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The development of mining cities has led to changes in land use and the evolution of landscape patterns. Constructing an ecological security evaluation system can reflect the ecological security status of mining city areas and provide planning references for these cities. This study, based on Heihe City's land use data from 1980 to 2020, systematically analyzes the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics of land use, landscape patterns, and landscape ecological security levels by constructing a land use transfer matrix and calculating landscape pattern indices and landscape ecological security indices. The results show that: 1) Forest land is the main type of land use in Heihe City, accounting for over 50% of the total area. Land use changes primarily occurred between 2000–2010 and 2010–2020, with the spatial pattern characterized by overall stability and localized dramatic shifts, mainly involving the conversion of forest land to farmland and unused land. 2) From 1980 to 2020, the landscape ecological security pattern in Heihe City improved. Landscape diversity and landscape contagion increased, while landscape fragmentation, the largest patch area, and the average patch area decreased. Land use was optimized overall, but the trend of forest fragmentation became noticeable. 3) Between 1980 and 2020, the landscape ecological security level in Heihe City improved significantly. Driven by ecological restoration policies, the ecological security level in the southern region greatly improved, while the spatial pattern continued to show a trend of lower security in the south and higher security in the north. Specifically, the area proportions of low-security and relatively low-security areas increased by 6.23% and 9.55%, respectively. The spatial clustering of landscape ecological security levels is evident, with high-high value clustering mainly in the north and low-low value clustering mainly in the south. It is necessary to further promote ecological protection in the north to ensure the ecological barrier function, while strengthening ecological restoration in the south to improve ecological security levels. Additionally, continuous macro-policy regulation is needed to maintain long-term ecological security in Heihe City. The ecological security level of mining city landscapes is influenced by economic dependence, policy constraints, and environmental issues. This study can provide guidance for planning improvements in the study area and other mining cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management is an important component of global change as more than half of the world's forests are managed for human use. Although the effect of forest management on taxonomic diversity is well‐studied, we do not fully understand its impact on functional diversity. Understanding this is important to better predict how ecosystem processes will respond to global change scenarios and to implement efficient conservation actions. We conducted two large‐scale (~81 800 km2) research projects over 4 years in temperate forests of the northeastern USA to investigate how the functional structure of bird and mammal communities are affected by forest disturbance. We surveyed 85 bird species distributed in 115 sites using point counts, and 14 mammal species across 197 sites using camera traps. For each species, we selected functional traits that summarize key features of their biology, and for each site, we collected data on the level of forest disturbance based on forest loss events. We found that functional richness increased with forest disturbance for mammals but not for birds. Our results also showed that niche breadth (diet), morphological (body mass and wing length), and physiological (litter size) factors were the main determinants of the functional structure of both groups. These findings emphasize the complexity of making predictions about responses to forest management given the heavy dependence on the context and taxa studied. Overall we observed a limited response of functional diversity to forest management, which might indicate that the environmental changes generated by forest management in this region are less extreme than deforestation or conversion of natural forest to plantations of exotic species. Nonetheless, our results underscore the importance of investigating the effects of forestry on individual traits to develop strategies for managing for ecosystem functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzed land use and land cover (LULC) changes to identify the levels of deforestation and forest degradation in two locations in the Amazon rainforest and their conservation units. Using Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and object-based image classification, yearly LULC maps were created from 2018 to 2023. Disturbances were then quantified by Primary Forest conversions. This study revealed a gain of around 22,362 ha in Secondary Forest areas in Manaus and 29,088 ha in Agriculture/Pastureland in Porto Velho within the study period. Differing yearly rates of deforestation and degradation were detected between the areas, with agriculture/pastureland expansion being observed as the primary driver of forest loss. State and federal units showed the largest conversion of primary to Secondary Forest, while state units experienced the most conversion to non-forest areas. Sustainable use units and buffer zones were particularly impacted by these disturbances. These findings suggest that factors beyond environmental policies contribute to these outcomes, highlighting the importance of understanding local contexts. Comparing areas with varying degradation levels provides insights into the effectiveness of restoration and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the international community has increasingly focused on the "dual carbon" issue, as human-induced land use changes significantly impact ecosystem structure and carbon cycling. This study analyzes land use changes in the economic zone of the northern Gulf of Guangxi from 1980 to 2020, utilizing the InVEST model to simulate spatiotemporal changes in carbon storage and conducting zoning studies through spatial analysis. The findings reveal that ① forest land and arable land dominate the northern Gulf of Guangxi's land use, with notable changes observed in forest land, unused land, and construction land areas. Forest land and construction land have increased by 1761.5 km2 and 1001.19 km2, respectively, while unused land has decreased by 1881.18 km2 from 2000 to 2020. ② The total carbon storage values in the northern Gulf of Guangxi in 1980, 2000, and 2020 were, respectively, 504.91 × 106/t, 487.29 × 106/t, and 500.31 × 106/t, with the expansion of construction land and conversion of forest land being the main reasons for the decrease in carbon storage. ③ In the northern Gulf of Guangxi, there is a slight upward trend in total carbon storage values over time. Spatially, higher carbon storage values are observed in mountainous and hilly areas at high altitudes, while the central and southern coastal areas exhibit lower carbon storage values. ④ The local spatial autocorrelation results reveal that Pu Bei County exhibits high–high clustering of carbon storage, while He Pu County undergoes a transition from high–low to low–low clustering, and several other administrative areas in Beihai demonstrates low–low clustering. Due to the imperative of economic development, the expansion of urban construction land encroaches upon ecological land, resulting in a decline in carbon storage. Therefore, in the Northern Gulf of Guangxi, it is essential to implement measures such as reforestation and establish ecological protection areas such as forests, grasslands, and wetlands to develop effective carbon sequestration methods and compensate for the carbon loss caused by the expansion of construction land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elucidating the climate feedback due to forest cover loss is critical for a comprehensive understanding of the role of forests in mitigating climate change. Current research studies predominantly focus on the impacts of permanent forest conversion, often overlooking the effects of recurrent disturbances such as fire and harvest. This study addresses this gap by examining the impact of forest cover loss caused by two distinct drivers in China over the period 2003–2020. Our analysis revealed that fire‐induced forest cover loss accounted for approximately 10% of total forest cover loss in China. The immediate (i.e., 1 year after disturbance) changes in land surface temperature (ΔLST) due to fire were higher (ΔLST = 0.11°C, interquartile range (IQR): [−0.02°C–0.23°C]) compared to those caused by harvest (ΔLST = 0.04°C, IQR: [−0.01°C–0.09°C]). This finding highlights the immediate warming effect of fire‐induced forest cover loss, was about triple as large as that caused by harvest. Our analysis also found that the warming effect post‐fire gradually lessened but still maintained approximately 0.02°C 5 years later. Change in evapotranspiration is a primary factor influencing surface temperature changes following forest disturbances. Our study provides comprehensive insights into the differential and persistent effects of LST responses to fire and harvest, underscoring the importance of understanding the climate feedback from forest dynamics from different drivers. Plain Language Summary: This study quantified the biophysical effects attributable to recurrent forest cover loss caused by fire and harvest using a space‐for‐time approach. Previous reports have primarily explored the temperature impacts of either permanent or gradual disturbances. However, the gaps of biophysical effects from recurrent disturbances should not be overlooked. In this paper, we quantified forest cover loss due to fire and harvest and compared surface temperature following these changes. We then identified the dominant biophysical processes governing the LST response to forest cover loss. What we find is a much more pronounced warming effect and a longer recovery period with increasing proportions of fire‐affected areas than that under harvest, with ET being the primary factor driving these LST changes. Our comparable results from different recurrent disturbances provide valuable insights for future research. Key Points: Surface temperature warming effects resulting from forest cover loss under different recurrent disturbances should be widely acknowledgedTemperature feedbacks caused by fire‐induced forest cover loss was higher than those caused by harvestEvapotranspiration is a primary factor influencing surface temperature changes following forest disturbances in temperate forests in China [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon (C) losses due to the conversion of natural forests adversely affect the biotic and abiotic components of terrestrial ecosystems. In tropical China, rubber cultivation often extends from its traditional range to elevations of up to 1400 m. However, C stock in rubber plantations along elevation gradients is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated biomass and C stock along elevation gradients in two age groups (8- and 12-year-old) of rubber monoculture plantations in Xishuangbanna, Southwest China. The C distribution across various tree sections, ranging from aboveground biomass (AGB) to belowground biomass (BGB), including litter, big dead branches, and different soil depths were measured. A significant negative correlation was observed between AGB, BGB, litter, and total ecosystem C stocks and elevation gradients in both age groups. However, no correlation was observed between the total soil C stock and elevation gradients in 8-year-old rubber plantations, while significant decline was detected in 12-year-old rubber plantations. The highest ecosystem C stock of 197.90 Mg C ha−1 was recorded at 900 m in 8-year-old plantations; whereas, in 12-year-old rubber plantations, the highest value of 183.12 Mg C ha−1 was found at 700 m. The total ecosystem C stock decreased to their lowest level at 1000 m in both the 8-year-old and 12-year-old plantations, ranging between 113.05 Mg C ha−1 and 125.75 Mg C ha−1, respectively. Moreover, total ecosystem C stock significantly decreased from 51.55% to 8.05% and from 42.96% to 11.46% between 700 m and 1100 m, in both 8-year-old and 12-year-old plantations, respectively. Regardless of elevation gradients, the total ecosystem C stock of 12-year-old rubber plantations was 1.98% greater than that of 8-year-old rubber plantations. Biomass was the second largest contributor, while soil accounted for 82% to 90%, and the other components contributed less than 2% of the total ecosystem C stock in both age groups. These fluctuations in C stock along elevation gradients in both 8- and 12-year-old plantations suggested that rubber growth, biomass, and C stock capacity decreased above 900 m, and that age and elevation are key factors for biomass and C stock in rubber monoculture plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On the 50th anniversary of SSAFR, we present a brief survey and summary of the previous meetings and how the methods and applications presented have changed. References to previous surveys of SSAFR papers are included. From the 1st symposium in 1975 through the 20th in 2024, a consistent theme has been participation from a wide range of scientists from university, agency, corporate and non-governmental organizations from around the world. Some of the applications covered include fire management, transportation, multicriteria optimization, forest and land management planning, ecological/environmental analysis, biodiversity and sustainability, decision support systems, stochastic methods and hierarchical planning. While some topics from earlier years have lost currency, new topics have gained in popularity. Climate change has not been emphasized often as a specific topic, but it has been addressed in many areas such as fire management, biodiversity and sustainability, ecological/environmental considerations and stochastic methods. As we look to the future, we are confident that systems analysts will continue to provide solutions and insights into the pressing problems and issues addressed by future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] To investigate the effects of coniferous and broadleaf mixture measures on the stability of soil carbon47 pools in Pinus Massoniana Plantation in red soil erosion areas. Methods］ Tn this study, we examined the impact of forest restoration on soil organic carbon fractions in the Pinus massoniana pure forest (CF) and Pinus massoniana and Schima superba mixed forest (MF) in Changting, Fujian Province. We analyzed soil profiles from different years (Y10, Y20, and Y41) by categorizing soil organic carbon into particulate organic carbon (POO and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC). _Results］ (1) Compared with CF, the contents of MAOC, SOC, and POC in the 0一1() cm soil layer in mixed forest significantly increased. The long-term stand mixing effectively avoided the depletion of MAOC in long-term restoration of pine forest. (2) I〉OC/SOC in the 10--20 cm and 40--60 cm and ()--20 cm soil layers in Y20-MF and Y41-MF decreased significantly after coniferous and broadleaf mixture, but MAOC/SOC in the 20一6() cm and ()一10 cm soil layers in Y10-MF and Y41-MF increased significantly ； (3) MAOC/SOC was observed in the 20一6() cm soil layer, while in Y41-MF, it was found in the ()--10 cm soil layer. Additionally, in mixed forests, MAOC/SOC in the ()--1() cm soil layer continued to increase with age, whereas POC/SOC decreased significantly. The opposite trend was observed in the mas son pine forests. (4) Linear fitting revealed that I〉()C and MAOC were both significantly and positively correlated with SOC, but the increase in SOC in mixed forest soils were more dependent on the increase in MAOC, whereas the masson pine forests soil was more dominated by the non-stable carbon component (I〉()C)； (5) Redundancy analysis indicated that DOC, TN, TI\ and NH扌 collectively explained 66.2% of the variation in carbon fractions. This suggests that the enhancement of soil nutrient effectiveness following the forest conversion is crucial for MAOC accumulation in mixed forests.-Conclusion] This study demonstrates that forest conversion in subtropical red soil erosion areas could increase the accumulation of stabilized carbon pools by enhancing soil nutrient effectiveness. This process helps avoid the loss of soil carbon pools during long-term restoration efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conversion of primate forest habitat is a global concern with significant implications for primate populations. Although the geospatial Extent of Occurrence (EOO) data provided for primates by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature are widely used, they do not accurately reflect the existing extent of primate species because of ongoing habitat loss. We focused on four capuchin monkey species (Sapajus apella, S. flavius, S, libidinosus, and S. xanthosternos), all native to North and Northeastern Brazil, to prioritize research by the Capuchin Action Network. We refined the EOOs for the four primate species using MapBiomas land cover data. We accounted for areas of agriculture, urban, and mining and updated the EOOs of the four species. Additionally, we evaluated the Conservation Units in each EOO. Conservation Units are protected areas critical to mitigating habitat loss in Brazil. Our results show that S. apella has lost the smallest amount of its EOO (13%), while S. flavius has lost the most (77%). Agriculture was the leading cause of land cover change, followed by urbanization and mining. We provide an updated EOO for the four capuchin species and highlight the need for conservation efforts to address the challenges posed by human activities in the capuchin species' habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deadwood is a key component of nutrient cycling in natural tropical forests, serving as a globally important carbon storage and habitat for a high number of species. The conversion of tropical forests to agriculture modifies deadwood pools, but we know little about deadwood dynamics in forests recovering from human disturbance. Here we quantified the volume and diversity of coarse woody debris (CWD, ≥ 7 cm diameter) and the mass of fine woody debris (FWD, < 7 cm) along a chronosequence of natural forest recovery in the lowlands of the Ecuadorian Chocó region. We sampled forest plots ranging from 1–37 years of recovery post-cessation of agricultural use as either cacao plantation or cattle pasture, as well as actively managed cacao plantations and cattle pastures, and old-growth forests. In contrast to our expectation, we found no significant increase in deadwood volume with recovery time. The diversity in size, decay stage and type of CWD increased along the recovery gradient, with no effect of previous land use type. The mass of FWD increased overall across the recovery gradient, but these results were driven by a steep increase in former pastures, with no change observed in former cacao plantations. We suggest that the range of sizes and decomposition stages of deadwood found in these two major tropical agricultural systems could provide suitable resources for saproxylic organisms and an overlooked carbon storage outside old-growth forests. Our estimates of deadwood in agricultural systems and recovering forests can help improve global assessments of carbon storage and release in the tropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of cocoa agroforestry is widely discussed in debates on sustainability transition in cocoa, especially in the context of ending hunger and poverty among cocoa farmers. Whereas this has led to multiple cocoa agroforestry investments by NGOs, governments, and cocoa and chocolate companies in West and Central Africa, a notable gap exists in the literature on how these interventions respond to the needs of cocoa farmers who are typically framed as the primary target of equity in cocoa sustainability discussions. This paper contributes to bridging this gap by analyzing equity in implementing various cocoa agroforestry projects by different actors in Ghana's Juabeso-Bia Landscape (JBL). I find that the ongoing cocoa agroforestry initiatives may be broadly characterized as renovative or additive in terms of how they (re)shape the various components on cocoa farms. Yet, they are all designed to primarily enhance cocoa productivity even when seasonal food insecurity is one of the most pressing challenges among cocoa farmers in the JBL. The persistent neglect of food in cocoa production risks leaving poverty and hunger in cocoa households unaddressed. Additionally, it increases cocoa households' predisposition to forest conversion, making current forms of cocoa agroforestry an indirect driver of deforestation in the landscape. To transform the current situation, policymakers and scholars must reflexively integrate household food security in designing cocoa agroforestry, prioritizing farmers' involvement in dynamic agroforestry technologies that contribute directly to local food access over time. This contrasts the current policy and practice of cocoa agroforestry, focused on maintaining a prescribed number of shade trees on new or existing cocoa farms but highly likely to engender significantly greater inequity in the cocoa sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fire events in South America are becoming more extensive and frequent as climate extremes and human pressures increase, and even repeatedly occurring in some areas within decades. However, the relationship between recurring fires and vegetation dynamics remains unclear. Here, we extracted the number of fire occurrences using burned area satellite product and analysed the relationship between recurring fires and vegetation dynamics with remote sensing land use and vegetation index datasets in South America. We show that approximately 1.39 × 106 km2 of burnt area has experienced recurring fires during 2001–2020. More than half of burnt area of recurring fires occurred in savannahs with remaining burnt area in grasslands, forests and croplands. Although forests tended to be less susceptible to recurring fires among all vegetation types, their coverage loss with recurring fires was the greatest. The greater proportion of forest conversion to croplands concurred with more recurring fires. Conversely, the coverage of croplands and grasslands gained the most with recurring fires. In the areas without vegetation conversion, more frequent recurring fires further suppressed canopy greenness and density, even in fire‐adapted savannahs and grasslands. Our results suggest that recurring fires and land use change are generally coincident, reflecting the intense pressure of human activities on natural vegetation in South America. Thus, coordinated efforts on vegetation conservation and sustainable management of human‐induced burning in the region are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adaptive forest management gains importance as climate and disturbance regimes continue to change. Norway spruce monocultures are particularly vulnerable to those changes. Thus, there is a strong demand to convert pure spruce stands toward better adapted forest ecosystems. Silver fir has similar wood properties as Norway spruce, but is less vulnerable to droughts. Yet, little is known how to efficiently admix silver fir into Norway spruce monocultures. We analyzed seedling abundance in mature Norway spruce monocultures 1 year after soil scarification and silver fir seeding in a relatively dry region of southern Germany. Our objectives were to study the effect of soil scarification and seeding on regeneration density and to identify drivers of seedling abundance. We collected data on regeneration, forest structure, as well as soil and light conditions at 103 scarified and 25 untreated control plots. We used non-parametric independence tests to compare scarified and untreated plots. Subsequently, we used boosted regression trees to investigate the drivers of seedling abundance. Norway spruce strongly benefited from soil scarification (P  < .001), with seedling numbers even exceeding those of silver fir. Both species thrived in soils with high plant available water capacity. In contrast, seedling numbers were overall negatively affected by light. Moreover, we found a higher density of silver fir regeneration at greater distance from neighboring trees and in soils devoid of carbonate. Our study indicates that water, not light, is the limiting factor for both Norway spruce and silver fir seedlings in the study region. Seeding silver fir will likely be most effective underneath an intact canopy on deep, fine-textured soils without carbonate, while maximizing the distance to Norway spruce trees. In conclusion, silver fir seeding can be optimized to become an effective adaptive measure to diversify Norway spruce monocultures, and thus to create more resistant and resilient forest ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fire Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This study aimed to analyze spatio-temporal changes in habitat quality in Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration during the 2000–2020 period and explore its topographic gradient effects. Using land use data from this period, the InVEST model was employed to assess the spatio-temporal variations in habitat quality. The bivariate spatial autocorrelation model was used to analyze the spatial correlation characteristics between habitat quality and various topographical factors. Additionally, terrain factor analysis was utilized to study the terrain gradient effects on habitat quality in the study area. The results reveal that: (1) The primary land use changes in the study area from 2000 to 2020 predominantly involve substantial arable land and forest conversions into urban development. (2) The average habitat quality indices for 2000, 2010, and 2020 in the Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration stand at 0.651, 0.622, and 0.606, respectively, indicating a consistent declining trend in habitat quality. The distribution of habitat quality grades demonstrates a spatial pattern of "lower in the central surroundings, higher in the surroundings." (3) The Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration shows significant positive correlations between habitat quality and topographical gradients. Spatial aggregation tendencies between habitat quality and topographical gradients primarily exhibit "high-high" and "low-low" clustering. (4) The habitat quality of the Chang-Zhu-Tan urban agglomeration exhibits a significant topographic gradient effect, primarily characterized by an increase in habitat quality with the rise of the topographic gradient. The study outcomes contribute to unveiling the spatiotemporal variations in habitat quality within the Chang-Zhu-Tan Urban Agglomeration. Moreover, leveraging different habitat types' distinctive terrain distribution characteristics, it proposes targeted habitat conservation measures, thereby offering theoretical support for biodiversity conservation and territorial spatial planning in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The continuing oil palm expansion on food security has prompted fierce debate. On one side, analysts argue that local community incorporation in the oil palm sector can increase food purchasing in the market. However, the expansion has also brought unprecedented consequences of losing highly nutritious food due to forest conversions. This study aims to analyze oil palm expansion and local food security in various regions in Indonesia by tackling the following questions: (a) Which factors influence palm oil expansion, and does foreign investment play a role? (b) How does palm oil expansion affect food security in Indonesia? Socioeconomic methods have been applied in this study, including a systematic literature review and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders from various domestic and international organizations. These two methods help us triangulate the academic literature findings with real-world situations as perceived by the actors in the related field. Results indicate that, firstly, foreign investors have not only made a direct investment to facilitate oil palm expansion, but also indirect financial intermediaries are held without holding financial equities to upstream oil palm companies (e.g., supply chain financing contracts, channeling using local financial institutions such as credit union). Secondly, while large corporations asserted monoculture oil palm expansions, some smallholding farmers use mixed cropland expansion to share food and oil palm crops in their own smallholding terms. With the oil palm expansion, farmers can secure a cash flow from palm oil, but an unintended outcome is less nutrition diversification, and often because of the distance to markets, some commodities are favored over a more diverse diet. The outcomes of oil palm development vary and are multifold, as some stakeholders report that some studies show improving cash flows at the farm level, but other studies insist that food insecurity still prevails. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking Jingzhou City as the research area, the ecosystem service value (ESV) and ecosystem service scarcity value (ESSV) indicators were calculated and analyzed using relevant data from Jingzhou City in 2021. Methods such as geographic information graph, landscape pat? tern index, cold and hot spot analysis, supply and demand elasticity index were used to evaluate and reveal the spatiotemporal heterogeneity changes of ESV and ESSV, as well as their causes and mechanisms. The results showed that land use change was mainly concentrated in the conversion of cultivated land into forest or grassland, the conversion of unused land into water bodies or other types, and the conversion of forest or grassland into construction land. The diversity and balance of various types of land had been improved, and the comprehensive management and coordinated development of the integrated protection and restoration project of mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes, grass and sand (SLCP) had achieved certain results. ESSV showed an increasing distribution pattern from east to west in space, and exhibited obvious clustering characteristics in space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: In West Africa, savannas are changing to either forest islands or arable lands arising from anthropogenic interference with the natural ecosystem. This study aimed at quantifying the trade-offs of this land use conversion on major soil quality indicators. Methods: We evaluated soil organic matter (SOM) and other soil quality indicators such as macro- and micronutrients (including the absence of some hazardous trace metals) using standard methodologies across 11 settlements in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Nigeria. The degree of soil quality improvement/degradation and soil quality were assessed using empirical models. Results: The effects of savanna conversion were manifold and varied depending on the type of land use change, soil depth, and soil quality indicator. In savanna-forests, there was a substantial rise in SOM (37%—794%) and exchangeable cations (15% to 800%) and changes in SOM in the topsoil quadrupled that of the subsoil. A general loss in SOM (1% -74%) and soil macro-and micronutrients occurred under savanna-arable lands. Potassium, calcium and magnesium increased by ≥ 12%, ≥ 15% and 27% respectively while increases in Mn and Zn were 37% and ≥ 250% in the forests over the savannas. Trace quantities of Pb were detected which were below the contamination threshold. About 63% forest islands, 18% arable land, and 9% savannas had SQI % ≥ 50. Conclusion: In marginal lands, land use conversion to forest islands presents great potential for improving soil fertility and overall ecosystem health as shown in the high organic matter and improved soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extensive forest resources within Cambodia are pivotal to the ecological integrity of the Mekong River basin. This study, utilizing GlobeLand 30 data, investigates the dynamics of forest loss in Cambodia through the lens of forest cover and landscape pattern indices. Furthermore, a multiple linear regression analysis is conducted to elucidate the principal determinants of forest depletion. The empirical results indicate that: (1) Over the period between 2000 and 2020, Cambodia's forest expanse contracted from 104 009. 92 to 89 702. 30 square kilometers, accompanied by a reduction in coverage from 57. 45% to 49. 55%. Notably, the plateau and mountainous terrains witnessed the most pronounced deforestation, with a net loss of 8 002. 87 square kilometers and a corresponding decline in coverage by 11. 36%. Land use transition analysis reveals that 84. 85% of the forested area remained stable, whereas 12. 90% was reallocated to agricultural purposes. (2) The fragmentation of forested landscapes has escalated, evidenced by a widespread diminution in the largest patch index. (3) The regression analysis underscores population expansion and the augmentation of arable land as the predominant catalysts for forest attrition. It is suggested that the Cambodian government should fortify forest governance and enforcement to mitigate deforestation. At the same time, fostering economic diversification through the advancement of industries, ecotourism, and other non-agricultural sectors could generate alternative employment avenues, thereby alleviating the impetus for forest conversion to farmland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest–grassland ecotone (FGE) has essential ecological and economic value. Unfortunately, it is impacted greatly by environmental changes and anthropogenic disturbance, and is considered one of the most severely threatened biomes in China. To protect Chinese FGE, identifying its exact boundary and exploring its landscape structure dynamic are badly needed, especially on nationwide scale at one‐year temporal resolution. Here, we mapped the annual FGE distribution of China from 1990 to 2020, investigated its changing trends of area, location and landscape patterns, and revealed the underlying driving factors. Our results showed that FGE area over the 31 years totaled 1 011 870 km2, covering about 10.54% of China's land. The FGE area first increased from 1990 and peaked in 1999, and then kept decreasing until 2020. The FGE gravity center has moved accumulatively 590.15 km over the 31 years, with the net moving distance of 228.76 km southwestward. From 1990 to 2020, forest area increased continuously while grassland and cropland area decreased, but these three landscape types had been dominating the FGE. The increase in forest area was largely converted from grassland. The decline in grassland mainly resulted from its conversion into cropland and forest. Meanwhile, the conversion of cropland to grassland supplemented grassland loss to a certain extent. At landscape level, the total area with decreased fragmentation is larger than that with increased fragmentation. Returning Farmland to Grassland Project and land reclamation were primary drivers for changes of fragmentation in the northern and middle part of the FGE, while temperature and precipitation were primary drivers in southern part. Our results will improve the understanding into the dynamic trends of distribution and pattern of FGE at nationwide scale, and thus help to optimize the designing of ecological projects and protective schemes for FGE as a unique and integral biome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores the conflicts and contradictions surrounding Bolivia's agrarian frontier, specifically in the eastern lowlands. The region is experiencing economic growth driven by soybean plantations, but this expansion has led to disputes between Indigenous communities and intercultural farmers. These conflicts raise questions about the success of plurinationalism in Bolivia's east and highlight historical differences in how different Indigenous peoples relate to the state and territory. The article also discusses the history of colonization in the region and the changing dynamics of intercultural farming. It addresses the tensions and conflicts surrounding land rights and territorial claims, particularly in relation to the interculturales, a group representing highland Indigenous peoples. The article emphasizes the complexities of the plurinational state and its impact on land distribution and agrarian capitalism. It also mentions the ecological destruction caused by deforestation and the role of various actors, including medium and large enterprises, in contributing to this issue. [Extracted from the article]

Copyright of Biotechnologie, Agronomie, Societe et Environnement is the property of Les Presses Agronomiques de Gembloux and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The decline in primary natural forests worldwide has intensified research on the effects of forest transformation on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) cycles and stocks. However, the extent to which soil C, N, and P stocks and stoichiometry are affected by forest conversion remains unclear. Here, we examined the effects of forest transformation on soil nutrient storage capacity and stoichiometric characteristics in native broadleaf forests (BFs), plantation forests (PFs), tea gardens (TGs), cultivated lands (CLs), and urban artificial green spaces (GSs) at a county scale in subtropical China. The results showed that the other forest types exhibited significantly reduced soil C and N contents and stocks but increased soil P content and stock compared to BFs. The soil C:N:P stoichiometric ratios for BFs and the converted PFs, TGs, GSs, and CLs were sequentially decreased as follows: 444.8:24.2:1, 95.0:10.0:1, 30.2:3.9:1, 23.1:3.7:1, and 19.4:1.9:1, respectively. Within the altitude (AL) span of 180 to 1200 m surveyed, the AL decided the type of forest conversion and significantly influenced the stock levels and stoichiometric ratios of soil C, N, and P. The results of this study highlight the importance of the ecological management of TGs and the optimization of soil P production in CLs, TGs, and GSs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest conversion to agricultural land has been shown to deplete soil organic carbon (SOC) and soil total nitrogen (STN) stocks. However, research on how soil properties respond to forest conversion to shifting cultivation has produced conflicting results. The conflicting findings suggest that the agricultural system may influence the response of SOC and STN to forest conversion to agriculture, depending on the presence of vegetative cover throughout the year. Due to the unique characteristics of montane evergreen forests (MEF) and banana plantations (BP), SOC and STN response to MEF conversion to BP may differ from existing models. Nevertheless, research on how soil properties are affected by MEF conversion to BP is scarce globally. In order to fill this research gap, the goal of this study was to evaluate how much deforestation for BP affects SOC, STN, and soil quality by analysing these soil parameters in MEF and BP fields down to 1-m depth, using standard profile-based procedures. Contrary to the specified hypothesis that SOC and STN losses would be restricted to the upper 20-cm soil layer, SOC losses were extended to the 40-cm depth layer and STN losses to the 60-cm depth layer. The soils lost 18.56 Mg ha – 1 (37%) of SOC from the upper 20 cm and 33.15 Mg ha – 1 (37%) from the upper 40 cm, following MEF conversion to BP. In terms of STN, the upper 20, 40, and 60 cm lost 2.98 (43%), 6.62 (47%), and 8.30 Mg ha – 1 (44%), respectively. Following MEF conversion to BP, the SOC stratification ratio decreased by 49%, implying a decline in soil quality. Massive exportation of nutrients, reduced C inputs due to complete removal of the arboreal component and crop residues, the erodibility of the soils on the study area's steep hillslopes, and the potential for banana plantations to increase throughfall kinetic energy, and splash erosion through canopy dripping are thought to be the leading causes of SOC and STN losses. More research is needed to identify the extent to which each cause influences SOC and STN losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nature-based solutions (NBS) can deliver many benefits to human wellbeing, including some crucial to climate adaptation. We quantitatively assess the global potential of NBS strategies of protection, restoration, and agroforestry by modeling global climate change mitigation and local ecosystem services (water availability, sediment retention, runoff, pollination, nitrogen retention, green water storage, and coastal protection). The strategies with the most potential to help people do not necessarily deliver the most climate change mitigation: per area of conservation action, agroforestry provides substantial benefits (>20% increase in at least one local ecosystem service) to three times more people on average than reforestation while providing less than one tenth the carbon sequestration per unit area. Each strategy delivers a different suite of ecosystem service benefits; for instance, avoided forest conversion provides a strong increase in nitrogen retention (100% increase to 72 million people if fully implemented globally) while agroforestry increases pollination services (100% increase to 3.0 billion people if fully implemented globally). One common disservice shared by all the NBS strategies modeled here is that increased woody biomass increases transpiration, reducing annual runoff and in some watersheds negatively impacting local water availability. In addition, the places with the greatest potential for climate change mitigation are not necessarily the ones with the most people. For instance, reforestation in Latin America has the greatest climate change mitigation potential, but the greatest ecosystem service benefits are in Africa. Focusing on nations with high climate mitigation potential as well as high local ecosystem service potential, such as Nigeria in the case of reforestation, India for agroforestry, and the Republic of Congo for avoided forest conversion, can help identify win-win sites for implementation. We find that concentrating implementation of these three conservation strategies in critical places, covering 5.8 million km2, could benefit 2.0 billion people with increased local ecosystem services provision. These critical places cover only 35% of the possible area of implementation but would provide 80% of the benefits that are possible globally for the selected set of ecosystem services under the NBS scenarios examined here. We conclude that targeting these critical places for protection, restoration, and agroforestry interventions will be key to achieving adaptation and human wellbeing goals while also increasing nature-based carbon mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subtropical region of China possesses abundant forest resources and features a mountainous terrain. Under the implementation of policies such as natural forest protection, the Grain for Green Project, and other initiatives since the beginning of the 21st century, coupled with climate change, the forest resources in this region have undergone significant changes compared to historical periods. In addition, forest resources distributing mainly in mountainous areas also implies that these changes may vary significantly with elevation. To explore the spatiotemporal dynamics of forest distribution in subtropical China since 2000, especially the trend of changes with elevation, we analyzed the data from two land cover products focusing on forest cover and forest types. We used a hierarchical approach, in which coarse-classification forest cover data with relatively small uncertainties impose constraints on forest type data with larger uncertainties, to achieve a reasonable balance between obtaining more details and reducing data uncertainty. We first divided the forest cover data into 'unchanged' and 'changed' categories. With the constraints by the forest cover results, we further analyzed the 'unchanged' and 'changed' forest types. The results indicated that, since the implementation of ecological engineering and management policies, 54% of the area in the subtropical region had maintained unchanged forest cover attributes over the past 20 years, which implied the good state of ecological environment. The results also showed that dynamic conversions existed in the long term between forests and lands for essential production needs like croplands. The elevational variations of forest cover suggested that the dominant changes came from the conversion between forests and croplands in low-elevation regions below 700 m, the conversion between forests and shrublands in mid-elevation regions of 700–1500 m, and the conversion between forests and grasslands in high-elevation regions above 2000 m. In the regions with unchanged forest cover, 96% exhibited unchanged forest types as well. Evergreen broad-leaved forests (EBF) were most widely distributed below 1700 m, while evergreen needle-leaved forests (ENF) dominated above 1700 m. There was still a large area of ENF and EBF undergoing dynamic conversions from/to transitional forest types such as mosaic of tree, shrub, and herbaceous cover (T-S-H) and mosaic of natural vegetation and cropland (NV-CRO). ENF almost unidirectionally transformed into T-S-H in low-elevation regions below 1000 m, and transformed from NV-CRO in mid- and high-elevation regions above 1000 m. EBF experienced an areal decrease and transformed into T-S-H in low-elevation regions, but the areal increase in mid- to low-elevation regions mainly transformed from NV-CRO. These variations with elevation may involve the impacts of specific human activities and climate change, and will provide a vertical dimension of information and perspectives for an in-depth exploration of the evolving ecosystem services of forest resources in subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Assessment and prediction analyses of the ecological environmental quality of river basins are pivotal to realize ecological protection and high-quality coordinated development. Methods: The PLUS and InVEST models were used to analyze the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics of land-use in the Fen River Basin and simulate the spatial pattern of land-use under natural development (ND), ecological protection (EC), and economic development (ED) scenarios in 2030, as well as evaluate habitat quality (HQ) and its spatiotemporal variation characteristics from 2000 to 2030. From 2000 to 2020, the Fen River Basin consisted primarily of cultivated land, followed by forests, and then unused land. Habitat quality in the Fen River Basin showed a downward trend from 2000 to 2020. Between 2010 and 2020, the rate of decline decreased, and by 2030, the HQ in the EC scenario exhibited improvement compared to 2020. However, there was a reduction in HQ in the natural development and economic development scenarios and there was obvious heterogeneity in spatial distribution, showing the characteristics of "low middle and high edge". The cultivated land was converted into forests, construction land, and grasslands, and the conversion of construction land and forests to cultivated land dominated the changes in HQ in the Fen River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying the impact of typical vegetation types in forest conversion zones on soil organic carbon (SOC) structure and stability is crucial for developing terrestrial ecosystem carbon sequestration strategies. In this study, we selected three typical forest stands in the Nanling National Nature Reserve: a primary evergreen broad-leaved forest (BL), a secondary mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest (ML), and a Chinese fir plantation (CL). Soil samples were collected to examine the SOC fractions and carbon pool management index (CPMI) in three forest stands. The influence of soil property factors on SOC fractions was also analyzed. The results showed that the transformation process from a BL to an ML or a CL changed the structure and stability of organic carbon by reducing the labile SOC fractions and increasing the recalcitrant carbon fraction in the soil. The higher lability index (LI) and CPMI of soils in the BL indicated better carbon accumulation and activity, making this treatment more advantageous for management strategies aimed at promoting natural forest renewal and ecological restoration. Correlation and RDA analysis revealed that the availability of soil P was a key factor limiting the variation in organic C fractions in the acidic soils of tropical forests in South China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the "dual carbon" issue has become a major focus of the international community. Changes in land use driven by anthropogenic activities have a profound impact on ecosystem structure and carbon cycling. This study quantitatively assesses the spatiotemporal changes in cropland occupation and supplementation in the Pearl River Delta from 2000 to 2020 using the InVEST model, analyzing the spatial clustering of carbon storage changes caused by variations in cropland area. The PLUS model was employed to simulate land-use patterns and the spatial distribution of carbon storage in four future development scenarios. The results indicate the following: (1) From 2000 to 2020, the net change rate of cropland area in the Pearl River Delta was −0.81%, with a decrease of 16.49 km2 in cropland area, primarily converted to built-up land and forest land. (2) Carbon storage in the Pearl River Delta exhibited a pattern of lower values in the center and higher values in the periphery. The terrestrial ecosystem carbon storage in the Pearl River Delta was 534.62 × 106 t in 2000, 518.60 × 106 t in 2010, and 512.57 × 106 t in 2020, showing an overall decreasing trend. The conversion of cropland and forest land was the main reason for the decline in total regional carbon storage. (3) The area of carbon sequestration lost due to cropland occupation was significantly greater than the area of carbon loss compensated by new cropland, indicating an imbalance in the quality of cropland occupation and supplementation as a crucial factor contributing to regional carbon loss. (4) Under the ecological priority scenario, the expansion of built-up land and the reduction in ecological land such as cropland and forest land were effectively controlled, resulting in the minimal loss of carbon storage. The soil organic carbon pool of cropland is the most active carbon pool in terrestrial ecosystems and has a significant impact on carbon storage. Clarifying the relationship between "cropland protection measures–land use changes–ecosystem carbon storage" will improve cropland protection policies, provide references for regional carbon sequestration enhancement, and support sustainable socio-economic development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evaluating the impact of land‐use intensification on soil microbial communities is essential for recognizing the implications on microbiome stability and ecosystem function. The microbial biomass and enzyme activity in the topsoil have been found to decrease as a consequence of natural forest conversion; however, the impact of land‐use conversion on the microbes in subsoil remains largely unclear. Here, we examined the effect of primary forest conversion to plantations and cultivated lands on microbial communities at three sites with similar soil, climate, and landform. The forest conversion was set as the experimental treatment, and the primary forest as the control. A linear mixed‐effect model was applied to investigate the role of environmental parameters in shaping the soil microbial biomass and community determined by the phospholipid fatty acids analysis in both the topsoil (0–20 cm) and subsoil (20–40 cm). Compared to the primary forest, the total microbial biomass, β‐1,4‐N‐acetylglucosaminidase, leucine aminopeptidase, acid phosphatase activities, and labile organic C fraction contents in both topsoil and subsoil were reduced in cultivated lands. The ratios of gram‐positive bacteria to gram‐negative bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to saprotrophic fungi in subsoil decreased by 45%–53% and increased by 29%–151%, respectively, following the primary forest conversion to cultivated lands. The response ratio (the percentage of microbial and enzyme indicator response to the primary forest conversion) ranged from −80% to 140% depending on the soil depth, specific microbial group, and converted land‐use type. Microbial biomass and enzyme activity are primarily controlled by the labile organic C content and nutrients availability in both topsoil and subsoil. This study suggests that the primary forest conversion exerts an adverse effect on the microbial biomass, enzyme activity, and substrate availability in both topsoil and subsoil, highlighting the degradation of subsoil health in subtropical China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From 2010 to 2020, the main counties (cities and districts) with fruit forest pruning and fruit cultivation (citrus, pomegranate, apple, pear and grapes) were studied as the research objects, based on the fruit forest pruning coefficient and the discount coal coefficient, the pruning resources of fruit forests in Yunnan Province were estimated, the biomass fuel potential was estimated, and the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics were analyzed. The results showed that from 2010 to 2020, the total amount of pruning resources in fruit forests in Yunnan Province showed an upward trend, and the average annual pruning amount of shoots was 1,522,700 tons. The resources of fruit forest pruning were significantly different between different regions. In 2020, the resources of fruit forest pruning in Yunnan Province were 2,617,500 tons, including 6 counties with more than 100,000 tons, 8 counties with 50,000 tons to 100,000 tons, and 31 counties with less than 50,000 tons. The annual average amount of shoots converted into pellet fuel into standard coal was 918,000 tons, and the average annual amount of standard coal converted into natural gas and power generation was 690 million m³ and 7 472 million kWh, respectively, and the potential annual value generated was 4 184 million yuan. Yunnan Province has great potential for energy conversion of fruit forest pruning branches, excellent resource endowment conditions for the development of biomass fuel, and has the resource base for the industrialization of biomass pellet fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forestry is facing an unprecedented challenging time. Due to climate change, major tree species, which until recently fulfilled major ecosystem services, are being lost and it is often unclear if forest conversion with other native or nonnative tree species (NNT) are able to maintain or restore the endangered ecosystem services. Using data from the Austrian Forest Inventory, we analysed the current and future (2081-2100, RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) productivity of forests, as well as their protective function (avalanches and rockfall). Five different species change scenarios were considered for the replacement of a tree species failing in the future. We used seven native tree species (Picea abies, Abies alba, Pinus sylvestris, Larix decidua, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur and Quercus petraea) and nine NNT (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Abies grandis, Thuja plicata, Pinus radiata, Pinus contorta, Robinia pseudoacacia, Quercus rubra, Fraxinus pennsylvanica and Juglans nigra). The results show that no adaptation would lead to a loss of productivity and a decrease in tree species richness. The combined use of native and NNT is more favorable than purely using native species in terms of productivity and tree species richness. The impact of the different species change scenarios can vary greatly between the different environmental zones of Austria (Alpine south, Continental and Pannonian). The Pannonian zone would benefit from the use of NNT in terms of timber production. For the protection against avalanches or rockfall in alpine regions, NNT would not be an advantage, and it is more important if broadleaved or coniferous trees are used. Depending on whether timber production, protective function or tree species richness are considered, different tree species or species change scenarios can be recommended. Especially in protective forests, other aspects are essential compared to commercial forests. Our results provide a basis for forest owners/managers in three European environmental zones to make decisions on a sustainable selection of tree species to plant in the face of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although studies have explored how soil microbial diversity and soil multifunctionality respond to land‐use change at local scales, they have rarely been explored at larger scales and across different climatic and soil environmental conditions. By sampling 40 paired sites of land‐use change from natural forests to agricultural lands (including croplands and orchards) along the middle and lower Yangtze River, combined with a global meta‐analysis, we investigated the effects of land‐use change and climate on the alpha and beta diversity of soil bacterial and fungal functional groups (FGs) and their associated soil multifunctionality at a regional scale. Our results showed that land‐use change strongly changed the diversity of soil bacterial and fungal FGs and decreased multifunctionality, which was supported by our meta‐analysis at a global scale. Direct effects of land‐use change and climate and their interaction, together with changes in soil environmental variables, were the main determinants of the land‐use change‐induced changes in the diversity of soil bacterial or fungal FGs. The land‐use change‐induced decrease in multifunctionality was mainly associated with the direct effect of forest conversion, soil fertility and diversity of fungal FGs. Furthermore, climate also regulated the effects of land‐use change on multifunctionality by affecting soil fertility and fungal FGs diversity along the Yangtze River. Synthesis and applications. Taken together, our findings highlight the important effects of land‐use change, climate and their interactions on microbial diversity and multifunctionality and suggest that effective land‐use management and climate change mitigation strategies should be adopted to protect biodiversity and ecosystem function in the Yangtze River Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Junipers (Juniperus sp.) have 1.56 million ha natural distribution which of total 23.3 million ha Turkish forest area. However, 1.1 million ha (71%) of junipers and 9.6 million ha (41%) of Turkish forest area is unproductive. Seedling quality and morphology is one of the important tools in conversion of unproductive forest to productive forest. Seedling quality and morphology were investigated based on seedling height and root-collar diameter, and sturdiness index of 2+0 years containerized and bare-root seedlings of Crimean juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.) grown at Forest Nursery from southern Türkiye. For the purpose, 150 seedlings were sampled randomly from each seedling type in a forest nursery to collect seedling height and root-collar diameter data. Sturdiness index was calculated by ratio between the height and diameter. Collected data was performed for comparison of the seedling types for the characteristics by one-way analysis of variance, and to be determined relations among the characteristics by correlation analysis. The seedlings were distributed to quality classes of Turkish Standard Institute and Sturdiness index. Studied bare-root seedlings (16.3 cm) showed higher height growth performances than containerized (14.5 cm) seedlings opposite to root-collar diameter (2.04 mm and 1.86 mm), while the seedlings showed large differences within seedling type for the characteristics. Averages of sturdiness index were 72.5 and 88.5 in containerized seedlings and bare-root seedlings, respectively. Seedling types indicated significant (p=0.05) differences for the characteristics. Positive and significant (p=0.05) phenotypic relations were estimated among the characteristics in seedling types. Distribution of seedlings to quality classes varied for the characteristics, classes and seedling type. Results of the study were discussed based on nursery practices and plantation forestry of the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) is a conifer historically associated with an open forest ecosystem that extended across much of the coastal plain of the Southeastern United States. It now exists mainly in isolated fragments following the conversion of forests and the long-term disruption of the low-intensity fire regime upon which the species depends. Recent decades have seen efforts to restore longleaf pine forests by government and private landowners. This was reflected in analyses of national forest inventory data during two time periods, ca. 2009–2015 and 2016–2021, that showed increases in the estimated number of longleaf pine trees, the area of the longleaf pine forest type, and the number and area of planted longleaf pine, along with growth in mean plot-level longleaf pine carbon and importance value. At the same time, we found a decrease in the overall forest area containing longleaf pine, manifested across a variety of other forest types. These results point to a dynamic through which forests dominated by longleaf pine are becoming more widespread via restoration, while forests in which the species is a less important component are transitioning to other forest types or land uses. We also detected a decrease over time in the estimated number of longleaf seedlings across most states and forest types and a decline in naturally regenerated longleaf pine. To further assess regeneration trends in longleaf pine, we calculated the estimated proportion of small trees (seedlings and saplings) for the entire species and for seed zone sub-populations. We found a species-wide decrease in the proportion of small trees, from 82.1 percent to 75.1 percent. This reduction was most pronounced along the edges of the species distribution and could indicate less sustainable levels of regeneration in some areas. These results underscore the challenges of facilitating natural regeneration in this important species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the current state and future direction of urban green infrastructure. Topics include the recent advancements in green infrastructure, the existing challenges such as outdated management practices and labor issues, and potential solutions for improving the sector, including better integration of conservation efforts and addressing underlying problems.

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Understanding how human‐modified landscapes maintain biodiversity and provide ecosystem services is crucial for establishing conservation practices. Given that responses to land‐use are species‐specific, it is crucial to understand how land‐use changes may shape patterns of species diversity and persistence in human‐modified landscapes. Here, we used a comprehensive data set on bird distribution from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to understand how species richness and individual occurrences of frugivorous bird species responded to land‐use spatial predictors and, subsequently, assess how ecological traits and phylogeny modulated these responses. Using Bayesian hierarchical modeling, we reveal that the richness of frugivorous birds was positively associated with the amount of native forest and negatively with both agriculture and pasture amount at the landscape scale. Conversely, the effect of these predictors on species occurrence and ecological traits was highly variable and presented a weak phylogenetic signal. Furthermore, land‐use homogenization (i.e., the conversion of forest to pasture or agriculture) led to pervasive consequences for forest‐dependent bird species, whereas several generalist species thrived in deforested areas, replacing those sensitive to habitat disturbances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land-use change (LUC) is a significant contributor to the increase in atmospheric CO2 concentrations, with previous studies demonstrating its profound impact on soil organic carbon (SOC). The conversion of primary forests to farmland has been recognized as the most significant type of LUC inducing CO2 release from the soil. Therefore, it is critical to understand the impacts of forest LUC on SOC storage, with a particular focus on primary forest to farmland conversion. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis of 411 observations from 41 published works and found that SOC storage decreased significantly following the conversion of primary forests to farmland. Factors such as soil depth and climate zone influenced the degree of SOC storage loss, with SOC loss being less severe in deeper soil following a conversion from primary forests to farmland. Moreover, the loss of SOC storage was more severe in temperate regions compared to tropical regions. The input and output of surface SOC, changes in soil structure, and increases in atmospheric CO2 concentrations were significant reasons for the loss of SOC following primary forest to farmland LUC. However, improving tillage methods and implementing sustainable agricultural management strategies can help reduce SOC loss. These findings highlight the importance of sustainable land-use practices in mitigating the negative impacts of forest LUC on SOC storage and the global carbon cycle. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human activities and natural resource changes have exerted considerable impact on the ecosystem service value (ESV) of Zhengzhou City. In this study, the standard equivalent factor, which was revised according to the basic land-use data of 1990, 2000, 2010 and 2020, was adopted combined with the patch-generation land-use change simulation (PLUS) model to simulate the land-use data of Zhengzhou in three scenarios (nature development, cultivated land protection and ecological protection) in the year 2030. In this way, the spatio-temporal evolution of ecosystem service value was analyzed and forecast. Results of the modeling simuation showed that main land-use pattern of Zhengzhou was cultivated land and construction land in 1990-2020, and the dynamic degree of construction land-use area reached the apex (9.85%) from 2000 to 2010; During the period between 1990 and 2020, the area of low ESV in Zhengzhou was distributed in a "lamellar " form, accounting for 65.19% in 2020, and during the time the increased area being up to 1 339.58 km², the areas of median and slightly high ESV were distributed in the form of "secondary nuclear and tertiary", and the area of high ESV accounted for 3.59%; ESV of Zhengzhou decrease by 1.391 9 billion yuan during this period, the gain of ESV mainly came from the conversion of cultivated land to water bodies, while the loss od ESV was caused by the conversion of forest land to construction land, forest land to farmland and waterbodies to construction land. With respect to the above three scenarios, in the ecological protection scenario the variation amplitude of land use area was the smallest; ESV decreased in the natural development and cultivated land protection scenarios; and ESV increased by 123 million yuan in ecological protection scenario, with the "cold point" concentration being more obvious. It is expected that the results of this study would provide positive guidance for the territorial planning and ecological protection of Zhengzhou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Land-use changes significantly impact soil properties in forests, which is an area of concern. Therefore, the effects of changing forest types on soil microbial communities and their functions in northern subtropical forest regions need to be further researched. Methods: We used 16S rDNA sequencing and Functional Annotation of Prokaryotic Taxa (FAPROTAX) to assess the variation of soil bacterial communities and potential functions related to carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) cycling in two soil layers (0-10 and 10-30 cm) after the conversion of the secondary masson pine (Pinus massoniana, PM) forest to plantations of slash pine (Pinus elliottii, PE) and Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata, CL) located in Jingde County, Anhui Province, China. Results: The study found that converting coniferous secondary forests to coniferous plantations resulted in a notable increase in soil pH and a decrease in nitrate nitrogen and organic carbon contents. Additionally, soil microbial diversity increased significantly, and microbial community structure changed, particularly in the topsoil. These changes might affect the C- and N-cycling mediated by soil bacteria. The analysis revealed a significant decrease in the abundance of functional groups associated with C-cycling and a significant increase in the abundance of functional groups associated with N-cycling, particularly those associated with denitrification. Soil organic carbon, pH, and ammonium nitrogen were the most critical variables affecting changes in the soil microbial community. Discussion: These findings provide valuable information for ecological restoration and future sustainable forest management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article emphasizes the importance of restoring deforested drylands for a wetter future by utilizing trees for credits, climate, and water. It highlights the often overlooked role of trees in water cycling and their ability to enhance groundwater recharge and stimulate rainfall. The article also discusses the impact of reforestation on temperatures and argues for the careful selection of trees based on their effects on the carbon and water cycle. Trees play a crucial role in moderating temperatures and cooling the air locally and globally. Additionally, reforestation efforts should consider the effects on hydrological functioning. Restoring deforested drylands can bring back water, capture carbon, and improve the land and lives of those living there. The document provides a list of references related to forests, land use, and the role of trees in the water cycle and climate change, covering various scientific studies and reports. It also acknowledges the limitations and challenges associated with tree planting and emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to land and water management in dryland regions. [Extracted from the article]

Background: Boreal regions are warming at more than double the global average, creating opportunities for the northward expansion of agriculture. Expanding agricultural production in these regions will involve the conversion of boreal forests to agricultural fields, with cumulative impacts on soil microbial communities and associated biogeochemical cycling processes. Understanding the magnitude or rate of change that will occur with these biological processes will provide information that will enable these regions to be developed in a more sustainable manner, including managing carbon and nitrogen losses. This study, based in the southern boreal region of Canada where agricultural expansion has been occurring for decades, used a paired forest-adjacent agricultural field approach to quantify how soil microbial communities and functions were altered at three different stages post-conversion (< 10, > 10 and < 50, and > 50 years). Soil microbial functional capacity was assessed by quantitative PCR of genes associated with carbon (C), nitrogen, and phosphorous (P) cycling; microbial taxonomic diversity and community structure was assessed by amplicon sequencing. Results: Fungal alpha diversity did not change, but communities shifted from Basidiomycota to Ascomycota dominant within the first decade. Bacterial alpha diversity increased, with Gemmatimonadota groups generally increasing and Actinomycetota groups generally decreasing in agricultural soils. These altered communities led to altered functional capacity. Functional genes associated with nitrification and low molecular weight C cycling potential increased after conversion, while those associated with organic P mineralization potential decreased. Stable increases in most N cycling functions occurred within the first decade, but C cycling functions were still changing 50 years post conversion. Conclusions: Microbial communities underwent a rapid shift in the first decade, followed by several decades of slower transition until stabilizing 50 years post conversion. Understanding how the microbial communities respond at different stages post-conversion improves our ability to predict C and N losses from emerging boreal agricultural systems, and provides insight into how best to manage these soils in a way that is sustainable at the local level and within a global context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considering that land use and land cover (LULC) change is one of the most important challenges to biodiversity today, we used Copernicus products to analyze LULC changes at the level of the "Nordul Gorjului de Vest" Natura 2000 site (Romania) from 1990 to 2018. The interpretation of the impact of these changes on areas with very high potential for three regulating ecosystem services (ESs) (local climate regulation, regulation of waste, and water purification) was performed. Forest habitats are the major LULC class category in the "Nordul Gorjului de Vest" Natura 2000 site, with broad-leaved forest as the dominant forest class. In terms of areas lost or gained by the different LULC classes for each analyzed time interval, most transformations took place in the period 2000–2006, changes which were also reflected in the overall study period (1990–2018). During this time frame, the conversion of transitional forest shrubs into broad-leaved forest, which is the second largest transition in terms of absolute area changed, led, in terms of contribution rates, to an increase in the areas with very high potential for two of the three analyzed ESs. The conversion of transitional woodland shrub into broad-leaved forest was conductive only to synergy for all the pairwise interactions between the three ESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Land‐use change and agricultural expansion have caused marked biodiversity loss in Southeast Asia, but impacts on freshwater communities have been very little studied. Semi‐aquatic bugs are abundant in streams, provide prey for many other animals, and are sensitive to environmental change, making them a relevant group for studying land‐use change.We investigated the effects of logging and conversion of forest to oil palm plantations on semi‐aquatic bugs in Sabah, Malaysia, and the potential value of retaining riparian buffer strips in plantations, by sampling across 12 rivers along an existing land‐use gradient. We recorded catchment, riparian, and stream‐scale environmental variables and surveyed semi‐aquatic bugs within streams in old‐growth forest, logged forest, and oil palm plantation with (OPB) and without buffer strips (OP). We recorded the abundance, richness, total biomass, and proportion of juveniles and winged adult individuals of all species, together with the sex ratio of a common morphospecies (Ptilomera sp.), as possible indicators of disturbance effects.Average abundance and average richness, but not total biomass, of all semi‐aquatic bugs were lower in areas with higher habitat disturbance. In particular, average abundance in old‐growth forest was more than two, four, and six times higher than that in logged forest, OPB, and OP, respectively. Average richness in old‐growth forest was higher than in logged forest by two species, but more than two and three times higher than in OPB and OP, respectively.The presence of riparian buffer strips in oil palm had little effect on the abundance and richness of semi‐aquatic bugs. We found no significant differences in the proportion of juveniles, winged adult individuals, or the sex ratio of Ptilomera sp. along the disturbance gradient.In conclusion, oil palm plantations were associated with lower average abundance and richness of semi‐aquatic bugs than forest sites, but community composition did not differ markedly between logged and old‐growth forests. We also found that the forested buffer strips maintained within our oil palm plantation study sites did not protect forest species of semi‐aquatic bugs. Maintaining forest may therefore provide the best option for the conservation of semi‐aquatic bugs, but further studies of the effects of land‐use change and management options are needed across Southeast Asia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rubber plantations have increased significantly under unprecedented economic growth in tropical areas, which leads to soil degradation and thereby alters soil hydrological processes. However, our understanding of how forest conversion affects soil hydrological processes remains unclear. Here, we collected soil samples from secondary forests (SF) and rubber plantations (RP) to determine the soil hydrological characteristics. We found the topsoil (0–20 cm) water retention in SF was higher than that of RP but displayed the contrast pattern in a deeper soil layer (20–60 cm). Meanwhile, the soil infiltration rates among the two vegetation types decreased significantly with infiltration time, with higher stable soil infiltration rates in SF than those in RP. Moreover, soil properties were also impacted by the forest conversion, such as the topsoil capillary porosity (CP) and total porosity (TP) in SF were higher than those of RP but contrasted in a deep soil layer. In comparison, the topsoil bulk density (BD) in SF was lower than that of RP, but contrasted in the deep soil layer and reached a significant level in the 0–10 and 40–50 cm (P  < 0.05). Overall, the soil water retention was mainly determined by the CP, which could explain 31.56% of the total variance in soil water retention, followed by TP (26.57%) and soil BD (26.47%), whereas soil texture exerts a weak effect on soil water retention. Therefore, we can conclude that the conversion of tropical rainforest into rubber plantations may accelerate soil erosion owing to its lower topsoil water retention and soil infiltration rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"The Politics of Deforestation and REDD+ in Indonesia: Global Climate Change Mitigation" by David Aled Williams explores the implementation of the REDD+ program in Indonesia from a political ecology perspective. The book examines the historical dynamics of forest management in Indonesia and highlights the marginalization of local communities' rights. It discusses the challenges faced by the REDD+ program, including lack of support from regional governments and corruption concerns. The author also explores the perspectives of local communities and the power contestation between various parties involved in the program. The book raises important questions about the relationship between politics, economics, and the environment, and sheds light on the social and justice dimensions of environmental policy. [Extracted from the article]