Major land use
Major land use is a broad approach for defining general land use types. It is first level of classification of land use. After defining major land uses, then inside each category the vegetation cover type can be described for detailed analysis. Major land use can be defined by air-photo interpretation or remote sensing image analysis.
| Aim of the method/technique |
The derived maps of major land uses constitute one of the basic components for the description of a SES used for analysis in the LEDDRA project. |
| Scale – spatial and temporal |
A detailed or semi-detailed map of major land uses at the scale 1:20,000 or 1:50,000 can be useful for regional studies in the LEDDRA project. Since human interventions can change major land use systems rapidly, by changing land use (agriculture to animal husbandry), generating forest fires, urbanizing the area, etc., spatial and temporal changes may occur frequently. Existing maps of major land uses have to be updated frequently.
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| Brief description |
According to Engelen and Wen (1995) the following categories of major land use are classified: (a) settlement/industries, (b) agriculture, (c) animals husbandry, (d) forestry, (e) mixed farming, (f) nature protection, (g) unused. Major land use can be defined by: (a) simple field observation, (b) interpretation of aerial photographs or remote sensing images, (c) using existing maps such as CORINE. An example of distinguishing the various land uses is given in Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Example of mapping major land uses in a landscape using photographs (Source: C. Kosmas) |
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| Data requirements |
For the definition of major land uses, aerial photographs or remote sensing images are needed. The existing vegetation maps of CORINE can be used to derive major land uses. |
| Main applications in cropland, grazing and forests & shrubland regions |
Description of major land uses can be useful in assessing the response impacts on a SES. Many degradation processes and causes such as soil erosion, soil sealing, forest fires, deterioration of water quality and reduction in quantity, and changes in the regional climate system are related to the existing major land uses. |
| Strengths and weaknesses |
Major land uses definition in cropland regions face many difficulties in describing and assessing their performance due to many man induced changes. |
