PLANNING AND BUILDING A GLOBAL LAND USE DATA BASE TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES Michael R. Thomas Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network Copyright 1994 Michael R.Thomas. All rights reserved. For information contact the auhor. Abstract Land-use and land-cover changes are major driving forces of global environmental change, affecting the physical characteristics of the planet, global biogeochemical and hydrological cycles, availability and productivity of natural resources, and environmental quality. Socioeconomic variables that affect and are, in turn, affected by global land use change include population growth and distribution, affluence, and technology development and application. To more fully understand the human dimensions of global change, researchers, policy makers, and the worldÕs people must seek to understand the combined impact on the environment of natural and social processes. This understanding must begin with sharing of information and knowledge that transcend political and cultural boundaries, providing accessible mechanisms that embrace users and providers of global change information throughout the world. The Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN), is helping to build and operate information gateways for accessing, integrating, disseminating, and providing an understanding of data needed to assess the impacts of global environmental change. An example of this effort is the development of a principal data base for global land use and land cover. When operational in late 1994, this data base will include various combinations of local and regional data (multi-country, country, and within countryÑcounties, states, provinces, etc.) in the form of statistics, remote-sensed imagery, maps, and other forms of derived data. Two major sub-categories of land use data are being developed to supplement the global land use/land cover database. The first consists of land use/land capability data sets and data and information resources for environmental quality research and analysis. These resources will provide baseline and time series resources (e.g., vegetative cover type and extent; location, extent, availability, and quality of important land and water resources; location, extent and quality of important populations of terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna). The second category will support environmental quality research, analysis, and assessment (e.g., urbanization, deforestation, desertification and other land transformation data; erosion, sedimentation, siltation; resource demand; environmental degradation; treaties and agreements; and regulations). Database development activities include: (a) evaluation of requirements for land use data from the human dimension perspective; (b) identification and prioritization of specific issues and concerns that must be addressed immediately from a global perspective; (c) identification and location of the appropriate researchers, the data they have developed, and where these data are stored; and (d) establishment of a timetable for acquiring, archiving, and disseminating the required data and information. 1.0 Introduction The Consortium for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN1), formed in 1989, is an initiative of the United States Congress. Its mission is to provide access to and enhance the use of information worldwide, advancing understanding of human interactions in the environment and serving the needs of science and public and private decision making. CIESIN is developing a global land use/land cover data base as part of this effort in support of the scientific research and development community, the policy analysis community, educators, and the public who must understand complex land use issues and make decisions regarding land and water resource use. Through an Information Cooperative of major national and international archives and resource centers, CIESIN is developing a virtual data and information base, and making these resources available in electronic format over the Internet. The understanding of these data and information resources is supported by CIESIN through an array of services - data catalog, analysis, and communications. The ultimate goal of this developmental activity will be a high-quality, comprehensive data and information resource needed by researchers and decision makers. This data base would consist of many individual data sets and related information that together form an overall information system of both principal and supplemental data and information sets. The process being used to build such a data base includes a definition of relevant land use issues, an evaluation of the requisite data and information resources, and the location of sources generating or archiving these resources. This process is defined by three criteria: (a) what needs this data base will address, (b) what such a data base would and would not include, and (c) what levels of measurement and integration, including appropriate temporal and spatial scales and interpretation methodologies, would be used to ensure quality and applicability. 2.0 Land Use Database Objectives Although the types of land use have not changed significantly in the last 300 years, the distribution and speed at which changes have occurred during this time have changed significantly. It is expected that future land-use changes will continue to increase, and understanding the driving forces behind such changes will be important for our ability to predict where, and to what extent, global environmental change will occur. Until recently, changes in land use and cover have not been adequately treated in global change studies. Patterns of past changes have been poorly documented at the global level, and it has proven difficult to compare local and regional assessments (Turner, 1992). However, advances in remote sensing technology and geographic information systems have helped provide new data bases that document such changes. Such data will become available at increasingly higher resolutions - both spatially and temporally Ñ and categorized in relation to types of change. Land use data necessary for the study of the physical and human dimensions of global environmental change are considered a priority of both the U.S. and international research and policy analysis communities. The call for substantive study of land-use and land-cover changes on a global level was expressed by the scientific research community during the 1973 Stockholm Conference on the Environment, 20 years later at the 1992 U.N. Conference on Environment and Development, and consistently in between. The International Geosphere- Biosphere Programme (IGBP) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU), the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change Programme (HDP) of the International Social Science Council (ISSC), the U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP), and other organizations have made the study of global land-use and land-cover change a research priority (Turner, 1992; IIASA, 1993; U.S. Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, 1994). CIESINÕs proposed data set for land use includes Global Land Use/Land Cover with an overlay of administrative boundaries. This data base would consist of both principal and supplemental data and information sets that together form an overall global land use/land cover information system. For the most useful data and information at the global level, resolution would be no less than 1:1,000,000. To meet this criterion, compiling a global data base will require various combinations of local and regional data (multi-country, country, and within country Ñ counties, states, provinces, etc.) in the form of remote-sensed imagery, maps, and other forms of derived data. This data base will be developed through an evaluation of candidate data sets on land use and land cover that have been generated by relatively well-known research and development organizations, identified through CIESINÕs collaborations with Information Cooperative partners and through increased use of information servers on the Internet. As specific land use issues and sub-issues are identified, CIESINÕs data identification and evaluation resources will be focused on a more comprehensive listing of candidate data sets. A preliminary listing of candidate data sets is in Figure 1. Supplemental data sets are essential to support sustained, long-term measurements of land-use changes including vegetative cover; soil moisture; biome extent, productivity, and nutrient cycling; and several surface water parameters are considered of high or essential importance (U.S. Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences, 1992). Human dimensions data needed to support global change research related to land use include population parameters (e.g., demographic data, socioeconomic characteristics, attitudes and behavior), economic systems (particularly land use and material resources as production inputs), and political systems and institutions. Two major subcategories of land use data will be considered in the development of supplemental data resources, (1) land use/land capability data sets and (2) data and information resources for environmental quality research and analysis. Land use/land capability data sets and information resources will provide baseline and time series resources (e.g., vegetative cover type and extent; location, extent, availability, and quality of important land and water resources; location, extent and quality of important populations of terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna). Data and information resources will support environmental quality research and analysis (e.g., urbanization, deforestation, desertification and other land transformation data; erosion, sedimentation, siltation; resource demand; environmental degradation Ñ examples and threats; treaties and agreements; and regulations. 3.0 Data Development Activities Initial development of the land use/land cover data base requires careful evaluation of requirements for land use data from the human dimension perspective, identification and prioritization of specific issues and concerns that must be addressed immediately from a global perspective, identification and location of the appropriate researchers and the data they have developed, and establishment of a timetable for acquiring, archiving, and disseminating the required data and information. Figure 2 shows the process of data identification and acquisition; access, integration, and analysis; and application. These functions are carried out under the following activities: (1) User Needs Analysis, (2) Information Cooperative Development, (3) Data Access and Integration, and (4) Data Dissemination and Knowledge Transfer. 3.1 User Needs Assessment: Defining the User Community CIESINÕs principal user communities include scientific researchers and applied users that address land use change issues. Global change researchers are representatives of agencies, academia, and the international community who conduct process studies, diagnostic and monitoring activities, and integrated modeling investigations. Applied users are those researchers, policy makers, and educators who assess the state of global change research and use modeling approaches to provide information for policy decisions. The impact assessment user community includes a mix of both (Thomas, 1993). The land use-land cover research theme identifies many of the most critical issues that the research community needs to address, as well as the problems inherent to land use research and application of the results of research on decision making. However, to be of real value to the decision maker, research support must be able to address questions regarding what changes have occurred and where, including analysis of the legal, social, technological, political, and economic factors behind such changes (CIESIN, 1992). Understanding past changes will help address questions about how future natural or anthropogenic changes might affect the use of land resources, and how the use of these resources could, in turn, affect global conditions. To address these issues, the research community must initially have access to high-quality, georeferenced data related to land use, land cover, and environmental quality. The data bases must cover areas far beyond the local and regional perspectives, traditionally the self-imposed bounds of the research community and become truly global (IIASA, 1993). Secondly, researchers must focus on the integration of natural science and social science data and on the development of models and other analysis and integration tools linking the socioeconomic causes of land-use change with the natural science understanding of the regional and global environmental consequences of changes in land use and cover (U.S. Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, 1994). Finally, the results of research efforts and the implications of alternative land use strategies (involving, for example, changes in agricultural practices) in terms of their global environmental impacts must be shared through electronic and human networking. 3.2 Issues Assessment and Identification of Data Needs Determination of user needs and development of the information system to meet these needs requires a listing and discussion of issues and concerns related to the human dimensions of global environmental change from a land use/land cover perspective. Focusing data identification and acquisition efforts requires that certain constraints be considered. First, land use is an extremely broad subject area consisting of numerous scientific disciplines studying each issue, thus requiring issue-specific data and information. Second, land use characterization and changes to land use are multidisciplinary, requiring an integration of natural and social science research results, interpretation, and ultimately, decision making in addressing land use change issues. Third, although data development must be issue- specific, CIESIN maintains a policy of data neutrality Ñ data will be available to all sides of an issue.Because land use/land cover represents a very broad range of issues and concerns, CIESIN is initially focusing on a few key issues, while establishing a long-term strategy for addressing more in the future. Identification, evaluation, and prioritization of issues and concerns is being done through a multi-step process, requiring integration of input from many sources. The process included literature review (CIESIN, 1991; 1992); consultation with the CIESIN Science Advisory Committee, the Users Working Group of the Socioeconomic Data and Applications Center (SEDAC; CIESINÕs data archiving operations), Consortium member institutions, and other CIESIN data and information development teams (Data Domains). Critical to this process was the review and characterization of past and ongoing research in each of these areas, indicating who is doing the research and developing important data, where the data are archived, and any evaluation of the applicability and availability of the data. As shown in Figure 3, issues analysis has resulted in a listing of four significant land use categories for investigation and data developmentÑbiological diversity and habitat, environmental quality, fresh water resources, and land resource productivity. Important sub-issues within each of these categories, and an identification of information requirements that can help address these issues, have also been developed to focus data identification and acquisition efforts. 3.3 Data Acquisition Through the Information Cooperative To facilitate acquisition of candidate data bases, a prioritized list of data needs and archive locations is provided to the Information Cooperative site coordinators. The Information Cooperative is CIESINÕs primary mechanism for sharing data and information among major archives and resource centers worldwide, and for developing its virtual holdings of data and information. The Information Cooperative: ¥ Provides an international framework for communication about available data and information on the human dimensions of global environmental change. ¥ Provides a mechanism for identifying user needs and promoting core capabilities to (a) facilitate access to and dissemination of data and information and (b) integrate data from different disciplines. ¥ Facilitates the exchange of data and information among users in the natural, social, and health sciences. ¥ Improves the exchange of human dimensions and environmental data among developing and transitional nations that are available to the international research community.Organizations within the Information Cooperative considered sources for land use information are shown in Table 1. 3.4 Access, Integration and Dissemination of Data Resources CIESINÕs virtual archive is available on the Internet through the SEDAC at CIESIN Headquarters in Saginaw, Michigan. The SEDAC is a source of research data on human interactions in global environmental change and a publicly accessible source of data and information for public and private planning, education, and understanding. It provides data and information services through the CIESIN Catalog, a special directory service that provides directory browsing, sample data set display, and information on ordering data (access is gained by typing: Òtelnet gopher.ciesin.org;Ó login prompt is Ògopher.Ó). The directory is unique because it is tailored to global change issues with an emphasis on human dimensions data bases. Selection of candidate data sets includes determination of data extent and coverage, quality, amount of developmental work necessary to make the data accessible and available, degree of difficulty of obtaining data or virtual data, and cost. Compiled also is a description of sources for data, including principal investigator(s), research institutions, funding sources, and other affiliations, in order to interconnect archive holdings and capabilities with specific user requirements, and to determine priority of contact and collaboration according to criticality of needs. Data analysis and integration is provided by a tool library that includes process models, integration and visualization tools such as geographic information systems, and decision support systems. Integration will include support at several levels depending on user requirements: raw data, reduced and manipulated data, information and interpretation, and research. For land use/cover data sets under consideration, differences in scale and detail will need to be rectified, requiring data manipulation or reprocessing. Differences in land use/cover classification from country to country will also have to be corrected for some users, but left alone for others. CIESIN is also developing a series of thematic guides on land use. These guides represent state-of-the-art overviews of key concepts and data regarding land use, and they are considered a complement to CIESIN catalog services and data access tools. For example, a user seeking an understanding of issues and data pertaining to biodiversity can access the appropriate guide, use the guides to formulate research questions, and then be directed to CIESINÕs catalog services, including applicable Information Cooperative data archives. Figure 4 provides a content summary of available land use guides. At the present time, guides pertaining to land use issues are being developed in three areas (1) Data Domain Guides, which provide an overview and critical review of the CIESIN land use domain; (2) Issue Guides, which address land use issues as presently defined and associated cross-cutting human dimensions; and (3) Research Guides, which describe ongoing social and natural science research programs and data initiatives. The types of information addressed in the guides include a position statement or discussion paper of key issues related to land use, for example, loss of fresh water, loss of land productivity and sustainable agriculture, contamination of the biosphere and environmental degradation, loss of biodiversity, population dynamics, and climate change. Review of the Òstate-of-the-artÓ in research related to land-use and land-cover topics includes an identification of the scientific disciplines related to each issue and actively engaged in research on that issue, research methodologies, and resultant data and information products. Typical guide content and format includes: ¥ Disciplines Identification Ñ Phenology (e.g., classification systems, interpretation of remote sensing data to produce maps, change detection, GIS), policies, processes, socioeconomic aspects, regional planning, land tenure, geography (e.g., land use pattern, ecosystems of the world, land productivity). ¥ Research Method Ñ statistical analysis, change detection through remote sensing, modeling, development of indicators. ¥ Geography of Land Use and Related Subjects (Soil Maps, Land productivity etc.) Ñ maps, descriptive reports, statistics, data bases.The guides also contain general information related to land use that could be source material for further research, for example responsible organizations and agencies, periodicals, bibliographies, people, and calendars of events. 4.0 Conclusions Environmental assessment and decision making involving the protection, use, and management of land resources are becoming more regional and global in scope. This has been brought about through the understanding that many human activities and processes result in global change and, in turn, that these changes affect human populations. A vast and growing database on land use and land cover is being collected and archived by the United States and international organizations, but access to this information is sometimes difficult and time-consuming. CIESIN was formed to facilitate overcoming these obstacles by helping to build and operate information gateways for accessing, integrating, disseminating, and providing an understanding of data needed to assess the impacts of global environmental change. Development of a widely-distributed, virtual data base on global land use and land cover, represents an important and unique resource available to researchers and policy makers requiring access to the vast body of knowledge being developed on the human dimensions of global environmental change. Support for the environmental assessment researcher, practitioner, and decision maker includes access to computer and software systems, electronic and human networks, interactive models, and decision support systems. Most importantly, these services are provided in a user-friendly, timely, and cost-effective manner. Figure 1. Candidate Data Sets Figure 2. Process Model Figure 3. Issues Identification Figure 4. Thematic Guide References International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, 1993. ÒLand Use and Global Change: Past, Present and Future.Ó U.S. Committee for IIASA, 1994 Research Programme. Laxenberg, Austria. Turner, B., et al., 1992. ÒThe Case for the Study of Global Land-Use and -Cover Change.Ó Report of an Ad-Hoc Committee of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (International Council of Scientific Unions) and Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change (International Social Science Council). Rosenheim, Germany. U.S. Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, 1994. Our Changing Planet: The FY1994 U.S. Global Change Research Program, A Report by the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources of the Federal Coordinating Council for Science, Engineering and Technology. Washington, D.C. CIESIN, 1991. ÒFindings and Recommendations on Using Scientific Data in Response to Global Change,Ó report of an Interdisciplinary Task Force Conference in July 1990. University Center, Michigan. CIESIN, 1992. Pathways of Understanding: The Interactions of Humanity and Global Environmental Change. University Center, Michigan. Thomas, M., 1993. ÒCIESIN: Providing Access to Global Environmental Change Data and Information,Ó In: Impact Assessment 11:3, 289-306. East Lansing, Michigan. National Association of Environmental Professionals5165 MacArthur Boulevard, NWWashington, D.C. 20016 1 CIESIN is the University of Michigan, Michigan State University, University of Maryland at College Park, Utah State University, Polytechnic University of New York, Saginaw Valley State University, and the Environmental Research Institute of Michigan. CIESIN is also working closely with Harvard University and the University of California at Santa Barbara.