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Drivers of wetland conversion: a global meta-analysis
Sanneke van Asselen1, Peter H Verburg, Jan E Vermaat
1Institute for Environmental Studies, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Plos One
|November 28, 2013
Summary
Global wetland conversion is driven by multiple factors, primarily agricultural development, economic growth, and population density. Market influence, temperature, and land use also significantly impact conversion likelihood worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Ecology
- Conservation Science
Background:
- Meta-analysis is crucial for synthesizing land change research.
- Previous studies have analyzed deforestation, urbanization, and desertification.
- Wetland conversion requires a comprehensive global analysis of its drivers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the proximate causes and underlying forces of global wetland conversion.
- To synthesize findings from 105 case-study papers on wetland conversion.
- To quantitatively estimate the global likelihood of wetland conversion using location factors.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis of 105 case-study papers on wetland conversion was conducted.
- A logistic meta-regression analysis was performed using global biophysical and socioeconomic data.
- Identified key factors influencing wetland conversion at a global scale.
Main Results:
- Agricultural development emerged as the primary proximate cause of wetland conversion.
- Economic growth and population density were identified as the most frequent underlying forces.
- Market influence, total wetland area, mean annual temperature, and cropland/built-up area significantly predicted conversion likelihood.
Conclusions:
- Multiple interacting factors drive wetland conversion globally.
- Findings align with other land change meta-analyses, highlighting common drivers like agricultural development and market factors.
- Meta-regression provides valuable maps predicting global wetland conversion risk based on historical drivers.
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