To meet growing population demands for food and other agricultural commodities, agricultural land-use intensification and extensification seems to be increasing in the Abbay (Upper Blue Nile) basin in Ethiopia. However, the amount, location and degree of suitability of the basin for agriculture seem not well studied and/or documented. From global data sources, literature review and field investigation, a number of agricultural land suitability evaluation criteria were identified.

The humid tropics are exposed to an unprecedented modernisation of agriculture involving rapid and mixed land-use changes with contrasted environmental impacts. Afforestation is often mentioned as an unambiguous solution for restoring ecosystem services and enhancing biodiversity. One consequence of afforestation is the alteration of streamflow variability which controls habitats, water resources, and flood risks. We demonstrate that afforestation by tree planting or by natural forest regeneration can induce opposite hydrological changes.

The studies were conducted in the Rostov region I 2009-2014. The object of research is black southern chernozems (zonal soils) and alkali fine soils, which make up integrated soil cover with more than 35% alkali. According to the scheme of the experiment, the effect of phosphogypsum (PG) applied in doses 5 and 10 t/ha on alkali and zonal soils properties at the background of deep tillage by application of accepted (overall application) and proposed (selective application) practices on soil complex has been studied.

The prospect of GIS technology to create and to use of soil maps is stated. Conducted a GIS analysis of soil cover the territory of Cherven District showed the predominance of retisols of large areas isomorphic and asymmetrical shapes, three times less than the average area for podzols with isomorphic form. The most complicated form of areas marked for alluvial soil types. Their coefficients of irregularity boundaries typically less than 0.2, and are fluvial forms of areas.

Land cover objects are reflected in a set of georeferential data and are constantly changing. These changes can be accurately examined by computer and interactive information systems. One of the main advantages of computer information systems is the fact that their maps can be constantly improved and updated. The update of georeferential data was conducted in a selected area using the ArcGIS software.

Land-use and land-cover changes are driving unprecedented changes in ecosystems and environmental processes at different scales. This study was aimed at identifying the potential land-use drivers in the Jedeb catchment of the Abbay basin by combining statistical analysis, field investigation and remote sensing. To do so, a land-use change model was calibrated and evaluated using the SITE (SImulation of Terrestrial Environment) modelling framework.

Impact of dynamic land use and land cover changes on the livelihood of local communities and ecosystem services is a major concern. This is particularly evident in most dryland agricultural systems in South Asia. We study land use/land cover (LULC) changes over the last two decades in a watershed (9589 ha) located in semi-arid eco-region in South India (Anantapuram district) using Landsat and IRS imagery. We captured additional data through field observations and focused group discussions.