Climate Change and Forest Biodiversity: Impacts and Strategies for Conservation

Dear Colleagues,

The progress of industrial civilization has facilitated the development of human society, but has also resulted in various issues related to population, environment, resources, and energy. Of particular concern is the global change characterized by climate warming, which has emerged as the most severe environmental problem that humanity will face in the 21st century, as the trend of global temperature rise is becoming increasingly evident. Global climate change is increasingly recognized as major threats to global biodiversity, with significant impacts on wildlife populations and ecosystems worldwide. Understanding how species respond to climate change is critical for increasing the effectiveness of conservation efforts and identifying habitats that are vulnerable to climate change for biodiversity conservation.

The research topic focuses on the impact of global climate change on forest biodiversity. The alterations in temperature and precipitation patterns caused by climate change have led to modified ecological conditions, which can have a severe impact on forest ecosystems and their biodiversity. As a result, forest species' distribution, abundance, and diversity, as well as their interactions with one another and their surroundings, may be affected. To mitigate these effects, it is crucial to gain an understanding of the mechanisms behind these changes and to identify potential strategies for addressing them. Through the application of various technological advances such as Ecological Niche Modeling (ENM) and 3S technology, we can more accurately monitor and evaluate forest biodiversity and their responses to climate change. Additionally, advances in genetic analysis can provide a better comprehension of forest species' genetic diversity and their adaptation to changing environmental conditions.

The scope of this research topic is broad and encompasses multiple disciplines, including ecology, climatology, genetics, and conservation biology. Contributors are encouraged to address a wide range of themes related to this topic, including:

• The effects of climate change on biodiversity, including shifts in species distributions and changes in community dynamics.
• The impact of climate change on wildlife habitats, how it leads to habitat changes and species migrations, thereby increasing contact between humans and wildlife. This process may exacerbate human-wildlife conflicts, affecting ecological balance and human livelihoods.
• The role of forests in mitigating climate change, including carbon sequestration, and the impact of deforestation and forest degradation on global greenhouse gas emissions.
• The use of advanced technologies, such as remote sensing and genetic analysis, to monitor and understand changes in forest ecosystems and their biodiversity.
• Conservation and restoration strategies to protect biodiversity in the face of climate change, including reforestation and habitat conservation.
• The social and economic implications of climate change and forest biodiversity loss, including impacts on human livelihoods and the provision of ecosystem services.

Dr. Yunchuan Dai
Guest Editor

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• climate change
• biodiversity conservation
• forest ecosystem assessment
• ecosystem service
• human-wildlife conflicts