Sustainable Use of Soils and Water: The Role of Environmental Land Use Conflicts

This book on the sustainable use of soils and water addressed a variety of issues related to the utopian desire for environmental sustainability and the deviations from this scene observed in the real world. Competing interests for land are frequently a factor in land degradation, especially where the adopted land uses do not conform with the land capability (the natural use of soil). The concerns of researchers about these matters are presented in the articles comprising this Special Issue book. Various approaches were used to assess the (im)balance between economic profit and environmental conservation in various regions, in addition to potential routes to bring landscapes back to a sustainable status being disclosed

Detecting changes in cropland extent: A case study within the Lake Chad Basin using classified remote sensing data

Access to fresh water is essential for the lives of organisms and for human activities. However, with a growing population that strives after a higher standard of living, the pressure on already limited resources will rise. Lake Chad is one out of many diminishing lakes in the world where the call for action is urgent to prevent ecosystem degradation, famine, and outbreak of war. The lake has shrunk by more than 90% since the 1960's due to decreasing levels of precipitation and changes in water consumption. As most dwellers in the Lake Chad Basin are farmers and the agricultural sector consumes the largest proportion of all water resources, change in irrigation patterns is a likely cause for this decrease. Analysis of the change in cropland extent using classified remote sensing data acquired between 1992 and 2009 could possibly delineate areas where this change has occurred. The result could later be used to guide further studies on where suitable measures should be implemented to stop the current degradation. Thus the main objective of this thesis is to delineate areas of change in cropland between 1992 and 2009 that could possibly explain the increased water consumption in the Lake Chad Basin. The study also aims to discuss the suitability and reliability of using classified land cover datasets to detect these changes. Classified land cover datasets are generated based on multispectral images that are acquired by monitoring sensors onboard satellites. The spectral characteristic of a cell reviles properties of the observed surface and this information can be used to classify each cell in an image into a unique land cover type. Three types of datasets are used in this analysis: the MCD12Q1, the Globcover and the GLCC. They are all based on data acquired during different time periods, from different sensors and with different spatial resolution. The datasets from 1992-1993, 2007 (GLCC and MCD12Q1 respectively) and the two Globcover datasets (2004-2006 and 2009) are found to not be suitable for this type of analysis. The MCD12Q1 datasets, on the other hand, were produced on an annual basis from 2001 to 2007 and give a clear indication of the expansion of cropland in certain areas in the basin. A constant intensification of cultivated land near Lake Chad’s northern pool and a migration of cropland from the upper KYB downstream the rivers could be detected. The flood and recession farming along the lower KY also seem to have increased between 2001 and 2007. Despite the convenience in using classified remote sensing datasets to detect changes in cropland extent within the Lake Chad Basin, there are several drawbacks. Unique conditions in every observation, spectral resolution, spatial resolution and classification method are some of the reasons why different land cover datasets are not compatible with each other. Local conditions in the Sahel, such as almost permanent cloud cover and mixed vegetation, limit the possibilities to acquire useful data from this region. The lack of classified land cover data from 1960 to 1980, when the largest retraction of the lake occurred, limits the possibilities of finding factors that can explain the decreased water resource. Studies using Landsat multispectral images should therefore be carried out to delineate areas where change in cropland extent has occurred since 1972. This could possibly be a better indicator of the reasons to the increased water consumption since the 60’s

Multi-scale targeting of land degradation in northern Uzbekistan using satellite remote sensing

Advancing land degradation (LD) in the irrigated agro-ecosystems of Uzbekistan hinders sustainable development of this predominantly agricultural country. Until now, only sparse and out-of-date information on current land conditions of the irrigated cropland has been available. An improved understanding of this phenomenon as well as operational tools for LD monitoring is therefore a pre-requisite for multi-scale targeting of land rehabilitation practices and sustainable land management. This research aimed to enhance spatial knowledge on the cropland degradation in the irrigated agro-ecosystems in northern Uzbekistan to support policy interventions on land rehabilitation measures. At the regional level, the study combines linear trend analysis, spatial relational analysis, and logistic regression modeling to expose the LD trend and to analyze the causes. Time series of 250-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), summed over the growing seasons of 2000-2010, were used to determine areas with an apparent negative vegetation trend; this was interpreted as an indicator of LD. The assessment revealed a significant decline in cropland productivity across 23% (94,835 ha) of the arable area. The results of the logistic modeling indicate that the spatial pattern of the observed trend is mainly associated with the level of the groundwater table, land-use intensity, low soil quality, slope, and salinity of the groundwater. To quantify the extent of the cropland degradation at the local level, this research combines object-based change detection and spectral mixture analysis for vegetation cover decline mapping based on multitemporal Landsat TM images from 1998 and 2009. Spatial distribution of fields with decreased vegetation cover is mainly associated with abandoned cropland and land with inherently low-fertility soils located on the outreaches of the irrigation system and bordering natural sandy deserts. The comparison of the Landsat-based map with the LD trend map yielded an overall agreement of 93%. The proposed methodological approach is a useful supplement to the commonly applied trend analysis for detecting LD in cases when plot-specific data are needed but satellite time series of high spatial resolution are not available. To contribute to land rehabilitation options, a GIS-based multi-criteria decision-making approach is elaborated for assessing suitability of degraded irrigated cropland for establishing Elaeagnus angustifolia L. plantations while considering the specific environmental setting of the irrigated agro-ecosystems. The approach utilizes expert knowledge, fuzzy logic, and weighted linear combination to produce a suitability map for the degraded irrigated land. The results reveal that degraded cropland has higher than average suitability potential for afforestation with E. angustifolia. The assessment allows improved understanding of the spatial variability of suitability of degraded irrigated cropland for E. angustifolia and, subsequently, for better-informed spatial planning decisions on land restoration. The results of this research can serve as decision-making support for agricultural planners and policy makers, and can also be used for operational monitoring of cropland degradation in irrigated lowlands in northern Uzbekistan. The elaborated approach can also serve as a basis for LD assessments in similar irrigated agro-ecosystems in Central Asia and elsewhere.Multisclare Bewertung der Landdegradation in Nord-Uzbekistan unter der Verwendung von Satellitenfernerkundung Die zunehmende Landdegradation (LD) in den bewässerten Agrarökosystemen in Usbekistan behindert die nachhaltige Entwicklung dieses vorwiegend landwirtschaftlich geprägten Landes. Bis heute sind nur wenige und veraltete Informationen über die aktuellen Bodenbedingungen der bewässerten Anbauflächen verfügbar. Ein besseres Verständnis dieses Phänomens sowie operationelle Werkzeuge für LD-Monitoring sind daher Voraussetzung für ein nachhaltiges Landmanagement sowie für Landrehabilitationsmaßnahmen. Ziel dieser Studie war es, das räumliche Verständnis der Degradierung von Anbaugebieten in den bewässerten Agrarökosystemsn des nördlichen Usbekistans zu verbessern, um staatliche Interventionen in Bezug auf Landrehabilitationsmaßnahmen zu unterstützen Auf der regionalen Ebene kombiniert die Studie lineare Trendanalyse, räumliche relationale Analyse sowie logistischer Regressionsmodellierung, um den LD-Trend darzustellen und Gründe zu analysieren. Zeitreihen von 250-m Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) Bildern wurden für den Zeitraum der Anbauperioden zwischen 2000-2010 untersucht, um Bereiche mit einem offensichtlich negativen Vegetationstrend zu ermitteln. Dieser negative Trend kann als Indikator für LD interpretiert werden. Die Untersuchung ergab eine signifikante Abnahme der Bodenproduktivität auf 23% (94,835 ha) der Anbaufläche. Zudem deuten die Ergebnisse der logistischen Modellierung darauf hin, dass das räumliche Muster des beobachteten Trends überwiegend mit der Höhe des Grundwasserspiegels, der Landnutzungsintensität, der geringen Bodenqualität, der Hangneigung sowie der Grundwasserversalzung zusammenhängt. Um das Ausmaß der Degradation der Anbauflächen auf der lokalen Ebene zu quantifizieren, kombiniert diese Studie objektbasierte Erkennung von Veränderungen und spektrale Mischungsanalyse für die Abnahme der Vegetationsbedeckung auf der Grundlage von multitemporalen Landsat-TM-Bildern im Zeitraum von 1998 bis 2009. Die räumliche Verteilung der Felder mit abnehmender Vegetationsbedeckung hängt überwiegend mit verlassenen Anbauflächen sowie mit nährstoffarmen Böden in den Randbereichen des Bewässerungssystems und an den Grenzen zu natürlichen Sandwüsten zusammen. Ein Vergleich mit der Karte des LD-Trends ergab insgesamt eine Übereinstimmung von 93%. Der vorgeschlagene Ansatz ist eine nützliche Ergänzung zu der häufig angewendeten Trendanalyse für die Ermittlung von LD in Regionen, für die keine Satellitenbildzeitreihen mit hoher Auflösung verfügbar sind. Als Beitrag zu Landrehabilitationsmöglichkeiten, wird ein GIS-basierter Multi-Kriterien-Ansatz zur Einschätzung der Eignung von degradierten bewässerten Anbauflächen für Elaeagnus angustifolia L. Plantagen beschrieben, der gleichzeitig die spezifischen Umweltbedingungen der bewässerten Agrarökosysteme berücksichtigt. Dieser Ansatz beinhaltet Expertenwissen, Fuzzy-Logik und gewichtete lineare Kombination, um eine Eignungskarte für die bewässerten degradierten Anbauflächen herzustellen. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass diese Flächen ein überdurchschnittliches Eignungspotenzial für die Aufforstung mit E. angustifolia aufweisen. Diese Studie trägt zu einem verbesserten Verständnis der räumlichen Variabilität der Eignung von solchen Flächen für E. angustifolia bei. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie können als Entscheidungshilfe für landwirtschaftliche Planer und politische Entscheidungsträger sowie für verbesserte Landrehabilitationsmaßnahmen und operationelles Monitoring der Degradation von Anbauflächen im nördlichen Usbekistan eingesetzt werden. Zudem kann der beschriebene Ansatz als Grundlage für LD-Untersuchungen in ähnlichen bewässerten Agrarökosystemen in Zentralasien und anderswo dienen

GIS applications for poverty targeted aquaculture development in the lower Mekong Basin.

In the lower Mekong Basin, marginal socio-economic conditions prevail amongst rural small scale farming households which heavily depend on highly seasonal, rain-fed farming systems for their livelihood. Persistent rural poverty is aggravated by frequently occurring droughts and floods. A yearly flood-drought cycle, while essential to their household economy based on rice and fisheries, renders rural poor livelihoods vulnerable to recurrent periods of food insecurity. This research demonstrates how a combination of publicly accessible Remote Sensing imagery and disaggregated poverty maps, within a comprehensive rural development framework, can provide an effective method to target pro-poor aquaculture development interventions at the local level. An agro-ecosystems analysis is performed in order to capture the seasonal dynamics of water- and aquatic resource exploitation. A holistic farming systems approach emphasises the potential of ponds in integrated rural smallholder systems to reduce poverty and vulnerability under rain fed conditions. A Geographic Information System (GIS), an efficient spatial inventory tool and decision support system in resolving real world problems, is used to identify where rural poor households can potentially benefit from the integration of aquaculture into existing production systems. A time series of satellite derived vegetation index data reveals distinct agro-ecosystem seasonality over large parts of the study area, which is indicative for farming systems under rain fed conditions. The developed methodology is capable of identifying functionally different agro-ecosystems. Socio-economic indicators for Cambodian parts of the lowland areas point to widespread rural poverty and vulnerability to recurrent food insecurity, which is directly related to agro-ecosystems seasonality and annual climate variability. Dependence of farming households on low productivity rain fed rice agro-ecosystems in Cambodia’s southern provinces is in stark contrast to the highly productive farming systems directly bordering it, in the freshwater fluvial zone of the Vietnamese Mekong Delta. A rapid increase in rice productivity in this densely populated area went hand-in hand with a considerable reduction in rural poverty. In this flood-prone but fertile area, resource competition and falling market prices of rice may have prompted the development of a range of integrated farming systems. The incorporation of ponds on farm in these systems facilitates reuse of nutrients from farm by-products for low-input aquatic resource production. In Northeast Thailand, crop production and low-input aquaculture have been successfully integrated along a tradition of water- and living aquatic resources management in farmer managed systems under resource poor conditions. A spatially linked commune level rural development database for Sisaket province in Northeast Thailand provides a useful framework for planning of aquaculture development through systems that are appropriate and relevant to local socio-economic and agro-ecological conditions. It was concluded that the socio-economic and agro-ecological context of rural poverty in Southeast Cambodia offers scope for similar pathways to improve rural wellbeing and reduce vulnerability to poverty and food insecurity by integrating aquatic resources development in pond based systems as part of an interdisciplinary approach towards rural development

Reducing Uncertainties in Applying Remotely Sensed Land Use and Land Cover Maps in Land-Atmosphere Interaction: Identifying Change in Space and Time

Land use and land cover (LULC) data are a central component of most land-atmosphere interaction studies, but there are two common and highly problematic scale mismatches between LULC and climate data. First, in the spatial domain, researchers rarely consider the impact of scaling up fine-scale LULC data to match coarse-scale climate datasets. Second, in the temporal domain, climate data typically have sub-daily, daily, monthly, or annual resolution, but LULC datasets often have much coarser (e.g., decadal) resolution. We first explored the effect of three spatial scaling methods on correlations among LULC data and a land surface climatic variable, latent heat flux in China. Scaling by a fractional method preserved significant correlations among LULC data and latent heat flux at all three studied scales (0.5°, 1.0°, and 2.5°), whereas nearest-neighbor and majority-aggregation methods caused these correlations to diminish and even become statistically non-significant at coarser spatial scales (i.e., 2.5°). In the temporal domain, we identified fractional changes in croplands, forests, and grasslands in China using a recently developed and annually resolved time series of LULC maps from 1982 to 2012. Relative to common LULC change (LULCC) analyses conducted over two-time steps or several time periods, this annually resolved, 31-year time series of LULC maps enables robust interpretation of LULCC. Specifically, the annual resolution of these data enabled us to more precisely observe three key and statistically significant LULCC trends and transitions that could have consequential effects on land-atmosphere interaction: (1) decreasing grasslands to increasing croplands in the Northeast China plain and the Yellow river basin, (2) decreasing croplands to increasing forests in the Yangtze river basin, and (3) decreasing grasslands to increasing forests in Southwest China. Our study not only demonstrates the importance of using a fractional spatial rescaling method, but also illustrates the value of annually resolved LULC time series for detecting significant trends and transitions in LULCC, thus potentially facilitating a more robust use of remotely sensed data in land-atmosphere interaction studies

China's food production under water and land limitations

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2010.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-178).The future availability of the natural resources (water and land) needed for food production is highly uncertain. Evidence shows diminishing natural resources and growing food demand throughout many parts of the world. China is one of the countries that face the challenge of managing its finite water and land resources to support their population. Difficulties mainly arise from: (1) the geographic mismatch between the location of water resources and available land; (2) a large and growing number of population; and (3) limited natural resources per capita. This thesis presents a systematic approach to evaluate the effects of water and land constraints on food production and applies it to China as a case study. Based on the basic principle of water and land balance, crop resource requirements, and per capita consumption, the assessment of natural resources limitations on food production can be formulated into an optimization model, with the objective function maximizing the number of people fed subject to resource constraints. This formulation makes it possible to systematically and efficiently evaluate the effects of natural resource constraints for such a complex and large scale study regions such as China. Even though our approach is based on the basic principle, we incorporate several significant features into the model to realistically represent the spatial and temporal heterogeneity in climate, land use, and crop requirements. Our analysis is conducted at a detailed spatial resolution of 0.5' by 0.5', includes water movement at the same resolution, accommodates the mixture of crops in people's diet, and distinguishes irrigated from rain-fed agriculture. Our optimization model presents an average long term analysis. The model is developed and calibrated to reproduce long-term observed conditions during the nominal period of 1990- 2000. We then use the model together with globally and locally available data to make future predictions of China's food production capacity during the future period of 2046-2065. These future predictions include the impacts of the South-to-North Water Diversion project and projected climate change. The future climate scenarios are taken from the general circulation model predictions and represent diverse seasonal and regional patterns. Regionally, land is a limiting factor in the south, while water is a limiting factor in the north. Our results suggest that irrigation and multiple-cropping are keys in enhancing China's food production capacity to support increasing population. The spatial and seasonal distribution of rainfall changes is critical for agriculture in meeting future food requirements under climate change.by Piyatida Hoisungwan.Ph.D

Impact of Land Use and Climate Change on Hydrological Ecosystem Services (Water Supply) in the Dryland Area of the Middle Reaches of the Yellow River

Driven by many factors, the water supply services (streamflow and groundwater) of many rivers in the dryland area of China have declined significantly. This aggravates the inherent severe water shortages and results in increased severity in the water use conflicts that are threatening sustainable development in the region. Innovative strategies towards more water-efficient land management are vital for enhancing water quantity to ensure water supply security. A key step in the successful development and implementation of such measures is to understand the response of hydrological processes and related services to changes in land management and climate. To this end, it was decided to investigate these processes and responses in the upper reaches of the Jing River (Jinghe), an important meso-scale watershed in the middle reaches of the Yellow River on the Loess Plateau (NW China). It has been shown that vegetation restoration efforts (planting trees and grass) are effective in controlling soil erosion on the Loess Plateau. Shifts in land cover/use lead to modifications of soil physical properties. Yet, it remains unclear if the hydraulic properties have also been improved by vegetation restoration. A better understanding of how vegetation restoration alters soil structure and related soil hydraulic properties, such as water conductivity and soil water storage capacity, is necessary. Three adjacent sites, with comparable soil texture, soil type, and topography but contrasting land cover (Black locust forest, grassland, and cropland), were investigated in a small catchment in the upstream Jinghe watershed (near Jingchuan, Gansu province). Seasonal variations of soil hydraulic properties in topsoil and subsoil were examined. Results revealed that the type of land use had a significant impact on field-saturated, near-saturated hydraulic conductivity, and soil water characteristics. Specifically, conversion from cropland to grass or forests promotes infiltration capacity as a result of increased saturated hydraulic conductivity, air capacity, and macroporosity. Moreover, conversion from cropland to forest tends to promote the formation of mesopores that increase soil water storage capacity. Tillage in cropland temporarily created well-structured topsoil, but also compacted subsoil, as indicated by low subsoil saturated hydraulic conductivity, air capacity, and plant available water capacity. An impact of land cover conversion on unsaturated hydraulic conductivities was not identified, indicating that changes in land cover do not affect functional meso- and microporosity. Changes in soil hydraulic properties and associated hydrological processes and services due to soil conservation efforts need to be considered, should soil conservation measures be implemented in water-limited regions for sustaining adequate water supply. To differentiate between the impacts of land management and climate change on streamflow, the variation of annual streamflow, precipitation, potential evapotranspiration, and climatic water balance in a small catchment of the upstream Jinghe watershed (near Pingliang, Gansu province) was examined during the period of 1955 – 2004. During this time the relative contributions of changes in land management and climate to the reduction of streamflow were estimated. A statistically significant decreasing trend of -1.14 mm y-1 in annual streamflow was detected. Furthermore, an abrupt streamflow reduction due to afforestation and construction of terraces and check-dams was identified around 1980. Remarkably, 74% of the total reduction in mean annual streamflow can be attributed to the soil conservation measures. Among various conservation measures, streamflow could be considerably reduced by afforestation and terracing (including damland creation), due to their low contribution to water yield. In contrast, slope farmland and grassland can maintain a certain level of water supply services due to higher runoff coefficients. According to a meta-analysis of the published studies on the Loess Plateau, the impact of changes in land management on annual streamflow appears to diminish with increasing catchment size while the impact of climate change appears uniform across space. This means that there is a dependency between the catchment size and the response of hydrological processes to environmental change. At least at the local scale, it appears that well-considered land management may help to ensure the water supply services. Due to limited surface water availability, groundwater is an essential water source for supporting ecosystem and socio-economic development in the dryland region. However, the groundwater process is susceptible and vulnerable to changes in climate and landscape (i.e., land cover and form) that in turn can result in profound adverse consequences on water supply services in water-limited regions. In addition, an improved understanding of the response of groundwater related processes to natural and artificial disturbances is likely to ensure more secure and more sustainable governance and management of such regions, as well as better options for adapting to climate change. Yet, this topic has seldom been researched, especially in areas that have already experienced large-scale alteration in landscape and are located in dryland regions, such as the Loess Plateau. Therefore, an investigation of the baseflow variation along the landscape change was conducted. The average annual baseflow has significantly decreased at catchment scale during the period of 1962 – 2002 without any obvious significant change in climate. At decadal scale, the reduction accounts for approximately 9% in the 1970s, 48% in the 1980s, and 92% in the 1990s, while the baseflow index declines averaging 5%, 16% and 67%, respectively. All of the monthly baseflow levels dropped at varying rates except in January, among which July was the most severe in terms of both magnitude (-4.17) and slope (-0.09 mm y-1). In perspective of landscape change, landform change (terrace and check-dam) tends to reduce baseflow by reallocation of surface fluxes and retention for crop growth causing limited deep drainage in other areas. Land cover change (i.e., afforestation) reduced the baseflow to a larger extent by enhanced evapotranspiration and thus hampered deep drainage as suggested by the soil moisture measurement underneath. The study indicates that knowledge about baseflow formation on catchment scale needs further improvement. Integrated soil conservation and water management for optimizing landscape structure and function in order to balance soil (erosion) and water (supply) related hydrological ecosystem services is vital. The governing processes to the changes of water-supply-services-related hydrological process (e.g., streamflow) are assumed to be different across space. To this end, the factors controlling streamflow were investigated on both a small and large scale. Streamflow in small catchments was found to be mainly controlled by precipitation and land cover type. On a larger scale, evaporative demand was found to be another additional major driving force. Hydrological modeling is a frequently used tool for the assessment of impacts of land use and climate change on water balance and water fluxes. However, application of the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) model in the upstream Jinghe watershed was unsuccessful due to difficulties in calibration. The inability of the SWAT model to take the influence of terraces on steep slopes into consideration and the method how to calculate lateral flow were the main reasons for unsatisfactory calibration, at least for the current version of SWAT used in this study. Alternatively, Budyko’s frameworks were applied to predict the annual and long-term streamflow. However, the effect of changes in land management (e.g., afforestation) on streamflow could not be assessed due to a lack of vegetation factors. Therefore, an empirical analysis tool was derived based on an existing relationship for estimation. This method was found to be the most effective in reproducing the annual and long-term streamflow. The incorporation of temporal changes in land cover and form in the approach enables the estimation of the possible impact of soil conservation measures (e.g., afforestation or terracing). The importance of adaptive land management strategies for mitigating water shortage and securing the water supply services on the Loess Plateau was highlighted. A cross-sectoral view of the multiple services offered by managed ecosystems at different spatial scales under changing environments needs to be integrated to improve adaptive land management policy. In a water limited environment, such as the Loess Plateau, multiple ecosystem services including hydrological services need to be balanced with minimum trade-offs. This can only be achieved when management is based on a holistic understanding of the interdependencies among various ecosystem services and how they might change under alternative land management

Remote Sensing Applications to Support Locust Management and Research: Evaluating the Potential of Earth Observation for Locust Outbreaks in Different Regions

This dissertation focuses on satellite remote sensing applications for locust management and additional contributions to locust research. Specifically, the remote sensing-based characterization and interpretation of land surface cover and its dynamics are addressed with a special emphasis on the requirements of different locust species. At first, the aim of this dissertation is to provide a holistic overview of the existing applications using satellite data focusing on different locust species and thus, to present current and new opportunities. Furthermore, remote sensing and geospatial datasets are used in a model to categorize areas with ideal and less than ideal conditions for locust outbreaks. The benefit of up-to-date remote sensing data for preventive locust management is demonstrated using time-series-based Sentinel-2 land cover classification. Due to the diversity of the numerous locust species and their spatial distribution in different geographical locations, this research focuses mainly on two locust species, the Italian locust (Calliptamus italicus) and the Moroccan locust (Dociostaurus maroccanus), as well as on selected study areas within their extensive habitats, respectively. Both selected locust species caused numerous damages in Europe, the Caucasus, Central Asia and North Africa in the past. For both species, there is only a limited number of publications exploiting the capabilities of remote sensing methods. Therefore, this dissertation aims to explore the potential approaches of Earth observation datasets to support preventive locust management and research for both species.Die vorliegende Dissertation beschäftigt sich mit dem Einsatz der Satellitenfernerkundung im Bereich Heuschreckenmanagement und -forschung. Die fernerkundungsbasierte Charakterisierung und Interpretation der Landoberflächen-bedeckung und deren Dynamik stehen dabei - mit Fokus auf die Anforderungen der verschiedenen Heuschreckenarten - im Vordergrund. Ziel dieser Dissertation ist es zunächst, einen ganzheitlichen Überblick über vorhandene Anwendungen von Satellitendaten im Kontext Heuschreckenmanagement zu erarbeiten. Des Weiteren werden fernerkundungs- und geobasierten Datensätzen in einem Model verwendet, um Flächen mit idealen bzw. weniger idealen Bedingungen für Heuschreckenausbrüche zu kategorisieren. Der Vorteil von aktuellen Fernerkundungsdaten für präventives Heuschreckenmanagement wird anhand zeitreihenbasierten Sentinel-2 Landbedeckungsklassifikation demonstriert. Aufgrund der Vielfältigkeit der zahlreichen Heuschreckenarten und deren räumlicher Verteilung in verschiedenen geographischen Lagen, konzentriert sich diese Arbeit im Wesentlichen auf zwei Heuschreckenarten, die Italienische Schönschrecke (Calliptamus italicus) und die Marokkanische Wanderheuschrecke (Dociostaurus maroccanus), sowie auf ausgewählte Studiengebiete innerhalb deren weiträumigen Habitaten. Beide Heuschreckenarten verursachten zahlreiche Ausbrüche in der Vergangenheit mit Schäden in Europa, dem Kaukasus, Zentralasien und Nordafrika. Für beide Heuschreckenarten existieren nur wenige Forschungsarbeiten, die sich mit der Anwendung von Fern-erkundungsdaten auseinandersetzen. Vor diesem Hintergrund zielt diese Dissertation auf die Entwicklung von relevanten Methoden unter Einsatz von Fernerkundungsdaten für beide Heuschreckenarten ab, um präventives Heuschreckenmanagement und -forschung zu unterstützen.Данная диссертация раскрывает тему применения спутникового дистанционного зондирования для контроля саранчовых и проведения дополнительных исследований саранчи. В частности, особое внимание уделяется изучению потребностей различных видов саранчовых при описании характеристик земного покрова и его динамики на основе данных дистанционного зондирования. Первостепенная цель данной диссертации состоит в том, чтобы предоставить целостный обзор существующих приложений, использующих спутниковые данные, в разрезе различных видов саранчовых для того, чтобы раскрыть текущие и потенциальные возможности. Кроме того, дистанционное зондирование и наборы геопространственных данных используются для классификации территорий с идеальными и не идеальными условиями для нашествий саранчи. исследование сосредоточено в основном на двух видах саранчи, итальянского пруса (Calliptamus italicus) и марокканской саранче (Dociostaurus maroccanus), а также на определенных территориях, в пределах их обширногo местообитаний