A new study from the researchers at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Energy Resource Center evaluates the environmental and economic impacts of land use change. The land use change impact is specifically for land that moves in and out of cropland over ten-year time periods. The study aimed to determine land use and soil organic carbon stocks on 1,000 land parcels over a 36-year period.
“As part of this study, we conducted a historical analysis going back to 1985 and found that longer time intervals need to be considered when determining the environmental and economic impact of land use changes,” says lead researcher Ken Copenhaver. “Notably, this is not something that current regulations are taking into consideration.”
Using advanced satellite imagery and aerial photography, the researchers discovered their findings challenge previous studies that primarily focus on shorter time intervals, often less than ten years when examining land use changes.
