All articles tagged with #land use
Astronauts captured a striking checkerboard pattern in Idaho's forests from space, revealing the long-term impact of 19th-century forestry practices that used a systematic grid for sustainable timber harvesting and regeneration, visible especially under snow and spanning about five miles.
A new study reveals that 60% of Earth's land has exceeded safe ecological limits, primarily due to human activity like land conversion and biomass use, with significant impacts on climate and ecosystems, especially in Europe, Asia, and North America. The research emphasizes the urgent need for global biosphere protection and integrated climate policies.
Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced that the state is offering land to the incoming Trump administration for mass deportation facilities, as part of "Jocelyn's Initiative," named after a girl killed by undocumented immigrants. The initiative aims to prevent similar tragedies by facilitating the deportation of violent criminals. The Texas General Land Office has identified 1,400 acres in Starr County for potential use, with plans to build a detention center specifically for processing deportations.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that agricultural grassland use accelerates entire ecosystems, affecting organisms at all levels and across food chains. The research shows that intensive agricultural practices lead to faster organisms dominating ecosystems, impacting functions such as decomposition and nutrient cycling. While this may increase agricultural productivity, it reduces carbon storage and biodiversity, making ecosystems less resilient. Urgent countermeasures are needed to address the accelerating impact of intensive agriculture on ecosystems worldwide.
Apple supplier Foxconn, also known as Hon Hai, has stated that it will cooperate with Chinese authorities in ongoing investigations into tax audits and land use of its subsidiaries. The world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, which assembles products like Apple's iPhones, emphasized its commitment to legal compliance. The investigations come as Foxconn founder Terry Gou seeks to become Taiwan's next president, amid tensions between Beijing and the self-governed island.
Residents of Maui, Hawaii, are expressing anger and frustration over the direction of early wildfire recovery efforts, questioning the actions of Governor Josh Green. The distrust in the government is particularly affecting the Native Hawaiian community, who fear that their hard-won rights could be eroded by emergency proclamations. The proclamations have suspended environmental and cultural reviews, as well as water code regulations, raising concerns about land use and water rights. The issue has become so contentious that the chief housing officer resigned due to threats against her family. Lawsuits have been filed challenging the governor's emergency proclamations, arguing that they go too far in suspending land-use and environmental laws.
Scientists studying sediment cores from the Gulf of Saint Eufemia in Italy have used pollen analysis to track the colonization of Italy by Greeks and Romans over the past 5,000 years. The analysis revealed three distinct phases of vegetation: dense forest cover, forest decline and aridity, and deforestation with intensive agriculture. These patterns were closely linked to the communities living in the area at the time, with evidence of climate change impacting the vegetation. The final phase of widespread deforestation coincided with the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the region. This study highlights the importance of palynology in understanding the impact of human occupation and climate change on plant communities.
The demand for data centers has rapidly increased due to changing work habits during the pandemic and the growth of cloud-based technologies. However, finding enough land to build a data center and sufficient electricity to run it can be a challenge. Developers must address community concerns about these behemoth buildings, which are popping up next to housing developments and straining local electricity providers that have struggled to keep up with the demand. The industry is trying to find greater efficiencies to lessen the demand for energy, and as major players in the data industry strive to become greener in the next decade, the pressure is on.
Russia has accused the Czech government of an "illegal" move after it cancelled Soviet-era decrees that granted the Russian embassy free use of land in Prague and other cities. The Czech government has rescinded orders granting Russia the use of dozens of plots of lands in the 1970s and 1980s by the country's then Communist rulers, saying Moscow would now have to pay to lease the land. Russia has pledged to take measures to defend its own interests, including legal action.
The Czech government has cancelled Soviet-era decrees that granted the Russian embassy free use of land in Prague and other cities, and Russia will now have to pay leases to use the land. This move is a further step in a more than two-year diplomatic spat with Moscow worsened by the war in Ukraine. Prague has accused Russian intelligence agents of being behind explosions at an arms depot in the Czech Republic in 2014, leading it to drastically reduce staff at the Russian embassy.
Disney is ramping up its lobbying efforts against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his GOP allies in the state legislature, particularly targeting land use related bills that could harm the company. The battle between the two started last year after Disney opposed a bill that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. DeSantis has since threatened to nullify a development agreement that limits his control over the district where Disney is based. The feud may cost DeSantis donors and could potentially harm his 2024 presidential campaign. Disney CEO Bob Iger has hinted at the possibility of making amends with the governor.
Disney is ramping up its lobbying efforts against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and his GOP allies in the state legislature, particularly targeting land use related bills that could harm the company. The feud began last year after Disney opposed a bill that forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools for kindergarten through third grade. DeSantis has since threatened to nullify a development agreement that limits his control over the district where Disney is based. Disney executives have called on lobbyists to keep an eye on any Florida bills that could hurt the company and to start aggressively working against them, with a particular interest in combatting legislation related to land use.
At least 74 people were killed in two separate attacks by armed groups in Benue state, Nigeria. Violence has increased in the region due to competition over land use between farmers and nomadic herders. Benue has been hit hard by years of disputes between herders and farmers, which have often spiralled into broader criminality and tit-for-tat revenge attacks between informal armed groups established to protect rival communities.
Oregon lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 4, which allocates $210 million towards grants and loans for semiconductor and advanced manufacturing companies to acquire and develop land for new facilities and carry out research. The bill also grants Governor Tina Kotek unprecedented authority to shift urban growth boundaries to attract a major semiconductor facility. The move has generated criticism from farmers, conservation groups, and Republican lawmakers worried about granting Kotek power that could result in the loss of valuable farmland. Lawmakers are now turning their attention to tax subsidies that might further lure semiconductor activity in Oregon.