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1. Global Change Impacts on Indigenous Sustainability in Sakha Republic: A Synthesis of Knowledge

   https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031157  

   Ksenofontov, Stanislav Saas; Petrov, Andrey N (February 2024, Sustainability)

   Indigenous understanding of sustainability is embedded in close relations to land and environment, Indigenous Knowledge systems, Indigenous epistemologies and ontologies, and Indigenous languages. However, the sustainability of Indigenous peoples’ livelihoods is significantly affected by various global change drivers. In the Arctic, Indigenous peoples’ livelihoods are impacted by environmental, social, and cultural changes, including climate change, environmental pollution, economic processes, and resource extraction. This paper aims to review and synthesize recent academic and gray literature on the sustainability of Indigenous communities in Sakha Republic, Northeast Siberia, Russia in the face of global change with a particular focus on land- and water-based traditional activities, native language, and the Indigenous Knowledge system. 

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2. Effects of land dispossession and forced migration on Indigenous peoples in North America

   https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abe4943  

   Farrell, Justin; Burow, Paul Berne; McConnell, Kathryn; Bayham, Jude; Whyte, Kyle; Koss, Gal (October 2021, Science)

   What are the full extent and long-term effects of land dispossession and forced migration for Indigenous peoples in North America? We leveraged a new dataset of Indigenous land dispossession and forced migration to statistically compare features of historical tribal lands to present-day tribal lands at the aggregate and individual tribe level. Results show a near-total aggregate reduction of Indigenous land density and spread. Indigenous peoples were forced to lands that are more exposed to climate change risks and hazards and are less likely to lie over valuable subsurface oil and gas resources. Agricultural suitability and federal land proximity results—which affect Indigenous movements, management, and traditional uses—are mixed. These findings have substantial policy implications related to heightened climate vulnerability, extensive land reduction, and diminished land value. 

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3. Indigenous Peoples' Rights Discourse: Toward Hemispheric Indigenous Climate and Environmental Justice

   https://doi.org/10.1089/env.2023.0076  

   Adams, Melinda M; Sarvestani, Daniel B (March 2026, Environmental Justice)

   In the face of global climate change, Indigenous communities around the world have increasingly gained recognition as significant actors in the fight for environmental justice and sustainability. This paper endeavors to explore the intersection of Indigenous Peoples’ worldviews and environmental stewardship, while gesturing toward international policies rooted in both state apparatus and in indigenous grassroots efforts. Collectively, this work seeks to illuminate the action, implementation, and community work done by Indigenous Peoples that Hernandez [Binnizá & Maya Ch’orti’] (2022) calls for when approaching indigenous environmental and climate justice, “justice that incorporates cultural norms, values, and principles.” In doing so, we present hemispheric case examples of Indigenous Peoples reclaiming environmental and cultural identities in the United States, Guatemala, and Garifuna. The case study of Indigenous fire stewardship in what is now known as California (USA) provides insight into applications of international Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Discourses to argue for more inclusive approaches in what we conceptualize as “Indigenous fire justice.” Case studies in Honduras and Garifuna underscore the success and failure of acknowledging Indigenous voices and perspectives in climate change discussions and policymaking that reflect the unique needs, cultural identities, and aspirations of Indigenous Peoples. Collectively, this scholarship uplifts hemispheric, Indigenous environmental stewardship as examples to illustrate the power of Indigenous approaches in addressing issues concerning climate change, environmental sustainability, and community well-being. By learning from and highlighting the work of Indigenous Peoples, recognizing our/their invaluable contributions worldwide, we can forge a more just and sustainable path forward in the global response to climate change. 

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4. Parallel evolution of urban–rural clines in melanism in a widespread mammal

   https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-05746-2  

   Cosentino, Bradley J.; Gibbs, James P. (December 2022, Scientific Reports)

   Abstract Urbanization is the dominant trend of global land use change. The replicated nature of environmental change associated with urbanization should drive parallel evolution, yet insight into the repeatability of evolutionary processes in urban areas has been limited by a lack of multi-city studies. Here we leverage community science data on coat color in > 60,000 eastern gray squirrels ( Sciurus carolinensis ) across 43 North American cities to test for parallel clines in melanism, a genetically based trait associated with thermoregulation and crypsis. We show the prevalence of melanism was positively associated with urbanization as measured by impervious cover. Urban–rural clines in melanism were strongest in the largest cities with extensive forest cover and weakest or absent in cities with warmer winter temperatures, where thermal selection likely limits the prevalence of melanism. Our results suggest that novel traits can evolve in a highly repeatable manner among urban areas, modified by factors intrinsic to individual cities, including their size, land cover, and climate. 

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5. A Synthesis of Land Use/Land Cover Studies: Definitions, Classification Systems, Meta-Studies, Challenges and Knowledge Gaps on a Global Landscape

   https://doi.org/10.3390/land10090994  

   Nedd, Ryan; Light, Katie; Owens, Marcia; James, Neil; Johnson, Elijah; Anandhi, Aavudai (September 2021, Land)

   Land is a natural resource that humans have utilized for life and various activities. Land use/land cover change (LULCC) has been of great concern to many countries over the years. Some of the main reasons behind LULCC are rapid population growth, migration, and the conversion of rural to urban areas. LULC has a considerable impact on the land-atmosphere/climate interactions. Over the past two decades, numerous studies conducted in LULC have investigated various areas of the field of LULC. However, the assemblage of information is missing for some aspects. Therefore, to provide coherent guidance, a literature review to scrutinize and evaluate many studies in particular topical areas is employed. This research study collected approximately four hundred research articles and investigated five (5) areas of interest, including (1) LULC definitions; (2) classification systems used to classify LULC globally; (3) direct and indirect changes of meta-studies associated with LULC; (4) challenges associated with LULC; and (5) LULC knowledge gaps. The synthesis revealed that LULC definitions carried vital terms, and classification systems for LULC are at the national, regional, and global scales. Most meta-studies for LULC were in the categories of direct and indirect land changes. Additionally, the analysis showed significant areas of LULC challenges were data consistency and quality. The knowledge gaps highlighted a fall in the categories of ecosystem services, forestry, and data/image modeling in LULC. Core findings exhibit common patterns, discrepancies, and relationships from the multiple studies. While literature review as a tool showed similarities among various research studies, our results recommend researchers endeavor to perform further synthesis in the field of LULC to promote our overall understanding, since research investigations will continue in LULC. 

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