Landscape Ecological and Social–Ecological Approaches in Agro-Ecological System

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, rural areas have suffered from extreme events caused by climate change, ecologically unfriendly farming methods, and other multisource factors. Moreover, the extensive functions performed by agroecological systems, such as soil protection, carbon sequestration, climate change mitigation, as well as sustaining wildlife habitats and conserving species, are largely ignored, thus causing the instability of the agricultural environment and the loss of biodiversity. Restoring and protecting agroecological systems has therefore become a truly significant task in preserving a comprehensive and sound agroecological system surrounded by abundant crops, species, and ecosystems, and eventually leading to human well-being and health.

Ecofriendly, agroecological, and organic farming has been the major trend in the attempts to reduce existing and potential influences which do harm to the entire ecosystem services. As a result, the aim of this Special Issue is to investigate the impacts that land fragmentation and conventional and organic farming methods have on ecosystem services, with the expectation being to make efforts toward sustainable agriculture and bringing both environmental as well as socioeconomic benefits. The topics of this Special Issue include but are not limited to: (1) The impacts of farmland fragmentation on agricultural environment and its surrounding habitats; (2) the changing microclimatic phenomena; (3) hydrology and water quality in rural areas; (4) the relationship between pests and beneficial insects, as well as insect food chains in the rice paddies; (5) data from qualitative interviews of relevant stakeholders, as their opinions and perspectives are of great importance in promoting sustainable agriculture; and finally (6) promoting the Satoyama Initiative and policies, accelerating the discussion of related themes.

Prof. Dr. Yu-Pin Lin
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Li-Pei Peng
Dr. Wan-Yu Lien
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kuo-Tsang Huang
Dr. Melinda Fan
Guest Editors

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