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Land Use Science in Action

Fates of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation in Central America are inextricably linked to U.S. drug policy

Fates of climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation in Central America are inextricably linked to U.S. drug policy

DIFFERENT APPROACH TO U.S. DRUG POLICY NEEDED TO MEET CONSERVATION GOALS

  • Counterdrug interdiction pushes cocaine trafficking into biodiverse landscapes.
  • Analyses integrating remote sensing and socioeconomic data can identify and quantify land use/cover-change caused by illicit economies.
  • Urgent need for such analyses to inform action to mitigate climate change and biodiversity loss in Central America.
  • NASA’s role in Earth observation is essential for evaluating long-running U.S. policies.
  • Long-term effects of U.S. drug policy undermine international conservation efforts.
Hotter and drier

Hotter and drier growing seasons in Serbia are driving shifts in agricultural practices and irrigation decisions

POTENTIAL INCREASES IN WATER SCARCITY AS THE AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ADAPTS

  • Water scarcity in agricultural regions is worsening as the Earth warms.
  • Urgent need for local and regional analyses to formulate precision adaptation measures.
  • Analyses integrating remote sensing, hydrological modeling, and economic modeling can
    project future water scarcity and farmers’ responses via crop choice and irrigation investment.
  • NASA’s Earth observations are critical to track short-term (crop growth and seasonal water
    use) and long-term (crop system transitions, irrigation investment) agricultural responses to
    drought and target climate adaptation measures.
A Remote Sensing Analysis of Heat Stress, LCLUC, and Women’s Health in sub-Saharan Africa

A Remote Sensing Analysis of Heat Stress, LCLUC, and Women’s Health in sub-Saharan Africa

Understanding impacts and interactions to inform adaptation strategies.

  • Climate change is increasing the duration, intensity, and frequency of extreme heat events in sub-Saharan Africa.
  • Human activity is driving rapid LCLUC, putting pressure on agricultural production, threatening food security, and challenging livelihood strategies.
  • Extreme heat and LCLUC disproportionately impact women, yet less attention is given to these effects.
  • NASA remote sensing tools can be used to study extreme heat exposure and LCLUC processes to better understand risks and develop successful adaptation strategies.