Landscape and Vegetation Characterisation

Dear Colleagues,

Landscape and vegetation characterization involves the study and description of physical features of an area and of both its natural and human-made features, including plant and animal life that exists and grows there, and human interference. This can involve mapping, monitoring, and analysing the geology, topography, soil, climate, and hydrology of an area, as well as the types, distribution and abundance of vegetation and wildlife. Landscape and vegetation characterization also looks forward to the principles of landscape ecology, metrics, spatial and configurational analysis, and predictive modelling tools.

Landscape and vegetation characterization is frequently used for environmental and conservation purposes, such as to understand the impacts of land use on natural systems, to identify and map ecosystems, to assess the health and viability of plant and animal populations and in ecosystem modelling. The tools of vegetation characterisation and analysis are widely used in habitat classification, landscape conservation and spatial planning. Techniques used in landscape and vegetation characterization may include field observations, remote sensing, and spatial analysis using geographic information systems (GIS). These can also be used for land-use planning and resource management, as well as for scientific research and education. In the dynamic paradigms of landscape and vegetation characterisation approaches, including theories and philosophies, it is interesting to have a fresh look at the discipline, and document the best of the recent works in these directions.

This Special Issue aims to present updated knowledge relating to landscape and vegetation characterisation, including analysis, considers the integration of vegetation analysis for characterisation, mapping and conservation assessment of landscapes. This Special Issue aims at including the following topics:

• biodiversity characterisation;
• biophysical environment;
• change detection;
• ecological characterisation;
• ecological modelling/spatial tools;
• habitat prioritization and suitability;
• landscape assessment protocol;
• landscape characterisation and mapping;
• landscape conservation surveying;
• landscape dynamics and monitoring;
• landscape ecology;
• landscape naturalness;
• landscape planning framework;
• multi-sensor/multi-resolution sensing of forests/landscapes;
• phytosociological and ecological characteristics;
• scales of ecological organization;
• urban forest landscape—structure, function, conservation and dynamics;
• vegetation analysis and characteristics;
• vegetation biophysical characterisations and remote sensing;
• vegetation composition, structure, and function

Prof. Dr. Akhlaq A. Wani
Dr. Kalev Sepp
Dr. Ajay Sharma
Dr. Pawan Kumar Joshi
Guest Editors

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