Research Priorities in Land Use and Land-Cover Change for Albania and Integrated Modelling Assessment

Land cover, the physical state of the earth s surface and immediate subsurface, and land use, the human employment on that land, were long studied with a distinct focus on either geographic variables employing spatially explicit models or on the analysis of econometric models employing ‘conventional, i.e. non-spatial, models. In the past few years, researchers increasingly attempt to link geographic variables and socioeconomic indicators. Recent spatially explicit studies of the determinants of land-cover and land-use changes integrate geo- and biophysical data with socioeconomic variables derived from quantitative surveys or censuses. This paper has highlighted recent and innovative methods and results that integrate observations and modelling analyses of regional to global aspect of biophysical and biogeochemical interactions of land-cover change with the climate system. To date, cooperation between these communities has been limited. Based on common interests, this paper discusses research priorities in representing land use and land-cover change in Albania for improved collaboration across modelling, observing and measurement communities. Major research topics in land use and land-cover change are those that help us better understand [1] the interaction of land use and land cover with the climate system, [2]. the provision of goods and ecosystem services by terrestrial land-cover types, and [3] land use and management decisions.