1) A social ecological approach to land use dynamics

Researchers are focusing increasingly on an integrated framework for studying human ecological systems (figure 1). Many of the components of this framework are central to studying land use dynamics. How can such an integrated framework be used to enhance our understanding of land use dynamics?

2) Concepts of physical, biological and social differentiation of landscapes

How can an integrated framework be applied spatially? In some sense, land use is a measure of how landscapes become spatially heterogeneous. This spatial heterogeneity has a physical, biological and social component and these components interact with each other and change over time. What concepts of physical, biological and social differentiation can be used in order to understand land use dynamics?

3) A hierarchical approach to land use dynamics

Physical, biological and social differentiation occur at different spatial scales (figure 2), which suggests a multi-scale approach to land use dynamics. In this context, broad land use types such as urban/rural or forest, agriculture, residential, commercial / industrial may be associated already with different types and extents of land cover. But differences in human behavior are associated in predictable ways with differences in the social characteristics of people at smaller units of analysis (e.g. community, household, individual). For instance, in order to understand the relationship between the hydrology of a watershed at different land use scales, we may want to know how differences in human behavior (e.g. forest/vegetation management) at these lower scales affects the extent, distribution, structure, species diversity, and rates of regeneration, growth and mortality of forests and vegetation over time as well as inputs of fertilizers, pesticides and toxins into the watershed.

4) Types and rates of land use dynamics

While different types of land use change may occur at various spatial scales, there may also be different types and rates of land use change. For instance, there may be positive or negative feedback loops, time lags or non-linear rates (thresholds) of land use change. Also, some types of land use change may occur over a day or year, while other types may take centuries. How can we include explicitly an understanding of different types and rates of land use dynamics in our research?