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Forests
Special Issues
Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management
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Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Forestry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 4897

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jianping Wu

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Guest Editor
Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Remote Sensing and Geographical Information System, Guangdong Open Laboratory of Geospatial Information Technology and Application, Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
Interests: forest ecosystem; soil organic carbon; remote sensing; climate change; urban forest ecosystem
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Xin Xiong

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Guest Editor
Jiangxi Provincial Key Laboratory of Carbon Neutrality and Ecosystem Carbon Sink, Lushan Botanical Garden, Jiangxi Province and Chinese Academy of Sciences, Jiujiang, China
Interests: ecosystem carbon sink function; forest ecology and management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jianling Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Vegetation Restoration and Management of Degraded Ecosystems, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Botany, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China
Interests: soil carbon cycle in terrestrial ecosystems; soil organic carbon sequestration
Dr. Zhongbing Chang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of Natural Resources Monitoring in Tropical and Subtropical Area of South China, Surveying and Mapping Institute Lands and Resource Department of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou 510663, China
Interests: remote sensing; forest biomass; forest carbon; ecosystem service; land use/cover change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Forests and urban green spaces are essential components of the global ecosystem, providing critical services that sustain both natural environments and human populations. These ecosystems contribute to carbon sequestration, water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and the enhancement of air and soil quality. Additionally, urban green spaces offer recreational and aesthetic benefits, contributing to human well-being and health.

This Special Issue aims to compile cutting-edge research focused on the ecological aspects of forest and urban green space ecosystems. We invite contributions that examine the interactions between these ecosystems and external factors such as climate change and land use and cover changes, and innovative management practices that enhance their resilience and sustainability. We welcome submissions that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  1. Assessment of Ecosystem Services:
  • Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of ecosystem services provided by forests and urban green spaces.
  • Tools and methodologies for assessing these services at various scales.
  • Case studies highlighting the importance of ecosystem services in diverse regions.
  1. Interaction between Ecosystem and Climate Change/Land Use and Cover Change:
  • The impact of climate change on forest and urban green space ecosystems.
  • Adaptive management practices to mitigate and adapt to climate change effects.
  • The role of these ecosystems in climate regulation and their potential for carbon sequestration.
  • The effects of land use changes, such as urbanization and deforestation, on forest and urban green space ecosystems.
  • Strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of land use change on ecosystem services.
  • Monitoring and managing ecosystem changes in response to land use dynamics.
  1. Biodiversity and Conservation:
  • The relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services in forest and urban green space environments.
  • Conservation strategies to preserve and enhance biodiversity in these ecosystems.
  • The effects of habitat fragmentation and urbanization on ecosystem services.
  1. Technological Innovations:
  • The application of remote sensing and GIS in monitoring and managing forest and urban green space ecosystems.
  • Advances in ecological modeling and big data analytics for ecosystem service assessment.
  • Technological solutions for the restoration and enhancement of ecosystem functions.
  1. Sustainable Management Practices:
  • Innovative strategies for the sustainable management of forests and urban green spaces.
  • Ecological restoration techniques aimed at enhancing ecosystem resilience.
  • Case studies on successful management practices in different ecological contexts.

Dr. Jianping Wu
Dr. Xin Xiong
Dr. Jianling Li
Dr. Zhongbing Chang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • forest ecosystem
  • urban green space ecosystem
  • ecosystem services
  • forest management
  • climate change
  • land use and cover change

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4269 KiB  
Article
Ecological Stoichiometry Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Soil Carbon, Nitrogen, and Phosphorus in Green Spaces Along the Urban-to-Rural Gradient of Nanchang, China
by Juan Wang, Qingpei Yang, Ting Zhou, Zhanhong Wang and Benfeng Yu
Forests 2025, 16(4), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16040644 - 8 Apr 2025
Viewed by 296
Abstract
Analyzing the soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content, along with their stoichiometric ratios across different urban-rural gradients, can offer essential insights into enhancing soil quality and the sustainable management of urban green space ecosystems. This study focused on Nanchang, China, examining two typical [...] Read more.
Analyzing the soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content, along with their stoichiometric ratios across different urban-rural gradients, can offer essential insights into enhancing soil quality and the sustainable management of urban green space ecosystems. This study focused on Nanchang, China, examining two typical urban forest types (Pinus massoniana forests and Camphora officinarum forests), two typical urban wetlands types (river wetlands and pond wetlands), as well as urban natural and artificial grasslands. It analyzed the distribution characteristics of organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and their stoichiometric ratios along the “urban-suburban-rural” gradients in surface (0–20 cm) and deep (20–40 cm) soil. The results indicated that in the deep soil of Pinus massoniana forests, rural areas exhibited significantly higher SOC content compared to suburban areas. In the surface soil of Camphora officinarum forests, the TN content and N:P were significantly greater in urban areas compared to rural areas (p < 0.05). Both soil layers in river wetlands showed significantly higher soil TN levels in urban areas compared to rural areas. Additionally, in the deep soil of pond wetlands, urban areas showed significantly greater TN content, C:P, and N:P, compared to rural areas (p < 0.05). For natural grasslands, soil C:N was significantly more in suburban and rural areas than in urban areas for both soil layers. In artificial grasslands, the SOC content in deep soil was significantly greater in rural areas compared to urban areas (p < 0.05). In the deep soil of suburban areas, soil TP content in Camphora officinarum forests was highly significantly greater than that in Pinus massoniana forests (p < 0.01). The SOC, TN content, and C:P were considerably higher in pond wetlands compared to river wetlands (p < 0.05). The SOC content of natural grasslands was significantly higher compared to artificial grasslands (p < 0.05). Nitrate nitrogen was highly significantly and positively correlated with soil N:P in the deep soil of Pinus massoniana forests (p < 0.01), and soil pH was highly significantly and negatively correlated with soil N:P in the surface soil of pond wetlands (p < 0.01). The urbanization process has altered the SOC, TN, and TP nutrient status to some extent, exacerbating the imbalance of nutrient elements in green space soils along the “urban-suburban-rural” gradients. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management)
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27 pages, 5335 KiB  
Article
Response of Leaf Functional Traits and Rhizosphere Microbial Communities of Castanopsis hystrix in Three Subtropical Plantations with Leguminous or Non-Leguminous Trees
by Yufen Wu, Shihong Zhang, Genglin Xie, Yanqing Shao, Shi Shi, Jieyu Lin, Qinggong Mao and Yuling Li
Forests 2025, 16(2), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16020367 - 18 Feb 2025
Viewed by 539
Abstract
Mixing and matching N2-fixing leguminous species is a crucial strategy to enhance quality and efficiency in sustainable forestry. Tree leaves and rhizosphere are primary sites for matter and energy exchange, functioning as key assimilation organs that forests provide for ecological services. [...] Read more.
Mixing and matching N2-fixing leguminous species is a crucial strategy to enhance quality and efficiency in sustainable forestry. Tree leaves and rhizosphere are primary sites for matter and energy exchange, functioning as key assimilation organs that forests provide for ecological services. The introduction of functional species alters soil properties, which, in turn, directly or indirectly shape leaf functional traits, soil microbial dynamics, and their association. However, the correlation between aboveground functional traits and belowground rhizosphere soil microorganisms of dominant tree species in mixed leguminous and non-leguminous forests remains unclear. In this study, the responses and correlations of leaf functional traits and rhizosphere soil microbial communities of Castanopsis hystrix Hook. f. & Thomson ex A. DC. across three forest types were investigated. A pure forest (PF) of C. hystrix was designated as control forest, while a leguminous mixed forest (LMF) consisting of C. hystrix and the leguminous species Acacia mangium Willd. as well as a non-leguminous mixed forest (NMF) comprising C. hystrix and the non-leguminous species Schima superba Gardner & Champ. served as experimental forests. Seven leaf functional trait indices were measured, and the high-throughput sequencing of soil microbial communities was included in the analysis. The results were as follows: Firstly, compared to the pure forest, the specific leaf area (SLA) of C. hystrix significantly decreased in both mixed forest types (p < 0.05). Additionally, in comparison to the pure forest, the leaf area (LA) and leaf organic carbon content (LOC) of C. hystrix significantly reduced (p < 0.05), whereas the leaf total phosphorus content (LTP) significantly increased in the non-leguminous tree species mixed forest (p < 0.01). The leaf dry matter content (LDMC), relative chlorophyll content (RCC), and leaf total nitrogen content (LTN) of C. hystrix exhibited no significant differences among the three forest types (p > 0.05). Secondly, neither the dominant phyla of rhizosphere soil microorganisms nor the bacterial richness and diversity had differences in the mixed forests. However, the richness and diversity of rhizosphere soil fungi significantly increased in the mixed forests, and those in the leguminous mixed forest exhibited more positive effects compared to those in the non-leguminous mixed forest. Finally, redundancy analysis (RDA) showed significant correlations between plant leaf functional traits and rhizosphere soil microorganisms. Specifically, LDMC, SLA, LTN, and LTP of C. hystrix showed significant correlations with differences in the structure of bacterial community (p < 0.05), and LTN was significantly correlated with differences in the structure of the fungal community (p < 0.05). In summary, we found that plant leaf functional traits and the community of rhizosphere soil microorganisms displayed significant differences in the mixed forests, and those mixed with leguminous trees may further enhance the assimilation processes by modifying the utilization of nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus by plants and microorganisms. Meanwhile, our results support the interaction of physiological and ecological processes between the aboveground and belowground parts of C. hystrix. These findings emphasize the important roles of N2-fixing leguminous trees and synergy of aboveground–belowground processes in establishing sustainable artificial forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management)
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22 pages, 6555 KiB  
Article
Mangrove Extraction from Compact Polarimetric Synthetic Aperture Radar Images Based on Optimal Feature Combinations
by Sijing Shu, Ji Yang, Wenlong Jing, Chuanxun Yang and Jianping Wu
Forests 2024, 15(11), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15112047 - 20 Nov 2024
Viewed by 867
Abstract
As a polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode capable of simultaneously acquiring abundant surface information and conducting large-width observations, compact polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (CP SAR) holds great promise for mangrove dynamics monitoring. Nevertheless, there have been no studies on mangrove identification using [...] Read more.
As a polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode capable of simultaneously acquiring abundant surface information and conducting large-width observations, compact polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (CP SAR) holds great promise for mangrove dynamics monitoring. Nevertheless, there have been no studies on mangrove identification using CP SAR. This study aims to explore the potential of C-band CP SAR for mangrove monitoring applications, with the objective of identifying the most effective CP SAR descriptors for mangrove discrimination. A systematic comparison of 52 well-known CP features is provided, utilizing CP SAR data derived from the reconstruction of C-band Gaofen-3 quad-polarimetric data. Among all the features, Shannon entropy (SE), a random polarimetric constituent (VB), Shannon entropy (SEI), and the Bragg backscattering constituent (VG) exhibited the best performance. By combining these four features, we designed three supervised classifiers—support vector machine (SVM), maximum likelihood (ML), and artificial neural network (ANN)—for comparative analysis experiments. The results demonstrated that the optimal polarimetric feature combination not only reduced the redundancy of polarimetric feature data but also enhanced overall accuracy. The highest accuracy of mangrove extraction reached 98.04%. Among the three classifiers, SVM outperformed the other classifiers in mangrove extraction, while ML achieved the highest overall classification accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management)
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19 pages, 8187 KiB  
Article
Impact of Climate and Vegetation Dynamics on the Ecosystem Services of Subtropical Forests—A Case Study of Baishanzu National Park Area, China
by Jiahui Zhong, Hongwen Yao, Wei Liu, Yong Zhang, Jie Lin, Jiang Jiang and Chaorui Wang
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1850; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111850 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1044
Abstract
Forest ecosystems, as the primary component of terrestrial ecosystems, provide essential ecosystem services (ESs) critical for sustainable human development. However, changes in climate and vegetation can alter these forest ESs. Understanding the complex relationships between regional climate, vegetation, and ESs is key to [...] Read more.
Forest ecosystems, as the primary component of terrestrial ecosystems, provide essential ecosystem services (ESs) critical for sustainable human development. However, changes in climate and vegetation can alter these forest ESs. Understanding the complex relationships between regional climate, vegetation, and ESs is key to ensuring the sustainable management of forest ESs. Therefore, this study, using Baishanzu National Park as a case example, analyzed the impacts of regional climate and vegetation dynamics (vegetation coverage, forest type, and forest structure) on forest ESs, specifically water yield (WY), soil conservation (SC), net primary productivity (NPP), and habitat quality (HQ). The results indicate that from 2000 to 2020, the forest Composite Index of Ecosystem Services (CIES) in Baishanzu National Park increased. Climate and vegetation dynamics have significant effects on forest ESs. Specifically, changes in WY and SC are primarily influenced by climate change, while changes in NPP and HQ are mainly affected by changes in forest type and structure. Complex trade-offs and synergies exist among different ESs, and the driving mechanisms of climate and vegetation changes on ES variations are also complex, involving both direct and indirect effects, with significant spatial heterogeneity. This study provides important references for the sustainable management and appropriate restoration of regional forest ESs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management)
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17 pages, 7671 KiB  
Article
Carbon Sequestration and Landscape Influences in Urban Greenspace Coverage Variability: A High-Resolution Remote Sensing Study in Luohe, China
by Jing Huang, Peihao Song, Xiaojuan Liu, Ang Li, Xinyu Wang, Baoguo Liu and Yuan Feng
Forests 2024, 15(11), 1849; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15111849 - 23 Oct 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
Urbanization has significantly altered urban landscape patterns, leading to a continuous reduction in the proportion of green spaces. As critical carbon sinks in urban carbon cycles, urban green spaces play an indispensable role in mitigating climate change. This study aims to evaluate the [...] Read more.
Urbanization has significantly altered urban landscape patterns, leading to a continuous reduction in the proportion of green spaces. As critical carbon sinks in urban carbon cycles, urban green spaces play an indispensable role in mitigating climate change. This study aims to evaluate the carbon capture and storage potential of urban green spaces in Luohe, China, and identify the landscape factors influencing carbon sequestration. The research combines on-site data collection with high-resolution remote sensing, utilizing the i-Tree Eco model to estimate carbon sequestration rates across areas with varying levels of greenery. The study reveals that the carbon sequestration capacity of urban green spaces in Luohe City is 1.30 t·C·ha−1·yr−1. Among various vegetation indices, the Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) explains urban green space carbon sequestration most effectively through an exponential model (R2 = 0.65, AIC = 136.5). At the city-wide scale, areas with higher greening rates, better connectivity, and more complex edge morphology exhibit superior carbon sequestration efficiency. The explanatory power of key landscape indices on carbon sequestration is 78% across the study area, with variations of 71.5%, 62%, and 84.9% for low, medium, and high greening rate areas, respectively. Moreover, when greening rates reach a certain threshold, maintaining and optimizing the quality of existing green spaces becomes more critical than simply expanding the green area. These insights provide valuable guidance for urban planners and policymakers on enhancing the ecological functions of urban green spaces during urban development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Forest and Urban Green Space Ecosystem Services and Management)
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