THE MAASAI OF SOUTHERN KENYA DOMAIN MODEL OF LAND USE

We present a domain model that formalises the human-land relations in the Maasai nomadic pastoralist society in Kenya, referred to as MSKDM, and its integration with the prominent Land Administration Domain Model (LADM). Our long-term aim is to facilitate a land administration system that can accurately capture and express salient Maasai concepts of land use, ownership, communal tenure, and to assist in transparency during land transactions. We use an extensive corpus of existing research literature, and input from our own on-site workshops, as source material for our domain model. We use real sketch maps drawn by Maasai community members that we collected during our field studies for validation, and to demonstrate how our model can be operationalised

Land-use and land degradation processes affecting soil resources: Evidence from a traditional Mediterranean cropland (Greece)

Land degradation is a complex process resulting from the permanent interaction between physical and human factors. The effect of changes in land-use and land management on soil erosion and desertification risk has been studied in Messara Valley (Crete, Greece) over the last six decades (1950–2010). Vegetation cover and land-use have been analyzed using representative aerial photographs and ortho-photomaps for representative dates. Soil attributes have been described in a semi-detailed survey in 2010. Soil erosion rates and desertification risk have been assessed for each period using the PESERA and TERON models and the MEDALUS methodology, respectively. Based on distinct socio-ecological characteristics of the area three major time intervals have been identified. Cereals extensively cultivated during the first time interval were progressively replaced by olive plantations and vineyards in the following periods. Soil erosion due to water runoff was important especially in the olive transition period, declining in the olive subsidy period. However, tillage erosion became an important degradation process especially in the olive subsidy period due to mechanization of the agriculture determining soil losses ranging from 0.5 to 30 cm in sloping areas. Desertification risk due to soil erosion and land characteristics has significantly increased during the olive subsidy period

Land-use and land degradation processes affecting soil resources: Evidence from a traditional Mediterranean cropland (Greece)

Land degradation is a complex process resulting from the permanent interaction between physical and human factors. The effect of changes in land-use and land management on soil erosion and desertification risk has been studied in Messara Valley (Crete, Greece) over the last six decades (1950–2010). Vegetation cover and land-use have been analyzed using representative aerial photographs and ortho-photomaps for representative dates. Soil attributes have been described in a semi-detailed survey in 2010. Soil erosion rates and desertification risk have been assessed for each period using the PESERA and TERON models and the MEDALUS methodology, respectively. Based on distinct socio-ecological characteristics of the area three major time intervals have been identified. Cereals extensively cultivated during the first time interval were progressively replaced by olive plantations and vineyards in the following periods. Soil erosion due to water runoff was important especially in the olive transition period, declining in the olive subsidy period. However, tillage erosion became an important degradation process especially in the olive subsidy period due to mechanization of the agriculture determining soil losses ranging from 0.5 to 30 cm in sloping areas. Desertification risk due to soil erosion and land characteristics has significantly increased during the olive subsidy period

Land degradation and long-term changes in agro-pastoral systems: An empirical analysis of ecological resilience in Asteroussia - Crete (Greece)

This study investigates the socio-ecological system dominated by pasture land in Asteroussia Mountains (Crete, Greece) between 1950 and 2010 with the aim to identify changes in the most relevant system's attributes, as a contribution to the study of land degradation from the resilience perspective. The analysis of 10 system indicators identifies two time periods (1950 - mid 1980s and mid 1980s - 2010) characterized by distinct relations between system's components. The grazing system was sustainable in the former time period being satisfactorily managed with moderately-low soil erosion rates despite adverse soil, topographic and climate conditions. Larger land patches have experienced better system's performance than smaller patches. The latter time interval was characterized by landscape fragmentation which has impacted negatively the stability of the overall system. A continuous growth in livestock density was observed in the study period determining high soil erosion rates, loss in plant productivity and a general over-exploitation of natural resources. A significant increase in desertification risk and a parallel decrease of ecological resilience were observed in the last time interval. The contrasting spatial patterns of system's indicators - possibly associated with different responses to land degradation - can be considered in the design of mitigation strategies addressing climate change and socioeconomic vulnerability of Mediterranean pasture land