In Chad, the species of Khaya senegalensis is commonly used by the local communities to treat several diseases such as malaria, fever and cough. However, the species is facing the greatest threat for the survival due to its exploitation as timber. The species is on the IUCN red list with endangered status locally. Thus, this study assessed the population structure and ecological indicators of vegetation in three climatic zones dominated by Khaya senegalensis in Chad as a basis for sustainable management and conservation strategies. A total of 88 plots (30 m x 30 m) were used in three phytogeographical zones for data collection. The structural parameters (tree density, basal area) and ecological indicators (specific richness, Shannon diversity index, Pielou’s evenness index, importance value index) were assessed for all tree species and for Khaya senegalensis following a climatic gradient. A number of 300 tree species belonging to 66 families, 11 life form and 14 chorological types were inventoried. K. senegaleensis had the highest significance value index across all three climate zones. In terms of vegetation characteristic, Sudano-Guinean and Sudanian zones were similar against Sudano-Sahelian zone which was different. These results should be fundamental for the conservation and sustainable management of K. senegalensis and its habitats specially in Chad. Likely, the findings contribute to knowledge addition for the species conservation. However, the methodological limitations related to sampling should not be obscured. Therefore, the species’ abundance areas were randomly identified while plots were placed stratified.
Humanity needs sustainable solutions for all aspects of life to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Traditional territorial planning models also need development to ensure more nature’s quality and landscape-centered planning process. Landscape carrying capacity (LCC) methods serve us potential basis for landscape evaluation based on its extensive literature. This research presents an approach to LCC based landscape assessment as an intial step of territorial planning. This article presents an ecological approached method for simultaneus evaluation of landscape sensitivity (LSe) and landscape load (LLo) based on analytical hierarchy process combined with GIS tools. This method was applied in Keszthely Mountain, a rural landscape, in western Hungary. The assessment of LSe and also LLo based on five-five indicators (e.g., Ecosystem Diversity Sensitivity; In-year Permanently Bare Soil; Landscape Protection Sensitivity; Artificial Agricultural Land use Load; Linear Fragmentation Load; Lack of Vegetation). The final LCC composite was provided by a multi-step evaluation progress. Comparing the LSe composite to LLo composite showed the marginal areas of Keszthely Mountain are maximum or over loaded. The central area of Mountain is generally more loadable despite some existing loads such as infrastructure or mines. LCC evaluations should assess the main impact factors of landscape. However, potential developing points are the assessments of more specific fastors (e.g., extremities of climatic conditions, landscape suitability). Comparing the sustainable land use plan (or its scenarios) with local socio-economic needs and plans should be the second step of territorial planning. The evaluation and the sustainable land use plan provide more rationalised possibilities for socio-economic needs make more sustainable decisions, plans and strategies.
In the administrative area of Verpelét settlement, we excavated 22 soil profiles in July and August of 2014 to show what soil types build up the area, as well as the extent of soil erosion in each profile. The description of the soil profiles was carried out based on the methods of the FAO (2006) and Novák’s Soil Practicality (2013). In the study area, we found chernozem brown forest soils (Chernozems), alluvial meadow soils (Fluvisols), humous sandy soils (Arenosols), humous alluvial soils (Fluvisols), meadow chernozem soils (Chernozems), Ramann brown forest soils (Cambisols), and brown forest soils with clay illuviation (Luvisols). We examined the sheet erosion in the vicinity of Verpelét using three methods: (1) GIS method considering slope category values, (2) examining the geomorphological character of the environment around the soil profiles, and (3) determining the sheet erosion within the specific soil profiles using the methods of Kerényi (1991) and Kerényi and Martonné Erdős (1994). The first method did not indicate any erosion-prone areas in the Verpelét vicinity; however, we were able to detect greater soil erosion in the excavated soil profiles. Using the second method, 32% of the excavated soil profiles were strongly eroded, 36% were moderately eroded, 4.5% were weakly eroded, and 27.5% showed accumulation conditions. However, our third method, which focused on specific soil profiles, indicated that 32% of the excavated soil profiles were strongly eroded, 63.5% were moderately eroded, and only 4.5% were weakly eroded. The question arises as to what causes this significant difference between the various methods, and where the significant sheet erosion in the examined profiles in Verpelét actually originates from. In order to investigate this question, we examined the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Military Survey Maps, the topographic map from 1990, the CLC18 satellite imagery and the 2023 version of Google Earth. The previously forested areas on these maps were already characterized by extensive arable land, and later by arable and vineyard areas. Today, Verpelét has become predominantly an actively cultivated agricultural landscape. Therefore, the significant sheet erosion can be attributed to the spread of inappropriate land use methods and significant anthropogenic impacts (β-euhemerobic level).
In our research we dealt with the relationship between the water system (including both the groundwater bodies and the surface waters), the ecological network and land use. Our primary goal was to compare the agricultural suitability to conservation areas, which can provide a framework for sustainable land use in a national-international scale. Our research took place in the Carpathian basin, so that we could observe broader, more comprehensive correlations between the researched aspects at the water catchment area. We explored the landscape and environmental features of the Carpathian Basin and then analyzed them with the help of GIS methods. We analyzed three different feature categories: the first aspect was water presence and protection, the second was the current land cover, and the third was the Natura 2000 network as a habitat-system and biodiversity protection element. Data collection was obstructed by the fact that the catchment-based study area belongs to 9 countries, only a part of which are EU member states, so we could not rely on EU databases (e.g. CORINE land cover). Based on the available data, we performed GIS analyses, which revealed the common values and dilemmas of the three different aspects. Based on our results, it was possible to define the areas that adapt to the landscape function but are primarily suitable for cultivation (either arable land, grassland or forestry), the habitats that are sensitive from a natural point of view, and the transitional areas located between them. Our results suggest that the management between these two fields are not cooperating currently. Agricultural land could play a significant role in the joint development in the future, since these areas struggle with both floods and droughts and also with maintaining biodiversity.
The process of peri-urbanization in the context of globalization has become a global phenomenon. Taking Budapest as a case study, this study aims to develop a breakpoint clustering method that combines breakpoint method and spatial clustering to identify peri-urban areas (PUAs). Landscape metrics were used to analyze the structure and characteristics of various landscapes within PUAs. The results indicate that PUAs in Budapest occupy 39.63% of the area, predominantly consisting of artificial surfaces and agricultural land. In PUAs, artificial surfaces are the dominant landscape type, water bodies exhibit high aggregation and strong connectivity, while agricultural areas, forests and semi-natural areas show high fragmentation. The identification and landscape analysis of PUAs will provide significant insights for urban studies and governmental planning.
