LULC Change Effects on Environmental Quality and Ecosystem Services Using EO Data in Two Rural River Basins in Thrace, Greece

Katerina Vatitsi, Nena Ioannidou, Anastasia Mirli, Sofia Siachalou, Ifigenia Kagalou, Dionissis Latinopoulos () and Giorgos Mallinis ()
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Katerina Vatitsi: School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Nena Ioannidou: Civil Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
Anastasia Mirli: Civil Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
Sofia Siachalou: School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ifigenia Kagalou: Civil Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
Dionissis Latinopoulos: Civil Engineering Department, Democritus University of Thrace, 69100 Komotini, Greece
Giorgos Mallinis: School of Rural and Surveying Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 6, 1-27

Abstract: Rural abandonment and associated rapid urbanization, agricultural intensification, and climate change have been key factors transforming terrestrial landscapes, with significant impacts on the environmental quality and the ecosystem services (ES) provided to human welfare. In this study, two understudied rural river basins located in Thrace, North Greece, were selected to assess changes in landscape pattern, composition, and eco-environmental quality and ecosystem services values (ESV). Cloud-based remote sensing (RS) analyses of multitemporal Landsat imagery in the Google Earth Engine (GEE) platform were applied for multitemporal land use/land cover changes (LULCC) quantification between 1984–2021, along with landscape pattern, eco-environmental quality, and ES assessment. Although ecosystem changes observed were not extensive over this period, eco-environmental quality appeared to be affected due to fragmentation. Preserving the ecosystem’s naturalness can enhance cultural ES to avoid further values loss originating from provisioning ES exploitation. This study highlights the strong connection between landscape configuration and eco-environmental quality, emphasizing the strong impact that anthropogenic activities have on the environment. The monitoring of the effects of LULCC on ecosystem health and the economic value of ES is crucial for the introduction of spatial planning and restoration policies.

Keywords: Laspias river; Lissos river; Google Earth Engine; remote sensing-based ecological index; ecosystem services; spectral index; fragmentation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jlands:v:12:y:2023:i:6:p:1140-:d:1158121

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