A unifying modelling of multiple land degradation pathways in Europe

Remus Prăvălie (), Pasquale Borrelli, Panos Panagos, Cristiano Ballabio, Emanuele Lugato, Adrian Chappell, Gonzalo Miguez-Macho, Federico Maggi, Jian Peng, Mihai Niculiță, Bogdan Roșca, Cristian Patriche, Monica Dumitrașcu, Georgeta Bandoc, Ion-Andrei Nita and Marius-Victor Birsan
Additional contact information
Remus Prăvălie: Faculty of Geography
Pasquale Borrelli: University of Basel
Panos Panagos: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Cristiano Ballabio: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Emanuele Lugato: Joint Research Centre (JRC)
Adrian Chappell: Cardiff University
Gonzalo Miguez-Macho: Universidade de Santiago de Compostela
Federico Maggi: The University of Sydney
Jian Peng: Peking University
Mihai Niculiță: Department of Geography
Bogdan Roșca: Geography Department
Cristian Patriche: Geography Department
Monica Dumitrașcu: Romanian Academy
Georgeta Bandoc: Faculty of Geography
Ion-Andrei Nita: VisualFlow
Marius-Victor Birsan: Romanian Academy

Nature Communications, 2024, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-13

Abstract: Abstract Land degradation is a complex socio-environmental threat, which generally occurs as multiple concurrent pathways that remain largely unexplored in Europe. Here we present an unprecedented analysis of land multi-degradation in 40 continental countries, using twelve dataset-based processes that were modelled as land degradation convergence and combination pathways in Europe’s agricultural (and arable) environments. Using a Land Multi-degradation Index, we find that up to 27%, 35% and 22% of continental agricultural (~2 million km2) and arable (~1.1 million km2) lands are currently threatened by one, two, and three drivers of degradation, while 10–11% of pan-European agricultural/arable landscapes are cumulatively affected by four and at least five concurrent processes. We also explore the complex pattern of spatially interacting processes, emphasizing the major combinations of land degradation pathways across continental and national boundaries. Our results will enable policymakers to develop knowledge-based strategies for land degradation mitigation and other critical European sustainable development goals.

Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-48252-x

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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48252-x

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