Land-use / Land-cover Change

Changes in land use and land cover are influencing terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems worldwide. In many regions, current rates, extents, and intensities of land-use and land-cover change are greater than at any other period in history. In the northern Great Plains of North America, changes in land use/land cover are most often associated with the production of agricultural commodities. In an effort to quantify ecosystem effects associated with land-use/land cover change and to identify mechanisms with potential to minimize effects on ecosystems of importance or to increase the ability of these ecosystems to function within a changing set of land-scape conditions, NPWRC scientists have initiated studies exploring numerous aspects [...]