Land-use change

Land-use change is a shift in how land is used or managed over time, such as conversion from forest to cropland or changes in farming practices.

Land-cover change: A change in the physical material or vegetation covering Earth's surface. Land-use change concerns human purposes; land-cover change records the surface alteration that may accompany them.
Agricultural expansion: The growth of agricultural land into areas previously used for other purposes or left uncultivated. It is a common pathway from natural or extensive land cover to production.
Land-use planning: The process of allocating land among competing uses through policy, regulation, and planning. Planning can direct where development, conservation, and production transitions occur.
Land degradation: A decline in the biological or economic productivity of land caused by human activities or natural processes. Unsustainable land-use changes can reduce soil and ecosystem capacity.
Land-use classification: A system for assigning areas to categories based on their human use or management. Different classification schemes can change which transitions are recorded.
Land-use transition: A shift from one land-use category or management system to another. This names the transition at the center of land-use change.
Urbanization: The growth of urban populations and built-up areas, often accompanied by infrastructure expansion. Urban growth converts land and reshapes uses around settlements.
Land-use zoning: The division of land into areas with rules governing permitted uses and development. Zoning is a direct regulatory tool for shaping land-use patterns.
Habitat fragmentation: The division of continuous habitat into smaller, more isolated patches. Conversion for farms, roads, and settlements can fragment habitats.
Land sparing: A conservation strategy that concentrates production on less land to leave more area for nature. It frames whether intensification can prevent expansion into natural habitats.

Linked from 53 pages