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Land
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Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and...
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Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and Education

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Ecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 September 2025 | Viewed by 2495

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Eusebio Cano Carmona

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Animal and Plant Biology and Ecology, Section of Botany, University of Jaén, Campus Las Lagunillas s/n., 23071 Jaén, Spain
Interests: diversity; flora; vegetation; ecology; agriculture; conservation; bioclimatology; biogeography; methodologies; science teaching
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary journal of Land—within the scope of its editorial policy, in view of the complex situations on the influence of environmental factors on terrestrial forest ecosystems, and with the pressing danger on the conservation of different habitats and their biodiversity—is launching this Special Issue, entitled “Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and Education”. Its aim is to offer researchers from different disciplines the possibility of publishing their research and exchanging knowledge. Research has a great impact on society as a whole; therefore, research, management and education must be closely connected. Given that terrestrial ecosystems are highly affected by anthropogenic actions, it is necessary to establish connections between various subject areas in order to offer solutions. Therefore, topics that involve several disciplines will be particularly welcome. Thus, papers will be accepted on socioeconomic factors, agriculture, forestry, climate, bioclimate, biogeography, climate change, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and vegetation education, vegetation responses to fire and climate change, vegetation cover and soil conservation, sustainable natural resources, and knowledge of ecosystem services—as long as they have fundamentally cover the influence of environmental components on terrestrial vegetation. Other environmental research with less of an impact on sustainable development, combining exploitation and conservation, will also be taken into account.

The aim of this Special Issue is to compile papers (original research articles and review articles) that provide ideas on the connection between research, management and education, with the fundamental goal of achieving balanced development that maintains land cover.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

  • Social resilience;
  • Sustainable development;
  • Access to ecosystem services;
  • Agricultural and environmental impacts;
  • Deforestation of vegetation;
  • Fires and vegetation;
  • Climate change and vegetation dynamics;
  • Management and social education.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Dr. Eusebio Cano Carmona
Guest Editor

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. Land 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

  • botany
  • soil science
  • grasslands
  • forests
  • shrublands
  • dynamics
  • ecology
  • teaching
  • management
  • climate

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 2022 KiB  
Article
Impact of Slow-Forming Terraces on Erosion Control and Landscape Restoration in Central Africa’s Steep Slopes
by Jean Marie Vianney Nsabiyumva, Ciro Apollonio, Giulio Castelli, Elena Bresci, Andrea Petroselli, Mohamed Sabir, Cyrille Hicintuka and Federico Preti
Land 2025, 14(7), 1419; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071419 - 6 Jul 2025
Viewed by 362
Abstract
Large-scale land restoration projects require on-the-ground monitoring and evidence-based evaluation. This study, part of the World Bank Burundi Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project (in French: Projet de Restauration et de Résilience du Paysage du Burundi-PRRPB), examines the impact of slow-forming terraces on surface [...] Read more.
Large-scale land restoration projects require on-the-ground monitoring and evidence-based evaluation. This study, part of the World Bank Burundi Landscape Restoration and Resilience Project (in French: Projet de Restauration et de Résilience du Paysage du Burundi-PRRPB), examines the impact of slow-forming terraces on surface conditions and erosion in Isare (Mumirwa) and Buhinyuza (Eastern Depressions), Burundi. Slow-forming, or progressive, terraces were installed on 16 December 2022 (Isare) and 30 December 2022 (Buhinyuza), featuring ditches and soil bunds to enhance soil and water conservation. Twelve plots were established, with 132 measurement pins, of which 72 were in non-terraced plots (n_PT) and 60 were in terraced plots (PT). Monthly measurements, conducted until May 2023, assessed erosion reduction, surface conditions, roughness, and soil thickness. Terracing reduced soil loss by 54% in Isare and 9% in Buhinyuza, though sediment accumulation in ditches was excessive, especially in n_PT. Anti-erosion ditches improved surface stability by reducing slope length, lowering erosion and runoff. Covered Surface (CoS%) exceeded 95%, while Opened Surface (OS%) and Bare Surface (BS%) declined significantly. At Isare, OS% dropped from 97% to 80%, and BS% from 96% to 3% in PT. Similar trends appeared in Buhinyuza. Findings highlight PRRPB effectiveness in this short-term timeframe, and provide insights for soil conservation in steep-slope regions of Central Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and Education)
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19 pages, 1751 KiB  
Article
Mid-Term Evaluation of Herbaceous Cover Restoration on Skid Trails Following Ground-Based Logging in Pure Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) Stands of the Hyrcanian Forests, Northern Iran
by Ali Babaei-Ahmadabad, Meghdad Jourgholami, Angela Lo Monaco, Rachele Venanzi and Rodolfo Picchio
Land 2025, 14(7), 1387; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071387 - 1 Jul 2025
Viewed by 182
Abstract
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying traffic intensities, the time since harvesting, and the interaction between these two factors on the restoration of herbaceous cover on skid trails in the Hyrcanian forests, Northern Iran. Three compartments were selected from two [...] Read more.
This study aimed to evaluate the effects of varying traffic intensities, the time since harvesting, and the interaction between these two factors on the restoration of herbaceous cover on skid trails in the Hyrcanian forests, Northern Iran. Three compartments were selected from two districts within the pure oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands of Kheyrud Forest, where ground-based timber extraction had occurred 5, 10, and 15 years prior. In each compartment, three skid trails representing low, medium, and high traffic intensities were identified. Control plots were established 10 m away from the trails. A total of 54 systematically selected 1 m × 1 m sample plots were surveyed: 27 on skid trails (three traffic intensities × three time intervals × three replicates) and 27 control plots (matching the same variables). Within each quadrat, all herbaceous plants were counted, identified, and recorded. Our findings revealed that only traffic intensity had a clear significant impact on plant abundance. High traffic intensity led to a pronounced decline in herbaceous cover, with disturbed skid trails showing reduced species diversity or the complete disappearance of certain species in comparison to the control plots. Time since harvesting and its interaction with traffic intensity did not yield statistically significant effects. Disturbance led to a reduction in the quantities of certain species or even their disappearance on skid trails in comparison to the control plots. Given the pivotal role of machinery traffic intensity in determining mitigation strategies, there is a critical need for research on region-specific harvesting techniques and the development of adaptive management strategies that minimize ecological impacts by aligning practices with varying levels of traffic intensity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and Education)
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22 pages, 1210 KiB  
Article
Ecological Dynamics of Forest Stands with Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC. in a Mountain Ecosystem: Vegetation Structure, Diversity, and Carbon Stock Under Tourism Pressure
by Reny Sawitri, Nur Muhammad Heriyanto, I Wayan Susi Dharmawan, Rozza Tri Kwatrina, Hendra Gunawan, Raden Garsetiasih, Mariana Takandjandji, Anita Rianti, Vivin Silvaliandra Sihombing, Nina Mindawati, Pratiwi, Titi Kalima, Fenky Marsandi, Marfuah Wardani, Denny and Dodo
Land 2025, 14(6), 1187; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061187 - 30 May 2025
Viewed by 641
Abstract
Saninten (Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC.) is a protected plant that grows in the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (MGPNP) area in West Java. Its population is limited, and as a valuable biological resource, Castanopsis has traditionally been utilized by indigenous communities, particularly those [...] Read more.
Saninten (Castanopsis argentea (Blume) A.DC.) is a protected plant that grows in the Mount Gede Pangrango National Park (MGPNP) area in West Java. Its population is limited, and as a valuable biological resource, Castanopsis has traditionally been utilized by indigenous communities, particularly those residing in proximity to the forest. However, the expansion and development of tourism pose a potential threat to the ecosystems of C. argentea and other endemic plant species, as well as to the wildlife that depend on these habitats. Comprehensive data on biodiversity, species composition, forest structure, and carbon stock status are crucial for assessing the potential impact of future tourism development. Our investigation was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 in a three-hectare utilization zone within the confines of the national park. The findings documented a total of 36 species across 23 distinct plant families, with the families Fagaceae, Moraceae, and Myrtaceae exhibiting the highest levels of dominance. The regeneration of stands at the study site predominantly comprised arboreal species with the most substantial carbon stocks, including C. acuminatissima (Blume) A.DC. (Riung anak), C. argentea (Saninten), and Litsea sp. (Huru). C. argentea supplies several functions within this ecosystem that are interconnected with other components. With aboveground carbon stocks reaching 560.47 tons C/ha, the forest demonstrates high sequestration potential, reinforcing the need to conserve mature stands for both biodiversity and climate benefits. Therefore, in the future, the conservation of C. argentea will benefit the maintenance of the ecosystem’s attractiveness without adversely affecting the social and cultural structures of the local population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and Education)
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20 pages, 3452 KiB  
Article
Mongolian Freshwater Ecosystems Under Climate Change and Anthropogenic Pressure: A Case Study of Ugii Lake
by Itgelt Navaandorj, Erdenetsetseg Tsogtbayar, Solongo Tsogtbaatar, Gerelt-Od Dashdondog, Mandakh Nyamtseren and Kikuko Shoyama
Land 2025, 14(5), 998; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050998 - 5 May 2025
Viewed by 600
Abstract
This study investigates the hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic responses of Ugii Lake—a freshwater body in semi-arid Central Mongolia—to climate variability and anthropogenic pressures. Seasonal field surveys conducted during the spring, summer, and fall of 2023–2024 revealed notable spatial and temporal variation in water [...] Read more.
This study investigates the hydrological, ecological, and socio-economic responses of Ugii Lake—a freshwater body in semi-arid Central Mongolia—to climate variability and anthropogenic pressures. Seasonal field surveys conducted during the spring, summer, and fall of 2023–2024 revealed notable spatial and temporal variation in water quality, with pH ranging from 7.54 to 8.87, EC from 316 to 645 µS/cm, and turbidity between 0.36 and 5.76 NTU. Total dissolved solids (TDS) values and ionic compositions indicated increased salinization in some zones, particularly those exposed to high evaporation and shoreline disturbance. Heavy metal analysis identified elevated levels of aluminum, manganese, and zinc at several sampling points; however, concentrations generally remained within national environmental standards. Vegetation surveys showed that disturbed areas—especially those affected by grazing and tourism—exhibited reduced native plant diversity and dominance of invasive species. Socio-economic interviews with local herders and stakeholders indicated that 67.3% of households experienced declining livestock productivity, and 37.1% reported increased allergies or respiratory symptoms linked to deteriorating environmental conditions. Despite some ongoing conservation efforts, respondents expressed dissatisfaction with enforcement and impact. These findings highlight the need for community-driven, integrated lake management strategies that address environmental degradation, climate adaptation, and rural livelihood security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research, Management and Education)
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