$1.5 million grant awarded to team studying impacts of land abandonment

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Two Penn State researchers received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation through the Belmont Forum to study actual and perceived impacts of land abandonment on the sustainability of soil and water resources. The team also looks to inform land-use policy and decision-makers through their research.  

The project, titled “Abandonment and rebound: Societal views on landscape- and land-use change and their impacts on water and soils (ABRESO),” is led by Tim White, a research professor in the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. The co-principal investigators are Janet Swim, a professor of psychology in the College of the Liberal Arts, and Bill McDowell, a professor of natural resources and the environment from the University of New Hampshire. 

“The decisions that individuals and communities make can influence the future effects of the land on water and soil,” White said. “For example, a farmer may decide to sell the family farm to developers. The increase in impervious services — roads and roofs — can result in increased stormwater runoff carrying more road salts and pollutants from cars and lawn fertilizers into groundwater.” 

However, White said that if in the above example the farm was sold to a different farmer, the outcome might be the same if the new farmer used the same practices, or it could improve if the new farmer replaced fertilizers with organic practices. 

Other instances of land abandonment could be people leaving urban areas, resulting in unoccupied housing. Or it could be forests where people have historically contributed to the forest’s management, but population decline means fewer people are carrying out that task.  

The reasons for land abandonment can include aging populations, urban sprawl, and population migration to and from cities. 

White said that land abandonment is not necessarily a bad thing, but it is complex.  

“Land abandonment’s impact on sustainability can vary depending upon whether one focuses on environmental, social or economic impacts,” Swim said.  

For example, through an environmental lens, abandoned forests converted to urban space would be negative if it diminished the natural environment’s ability to clean water, sustain wildlife and sequester carbon, said Swim.

Through a social lens, more built environments can increase housing stocks, but that could contaminate drinking water and restrict access to restorative natural environments.

Economically, urban areas may increase jobs, but it can also threaten other jobs, such as diminishing the timber industry that relies on the forest. 

“Ultimately, though, long-term consequences on the environment will take its toll socially and economically,” Swim said. “The effects of land use that contribute to climate change and poor water quality will harm people and the economy. These harms will increase over time if effects are not mitigated.” 

Because land abandonment is a complex issue and it can have wide-ranging near-term and long-term impacts, White and Swim are interested in helping people make well-informed decisions when it comes to land use and water quality. 

“People struggle with maintaining their local water quality while addressing other societal and economic needs caused by some of the same drivers of land use change – such as the need to accommodate larger populations,” Swim said. “Moreover, people may not readily understand how land use affects water quality.” 

Swim said that the high value people place on water quality could be incentive for them to learn about management practices and become more involved in developing and supporting those practices. 

“Having a greater clarity as to people’s understanding of how land use can influence water quality and other environmental states can help determine types of education that may be helpful to provide to the public,” Swim said. “Then the public can make more informed choices about land-management practices and policies that better protect their water and environment now and into the future.” 

The project, which started in 2021, was originally supported by a seed grant from the Institutes of Energy and the Environment. Since its launch, the project has grown, gaining momentum. 

“We have a well-organized project with working groups on thematic areas, engaged stakeholder groups in local areas across the globe and developed an ABRESO website with updates for stakeholders and scientists,” White said. “An initial workshop aided this effort, and we are planning a follow-up workshop this November. As an example of research outputs with resources educators can use, there was a recently published study that tested how a ‘serious game’ can influence people’s understanding of connections between human actions and environmental health.”