The evaluation for the impact of land use change on habitat quality: A joint contribution of cellular automata scenario simulation and habitat quality assessment model

Implementing Green Infrastructures beyond Protected Areas

“…Indeed, two variables should be targeted in effective spatial policies: 1) the reduction of threats, which, for instance, can be implemented through the renaturation of soils sealed as a consequence of urbanization, the removal of illegal (and legal) waste disposal sites, the regeneration of undergrowth, monitoring pasture and grazing land condition, and moving industrial facilities which generate dangerous environmental impacts (as, for instance, in the Cagliari case mentioned in Section 3, and mapped in Figure 2C); and 2) the mitigation of land-taking processes and of land cover transitions characterized by qualitative degradation [48,49]; indeed, it must be taken into account that the most outstanding issue which influences VAL_N is the quality of land cover. These results are supported by other studies [50,51]. For example, He et al [50] propose a tool to forecast the impact of land cover changes on habitat quality through a methodology that combines cellular automata scenario simulation and InVEST's Habitat quality model.…”

“…These results are supported by other studies [50,51]. For example, He et al [50] propose a tool to forecast the impact of land cover changes on habitat quality through a methodology that combines cellular automata scenario simulation and InVEST's Habitat quality model. Their results suggest two policies to improve habitat quality: 1) reducing urban sprawl through a rational and balanced urban increase rate, and, 2) balanced agricultural policies to eliminate scattered rural residential villages that generate a decrease in habitat quality in their surrounding areas.…”

Assessment of Municipal Masterplans Aimed at Identifying and Fostering Green Infrastructure: A Study Concerning Three Towns of the Metropolitan Area of Cagliari, Italy

“…Natural value is mainly influenced by the quality of land covers, frequently threatened by intensive agricultural use and by habitat fragmentation due to rural settlements and infrastructure. He et al [55] in a recent work, where they study the impacts of land covers on habitat quality, suggest improving habitat quality through agricultural policies that promote a more sustainable use of land, with particular attention to isolated rural settlements. In relation to ConVal, as promoted by the 2014-2020 Sardinian regional Rural Development Program, a possible policy could include sustaining agri-environment-climate commitments, comprising, among others, incentives to support those farmers who allocate part of their farmland for wildlife (e.g., establishing grass swards along wetlands, keeping unharvested conservation lands for wildlife, or maintaining hedgerows and drywalls for small vertebrates).…”

Impact of road transportation development on habitat quality in economically developed areas: A case study of Jiangsu Province, China

“…The InVEST habitat quality model, which is a relatively mature model at present, is widely used to assess the regional habitat qualities in recent years (Dai et al, 2019; He et al, 2017; Lin, Mao, Wu, Li, & Yang, 2016; Sallustio et al, 2017). We use InVEST habitat quality model in this study to assess the spatiotemporal variation pattern of the habitat quality in Jiangsu Province from 2000 to 2015.…”

“…Meanwhile, the value of habitat has been widely acknowledged from both social and ecological perspectives as habitat is the “resources and conditions present in an area that produce occupancy—including survival and reproduction – by a given organism” (Hall, Krausman, & Morrison, 1997). It is essential for species persistence and could provide multiple ecosystem services to human beings (He, Huang, & Li, 2017). However, the rapid development of urbanisation alongside with road transportation is one of the major drivers influencing changes in the regional habitats (Zhang, Lu, Liu, & Wu, 2018).…”