This paper proposes an approach for generating land cover information from single-date Landsat im... more This paper proposes an approach for generating land cover information from single-date Landsat images integrating pixel-based and object-based classifiers in two study areas: the province of Oristano and the region of Campania. The process consisted in: a) pre-processing; b) segmentation; c) classification based on radiometric properties and integration with textural properties and vegetation indices. A good overall classification accuracy was obtained at the first (Oristano: 87%, Campania: 88%) and at the second (Oristano: 74%, Campania: 82%) CORINE Land Cover level. Results highlight the potential of the method to be replicated in time and space in the perspective of a semi-automatic and cost-efficient transferability of the procedure.
The present study assesses the spatial distribution of a composite index of land sensitivity to d... more The present study assesses the spatial distribution of a composite index of land sensitivity to desertification (called ISD) in the coastal area of Rome, including natural areas such as Castelporziano forest, compared with inland areas of Latium region, central Italy. Based on two partial indicators integrating 10 elementary variables (five biophysical attributes investigating climate, soil and vegetation, and five socioeconomic attributes assessing population pressure, changes in the use of land and human pressure), the ISD was calculated for two reference years (1970 and 2000) and at the municipal scale in Latium region. Results indicate a positive trend in the ISD in both coastal and inland areas with territorial disparities widening significantly over the studied period. Interestingly, coastal urban and peri-urban municipalities showed the highest growth rate in the ISD. These finding possibly reflects rising human pressure in lowland and coastal areas experiencing urbanization compared to internal hilly and mountain areas.
Land Degradation (LD) is a complex phenomenon resulting in a progressive reduction in the capacit... more Land Degradation (LD) is a complex phenomenon resulting in a progressive reduction in the capacity of providing ecosystem services (ES). Landscape transformations promoting an unsustainable use of land often reveal latent processes of LD. An evaluation carried out in respect to the different ecosystem services is nowadays regarded as the most appropriate approach for assessing the effects of LD. The aim of this study is to develop an evaluation framework for identifying the linkages between land changes, LD processes and ES and suggesting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) options suited to reverse (or mitigate) LD impact. A SWOT analysis was carried out with the aim to identify internal and external factors that are favorable (or unfavorable) to achieve the proposed SLM actions. The study areas are the Fortore valley and the Valpadana, in Italy. The main trajectory identified for the Fortore valley is related to land abandonment due to population aging and the progressive emigration started in the 1950s. The most relevant LD processes are soil erosion and geomorphological instability, affecting regulating services such as natural hazard and erosion control. SLM options should consider interventions to contrast geomorphological instability, the promotion of climate smart agriculture and of typical products, and an efficient water resources management. The main trajectories identified for Valpadana are related to urban expansion and farmland abandonment and, as a consequence, land take due to anthropogenic pressure and woodland expansion as the main LD process. The reduction of food production was identified as the most relevant provisioning service affected. SLM should envisage best practices finalized to water saving and soil consumption reduction: efficient irrigation solutions, climate smart agriculture and zero sealing practices. This study highlights the diagnostic value of the suggested approach where LD processes are elicited from land change trajectories determining specific impacts on ES and providing operational support for the implementation of SLM options.
This paper proposes an approach for generating land cover information from single-date Landsat im... more This paper proposes an approach for generating land cover information from single-date Landsat images integrating pixel-based and object-based classifiers in two study areas: the province of Oristano and the region of Campania. The process consisted in: a) pre-processing; b) segmentation; c) classification based on radiometric properties and integration with textural properties and vegetation indices. A good overall classification accuracy was obtained at the first (Oristano: 87%, Campania: 88%) and at the second (Oristano: 74%, Campania: 82%) CORINE Land Cover level. Results highlight the potential of the method to be replicated in time and space in the perspective of a semi-automatic and cost-efficient transferability of the procedure.
The present study assesses the spatial distribution of a composite index of land sensitivity to d... more The present study assesses the spatial distribution of a composite index of land sensitivity to desertification (called ISD) in the coastal area of Rome, including natural areas such as Castelporziano forest, compared with inland areas of Latium region, central Italy. Based on two partial indicators integrating 10 elementary variables (five biophysical attributes investigating climate, soil and vegetation, and five socioeconomic attributes assessing population pressure, changes in the use of land and human pressure), the ISD was calculated for two reference years (1970 and 2000) and at the municipal scale in Latium region. Results indicate a positive trend in the ISD in both coastal and inland areas with territorial disparities widening significantly over the studied period. Interestingly, coastal urban and peri-urban municipalities showed the highest growth rate in the ISD. These finding possibly reflects rising human pressure in lowland and coastal areas experiencing urbanization compared to internal hilly and mountain areas.
Land Degradation (LD) is a complex phenomenon resulting in a progressive reduction in the capacit... more Land Degradation (LD) is a complex phenomenon resulting in a progressive reduction in the capacity of providing ecosystem services (ES). Landscape transformations promoting an unsustainable use of land often reveal latent processes of LD. An evaluation carried out in respect to the different ecosystem services is nowadays regarded as the most appropriate approach for assessing the effects of LD. The aim of this study is to develop an evaluation framework for identifying the linkages between land changes, LD processes and ES and suggesting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) options suited to reverse (or mitigate) LD impact. A SWOT analysis was carried out with the aim to identify internal and external factors that are favorable (or unfavorable) to achieve the proposed SLM actions. The study areas are the Fortore valley and the Valpadana, in Italy. The main trajectory identified for the Fortore valley is related to land abandonment due to population aging and the progressive emigration started in the 1950s. The most relevant LD processes are soil erosion and geomorphological instability, affecting regulating services such as natural hazard and erosion control. SLM options should consider interventions to contrast geomorphological instability, the promotion of climate smart agriculture and of typical products, and an efficient water resources management. The main trajectories identified for Valpadana are related to urban expansion and farmland abandonment and, as a consequence, land take due to anthropogenic pressure and woodland expansion as the main LD process. The reduction of food production was identified as the most relevant provisioning service affected. SLM should envisage best practices finalized to water saving and soil consumption reduction: efficient irrigation solutions, climate smart agriculture and zero sealing practices. This study highlights the diagnostic value of the suggested approach where LD processes are elicited from land change trajectories determining specific impacts on ES and providing operational support for the implementation of SLM options.
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coastal urban and peri-urban municipalities showed the highest growth rate in the ISD. These finding possibly reflects rising human pressure in lowland and coastal areas experiencing urbanization compared to internal hilly and mountain areas.
coastal urban and peri-urban municipalities showed the highest growth rate in the ISD. These finding possibly reflects rising human pressure in lowland and coastal areas experiencing urbanization compared to internal hilly and mountain areas.