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Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainability, Biodiversity and Conservation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 23815

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Dr. Eve Bohnett

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Guest Editor

Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
Interests: biodiversity conservation; landscape ecology; community ecology; statistical analysis; conservation planning; network science; sustainable development
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Li An

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Guest Editor

Department of Geography. San Diego State University, San Diego, CA, USA
Interests: data science; applied spatial statistics; artificial intelligence; applications in landscape ecology and complex human–environment systems.

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forest ecosystems play iconic roles in biodiversity conservation, harboring invaluable terrestrial biodiversity while providing and regulating important ecosystem services such as water supply, carbon sequestration, and vegetation for human consumption needs. Deforestation and forest degradation show alarming rates globally despite efforts to change local and regional sustainable forest management to curb carbon emissions and regulate local timber harvests. Global initiatives prioritize both biodiversity and ecosystem services for supporting policy decisions about forest ecosystems. However, biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services tend to harbor trade-offs and synergies that vary spatially, economically, and politically, further complicating the ability to enact comprehensive interventions for landscapes undergoing anthropogenic conversions. There are ongoing and pressing needs for local and regional assessments that can plan jointly for ecosystem services and diversity to achieve both targets.

This Special Issue of Sustainability is focused on examining the synergies and trade-offs between biodiversity and ecosystem services for forest ecosystems across a spectrum of socio-ecological systems. In recent years, there a better capacity to improve our understanding of ecosystem services and biodiversity as a coupled human–natural system has existed. Research articles may focus on integrating research between forest biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services provisioning, including metrics/methods for quantifying biodiversity or ecosystem services; mapping biodiversity or ecosystem services, numeric models for biodiversity, or ecosystem service changes; linking biodiversity, ecosystem services, and humans; understanding spatial relationships; examining alternative futures, and recognizing the interplay between policy scopes and policy mixes.

Dr. Eve Bohnett
Prof. Li An
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

forest ecosystems
terrestrial biodiversity
ecosystem services

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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6 pages, 213 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Special Issue Editorial: Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems

by Eve Bohnett and Li An

Sustainability 2023, 15(23), 16364; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152316364 - 28 Nov 2023

Viewed by 725

Abstract

With the degradation and destruction of ecosystem structures and functions, humans are losing essential goods and services from forest ecosystems [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

Research

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23 pages, 1457 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Implications of Community Forest Income on Social and Environmental Sustainability

by Eve Bohnett, Sanju Lamichhane, Yanjing Tracy Liu, Scott Yabiku, Digambar Singh Dahal, Siraj Mammo, Kossi Fandjinou, Bilal Ahmad and Li An

Sustainability 2023, 15(8), 6603; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15086603 - 13 Apr 2023

Viewed by 1892

Abstract

Community forestry is a strategy in which communities are, to some degree, responsible for managing the forests, using a more participatory approach to replace the traditional top-down model. Various forms of policies and governance have been developed to balance goals to ensure the community’s socioeconomic resilience and the landscape’s biological sustainability. The reinvestment of community forest (CF) income back into forest regeneration is not well documented, and there is a lack of research comparing forest income to the costs associated with forest regeneration. This research examines how changes in timber income and forest-regeneration costs affected CF social and ecological viability. We conducted expert elicitation interviews for CFs (n = 33) under three zones of management in Chitwan, Nepal (Zone 1: buffer zone, Zone 2: forest corridor, and Zone 3: community forest). To examine how CFs differ financially, we asked questions regarding timber income and forest-regeneration expenditures and then posed 22 questions regarding socioeconomic and biological aspects of the CF. Finally, a Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum test was performed to determine whether there were statistically significant differences in perceptions between groups, including zone, timber income (high, medium, low), and forest-regeneration expenditures (high, medium, low). The amount of income from timber had a substantial impact on the communities’ biological benefits and financial stability. Lower timber-income areas were thought to be less economically stable, lack the resources to enforce rules and regulations necessary to meet the CF’s socioeconomic or biological goals, and place more significant restrictions on the amount of wood members can harvest from the forest. Communities that spent less money on forest regeneration reported poorer levels of forest regeneration, economic sustainability, and community rights. Our research shows that community-forest user groups in the Chitwan district have a significant income and expenditure gap between their forests’ biological and socioeconomic advantages and resilience. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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15 pages, 3649 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Anthropogenic Threats on Species Diversity: A Case Study of the Sub-Himalayan Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests of Pakistan

by Naveed Alam, Eve Bohnett, Muhammad Zafar, Hassan Sher, Bilal Ahmad, Mohamed Fawzy Ramadan, Mushtaq Ahmad, Zahid Ullah, Ahmad Ali, Shujaul Mulk Khan and Kashmala Syed

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2829; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032829 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

Effective forest conservation and management needs to consider ecological factors and the susceptibility of different tree species to anthropogenic activity. Dry deciduous forests in the tropics have been undervalued because of their low timber production compared to temperate and boreal forests. In order to quantify the current significance of Pakistan’s tropical dry deciduous forests in relation to ecological variables and anthropogenic threats, a broad phytosociological survey was conducted. In the study area, a total of 140 species of woody plants belonging to 52 families were identified. The cluster analysis depicts the distribution of nine plant communities in five clusters, in which Dodonaea viscosa-Acacia modesta-Dulbergia sissoo community was the most dominant community, showing cosmopolitan distribution in the study area. The results are further authenticated by DCA and CCA analyses, which indicate that altitude, precipitation, and temperature are the most important factors influencing the distribution and composition of tropical dry deciduous forests along the Himalayan foothills. In the study area, an annual fuelwood consumption of 270.38 tons was recorded. It was discovered that high-altitude forests were subject to extensive tree harvesting, overgrazing, browsing, and high fuelwood consumption. In addition, these forests have a low regeneration rate from 4.5 to 4.8 seedlings/quadrat, due to extensive human activities. Remarkable differences in the anthropogenic pressure and disturbances were found in the protected and unprotected forests. Based on our findings, we recommend that: (i) Immediate management intervention and an in-situ conservation strategy must be implemented in areas exposed to high levels of anthropogenic threats. (ii) Unsustainable grazing and fuelwood collection must be managed, and high-threat areas must be immediately prohibited. (iii) The local populace must be made aware of the grave consequences of anthropogenic disturbances, and a collaborative management strategy must be implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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22 pages, 3175 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Flora and Typology of Wetlands of Haho River Watershed, Togo

by Fousséni Folega, Madjouma Kanda, Kossi Fandjinou, Eve Bohnett, Kperkouma Wala, Komlan Batawila and Koffi Akpagana

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2814; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032814 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1464

Abstract

Wetlands are recognized as hotspots of biodiversity and providers of several ecosystem services, including water purification, sediment stabilization, and flood, erosion, and climate regulation. This article aims to investigate the floristic diversity of the wetlands the Haho River watershed in southern Togo. Spatial data from Astrium service and Google Earth were collected, and phytosociological data were classified following the Braun–Blanquet approach. The findings indicate that 72 families in total have evolved in this environment, with Poaceae (14.95%) and Fabaceae (11.98%) dominating. The number of species was estimated to be 323; the three species that were most prevalent in the wetland’s habitats were Elaeis guineensis Jacq (2.44%), Panicum maximum Jacq (2.29%), and Lonchocarpus sericeus (Poir) H. B. K. (1.71%). The most prevalent and abundant life forms in these moist habitats were micro-phanerophytes (34.70%) and therophytes (23.50%). However, the most common and abundant chorological categories included pantropical (31.05%) and Guinean-Congolese species (21.46%). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to examine how abiotic parameters, including depth/degree of immersion, influence the distribution of plant species in a wetland landscape. This research has the potential to be developed into a more robust action study for wetland classification and recognition. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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18 pages, 1966 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Rural Out-Migration on Household Participation in Community Forest Management? Evidence from the Middle Hills of Nepal

by Rajesh Bista, Sophia Graybill, Qi Zhang, Richard E. Bilsborrow and Conghe Song

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2185; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15032185 - 24 Jan 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1555

Abstract

Rural out-migration was a rare socio-economic phenomenon when community forestry began in the 1980s in Nepal. Now, out-migration significantly influences nearly every aspect of rural livelihoods in the country. However, it is unclear how out-migration affects community forestry governance, which is essential for sustainable rural development. Therefore, this paper addresses the following research question: Does rural out-migration affect forest users’ participation in community forestry decision-making and management practices? This paper draws on data collected from an extensive survey of 415 households from 15 community forest user groups in 2 Mid-Hill districts of Nepal. The research used ordered-logit regression to model the impacts of out-migration on participation in forest management and decision-making, while controlling for a number of other socio-economic factors. The model results show that total household size and number of internal migrants, together with multiple resource characteristics and institutional attributes, were major factors affecting participation in decision-making and forest management. However, the number of international migrants did not have a significant role in determining the levels of the participation. This study provides valuable insights for future community forestry policymaking that aims to address the effects of out-migration on community forest management in Nepal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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20 pages, 6518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Participatory Mapping for Strengthening Environmental Governance on Socio-Ecological Impacts of Infrastructure in the Amazon: Lessons to Improve Tools and Strategies

by Carla Mere-Roncal, Gabriel Cardoso Carrero, Andrea Birgit Chavez, Angelica Maria Almeyda Zambrano, Bette Loiselle, Felipe Veluk Gutierrez, Vanessa Luna-Celino, Marliz Arteaga, Eduardo Schmitz Bongiolo, André Segura Tomasi, Paul André Van Damme, Dennis Edgar Lizarro Zapata and Eben North Broadbent

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 14048; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132414048 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3208

Abstract

The Amazon region has been viewed as a source of economic growth based on extractive industry and large-scale infrastructure development endeavors, such as roads, dams, oil and gas pipelines and mining. International and national policies advocating for the development of the Amazon often conflict with the environmental sector tasked with conserving its unique ecosystems and peoples through a sustainable development agenda. New practices of environmental governance can help mitigate adverse socio-economic and ecological effects. For example, forming a “community of practice and learning” (CoP-L) is an approach for improving governance via collaboration and knowledge exchange. The Governance and Infrastructure in the Amazon (GIA) project, in which this study is embedded, has proposed that fostering a CoP-L on tools and strategies to improve infrastructure governance can serve as a mechanism to promote learning and action on factors related to governance effectiveness. A particular tool used by the GIA project for generating and sharing knowledge has been participatory mapping (Pmap). This study analyzes Pmap exercises conducted through workshops in four different Amazonian regions. The goal of Pmap was to capture different perspectives from stakeholders based on their experiences and interests to visualize and reflect on (1) areas of value, (2) areas of concern and (3) recommended actions related to reducing impacts of infrastructure development and improvement of governance processes. We used a mixed-methods approach to explore textual analysis, regional multi-iteration discussion with stakeholders, participatory mapping and integration with ancillary geospatial datasets. We believe that by sharing local-knowledge-driven data and strengthening multi-actor dialogue and collaboration, this novel approach can improve day to day practices of CoP-L members and, therefore, the transparency of infrastructure planning and good governance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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15 pages, 1523 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sex-Specific Habitat Suitability Modeling for Panthera tigris in Chitwan National Park, Nepal: Broader Conservation Implications

by Li An, Eve Bohnett, Curtis Battle, Jie Dai, Rebecca Lewison, Piotr Jankowski, Neil Carter, Dirgha Ghimire, Maheshwar Dhakal, Jhamak Karki and Alex Zvoleff

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13885; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132413885 - 15 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3092

Abstract

Although research on wildlife species across taxa has shown that males and females may differentially select habitat, sex-specific habitat suitability models for endangered species are uncommon. We developed sex-specific models for Bengal tigers (Panthera tigris) based on camera trapping data collected from 20 January to 22 March 2010 within Chitwan National Park, Nepal, and its buffer zone. We compared these to a sex-indiscriminate habitat suitability model to assess the benefits of a sex-specific approach to habitat suitability modeling. Our sex-specific models produced more informative and detailed habitat suitability maps and highlighted vital differences in the spatial distribution of suitable habitats for males and females, specific associations with different vegetation types, and habitat use near human settlements. Improving and refining habitat models for this and other critically endangered species provides the necessary information to meet established conservation goals and population recovery targets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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20 pages, 989 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluating Attitudes towards Large Carnivores within the Great Bear Rainforest

by Max C. Leveridge, Amélie Y. Davis and Sarah L. Dumyahn

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13270; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313270 - 30 Nov 2021

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2396

Abstract

Cohabitation between humans and carnivores is vital to the continued existence and integrity of ecosystems, often playing a large role in the success of large carnivore conservation. We focus on interactions between humans and carnivores in the world’s largest, relatively intact temperate rainforest—The Great Bear Rainforest (GBR), British Columbia, Canada. Specifically, we focus on residents of Prince Rupert, a city within the GBR, and examine its residents’ ecological and relational attitudes towards the surrounding area of protected rainforest and the large carnivores present in the area. We aim to determine the strength of public attitudes and values of the environment and carnivores in the GBR, and to examine whether they differ between First Nations and non-First Nations residents of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. We conducted 28 semi-structured interviews of Prince Rupert residents. At the start of the interview, respondents self-administered a survey consisting of statements from the Social Ecological Relational Value and the New Ecological Paradigm scales. We find no significant difference between First Nations and non-First Nations respondent attitudes. This is possibly due to three factors: (1) cultural influence from the local First Nations, (2) the fact that these carnivores are important for the local economy through tourism, and (3) a strong sense of place associated with the area and the carnivores that inhabit it regardless of positive or negative encounters with these animals. While we find positive attitudes towards carnivores and little evidence of human–wildlife conflict, feelings towards carnivores encountered in town or while hiking tend to be negative, especially when they involve wolves. In order to mitigate these effects in a way that protects these valuable creatures, respondents overwhelmingly clamored for a conservation officer to be assigned to Prince Rupert. We conclude that policy and management might alleviate human–carnivore conflicts in the area should our results be corroborated by studies with larger sample sizes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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14 pages, 1501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling Potential Distribution of Snow Leopards in Pamir, Northern Pakistan: Implications for Human–Snow Leopard Conflicts

by Wajid Rashid, Jianbin Shi, Inam ur Rahim, Muhammad Qasim, Muhammad Naveed Baloch, Eve Bohnett, Fangyuan Yang, Imran Khan and Bilal Ahmad

Sustainability 2021, 13(23), 13229; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132313229 - 29 Nov 2021

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3214

Abstract

The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is a cryptic and rare big cat inhabiting Asia’s remote and harsh elevated areas. Its population has decreased across the globe for various reasons, including human–snow leopard conflicts (HSCs). Understanding the snow leopard’s distribution range and habitat interactions with human/livestock is essential for understanding the ecological context in which HSCs occur and thus gives insights into how to mitigate HSCs. In this study, a MaxEnt model predicted the snow leopard’s potential distribution and analyzed the land use/cover to determine the habitat interactions of snow leopards with human/livestock in Karakoram–Pamir, northern Pakistan. The results indicated an excellent model performance for predicting the species’ potential distribution. The variables with higher contributions to the model were the mean diurnal temperature range (51.7%), annual temperature range (18.5%), aspect (14.2%), and land cover (6.9%). The model predicted approximately 10% of the study area as a highly suitable habitat for snow leopards. Appropriate areas included those at an altitude ranging from 2721 to 4825 m, with a mean elevation of 3796.9 ± 432 m, overlapping between suitable snow leopard habitats and human presence. The human encroachment (human settlements and agriculture) in suitable snow leopard habitat increased by 115% between 2008 and 2018. Increasing encroachment and a clear overlap between snow leopard suitable habitat and human activities, signs of growing competition between wildlife and human/livestock for limited rangeland resources, may have contributed to increasing HSCs. A sound land use plan is needed to minimize overlaps between suitable snow leopard habitat and human presence to mitigate HSCs in the long run. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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Review

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28 pages, 1137 KiB

Open AccessReview

Paradox of Deadwood Circular Bioeconomy in Kenya’s Public Forests

by Sylvester Ngome Chisika, Joon Park and Chunho Yeom

Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7051; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13137051 - 23 Jun 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2307

Abstract

With the rising demand for energy, the forest-based circular bioeconomy is gaining recognition as a strategy for sustainable production and consumption of forest resources. However, the forest-based bioeconomy remains underexplored from the perspective of deadwood conservation in public forests. While conducting a literature review and examining the case of Kenya, this study fills a gap in the literature to provide policy suggestions for sustainable forest resource utilization. The results from global literature indicate that deadwood performs essential social, economic, and environmental functions in the circular bioeconomy and sustainable development. Similarly, in Kenya, deadwood resources provide many socially beneficial bioproducts and services. However, the absence of scientific research and detailed guidelines for deadwood conservation may lead to the distortion of the ecological balance in public forests because of the legally sanctioned removal of deadwood, particularly firewood. Moreover, if the status quo remains, with approximately 70% of the growing population consuming deadwood for domestic use and the demand increasing, as shown by the current wood deficit in the country, there will be a major dilemma concerning whether to conserve deadwood for biodiversity or energy. Therefore, averting crisis and providing maximum deadwood value to society requires guidelines and comprehensive research in addition to a cultural and behavioral shift in energy consumption in a manner that embraces the forest-based circular bioeconomy of deadwood. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in Forest Ecosystems)

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