Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (19 July 2023) | Viewed by 14580

Special Issue Editors

School of Labor Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing 100070, China
Interests: land use/cover change; carbon emissions and carbon sequestration; ecosystem services
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: resources and environmental management; global change and regional development; urban ecological management; carbon emission and reduction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Geography and Environment, Shandong Normal University, Jinan 250358, China
Interests: ecosystem services; land use and land cover change (LUCC); GIS; environmental assessment and management; eco-city
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest ecosystems are open systems that exchange energy and materials with other systems and provide substantial ecosystem services (ESs) that contribute to human wellbeing; they also play the dominant role in regulating climate change and realizing sustainable development. Climate change and rapid urbanization introduce great threats to forest ecosystems. Afforestation and deforestation are widespread all over the world, with obvious significance for the study of land use and land cover change (LUCC). Active social and economic activities have complex impacts on forest and other natural systems. Land use optimization and ecosystem services improvement are critical for achieving carbon neutrality and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Thus, it is urgent to investigate the ecological conditions, assess the ecological status, identify and simulate the nature–socio–economic system, and explore effective measurements and policies to ensure forest ecological management and sustainable development. This Special Issue plans to give an overview of the most recent advances in the field of forest ecological management and sustainable development.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Land use dynamic system;
  • Forest ecosystem investigation and assessment;
  • Ecosystem services and human wellbeing;
  • Greenhouse gases and climate change;
  • Coupling analysis of nature-socio-economic system;
  • Model simulation and scenario analysis;
  • Sustainable management policy.

Dr. Chao Wang
Prof. Dr. Fan Zhang
Dr. Wei Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • forest ecological management
  • land use
  • SDG
  • ecosystem services
  • human wellbeing
  • sustainable development

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 8471 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Long-Term Dry-Season Irrigation on Eucalyptus Tree Height Growth: Insights from Leaf Photosynthesis and Water Conduction
by Lei Hua, Penglong Chen, Jun Luo, Yan Su, Jiyue Li, Qian He and Huizhu Yang
Forests 2023, 14(10), 2017; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14102017 - 08 Oct 2023
Viewed by 631
Abstract
Tree height is a crucial characteristic of plant ecological strategies and plantation productivity. Investigating the influence of dry-season irrigation on the tree height growth in Eucalyptus plantations contributes to a deeper understanding of precise improvement and sustainable development in such plantations. We conducted [...] Read more.
Tree height is a crucial characteristic of plant ecological strategies and plantation productivity. Investigating the influence of dry-season irrigation on the tree height growth in Eucalyptus plantations contributes to a deeper understanding of precise improvement and sustainable development in such plantations. We conducted a field experiment in a Eucalyptus plantation with three-year fertilization and five-year dry-season irrigation to compare their effects on height growth rate during wet vs. dry seasons. Our findings revealed that long-term dry-season irrigation significantly increased the height growth rate of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis by improving leaf hydraulic conductivity and photosynthetic rate during the dry season. However, in the wet season, the tree height growth rate in the fertilization treatment outperformed the other treatments significantly. Interestingly, we also found that leaf photosynthetic capacity contributed more to accelerating height growth than water conduction within the leaves. By examining the differences in leaf structural and functional traits, our results shed light on the impact of long-term dry-season irrigation on the height growth of E. urophylla × E. grandis plantations. Furthermore, this research provides both theoretical and empirical evidence supporting the application of dry-season irrigation and the potential for further enhancing plantation productivity in seasonally arid areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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16 pages, 13557 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Vegetation Change and Its Climatic and Anthropogenic Driven Pattern in the Qilian Mountains
by Yanmin Teng, Chao Wang, Xiaoqing Wei, Meirong Su, Jinyan Zhan and Lixiang Wen
Forests 2023, 14(10), 1951; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14101951 - 26 Sep 2023
Viewed by 685
Abstract
The Qilian Mountains (QLM) are an essential ecological security barrier in northwest China. Identifying the driven pattern of vegetation change is crucial for ecological protection and restoration in the QLM. Based on high-resolution vegetation coverage (VC) data in the QLM from 1990 to [...] Read more.
The Qilian Mountains (QLM) are an essential ecological security barrier in northwest China. Identifying the driven pattern of vegetation change is crucial for ecological protection and restoration in the QLM. Based on high-resolution vegetation coverage (VC) data in the QLM from 1990 to 2018, linear trend analysis was employed to examine the spatiotemporal dynamics of VC in the QLM, while correlation analysis was utilized to establish relationships between VC change and environmental factors. Multiple correlation analysis and residual analysis were adopted to recognize the climatically and anthropogenically driven pattern of VC change. The results showed that VC in the QLM presented a remarkable upward trend in volatility from 1990 to 2018. The significant increase areas accounted for 59.32% of the total, mainly distributed in the central and western QLM, and the significant decrease areas accounted for 9.18%, mostly located in the middle and eastern QLM. VC change showed a significant positive correlation with precipitation change and annual average temperature, while it exhibited a significant negative correlation with annual average precipitation, current VC status, livestock density, and slope. Climate change played a leading role in the increase of VC, and the impact of precipitation was significantly higher than that of temperature. Affected by climate change, the VC of alpine steppes and temperate steppes increased the most. Under the human interference, VC decreased significantly in 9.2% of the region, of which shrubs fell the most, followed by alpine meadows and forests. This study can provide certain guidance for local ecological protection and restoration efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 18217 KiB  
Article
Ecological Restoration in the Loess Plateau, China Necessitates Targeted Management Strategy: Evidence from the Beiluo River Basin
by Jiacheng Xing, Jianjun Zhang, Jing Wang, Mingjun Li, Shitan Nie and Mingjie Qian
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1753; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091753 - 30 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1104
Abstract
Vegetation on the Loess Plateau, China, has continuously improved thanks to certain ecological restoration (ER) strategies, including the integrated soil conservation project that began in the late 1970s and the “Grain for Green” project that began in the 1990s. The experience of these [...] Read more.
Vegetation on the Loess Plateau, China, has continuously improved thanks to certain ecological restoration (ER) strategies, including the integrated soil conservation project that began in the late 1970s and the “Grain for Green” project that began in the 1990s. The experience of these strategies in different geomorphological regions is of great value to ER worldwide. In this study, the evolution of the land-use transition (LUT) pathway and ecosystem service value (ESV) in four geomorphological regions of the Beiluo River Basin was analyzed using geo-informatic Tupu and the equivalent factor method with data from 1975 to 2015. The results indicated that, from 1975 to 2015, the proportion of forestland in the Beiluo River basin increased by 18.27%, while the areas of shrub, grassland, cultivated land, and water decreased by 1.03%, 0.16%, 18.23%, and 0.26%, respectively. In the past 40 years, the overall ESV of the basin increased by USD 3.209 billion (54.16%). The landform, vegetation cover, LUT, and ESV analysis indicated that the main ecological functions of the loess hilly and gully (LHG), loess plateau gully (LPG), rocky mountain (RM), and terrace and plain (TP) regions are soil and water conservation (SWC), SWC and food production, regulation and food production, respectively. ER projects enhanced the main ecological function of individual regions. In detail, the transition of “cultivated land → grassland” enhanced SWC function in the LHG region, and the transition of “grassland (shrub) → forestland” enhanced the regulating services of the RM and LPG regions. Moreover, the transition of “cultivated land to grassland” did not seriously lower the food production services of the TP and LPG regions, owing to the increase in grain yield per unit area. However, there were alternating transitions between cultivated land and ecological land types, implying a game between the peasant households’ demands and the ER strategies. Conflicting demands between local households and the public necessitate precision ER strategies, including land planning, ecological compensation, training and employment for local residents, etc. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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28 pages, 2001 KiB  
Article
Effects of Forestry Transformation on the Ecosystem Level of Biodiversity in Poland’s Forests
by Ewa Referowska-Chodak and Bożena Kornatowska
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1739; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091739 - 28 Aug 2023
Viewed by 992
Abstract
This paper presents the results of an analysis of the effects of Poland’s forest management evolution over the last 75 years on forest biodiversity at the ecosystem level. Forest biodiversity changes in the two politically and economically different eras (socialism and democracy) are [...] Read more.
This paper presents the results of an analysis of the effects of Poland’s forest management evolution over the last 75 years on forest biodiversity at the ecosystem level. Forest biodiversity changes in the two politically and economically different eras (socialism and democracy) are interpreted based on four indicators used in assessments of forest stands (naturalness; habitat diversity; forest management system; forest stand age structure). In the era of socialism (1945–1989), there were dynamic increases in the area of semi-natural forests as well as in the proportion of the most fertile habitats, whilst the proportion of the poorest habitats decreased quite dynamically. Then, the clearcutting management system was regularly implemented, with adverse impacts on forest spatial structure diversity. The proportion of old/mature tree stands and the stand average age increased at relatively slow rates. In the era of democracy (1990–2020), there were comparatively more dynamic increases observed in the area of forests undisturbed by man, as well as in the proportions of mixed broadleaved and wetland forest habitats. At the same time, the proportion of old/mature stands and stand average age kept increasing at relatively fast rates. The area of forests managed with the use of the shelterwood system increased and the area of forest plantations substantially decreased. On the other hand, irrespective of the era under study, there occurred a noticeable not-so-favourable decreasing trend in the proportion of the youngest forest stands. All in all, during the analysed period of more than seven decades, the evolution of forest management practice implemented in Poland’s forests by State Forests National Forest Holding led to the restoration of/an increase in biodiversity at the ecosystem level. Yet, there have remained unsolved issues, as regards the following aspects: organisational (the assurance of further reconstruction of forest stands, and the restoration of water profiles), political (a lack of up-to-date national forest policy), and financial (the costs of protecting/restoring biodiversity vs. State Forests’ self-financing), as well as conceptual (old-growth stands in managed forests, and controversy over clearcutting) and natural/anthropogenic (climate change, and the eutrophication of forest habitats) issues. The solutions may require measures outside the limits of Poland’s forestry, if not far beyond national borders. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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14 pages, 736 KiB  
Article
Research on the Impact of Cooperative Membership on Forest Farmer Household Income and Assets—Case Study from Liaoning Herbal Medicine Planting Cooperatives, China
by Jingyu Wang, Zhe Zhao and Lei Gao
Forests 2023, 14(9), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14091725 - 27 Aug 2023
Viewed by 923
Abstract
Improving the income and assets of forest farmers is the basis for realizing the sustainable development of forestry. In this paper, we tested the impact of membership in herbal medicine planting cooperatives on forest farmer household income and assets using the propensity score [...] Read more.
Improving the income and assets of forest farmers is the basis for realizing the sustainable development of forestry. In this paper, we tested the impact of membership in herbal medicine planting cooperatives on forest farmer household income and assets using the propensity score matching (PSM) method and household surveys of the study area. The results showed that cooperative membership can greatly improve forest farmer household income and assets; the higher the accumulation of forest farmer household social capital and human capital, the more farmers were inclined to participate in cooperatives. Householders who were migrant workers were more likely to make the decision to participate in cooperatives compared with those without migrant work experiences. The results of ATT further verified the conclusion that cooperative membership can significantly improve income and assets, which increased by 7.04% and 4.19%, respectively. In addition, according to the survey, the current development of cooperatives in the forestry area experienced problems such as inconsistent quantitative and qualitative development, insufficient driving force, irregular operating mode, inaccurate policy support, and inadequate guidance mechanisms. This paper focused on innovating cooperation mechanisms, enriching joint forms, enhancing driving capacity, stimulating internal driving forces, strengthening system construction, improving standards, enhancing guidance services, and strengthening institutional guarantees. These recommendations have been put forward to guide policy for sustainable forest development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
20 pages, 6561 KiB  
Article
Study on the Spatial Heterogeneity of the Impact of Forest Land Change on Landscape Ecological Risk: A Case Study of Erhai Rim Region in China
by Mengjiao Wang, Yingmei Wu, Yang Wang, Chen Li, Yan Wu, Binpin Gao and Min Wang
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1427; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071427 - 12 Jul 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 787
Abstract
As an important ecological ecotone of water and land ecosystems, the lakeside is characterized by a variety ecosystem services and high vulnerability. Forest land is important in resolving the ecological risks of the lakeside area and building its ecological base. It is important [...] Read more.
As an important ecological ecotone of water and land ecosystems, the lakeside is characterized by a variety ecosystem services and high vulnerability. Forest land is important in resolving the ecological risks of the lakeside area and building its ecological base. It is important to explore the effect of change in forest land on landscape ecological risk in the lakeside area, alleviate the contradiction between ecological protection and construction and development in the area, and realize sustainable development. The present study attempted to explore the spatial and temporal evolutionary features of forest land in the Erhai rim region from 2000 to 2020 using bivariate spatial autocorrelation and multi-scale geographical weighted regression (MGWR) models. The following are the findings of this investigation of the 2000–2020 period: (1) the forest land area in the region generally decreased, first increasing and then decreasing, and was mainly occupied by cultivated land and artificial surfaces; (2) the total landscape ecological risk in the region presented an upward trend, and medium- and higher-risk areas were the main risk areas, with the latter increasing; (3) the impact of forest land expansion and contraction intensity on landscape ecological risk exhibited spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The main forms of forest land change at different stages differed, and the impacts on landscape ecological risk were also different. Reasonable forest land expansion can effectively alleviate the growth in landscape ecological risk, whereas the shrinkage of forest land would aggravate the landscape ecological risk in the Erhai rim region. Moreover, the findings can offer reference for the exploration of ecological protection and coordinated optimization of economic development in Erhai Lake. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 7674 KiB  
Article
The Trade-Offs and Synergies of Ecosystem Services in Pinus massoniana Lamb. Plantations in Guangxi, China
by Rongjian Mo, Yongqi Wang, Yanhua Mo, Lu Li and Jiangming Ma
Forests 2023, 14(3), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030581 - 15 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1920
Abstract
A scientific understanding of the synergistic and trade-off relationships among ecosystem services (ESs) is essential for maintaining the structure, function, and health of plantation forest ecosystems. This understanding facilitates effective ecosystem management practices, and helps identify the types, intensities, and spatial and temporal [...] Read more.
A scientific understanding of the synergistic and trade-off relationships among ecosystem services (ESs) is essential for maintaining the structure, function, and health of plantation forest ecosystems. This understanding facilitates effective ecosystem management practices, and helps identify the types, intensities, and spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of interactions among ESs, which is critical for regional development planning, ecological supplementation, and the maximization of economic benefits. In this study, we used correlation analysis, bivariate spatial autocorrelation, and hot spot analysis to comprehensively analyze the synergistic and trade-off relationships between ESs in Pinus massoniana (PM) plantations in Guangxi Paiyang Forest Farm from 2009 to 2018, across both time and space. The study showed that the ESs in PM plantations in Guangxi Paiyang Forest Farm maintained significant positive correlation (synergy), with a mutually reinforcing relationship among services. Notably, the regulating services shifted from weak synergy to weak trade-off relationships over time. From the bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis, it is clear that the overall trade-off synergistic relationship among the four ESs is basically consistent with the correlation analysis results. From the distribution of multiple ES hot spots, we determined that the number of small groups that can provide three to four service hot spots in Guangxi Paiyangshan Forest Farm is greater. The spatial distribution of cold–hot spots of various ESs varied, and the distribution of cold–hot spots of supply services and regulation services of carbon sequestration and oxygen release was similar. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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20 pages, 1204 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Growth Response of Young Pine (Pinus silvestris) Seedlings to the Different Types of Soil Media Mixture with Phosphogypsum Formulations under Poland Forest Environmental Conditions
by Tomasz Oszako, Tomasz Pasławski, Wieslaw Szulc, Beata Rutkowska, Artur Rutkiewicz, Olga Kukina, Sławomir Bakier and Piotr Borowik
Forests 2023, 14(3), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030518 - 07 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1154
Abstract
The production of phosphoric acid produces “waste heaps” that have not yet been tapped, but which have the character of weak fertilizers and can perhaps be reintroduced into the elemental cycle in the forests. Two variants of mixing with organic ash and with [...] Read more.
The production of phosphoric acid produces “waste heaps” that have not yet been tapped, but which have the character of weak fertilizers and can perhaps be reintroduced into the elemental cycle in the forests. Two variants of mixing with organic ash and with sewage sludge were carried out. One-year-old pine seedlings (Pinus sylvestris L.) from the Trzebieź forest district (northern Poland) were planted in pots with soil that also came from the same field. Preparations containing phosphogypsum were applied topically to the soil in four doses (1, 2, 3 and 5 t/ha). The trial, which lasted one growing season, was conducted in four replicates. At the end of the trial, the height of the above-ground parts and root length, needle and root area, root neck diameter and photosynthetic performance were measured. The phosphogypsum-based preparations used showed no harmful (toxic) effects on the potted pine seedlings during the six-month trial period. The loosely prepared preparation made from a mixture of phosphogypsum and organic ash began to have a positive effect on the development of the seedlings’ root system, and it was also easier to mix with the soil surface than phosphogypsum with sewage sludge, which also contained a sticky form. The photosynthetic performance of one-year-old pine seedlings decreased after one growing season following the application of phosphogypsum preparations and most of the growth parameters tested did not differ from the control, so observations over a longer period (at least two to three growing seasons) are required. However, dosages of 1 and 2 t/ha seem to be the most promising, and these lower dosages are more economical to manage in nurseries or plantations, especially on poor sites. Formulations should be tested for heavy metals and their effects on seedling development. Testing should also be continued to monitor changes in the microbiome. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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13 pages, 2038 KiB  
Article
Determination Factors for the Spatial Distribution of Forest Cover: A Case Study of China’s Fujian Province
by Jiayun Dong, Congyi Zhou, Wenyuan Liang and Xu Lu
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2070; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122070 - 05 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1638
Abstract
Understanding the determination factors of the spatial distribution of forest cover is crucial for global forest governance. This study contributed a nuanced case, focusing on the determination factors for the spatial distribution of forest cover in Fujian Province, China, in 2020. In order [...] Read more.
Understanding the determination factors of the spatial distribution of forest cover is crucial for global forest governance. This study contributed a nuanced case, focusing on the determination factors for the spatial distribution of forest cover in Fujian Province, China, in 2020. In order to achieve this, a high-resolution GIS-based data set was used, and spatial auto-correlation and geographic detector approaches were adopted. Three findings are presented in the results. First, the spatial distribution of forest cover is affected by natural conditions. In regions with more precipitation, higher altitude, or cooler temperatures, forest cover is higher. The relationship between the spatial distribution of forest cover and slope is an inverted-U shape. Second, socioeconomic factors have a greater explanatory capacity. In particular, regions with dense populations or roads have less forest cover. Third, there is an inverted-U-shaped relationship between the spatial distribution of forest cover and GDP per capita. With the growth of GDP per capita, forest cover is first positive, but subsequently negative. The results indicate that natural factors could shape the spatial distribution of forest cover, while socioeconomic factors could play a more significant role in the spatial distribution of forest cover. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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17 pages, 5898 KiB  
Article
Research on Vegetation Cover Changes in Arid and Semi-Arid Region Based on a Spatio-Temporal Fusion Model
by Zhihong Liu, Donghua Chen, Saisai Liu, Wutao Feng, Fengbing Lai, Hu Li, Chen Zou, Naiming Zhang and Mei Zan
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2066; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122066 - 04 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1489
Abstract
Vegetation dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions have an important impact on carbon cycle, water cycle, and energy exchange at local, regional, and global scales. Therefore, it is of great significance for scientists to grasp the changes of vegetation cover in arid and [...] Read more.
Vegetation dynamics in arid and semi-arid regions have an important impact on carbon cycle, water cycle, and energy exchange at local, regional, and global scales. Therefore, it is of great significance for scientists to grasp the changes of vegetation cover in arid and semi-arid regions timely and accurately. Based on this, the applicability of ESTARFM model in the complex terrain area of arid and semi-arid Xinjiang was explored using Landsat and MODIS data fusion, and the overall change characteristics of vegetation cover (FVC) and the distribution and change patterns of different terrains in the study area in the past 15 years were analyzed by combining the dimidiate pixel model, unary linear regression and digital elevation model. The results show that: (1) the NDVI data fused by ESTARFM Model has high consistency with the real NDVI data, and it can be used for subsequent FVC estimation. (2) From 2006 to 2020, the inter FVC was at a high level as a whole, and the average annual FVC showed a weak increasing trend in fluctuation; there are obvious differences in spatial distribution, which is characterized by high distribution in the north and low in the south. (3) The improved area of vegetation cover in the study area is greater than the degraded area, accounting for 52.3% and 47.7% respectively; (4) In the elevation range of 2000 to 3500 m, the FVC showed a slight degradation trend on 25° to 45° slopes and south and southeast slopes, and the rest showed a slight improvement trend. ESTARFM-based model enables monitoring of vegetation cover changes in complex terrain areas of the arid and semi-arid regions in Xinjiang over a long time series. The overall FVC level in the study area is high, and there both are serious degradation and improvement phenomena. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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17 pages, 3869 KiB  
Article
Landscape Dynamics in a Poverty-Stricken Mountainous City: Land-Use Change, Urban Growth Patterns, and Forest Fragmentation
by Chen Wen and Luqi Wang
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111756 - 25 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1125
Abstract
For poverty-stricken mountainous cities in China, both poverty alleviation and ecological restoration projects are sources of land-use change in urban development. However, the patterns in changes are understudied in light of sustainable forest management. The study aims to explore the characteristics of land-use [...] Read more.
For poverty-stricken mountainous cities in China, both poverty alleviation and ecological restoration projects are sources of land-use change in urban development. However, the patterns in changes are understudied in light of sustainable forest management. The study aims to explore the characteristics of land-use change in a poverty-stricken mountainous city with a focus on forests. This research proposed a three-step approach to explore the multi-aspect dynamics of land change, including the differences among land-use categories, spatial characteristics of urban expansion, and forest fragmentation. This study investigated Enshi City, China, based on land-use data from 2000, 2010, and 2020. Throughout the two intervals, the gain of water bodies and the loss of grassland were active. Artificial surfaces increased most intensively from 2010 to 2020, with transitions from grassland and cultivated land. Edge-expansion was the dominant type of artificial surface growth. Furthermore, forests had the largest size of gain across the two intervals, and there was a substantial reduction in forest fragmentation in the western part of the city. The findings confirm that recent planning measures are effective in restoring the natural environment. The identified key areas can support sustainable forest management in urban growth. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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14 pages, 2099 KiB  
Article
Biomass Estimation and Carbon Storage of Taxodium Hybrid Zhongshanshan Plantations in the Yangtze River Basin
by Qin Shi, Jianfeng Hua, David Creech and Yunlong Yin
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101725 - 19 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1300
Abstract
As a pivotal wetland tree, Taxodium hybrid Zhongshanshan has been widely planted in the region of Yangtze River for multipurpose of ecological restoration, field shelter, landscape aesthetics as well as carbon sequestration. However, the carbon allocation patterns across distinct stages of stand development [...] Read more.
As a pivotal wetland tree, Taxodium hybrid Zhongshanshan has been widely planted in the region of Yangtze River for multipurpose of ecological restoration, field shelter, landscape aesthetics as well as carbon sequestration. However, the carbon allocation patterns across distinct stages of stand development of T. Zhongshanshan are poorly documented. Using a sample of 30 trees which were destructively harvested, this study compared 3 models for assessing aboveground biomass. Furthermore, a linear seemingly unrelated regression (SUR) approach was introduced to fit the system of the best selected model that ensured the additivity property. On this basis, biomass and carbon storage of T. Zhongshanshan stands in the Yangtze River Basin (YRB) were fairly estimated. Specifically, the study developed height-diameter at breast (H-DBH) function. The results showed that the selected 3-parameter polynomial model performed better, and the SUR approach provided more accurate estimates of leaf and stem fractions. The total tree biomass was 53.43, 84.87, 140.67, 192.71 and 156.65 t ha−1 in the 9-, 11-, 13-, 15-, and 22-year-old T. Zhongshanshan stands, and contributed averagely 94.40% of the ecosystem biomass accumulation. The current T. Zhongshanshan stands in the YRB area can store 124.76 to 217.64 t ha−1 carbon, of which total tree ranges from 25.32 to 90.89 t ha−1, with 55.19% to 77.66% storing in the soil. The T. Zhongshanshan had continuous potential for carbon storage during its growth, particularly in the incipient stages. The findings of this research are firsthand information for forest managers for the sustainable management of T. Zhongshanshan in the YRB and similar subtropical areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest Ecological Management and Sustainable Development)
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