Trends in (Urban) Forestry and Landscape Ecology under Climate Changes

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2023) | Viewed by 10098

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of landscape, Environment and Planning(DPAO), University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, nº 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Interests: biogeography; flora, geobotany, landscape architecture; sustainability, vegetation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

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Guest Editor
MED – Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development & CHANGE – Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Institute for Advanced Studies and Research, University of Evora, Pólo da Mitra, Ap. 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
Interests: ecology of ecosystems; Mediterranean forest - dynamics and vitality

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Guest Editor
Department of landscape, Environment and Planning(DPAO), University of Évora, Rua Romão Ramalho, nº 59, 7000-671 Évora, Portugal
Interests: flora; geobotany; management of natural plant heritage; natural and seminatural habitats; vegetation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The climatic evolution of the last few decades has forced the adaptation and redefinition of development patterns and territorial management at a global level. The impact of these changes is primarily felt by landscape managers, namely farmers and foresters, who must readjust their investments in order to ensure the greater resilience of their crops in the face of climate change. On the other hand, the consequences of this crisis, as well as changes aggravated by anthropic action, have also significantly altered ecosystems.

With this in mind, there is a growing interest in new approaches to land management and landscape planning aiming to improve scientific knowledge around this topic and the quality of life of citizens. Thus, innovative methods supported by field studies and computational approaches that promote effective management of the landscape are urgently needed. With this aim in mind, this Special Issue welcomes the submission of papers concerning modeling, remote sensing, landscape planning, decision support tools, the fundamental science of vegetation and specific case studies that cover different territories, spatial and temporal scales.

Both original research articles and reviews will be considered. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Landscape resilience;
  • Forest production and management;
  • Adaptation of agricultural crops;
  • Geobotany-based approaches;
  • Interactions between city and countryside;
  • Quality of urban life;
  • Labor migration.

If you would like feedback before submitting your final work, please submit your proposed titles and abstracts (250 words) to the guest editors by 15th October 2022 at [email protected].

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Mauro André Maurício Raposo
Dr. Constança Camilo Alves
Prof. Dr. Carlos José Pinto Gomes
Guest Editors

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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.

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Keywords

  • adaptation
  • bioclimatology
  • biogeography
  • landscape planning
  • management methods
  • public policies
  • resilience

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

36 pages, 13703 KiB  
Article
Local Housing Strategy: Analysis of Importance and Implementation in Machico Municipality, Madeira
by Raul Alves, Sérgio Lousada, José Cabezas and José Manuel Naranjo Gómez
Land 2023, 12(9), 1778; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091778 - 13 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1395
Abstract
This article presents a detailed analysis of the local housing strategies (ELH) in the Municipality of Machico, Madeira, examining the diagnosis of housing needs, proposed solutions, and projected goals for the future. In addition to addressing the rehabilitation of private and public housing [...] Read more.
This article presents a detailed analysis of the local housing strategies (ELH) in the Municipality of Machico, Madeira, examining the diagnosis of housing needs, proposed solutions, and projected goals for the future. In addition to addressing the rehabilitation of private and public housing and the increase in housing supply, the study also explores how ELH relate to the new generation of housing policies and the public support program for promoting housing solutions for vulnerable people. It is important to note that the implementation of ELH in Machico also has a positive impact on the local landscape and climate resilience, promoting the conservation of important forest areas for the production and management of natural resources. Full article
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15 pages, 3462 KiB  
Article
Climate Change and Wetland Ecosystems: The Effects on Halophilous Vegetation Diversity in Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk Natura 2000 Site (Malta)
by Gianmarco Tavilla, Arthur Lamoliere, James Gabarretta, Vincent Attard, Jonathan Henwood, Darrin T. Stevens, Gianpietro Giusso del Galdo, Pietro Minissale, Veronica Ranno, Maria Adamo, Valeria Tomaselli, Saverio Sciandrello and Sandro Lanfranco
Land 2023, 12(9), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091679 - 28 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2083
Abstract
Climate change poses a fundamental threat to the wetlands. The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot, and wetlands are important for maintaining this status. The current study evaluated the halophilous vegetation diversity of one of the most relevant Maltese wetlands, Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk [...] Read more.
Climate change poses a fundamental threat to the wetlands. The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot, and wetlands are important for maintaining this status. The current study evaluated the halophilous vegetation diversity of one of the most relevant Maltese wetlands, Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk Natura 2000 site, also identified under the Water Framework Directive. A vegetation analysis was carried out according to the Braun–Blanquet approach. The processed dataset included both data from the literature and unpublished data. To quantify vegetation structure and diversity, a hierarchical classification (Chord distance; Ward linkage) and diversity and ecological indices were performed. Diachronic analysis of the taxonomic diversity indices and the Ellenberg indicator values were taken into account. We used an NMDS analysis to assess the ecological fingerprint of the vegetation. In addition, we provided an actual vegetation map for Il-Ballut ta’ Marsaxlokk, based on drone orthophotos. We identified five EU Directive habitats in the study area (1150*, 1310, 1410, 1420, and 92D0) of which one (1150*) was reported for the first time. The ecological fingerprint of the halophilous vegetation has undergone changes over time, particularly due to increasing temperatures. In fact, the results showed that nutrients and temperature were the strongest environmental drivers of the site. The results and methodology of this study demonstrate how vegetation studies can serve as tools to improve knowledge, management actions, and landscape planning of Natura 2000 sites. Full article
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18 pages, 3560 KiB  
Article
Forest in Mozambique: Actual Distribution of Tree Species and Potential Threats
by Eugénia Joaquim-Meque, José Lousada, Margarida L. R. Liberato and Teresa F. Fonseca
Land 2023, 12(8), 1519; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12081519 - 31 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2632
Abstract
In recent decades, there has been a perception that the Mozambican forests have been threatened with massive exploitation for commercialization, deforesting vast areas, leading to desertification and contributing to the extinction of some forest species. The present research summarizes the official information obtained [...] Read more.
In recent decades, there has been a perception that the Mozambican forests have been threatened with massive exploitation for commercialization, deforesting vast areas, leading to desertification and contributing to the extinction of some forest species. The present research summarizes the official information obtained by monitoring the country’s natural resources over time and identifying the major types of existing forests in Mozambique. The main objective is to elucidate on the current state of Mozambican forests, analyze change and trends, and characterize the actual distribution of forest species in Mozambique to verify the sustainability of forest resources and their composition. It is a case study of the qualitative descriptive type, with data obtained through a bibliographic research method focusing on scientific articles on the type of forest species existing in Africa and Mozambique and data from official sources of the forests. Various types of forests were identified, such as mopane, mercrusse, semi-deciduous, miombo, and semi-evergreen, including the gallery forest. Forest species with particular relevance were highlighted, such as Afzelia quanzensis, Swartzia madagascariensis, Pterocarpaus angolensis, Combretum imberbe, and Millettia stuhalmannii. Major threats to these natural resources were identified and reported, including anthropogenic activity associated with traditional practices of illegal logging or due to the valuation of other goods of primary necessity, lack of protection and conservation measures, and impacts resulting from climate change. The Munza district is presented as a case study, carrying out a characterization of the forest in this district and identifying the main threats in the study area from 2015 to 2020. Full article
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45 pages, 49737 KiB  
Article
Phenological Flowering Patterns of Woody Plants in the Function of Landscape Design: Case Study Belgrade
by Mirjana Ocokoljić, Djurdja Petrov, Nevenka Galečić, Dejan Skočajić, Olivera Košanin and Isidora Simović
Land 2023, 12(3), 706; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030706 - 18 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2676
Abstract
The study focuses on describing key events in the flowering phenophases of woody taxa that promote practical landscape sustainability and design planning. Apart from the beginning of flowering, the full development and the duration of phenophases are important for landscape architecture, consumers, and [...] Read more.
The study focuses on describing key events in the flowering phenophases of woody taxa that promote practical landscape sustainability and design planning. Apart from the beginning of flowering, the full development and the duration of phenophases are important for landscape architecture, consumers, and pollination. The phenological patterns of 13 woody taxa were monitored for 16 years through 90,860 phenological observations from the BBCH scale for the period 2007–2022. Growing degree days were determined by combining phenological and climatic data and a linear trend was used to assess phenophase tendencies. Mann–Kendall and Sen’s slope tests and Spearman’s correlation coefficient were used to assess statistical significance. Shifts in flowering indicated warming trends, reflecting various changes in phenology. Early flowering taxa were affected the most, but plants shifted phenophases in both directions (earlier and later in the year). Repeated flowering (and occasionally fruiting) and even third flowering, as seen in 2022, can significantly affect biodiversity and lead to plant–pollinator asynchrony and changes in ecosystem functioning, ecological interaction, and landscape design. A list of native and introduced taxa and their adaptation mechanisms to climate change are provided and can be used for sustainable landscape design and nature-based solutions in landscape architecture. Full article
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