The Challenge of Social Vulnerability Assessment in the Context of Land Use Changes for Sustainable Urban Planning—Case Studies: Developing Cities in Romania

Abstract

Urban growth triggers massive changes in land use cover, exacerbating extreme natural and technological events. In order for land use planning to be efficient, it requires the integration of comprehensive risk and vulnerability assessment. This paper aims to create a bridge between the existing vulnerability theories and their implementation in land use planning policies and proposes an innovative approach to determine whether the changes in the territorial dynamics of cities draw considerable changes in communities’ social vulnerability. The methodology identifies and selects three case studies from the Urban Atlas inventory, representative of the dynamics of large Romanian cities, taking into consideration the following hazards: earthquakes, floods, and technological hazards. Vulnerability was then assessed by assigning each land use class a specific vulnerability level. The methodology involved assessing the level of vulnerability specific to the situation in 2018 compared to 2006. The results showed that major changes in land use are related to the transition of areas with a low level of vulnerability to areas with a higher level of vulnerability as a result of the urban areas expansion to the detriment of natural and agricultural areas. This is generally translated into a higher degree of vulnerability due to an increased density of artificial elements and of population in the residential areas. The findings of the study of territorial dynamics in the proximity of large industrial operators did not reveal a tendency that differed from the general trend. Although many territorial changes have been observed in the period 2006–2018, it is necessary to extend the analysis, with the issue of the new versions of the Urban Atlas, to confirm the identified trends and to express the up-to-date situation.

Study of Social Vulnerability in the Land Sector in Kutai Kartanegara

“…As for the conflict with the company, namely; 1) Overlapping land ownership status between residents and plantations or HGU (residents' land and houses included in HGU, including kindergarten/PAUD buildings) that occurred in Sinar Harapan Hamlet, Tanjung Harapan Village, Sebulu District, Kutai Kartanegara Regency; 2) Disputes between palm oil processing companies and residents in Sinar Harapan Hamlet; 3) Compensation for the residents' land which is only in the form of compassion with the oil palm plantation company in Sinar Harapan Hamlet; 4) Residents do not know if their land is included in the HGU; 5) There is also land ownership by outsiders of Sanggulan Village which is quite large (100 ha); and 6) Residents of RT 19 and 20 occupy HTI land with a lease-to-use status as a place to live and trade. The research area used to be a forest which was later cleared by migrants to become settlements and agricultural land, then granting HGU permits to open oil palm plantations to companies will increase the vulnerability of the land sector in rural areas [19]. Spatial planning should be accompanied by strict control over the issuance of permits for land clearing, for this reason regulations and laws are needed.…”

“…Monitoring sustainable land tenure and use over the long term is essential to identify trends in vulnerability. Mapping the vulnerability of the land sector can become the basis for regional planning and development policies and development [19]. Land tenure and use on a large scale are considered to be the cause of the vulnerability of the land sector [22].…”

Analyzing the Evolution of Land-Use Changes Related to Vegetation, in the Galicia Region, Spain: From 1990 to 2018

“…Land-use change reflects the impact of human activities on the natural environment, causing changes in surface structure (i.e., water bodies, climate, and ecology) and affecting the ecosystem service value [14]. The land is a non-renewable resource and while demand is constantly increasing, it is imperative to maintain a balance between demand and supply, needs and interests, or between contradictory uses, through Land-Use policies that achieve sustainable development and improve the quality of the environment [15,16]. Very often, a poorly developed urban planning process leads to the changing of more natural land surfaces into artificial ones planned for human activities, therefore increasing social vulnerability.…”

“…Therefore, the evaluation of the Land-Use Change process is important to the sustainable development of urban areas and to increase the resilience of territories and communities [10,16]. On the other hand, Land-Use planning may also positively impact the environment by preserving natural resources, enhancing open space opportunities, or providing a significant reduction in traffic pollution [15].…”

“…Land-Use depends on numerous factors, including population, economic status, infrastructure, industrial activities, geographic conditions, land development policies, etc. [15,17] and impacts numerous parameters, including flood risk, landslide probability, biodiversity, urban climate, hydrological processes, and pollution [15,[17][18][19][20].…”