly due to climate, land use and their interaction, which were more important for increasing rather than decreasing diversity. In all cases, climate conditions remained the most important environmental factor driving vegetation variation in West African savannas. Beside this, the effects of habitat degradation in interaction with land use and climatic conditions indicate land use to be a threat for the diversity of the herbaceous vegetation.     

海南岛生态环境脆弱性评价

基于SOPAC和UNEP所建立的环境脆弱性评价方法,从风险、抵抗力、损害与退化3个方面构建了指标体系和综合指数,对海南岛生态环境脆弱性进行了评价.结果表明：海南岛的生态环境风险处于中等水平,其风险主要源于高强度的人类活动,包括强化农业、大众旅游业、采矿业以及岛上居民和游客所排放的大量固体废弃物等;较大的土地面积、较大的海拔变化幅度、完整的地理板块及丰富的生境类型等自然地理特征,赋予了海南岛较强的生态环境风险抵抗力,但受历史上人为和自然风险的累积影响,海南岛生态系统的损害与退化已较为严重,主要体现在土地退化和生物多样性的丧失等方面;综合考虑风险、抵抗力和损害与退化三方面因素,海南岛生态环境综合脆弱性处于中等水平,部分指标表现出很低的脆弱性,但另一些指标却表现出很高的脆弱性.     

闽三角城市群生态环境脆弱性及其驱动力

生态安全是地区社会经济可持续发展的基本前提之一,而生态环境脆弱性会威胁地区的生态安全,进行生态环境脆弱性评价具有重要意义。以闽三角城市群为例,分别选取2000年和2015年的高程、坡度、岩性、土壤类型、NDVI、年均降水量、年均温、人口密度、人均GDP、路网密度、景观多样性、土地利用程度和工业固体废弃物排放量等13个指标,基于空间主成分分析法,并结合全局Moran'I和LISA聚类图,从整体特征、空间差异、空间集聚、地类脆弱性分异以及驱动力5个方面,探讨闽三角城市群的生态环境脆弱性及其驱动力。结果表明:2000—2015年间,闽三角城市群的生态环境脆弱性整体处于中度脆弱,但呈现出由中度脆弱向重度脆弱过渡的趋势;2000—2015年间,生态环境脆弱性呈现出由东南沿海向西北内陆逐渐增强的整体趋势,并存在明显的地带性特征,东南沿海增长不明显,部分地区有所下降,而西北内陆增长明显;生态环境脆弱性存在显著的空间自相关性,且为显著正相关,在西北部山区地带为显著的高高聚集,在东南沿海平原地带为显著的低低聚集,16年间集聚性特征在空间上有所迁移和扩张;2000—2015年间,生态环境脆弱性在各地类存在着一定的异质性,其生态环境脆弱性指数大小顺序始终为:林地未利用地草地耕地水域建设用地,整体由中度脆弱向重度脆弱过渡;2000—2015年间,生态环境脆弱性的驱动力有所变化,但人口密度、景观多样性、岩性和土壤类型一直是闽三角城市群生态环境脆弱性主要的驱动力。     

高寒湿地退化对植物群落特征与土壤特性的影响

以黄河首曲湿地为研究对象,基于野外采样数据和不同退化程度（无明显退化ND;轻度退化LD;中度退化MD;重度退化HD）,分析植物群落、土壤特性及其关系。结果表明,随湿地退化程度增加,禾本科重要值呈减少趋势而毒杂草重要值呈增加趋势,且植物高度、盖度及地上生物量显著降低;重度退化程度下Patrick物种丰富度指数最低,表明植物群落结构由复杂趋向简单。土壤有机碳、全氮随退化程度增加均显著降低,碳氮比与pH值则呈相反变化,表明高寒湿地退化不利于养分的积累,且土壤逐渐呈碱性。pH、有机碳及全氮为高寒湿地响应退化的理化因子;湿地不同退化程度影响植物群落的土壤因子略有不同,且尤以电导率最为明显,这与土壤养分状况相关。湿地退化过程中植物群落的生长、结构发生改变,植物与土壤理化性质相互作用进而影响湿地生态功能。因此,探究植物群落与土壤理化特征可为修复退化湿地提供依据。     

退化高寒草甸土壤微生物及酶活性特征

采用Biolog等方法,分析不同退化程度(未退化ND、轻度退化LD、中度退化MD、重度退化SD和黑土滩ED)高寒草甸0～10和10～20 cm土层土壤微生物量碳氮、碳代谢指纹和酶活性.结果表明: 所有草甸土壤微生物量、多样性指数和蔗糖酶活性在0～10 cm土层均显著高于10～20 cm土层,0～10 cm土层脲酶活性则显著低于10～20 cm土层.土壤微生物量C/N随草地退化程度加重显著降低.0～10 cm土层,ND和LD微生物量碳、氮均显著高于其他草地,MD、SD和ED微生物量碳无显著差异,MD微生物量氮显著低于其他草地;平均颜色变化率(AWCD)和McIntosh指数(U)随草地退化程度加重曲线下降,ND与MD间差异显著,其他草地间无显著差异;Shannon指数(H)和Simpson指数(D)在不同草地间均无显著差异;MD和SD脲酶活性最高,ED磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性最低,与其他草地相比均差异显著.10～20 cm土层,ND和LD微生物量碳显著高于其他草地,MD、SD和ED间无显著差异,LD和ED微生物量氮显著高于其他草地,ND和SD间差异不显著;MD碳代谢指数最低,与LD和SD相比差异显著,ND和LD的AWCD和U指数均显著高于ED,H指数和D指数在ND、LD、SD和ED间差异不显著;ND和MD脲酶活性显著高于其他草地,LD、SD和ED间无显著差异;MD磷酸酶活性最高,与LD、SD和ED相比差异显著;MD蔗糖酶活性显著低于其他草地,ND、LD、SD和ED间差异不显著.不同退化程度高寒草地的地下生物量均与微生物量、碳代谢指数和磷酸酶呈显著正相关;脲酶与微生物量氮、H指数和D指数呈显著负相关.     

Global patterns in the vulnerability of ecosystems to vegetation shifts due to climate change

Aim Climate change threatens to shift vegetation, disrupting ecosystems and damaging human well‐being. Field observations in boreal, temperate and tropical ecosystems have detected biome changes in the 20th century, yet a lack of spatial data on vulnerability hinders organizations that manage natural resources from identifying priority areas for adaptation measures. We explore potential methods to identify areas vulnerable to vegetation shifts and potential refugia. Location Global vegetation biomes. Methods We examined nine combinations of three sets of potential indicators of the vulnerability of ecosystems to biome change: (1) observed changes of 20th‐century climate, (2) projected 21st‐century vegetation changes using the MC1 dynamic global vegetation model under three Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) emissions scenarios, and (3) overlap of results from (1) and (2). Estimating probability density functions for climate observations and confidence levels for vegetation projections, we classified areas into vulnerability classes based on IPCC treatment of uncertainty. Results One‐tenth to one‐half of global land may be highly (confidence 0.80–0.95) to very highly (confidence ≥ 0.95) vulnerable. Temperate mixed forest, boreal conifer and tundra and alpine biomes show the highest vulnerability, often due to potential changes in wildfire. Tropical evergreen broadleaf forest and desert biomes show the lowest vulnerability. Main conclusions Spatial analyses of observed climate and projected vegetation indicate widespread vulnerability of ecosystems to biome change. A mismatch between vulnerability patterns and the geographic priorities of natural resource organizations suggests the need to adapt management plans. Approximately a billion people live in the areas classified as vulnerable.     

黄土高原小流域不同地形下土壤有机碳分布特征

研究了黄土高原小流域尺度塬面、坡地、沟道和梯田4种地形条件下土壤有机碳总量和活性组分的分布、储量及碳库管理指数的差异.结果表明,小流域土壤有机碳和不同活性有机碳的变异系数介于32％-70％之间,表现出中到高度的变异特征.4种地形下各组分有机碳含量和储量以塬面土壤最高,沟道土壤最低,并随土层深度的增加而降低,降低程度随有机碳活性增强而增加.以塬面土壤为对照所获得的碳库管理指数可灵敏指示有机碳对地形条件的响应特征,中活性有机碳库管理指数的指示效果最好.研究结果可部分解释黄土高原土壤有机碳地带性分布特征.     

基于多源数据的三江源国家公园土地生态安全综合评价

开展国家公园尺度的土地生态安全综合评价,对优化三江源国家公园土地利用管理规划、加强生态网络建设具有重要借鉴价值。在“压力-状态-响应”(PSR)理论框架中融入草地退化指数、冻土稳定型分布、生态系统服务价值和景观生态脆弱性等指标,分析三江源国家公园土地生态安全状况及其主导因素。研究表明：(1)三江源国家公园景观生态脆弱性整体较低,不同园区景观生态脆弱性指数略有差异,长江源园区为中等脆弱区,黄河源园区脆弱性次之,澜沧江源园区景观生态脆弱性优于其他两园区。(2)三江源国家公园整体土地生态安全状况为较不安全,其中,长江源园区、澜沧江源园区以较不安全区等级为主、临界安全等级次之,黄河源园区临界安全及以上等级的面积比重为93.94%。(3)土地生态较安全区和安全区分布于长江源园区中南部,以及黄河源园区南北两侧边缘区,较不安全区和临界安全区在长江源园区、澜沧江源园区以及黄河源园区交错且连片分布。(4)基于地理探测器模型的自然生态和社会经济影响因素识别结果显示,居民点密度、水网密度和景观生态脆弱性是影响三江源国家公园土地生态安全的主导因素,揭示了人类活动扰动程度与生态系统脆弱性对国家公园土地生态安全状...     

南方水土流失严重区的生态脆弱性时空演变

生态环境脆弱性评价研究,对生态环境保护与修复具有重要意义.以福建省长汀县为研究区,选择坡度、土壤类型、多年平均降雨量、地形起伏度、归一化植被指数、人口密度、土地利用类型7个指标,通过多重共线性诊断分析,构建生态脆弱性评价指标体系,采用熵权法及综合指数法对1999、2006和2014年长汀县生态脆弱性进行定量评价,分析生态脆弱性时空分布及变化.结果表明: 1999—2014年,研究区生态脆弱性等级指数总体减小,局部增大.研究区1999、2006和2014年生态脆弱性指数平均值分别为0.4533±0.1216、0.4160±0.1110和0.3916±0.1139,整体处于中等脆弱水平;生态脆弱性等级指数从1999年的2.92下降到2006年的2.38,再下降到2014年的2.13.生态脆弱性的空间格局呈内高外低的分布特征,高脆弱等级区主要分布在坡度<15°、海拔<500 m的河田镇及汀州镇一带.研究期间,生态脆弱性等级指数降幅最大的是三洲乡,最小的是汀州镇.