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Land
Special Issues
Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II
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Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 66271

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Vanessa Winchester

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geography and the Environment, Oxford University Centre for the Environment, Oxford OX13QY, UK
Interests: environment; environmental analysis; sedimentology; natural resource management; forest ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

New studies are urgently needed that highlight developments in forest science in response to the changing climate and landscape degradation. This Special Issue focuses on all aspects of forest ecosystems across the major biomes: strategies are required for conservation and restoration to help resolve problems introduced by monocultures, resource conflict, expanding populations and forest exploitation. We particularly invite work that draws attention to and unifies today's topical themes and presents novel analyses. 

Covering around 30% of the Earth’s land area, forests are fundamental for landscape protection, providing vital habitats for millions of species as well as being important sources for clean air and water, which is crucial for combating climate change. Papers are called for on the following topics:

  • Tropical forests are a major concern, as their continuing destruction may pose the greatest threat to our planet’s biodiversity.
  • Dryland forests, although lower in species numbers, require initiatives to combat land degradation, protect vulnerable species and support human livelihoods.
  • Temperate forests have become almost universally fragmented with species numbers plummeting, which greatly weakens the ecological support chain.
  • Boreal forests are threatened by differential rates of permafrost thaw. Studies of mechanisms associated with forest loss are essential for predicting future interactions between land surface processes and the climate system. 

Field studies, measurement and monitoring, data analysis, and remote sensing are effective tools for investigating ecological processes. Understanding an ecosystem’s ability to withstand disturbance, control erosion, shelter biodiversity and provide food, water and energy is crucial. Scientifically based practical advice is sought to reverse this pending disaster on a global scale. We look forward to your contribution to the field of forest science.

Dr. Vanessa Winchester
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest science
  • degradation
  • ecosystem
  • biodiversity
  • strategies
  • resource conflict
  • forest exploitation
  • climate change
  • mechanisms
  • forest loss

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 31510 KiB  
Article
Combined Effects of Forest Conservation and Population Resettlement on the Ecological Restoration of Qilian Mountain National Park
by Xi Wang, David Lopez-Carr and Liang Zhou
Land 2024, 13(12), 1983; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13121983 - 21 Nov 2024
Viewed by 250
Abstract
The combined pressures of climate change and human activities have exacerbated ecological risks in fragile and sensitive areas. Assessing the ecological restoration status of key nature reserves and developing a new conservation and development framework are fundamental for achieving ecological civilization and enhancing [...] Read more.
The combined pressures of climate change and human activities have exacerbated ecological risks in fragile and sensitive areas. Assessing the ecological restoration status of key nature reserves and developing a new conservation and development framework are fundamental for achieving ecological civilization and enhancing sustainability. As an ecological security barrier in the northwestern alpine region, Qilian Mountain National Park (QMNP), is of great significance for maintaining the sustainable ecological environment of western China. By measuring changes in ecological land use and monitoring key vegetation indicator trends in QMNP, we constructed the Regional Ecological Resilience Indicator (RERI) and proposed a new restoration and restoration framework. The results show that: (1) the ecological land restoration in QMNP was remarkable, with a total of 721.76 km2 of non-ecological land converted to ecological land, representing a 1.44% increase. Forest restoration covered 110 km2, primarily made up of previously unused land from 2000 to 2020. (2) The average NDVI value increased by 0.025. Regions showing productivity growth (NPP) accounted for 51.82% of the total area from 2000 to 2020. The four typical eco-migration zones reduced the building profile area by 47.72% between 2015 and 2019. The distribution of high Composite Vegetation Index (CFI) values overlapped with concentrated forest restoration areas, revealing two main restoration models: forest conservation and population relocation. (3) RERI calculations divided the park into three ecological zones, Priority Conservation Area (PCA), Optimization and Enhancement Area (OEA), and Concerted Development Area (CDA), leading to the proposal of an ecological restoration and development framework for QMNP, characterized by “three zones, two horizontal axes, and one vertical axis”. Our findings contribute to strengthening the ecological security barrier in northwestern China; they offer new insights for the long-term, stable improvement of the ecological environment in QMNP and in other critical protected area systems globally. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II)
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17 pages, 269 KiB  
Article
Through Smoke to Policy: Framing the EU Forest Fire Policy Landscape
by Filip Aggestam
Land 2024, 13(9), 1450; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091450 - 6 Sep 2024
Viewed by 762
Abstract
The global community is grappling with a significant increase in forest fires’ frequency, size, and intensity, presenting a profound challenge. To complement existing framing literature on forest fires, this paper examines collective frames applied to forest fires in a broader EU context. Employing [...] Read more.
The global community is grappling with a significant increase in forest fires’ frequency, size, and intensity, presenting a profound challenge. To complement existing framing literature on forest fires, this paper examines collective frames applied to forest fires in a broader EU context. Employing a content analysis covering 354 EU policy documents—spanning both soft (non-legally binding) and hard (legally binding) policy documents—via the use of Atlas.ti, six collective frames on forest fires are outlined, identifying four as particularly dominant: ‘climate adaptation and resilience’, ‘risk mitigation and protective governance’, ‘agriculture and rural development’, and ‘technocratic perspectives on forest fires’. These frames capture dominant perspectives promoted within specific policy domains, such as energy and agriculture. Despite the diverse approaches to framing forest fires and their varied objectives, a common thread connects the narratives in these documents, namely, the central theme of ‘risk’. Whether it emerges in the context of reporting or as part of a call to action for adopting certain EU measures, the use of risk operates as a narrative device that negatively frames the discourse, consistently employed to call for action. The findings underscore the importance of considering communication strategies surrounding forest fires, particularly in light of their implications for forest governance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II)
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16 pages, 1876 KiB  
Article
Thailand’s Urban Forestry Programs Are Assisted by Calculations of Their Ecological Properties and Economic Values
by Yannawut Uttaruk, Teerawong Laosuwan, Satith Sangpradid, Chetphong Butthep, Tanutdech Rotjanakusol, Wuttichai Sittiwong and Sutthicha Nilrit
Land 2024, 13(9), 1440; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091440 - 5 Sep 2024
Viewed by 60349
Abstract
Forests are the largest carbon sinks in the world. They play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through carbon storage. Assessing carbon storage in forests is essential for policy formulation, management planning, and as a strategy to reduce the impacts of global [...] Read more.
Forests are the largest carbon sinks in the world. They play a crucial role in mitigating climate change through carbon storage. Assessing carbon storage in forests is essential for policy formulation, management planning, and as a strategy to reduce the impacts of global warming. The aims of this research were to explore plant diversity, assess tree biomass, and evaluate carbon storage and carbon credits in urban forestry areas under the Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction Program (T-VER). The study was conducted in the forested area of Rajamangala University of Technology Isan, Surin Campus, Thailand, and encompassed 60.96 ha. The methodology involved the creation of 10 temporary sample plots, each measuring 40 × 40 m. We then surveyed the species types and measured tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and the total height. Biomass was calculated using allometric equations and the stored carbon was quantified. In this study, we identified 85 species of plants. The analysis of tree biomass averaged 23,1781.25 kg/ha or 231.81 ton/ha. The carbon storage was estimated to be 108.94 tC/ha. When aggregating the data for the entire project, the total carbon storage amounted to 6851.55, with an equivalent carbon sequestration capacity of 25,122 tCO2e in the base year (baseline). We calculated that the carbon storage capacity could increase to 28,741.00 tCO2e with proper maintenance of the urban forest area over a 10-year period, equivalent to a carbon sequestration capacity of 3619 tCO2e. This would result in a carbon credit value equivalent to USD 90,475. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II)
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21 pages, 5542 KiB  
Article
Protected Areas in the Brazilian Amazon Threatened by Cycles of Property Registration, Cattle Ranching, and Deforestation
by Malena Candino, A. Brandão, Jr., J. Munger, L. Rausch and H. K. Gibbs
Land 2024, 13(7), 901; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13070901 - 21 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1592
Abstract
Protected areas (PAs) in the Brazilian Amazon have proven to be critical in preserving the rainforest but face increasing threats. Since 2019, illegal activities and land conflicts involving PAs have escalated due to the weakening of environmental institutions. Therefore, up-to-date research is needed [...] Read more.
Protected areas (PAs) in the Brazilian Amazon have proven to be critical in preserving the rainforest but face increasing threats. Since 2019, illegal activities and land conflicts involving PAs have escalated due to the weakening of environmental institutions. Therefore, up-to-date research is needed to evaluate agricultural pressures on PAs—including Sustainable Use Areas, Indigenous Territories, and Strictly Protected Areas—given its importance in driving deforestation in the Amazon, and to identify hotspots of concern. We analyzed property registration, deforestation, pasture expansion, and cattle transaction records within 158 PAs in the Brazilian state of Pará, which holds most of the remaining forest and the highest rates of deforestation. Our findings show that nearly a quarter of Pará’s 2019–2022 deforestation occurred within PAs, undermining their effectiveness as conservation tools. Despite prohibitions, we found illegally registered private properties in most PA categories including indigenous territories and over a 100% increase in deforestation within PAs from 2015–2018. Over 90% of PAs contained pasturelands in 2022, but only half of them had registered cattle transactions within their borders, which suggests the presence of clandestine cattle activities in these areas as well. Indirect sales to slaughterhouses coming from PAs increased during the study period, potentially due to efforts by ranchers to obscure such cattle origins from companies that are increasingly monitoring their direct suppliers. Finally, we identified 17 high-risk PAs concentrating most threats. Focusing monitoring efforts on property registries and cattle transactions in these areas could significantly reduce illegal deforestation and illegal cattle ranching. While PAs are considered to be cornerstones of forest conservation efforts, our findings show that current policies fail to prevent cycles of land grabbing, illegal ranching, and deforestation that can eventually lead to the downgrading, downsizing, and degazetting of PAs. Given this context, validating property claims, tracing cattle sales, and penalizing deforestation are urgently needed to halt these cycles that threaten PAs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II)
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21 pages, 7042 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Sustainability and Yield in Maritime Pine Forests: Evaluating Silvicultural Models for Natural Regeneration
by André Sandim, Maria Emília Silva, Paulo Fernandes and Teresa Fonseca
Land 2024, 13(2), 170; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020170 - 31 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1492
Abstract
The maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) forest is an essential element of the Portuguese forest landscape due to its social, economic, and environmental importance. The sustainability of these forests in the Mediterranean region faces challenges due to recurrent forest fires and the [...] Read more.
The maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) forest is an essential element of the Portuguese forest landscape due to its social, economic, and environmental importance. The sustainability of these forests in the Mediterranean region faces challenges due to recurrent forest fires and the absence of or delayed management. The species has a high capacity for regeneration, but the perpetuation of pine forests in sustainable conditions depends on adequate management to achieve high biomass production and assure fire resilience. This study aimed to analyse four management scenarios (C1 to C4) for the natural regeneration of maritime pine in six areas with stand ages ranging from 6 to 16 years and densities varying from 15,000 to circa 93,000 trees per ha. The same four scenarios were implemented in each of the six areas. The scenarios considered the evolution of forest growth according to different management prescriptions and were simulated using Modispinaster and PiroPinus models. Scenario C1 considered no intervention, with only the final cut. Scenario C2 considered a thinning schedule to maintain the stand within the 50–60% range of the Stand Density Index (SDI). Scenario C3 followed the area’s Forest Management Plan (PGF), which typically includes two or three thinning operations throughout the cycle. Scenario C4 was adapted from the MS1 silvicultural model of the National Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests—ICNF, which involves opening strips at earlier ages (3 and 6 years), with the selection of trees to remain in the wooded area carried out between 4 and 10 years of age and performing thinning whenever the Wilson Spacing Factor (FW) reaches 0.21. The final cutting age was assumed to be 45 years but could be lowered to 35 years in Scenario 3 if defined in the plan. Based on the indicators generated by the simulators, the results showed variations in the total volume of timber produced at the time of harvest depending on the silvicultural guidelines. Scenario C4 was the most effective in generating the highest individual tree volume at the end of the cycle and the total volume of timber collected throughout the cycle. The ability of the forest to resist fire was evaluated before and after the first treatment for density reduction. The treatments performed did not decrease the resistance to fire control. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecosystems: Protection and Restoration II)
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