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Land
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Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances
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Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 October 2023) | Viewed by 11880

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Susete Marques

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Forest Research Centre, School of Agriculture, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
Interests: forest management planning; fire risk and damage; ecosystem services; multicriteria decision analysis and methods; tradeoff analysis; decision support systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Paulo Borges

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
LUKE – Natural Resources Institute Finland, Koetilantie 4, 00790 Helsinki, Finland
Interests: forest management and planning; land use; operations research; computer science

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue will comprise a selection of papers reporting recent advances on approaches to integrate concerns with disturbance agents (e.g., pests, diseases, wildfires and wind and snowstorms) in forest ecosystem management planning. The Special Issue aims to contribute to our understanding of disturbance agents and how they can be addressed in management planning and the assessment of ecosystem services. In this context, we welcome manuscripts that address challenges regarding (a) the characterization of disturbance regimes; (b) the ecology and management of disturbance agents; (c) the assessment of the impacts of disturbances on the provision of ecosystem services; (d) the integration of concerns with disturbance agents in management planning; and (e) the development of regulatory frameworks and policy analysis to address concerns about the impact of disturbance agents on forested landscapes.

Dr. Susete Marques
Dr. Paulo Borges
Guest Editors

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 management planning
  • ecosystem services
  • resistant and resistant landscapes
  • agroforestry
  • disturbances agents
  • risk

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 2008 KiB  
Article
Spatial Distribution of Soil Organic Carbon in the Forests of Nepal
by Rajesh Malla and Prem Raj Neupane
Land 2024, 13(3), 378; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030378 - 17 Mar 2024
Viewed by 1273
Abstract
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the major constituent of the soil organic matter. SOC stocks are determined by several factors such as altitude, slope, aspect, canopy cover, and vegetation type. Using the Third National Forest Inventory (2010–2014) data of Nepal, we assessed SOC [...] Read more.
Soil organic carbon (SOC) is the major constituent of the soil organic matter. SOC stocks are determined by several factors such as altitude, slope, aspect, canopy cover, and vegetation type. Using the Third National Forest Inventory (2010–2014) data of Nepal, we assessed SOC status in forests at a national scale for the better understanding of the SOC distribution within Nepal. In this study, we estimated SOC against different factors and tested the spatial distribution of SOC using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that the forests located at a higher altitude have higher SOC accumulation. In particular, broadleaved forests exhibit a higher amount of carbon stock compared to other forest types. Moreover, forests with a larger canopy cover, located on a higher slope, and with a cooler aspect are associated with a higher accumulation of SOC. The SOC stock in the forest varies according to altitude, slope, aspect, canopy cover, and forest type, which might be attributed to the change in the microclimate of the area. The significant increase in SOC amount with the increase in slope, altitude, and crown cover helps to understand the extent of SOC distribution in forests. Broadleaved forests with a larger canopy cover in the higher altitude region have a higher SOC retention potential, which is likely to contribute to mitigating the impacts of climate change by sinking more carbon into the soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances)
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19 pages, 1014 KiB  
Article
Conceptualizing Forest Operations Planning and Management Using Principles of Functional Complex Systems Science to Increase the Forest’s Ability to Withstand Climate Change
by Stergios Tampekis, Apostolos Kantartzis, Garyfallos Arabatzis, Stavros Sakellariou, Georgios Kolkos and Chrisovalantis Malesios
Land 2024, 13(2), 217; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020217 - 09 Feb 2024
Viewed by 1122
Abstract
The sustainable management of forest resources is greatly influenced by forest operations (FO). Interactions between humans and nature describe how people engage with and are impacted by the natural world. As we enter the Anthropocene epoch, we are being compelled to reevaluate our [...] Read more.
The sustainable management of forest resources is greatly influenced by forest operations (FO). Interactions between humans and nature describe how people engage with and are impacted by the natural world. As we enter the Anthropocene epoch, we are being compelled to reevaluate our past and present methods of managing and planning our forest operations in order to find new ones that are more adaptable and successful at addressing the growing unpredictability resulting from accelerating global change. We briefly discuss the goals and constraints of the prior and current management and planning principles for forest operations in this study, focusing on how these principles have evolved on a worldwide scale. We then propose a promising idea, such as managing forest operations as complex adaptive systems and approaches based on resilience and sustainable use of forest resources, in order to achieve the necessary economic, social, and ecological goals. An in-depth understanding of the ecological, economic, and social factors that influence forest resilience is necessary for planning and managing forest operations efficiently. The proposed strategy combines the effectiveness of forest operations with a functional, complex network approach in order to manage forests for the Anthropocene. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances)
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18 pages, 2403 KiB  
Article
Valuation of Visitor Perception of Urban Forest Ecosystem Services in Kuala Lumpur
by Emylia Shakira Jamean and Azlan Abas
Land 2023, 12(3), 572; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12030572 - 26 Feb 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2312
Abstract
Urban forests play a vital role in maintaining the city ecological balance and providing ecosystem services to citizens. Ecosystem services lead to better quality of life, better environmental quality, and more sustainable urban growth. However, many emerging nations have often progressed at the [...] Read more.
Urban forests play a vital role in maintaining the city ecological balance and providing ecosystem services to citizens. Ecosystem services lead to better quality of life, better environmental quality, and more sustainable urban growth. However, many emerging nations have often progressed at the price of lowering and sacrificing forest coverage, which has a negative impact on the benefits that the public receives from natural green spaces. As a result, the goals of this research were to ascertain visitor impressions of urban forests in Kuala Lumpur, to assess the value assigned by visitors to urban forests in Kuala Lumpur, and to investigate the elements that impact the willingness to pay. A questionnaire-based field study was conducted on a total of 254 respondents among Taman Tugu Urban Forest visitors, Kuala Lumpur. The results show that visitor perceptions of regulating services, cultural services, and supporting services were positive, with high-level score values of 4.74, ±0.40, 4.69, ±0.37, and 4.70, ±0.50. Furthermore, provisioning services were perceived to be of moderately high level (3.49, ±1.12), and visitor perceptions of urban forest amenities were positive, with high-level scores (4.39, ±0.53). Overall, this indicates that visitors had a very good perception of Taman Tugu Urban Forest ecosystem services. However, when we looked at the factors that contributed to the willingness to pay for the conservation of urban forests and entry, only the perception of the amenities provided at Taman Tugu had a significant relationship with the willingness to pay. A total of 79.1% of visitors expressed their willingness to pay, for forest conservation, an average payment value of MYR 51.32 per year, while 65% of visitors were willing to pay, as entry fees at urban forests, an average payment value of MYR 3.07 per person. It can be concluded that visitors had a positive perception of urban forests in Kuala Lumpur and were willing to contribute for conservation and entry fee purposes. We hope that the findings of this research contribute to a better understanding of urban forest ecosystem services in Kuala Lumpur and visitor perception. In addition, this study could also be useful to policy makers to formulate a specific policy focus on urban forests by comprehensively and holistically including the monetary value of the ecosystem services provided, considering public opinion and needs, and performing financial allocation for conserving and managing urban forests. This is to ensure that the urban sustainable development goals and smart city aims can be achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances)
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12 pages, 991 KiB  
Article
Opportunity Costs of In Situ Carbon Storage Derived by Multiple-Objective Stand-Level Optimization—Results from Case Studies in Portugal and Germany
by Mengistie Kindu, Logan Robert Bingham, José G. Borges, Susete Marques, Olha Nahorna, Jeannette Eggers and Thomas Knoke
Land 2022, 11(11), 2085; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11112085 - 18 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1264
Abstract
Considering in situ carbon storage in forest management has gained momentum under increasing pressure to decarbonize our economies. Here, we present results from case studies in Portugal and Germany showing the opportunity costs of in situ carbon storage derived by multiple-objective optimization. We [...] Read more.
Considering in situ carbon storage in forest management has gained momentum under increasing pressure to decarbonize our economies. Here, we present results from case studies in Portugal and Germany showing the opportunity costs of in situ carbon storage derived by multiple-objective optimization. We used a stand-level model to optimize land expectation value under uncertainty as a reference, then derived opportunity costs by including the enhancement of the average carbon storage in aboveground biomass as a second objective. Using the optimal (compromise) solution when considering both objectives simultaneously, we show opportunity costs of EUR 119 (Portugal) and EUR 68 (Germany) per Mg CO2eq. These opportunity costs are higher than conservative, but lower than alternative cost estimates for future damages caused by current CO2 emissions. An important result was that suggested reference solutions in both countries (though only for low discount rates in Portugal) were mixed forests without clearfelling. In Germany, this implicitly elevated carbon storage. Such “closer-to-nature-forest-management” systems were also mostly suggested by the optimization tool when carbon storage was an objective. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances)
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14 pages, 1339 KiB  
Article
An Approach to Developing the Multicriteria Optimal Forest Management Plan: The “Fruska Gora” National Park Case Study
by Milena Lakicevic and Bojan Srdjevic
Land 2022, 11(10), 1671; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11101671 - 27 Sep 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1165
Abstract
This paper proposes a decision-making framework that integrates Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), Best-Worst (BW), and Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) methods in a forestry management problem. Namely, the application of the proposed framework has been shown in the case study area of [...] Read more.
This paper proposes a decision-making framework that integrates Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory (DEMATEL), Best-Worst (BW), and Ordered Weighted Averaging (OWA) methods in a forestry management problem. Namely, the application of the proposed framework has been shown in the case study area of the National Park “Fruska Gora” in Serbia. The decision-making problem included five criteria (biodiversity protection, wilderness protection, promotion of tourism, promotion of education function, and sustainable use of natural resources) and four alternatives—management plans (“business as usual”, “eco-tourism”, “protection of natural ecosystems” and “use of natural resources”). The results were focused on proclaiming a winning alternative in a multi-criteria context and have been tested for the different risk attitudes: risk-prone, risk-neutral, and risk-averse. For the risk-prone scenario, the winning alternative was “protection of natural ecosystems”, while the risk-neutral and risk-averse scenarios recognized “eco-tourism” as the winning alternative. The same procedure can be repeated for many other forest management tasks that require multiple criteria setting and risk attitude analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances)
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19 pages, 317 KiB  
Article
Knowledge Management Practices and Ecological Restoration of the Tropical Dry Forest in Colombia
by Francisco Torres-Romero and Julio César Acosta-Prado
Land 2022, 11(3), 330; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11030330 - 24 Feb 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3515
Abstract
Ecological restoration is considered a nature-based solution to reduce ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and combat climate change. In this sense, the objective of this study was to identify the knowledge management practices that are present in an ecological restoration process in the tropical [...] Read more.
Ecological restoration is considered a nature-based solution to reduce ecosystem degradation, biodiversity loss, and combat climate change. In this sense, the objective of this study was to identify the knowledge management practices that are present in an ecological restoration process in the tropical dry forest. The empirical study was developed using a mixed approach over an area of 11,079 ha in Huila, Colombia. At first, the qualitative study was supported by a documentary review and participant observation between 2018 and 2020. On the other hand, the quantitative study was carried out through the application of the Delphi method with the participation of 64 experts. Twenty-two knowledge management practices were identified with orientation towards human factors, organization, information technologies, strategy, and intellectual protection. These findings show that all the knowledge management practices identified have an impact on the six components of the ecological restoration process (planning, diagnosis, implementation, monitoring, participation, and consolidation). Likewise, these practices contribute to the generation, transformation, and mobilization of local and scientific knowledge in the components of the ecological restoration process of the tropical dry forest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Managing Forest Ecosystems: Landscapes, Ecosystem Services and Disturbances)
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