Landscape Approaches in Era of Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework: Sustainable Forestry and Agriculture, Close-to-Nature Forestry, and Conservations in OECMs

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to invite researchers in the fields of forestry and agricultural sciences, environmental economics, urban forestry and agricultural planning, and ecology, who have a multidisciplinary approach, to submit papers to this Special Issue.

We welcome submissions on sustainable management and strategies regarding forest resources, including mangrove forests. In terms of sustainable management, this Special Issue will focus on local perceptions considering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which are expected to be agreed upon in May 2022. Other international-level conservation schemes of forests will also be highlighted, such as the Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) and the Landscape approach. There are regional efforts in the EU on forest management, for instance, the close-to-nature forest certification and the New EU Forest Strategy for 2030. Climate-change-related measures both in agriculture and forestry were introduced in Japan this year as a strategy for sustainable food systems, for example MeaDRI.  Case studies and/or theoretical topics under this Special Issue can include perceptive studies of local communities, the economic valuation of local ecosystem services, forest transition, values for communities, and participatory approaches of forest management, monitoring, and policymaking.

Furthermore, the scope of this issue includes: policy analyses at local, national, and international levels, considering the recently updated forest strategies in EU and Asian countries; and benefit sharing both from global and local perspectives, including producers, consumers, and policymakers. Emerging concepts such as nature’s contribution to people (NCP) are also highlighted in this issue to explore the policy-relevant concepts for forest strategies and related policies and schemes.

We will also include international schemes such as REDD+ for regional and global strategies. There are different types of policies and actions for sustainable resource management. Sustainable forest management and related environmental management can be expanded and implemented based on the local and global collaborations of various stakeholders. Considering the transformative changes in the fields of environmental management, innovative local and international schemes for this management are highlighted in this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Ryo Kohsaka
Dr. Chika Takatori
Dr. Yuta Uchiyama
Dr. Satomi Kohyama
Guest Editors

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• urban forestry
• mangrove forest management
• landscape approach
• benefit sharing
• close-to-nature forestry
• community perceptionsș

Title: Evaluating Carbon Sequestration and Biomass Dynamics in Agroecosystems and Fallow Lands Using LiDAR and Multi-spectral Sensors
Authors: Nicoleta Liana Pop, Cristian Iederan, Sergiu Mihuț, Ioan Gheorghe Oroian, Anamaria Mălinaș, and Antonia Cristina Maria Odagiu
Affiliation: University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine of Cluj-Napoca
Abstract: To effectively manage regional carbon sinks and emissions, it is essential to understand the interplay between land-use patterns and carbon storage while anticipating future land-use changes. This study addresses this need by utilizing LiDAR and multispectral sensor technologies to accurately assess carbon sequestration balances. Specifically, the research compares the carbon sequestration capacity and biomass accumulation in agroecosystems—namely maize and wheat fields—with early successional stages in fallow lands following crop abandonment. Conducted in Cluj County, Romania, at an elevation of 450 meters during the summer of 2023, the study analyzes three plots: fallow, wheat, and maize, spanning 8.934 ha, 6.722 ha, and 5.521 ha, respectively. The fallow plot, abandoned for over a decade, is dominated by weeds and invasive species, while the wheat and maize crops exhibit growth regimes of 80% and 40% under minimum tillage practices. Carbon storage was evaluated through biomass sampling and root system analysis. Integrating advanced LiDAR and multispectral data, this research reveals significant differences in texture, height, and vegetation across land types. It highlights a marked decline in biomass and carbon sequestration in fallow lands compared to maize and wheat fields, with potential for a 10-15% increase in carbon sequestration through sustainable minimum tillage.