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Ecosystem Protection in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Supported by Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data

A special issue of Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292). This special issue belongs to the section "Biogeosciences Remote Sensing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 3687

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Qiang Yu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: complexity theory of spatial network; application of quantitative remote sensing in forestry; carbon use efficiency of forest ecosystem
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Junran Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Interests: aeolian geomorphology and ecosystem change in dryland systems biogeochemistry of atmospheric dust and its human health impacts GIS; spatial statistics; stochastic modeling
Dr. Di Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Geography, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
Interests: NEON macrosystems for forest management; Incorporating VGI data into geospatial modeling of extreme events under changing climates; analyzing large ecological databases using geospatial cloud computing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Linyuan Li

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
The College of Forestry, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, China
Interests: near-surface, UAV, and satellite remote sensing of vegetation; low-cost techniques; advanced image processing; vegetation biophysical and biochemical variables; plant traits; BRDF measurement; modeling
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The widespread existence of natural and anthropogenic dryland ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions is the key to mitigating desertification and desertification threats in this region and to addressing global climate change. The types of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas mainly include "grassland", "desert scrub", "desert oasis", "lake wetland", "mountain forest", etc. Human-led forestry ecological projects such as "Three-North Shelterbelt Forest (China)" and "ecological restoration and reconstruction of shrubling-grassland (Ethiopia)" are important factors to maintain the stable operation of these ecosystems.

For a long time, the spatio-temporal evolution characteristics, ecosystem function changes and spatial pattern optimization of these ecosystems have been the focus of research in the field. With the help of field investigation and remote sensing inversion, researchers have conducted observations and analyses at different scales to explore the characteristics and evolution trends of these ecosystems from micro to macro levels. Microscale studies generally focus on the internal structure and function of a single ecosystem or community, such as vegetation composition, soil characteristics and the changes in ecological functions caused by these characteristics, while macroscale studies pay more attention to the interactions between ecosystems and the overall pattern.

At present, the development of remote sensing science and technology provides a broader perspective for the study of ecosystem structure and function in arid areas. MODIS, Landsat, Sentinel, GF, Quick Bird and other satellite images as well as UAV data allow us to observe the structural characteristics and spatio-temporal evolution of these ecosystems from different scales, providing us with the possibility to analyze the impact of ecosystem structure on ecological function from different scales.

This special issue focuses on the multi-scale structure and ecological function changes of various ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas supported by multi-source remote sensing data. The main research fields include high-precision inversion and mapping of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas supported by multi-source remote sensing image data, and the multi-scale structure characteristics of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas and their interaction mechanisms with ecosystem functions. Evolution law and driving mechanism analysis of ecosystem structure and function based on long time series remote sensing data, application of machine learning, GEE and other remote sensing technologies in ecosystem research in arid and semi-arid areas.

Articles may address, but are not limited to, the following topics:

  1. High-precision remote sensing identification of multiple ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas based on machine learning and GEE;
  2. Multi-scale high time resolution mapping of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid areas supported by multi-source remote sensing data;
  3. Evolution of multi-scale structural features of ecosystems in arid and semi-arid regions based on long-term remote sensing data and their interaction mechanisms with ecosystem functions;
  4. Remote sensing monitoring and multi-scale simulation of ecosystem carbon fixation and sand fixation in arid and semi-arid areas.
  5. Structure and function analysis of farmland shelterbelts in arid and semi-arid areas based on multi-source and multi-scale remote sensing.
  6. Monitoring, identification, prediction and early warning of wildfires in arid and semi-arid areas caused by heat wave intensification in the context of climate change.

Dr. Qiang Yu
Dr. Junran Li
Dr. Di Yang
Dr. Linyuan Li
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. Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2700 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

  • multi scale remote sensing data
  • remote sensing technology
  • arid and semi-arid regions
  • climate change
  • dryland ecosystems
  • structure and function farmland protection forest

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 6846 KiB  
Article
Satellite-Observed Arid Vegetation Greening and Terrestrial Water Storage Decline in the Hexi Corridor, Northwest China
by Chunyan Cao, Xiaoyu Zhu, Kedi Liu, Yu Liang and Xuanlong Ma
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(8), 1361; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17081361 - 11 Apr 2025
Viewed by 354
Abstract
The interplay between terrestrial water storage and vegetation dynamics in arid regions is critical for understanding ecohydrological responses to climate change and human activities. This study examines the coupling between total water storage anomaly (TWSA) and vegetation greenness changes in the Hexi Corridor, [...] Read more.
The interplay between terrestrial water storage and vegetation dynamics in arid regions is critical for understanding ecohydrological responses to climate change and human activities. This study examines the coupling between total water storage anomaly (TWSA) and vegetation greenness changes in the Hexi Corridor, an arid region in northwestern China consisting of three inland river basins—Shule, Heihe, and Shiyang—from 2002 to 2022. Utilizing TWSA data from GRACE/GRACE-FO satellites and MODIS Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) data, we applied a trend analysis and partial correlation statistical techniques to assess spatiotemporal patterns and their drivers across varying aridity gradients and land cover types. The results reveal a significant decline in TWSA across the Hexi Corridor (−0.10 cm/year, p < 0.01), despite a modest increase in precipitation (1.69 mm/year, p = 0.114). The spatial analysis shows that TWSA deficits are most pronounced in the northern Shiyang Basin (−600 to −300 cm cumulative TWSA), while the southern Qilian Mountain regions exhibit accumulation (0 to 800 cm). Vegetation greening is strongest in irrigated croplands, particularly in arid and hyper-arid regions of the study area. The partial correlation analysis highlights distinct drivers: in the wetter semi-humid and semi-arid regions, precipitation plays a dominant role in driving TWSA trends. Such a rainfall dominance gives way to temperature- and human-dominated vegetation greening in the arid and hyper-arid regions. The decoupling of TWSA and precipitation highlights the importance of human irrigation activities and the warming-induced atmospheric water demand in co-driving the TWSA dynamics in arid regions. These findings suggest that while irrigation expansion cause satellite-observed greening, it exacerbates water stress through increased evapotranspiration and groundwater depletion, particularly in most water-limited arid zones. This study reveals the complex ecohydrological dynamics in drylands, emphasizing the need for a holistic view of dryland greening in the context of global warming, the escalating human demand of freshwater resources, and the efforts in achieving sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Protection in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Supported by Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data)
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29 pages, 7798 KiB  
Article
Landscape Analysis and Assessment of Ecosystem Stability Based on Land Use and Multitemporal Remote Sensing: A Case Study of the Zhungeer Open-Pit Coal Mining Area
by Yinli Bi, Tao Liu, Yanru Pei, Xiao Wang and Xinpeng Du
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(7), 1162; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17071162 - 25 Mar 2025
Viewed by 342
Abstract
Intensive mining activities in the Zhungeer open-pit coal mining area of China have resulted in drastic changes to land use and landscape patterns, severely affecting the ecological quality and stability of the region. This study integrates 36 years (1985–2020) of Landsat multiband remote [...] Read more.
Intensive mining activities in the Zhungeer open-pit coal mining area of China have resulted in drastic changes to land use and landscape patterns, severely affecting the ecological quality and stability of the region. This study integrates 36 years (1985–2020) of Landsat multiband remote sensing imagery with 30 m resolution CLCD land cover data, establishing a “Sky–Earth–Space” integrated monitoring system. This system allows for the calculation of ecological indices and the creation of land use transition matrices for internal and external regions of the mining area, ultimately completing an assessment of the ecological stability of the Zhungeer open-pit coal mining region. By overcoming the limitations posed by a singular data source, it facilitates a dynamic analysis of the interrelationships among mining activities, vegetation responses, and engineering remediation efforts. The findings reveal a significant transformation among various land types within the mining area, with both the area of mining pits and the area rehabilitated through artificial restoration undergoing rapid increases. By 2020, the area of the mining pits had reached 2630.98 hectares, while the area designated for rehabilitation had expanded to 2204.87 hectares. Prior to 2000, bare land and impermeable surfaces dominated the internal area of the mine; however, post-2000, the Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) value continuously decreased to −0.0685, indicative of an ecological transition where vegetation became predominant. The beneficial impacts of rehabilitation efforts have effectively mitigated the adverse environmental consequences of open-pit coal mining. Since 2000, the mean Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) within the mining area has shown a consistent increase, recovering to 0.2246, signifying a restoration of the internal ecological environment. Moreover, this area exerts a notable radiative influence on the vegetation conditions outside the mining zone, with a contribution value of 1.016. Following rehabilitation efforts, the landscape patch density, landscape separation, and landscape fragmentation in the Zhungeer open-pit coal mining area exhibited a declining trend, leading to a more uniform distribution of landscape patches and improved structural balance. By 2020, the adaptability index had risen to 0.35836, achieving 93.69% of the restoration level observed prior to mining operations in 1985, thus indicating an improvement in ecosystem stability and the restoration of ecological functions, although rehabilitation efforts display a temporal lag of 10 to 15 years. The adverse impacts of open-pit coal mining on the regional ecological environment are, in fact, predominantly short-term. However, human intervention has the potential to reshape the ecology of the mining area, enhance the quality of the ecological environment, and foster the sustained development of regional ecological health. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Protection in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Supported by Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data)
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29 pages, 26219 KiB  
Article
Construction of a Desertification Composite Index and Its Application in the Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Desertification in the Ring-Tarim Basin over 30 Years
by Lei Xi, Zhao Qi, Yiming Feng, Xiaoming Cao, Mengcun Cui, Jiaxiu Zou and Shiang Feng
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(4), 644; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17040644 - 13 Feb 2025
Viewed by 543
Abstract
Desertification is one of the most severe environmental issues facing the world today, and effective desertification monitoring is critical for understanding its dynamics and developing prevention and control strategies. Although numerous studies on desertification monitoring using remote sensing have been conducted, there remain [...] Read more.
Desertification is one of the most severe environmental issues facing the world today, and effective desertification monitoring is critical for understanding its dynamics and developing prevention and control strategies. Although numerous studies on desertification monitoring using remote sensing have been conducted, there remain differences in indicator selection, and a unified monitoring system has yet to be established. In this study, we constructed the Desertification Composite Index (DCI) using Landsat satellite images, integrating six remote sensing indicators reflecting the natural and ecological characteristics of desertified areas. We also incorporated 383 UAV imagery datasets to accurately identify and analyze the spatial and temporal distributions of desertification in the Ring-Tarim Basin from 1990 to 2020 and subsequently assess its spatiotemporal trends. The results show the following: (1) The constructed DCI was used to identify desertification in 2020, achieving an overall accuracy of 0.86 and a Kappa coefficient of 0.8, indicating that the DCI is suitable for extracting regional desertification information. (2) From 1990 to 2020, the area of desertification decreased significantly, with an average annual reduction rate of −0.0022 ha/a, indicating continuous ecological improvement. Despite localized deterioration, the overall trend was one of “general improvement and local containment.” (3) GeoDetector-based analysis showed that cultivated land area and land use type were the primary single-factor drivers of desertification. The interaction between cultivated land and vegetation type exhibited a synergistic effect as a two-factor driver. (4) Desertification in the Ring-Tarim Basin is primarily influenced by human activities. Appropriate management and intervention measures, efficient and intensive cropland management, and rational land use planning can help develop effective strategies to combat desertification. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Protection in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Supported by Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data)
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20 pages, 7652 KiB  
Article
Potential Impacts of Land Use Change on Ecosystem Service Supply and Demand Under Different Scenarios in the Gansu Section of the Yellow River Basin, China
by Yingchen Bai, Conghai Han, Fangying Tang, Zuzheng Li, Huixia Tian, Zhihao Huang, Li Ma, Xuefan Hu, Jianchao Wang, Bo Chen, Lixiang Sun, Xiaoqin Cheng and Hairong Han
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(3), 489; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17030489 - 30 Jan 2025
Viewed by 888
Abstract
The degradation of ecosystem services (ES) poses a significant obstacle to regional sustainable development. Land-use change is widely recognized as a pivotal factor driving the spatio-temporal dynamics of ES supply and demand. However, the future impact of land-use changes on supply–demand risks remains [...] Read more.
The degradation of ecosystem services (ES) poses a significant obstacle to regional sustainable development. Land-use change is widely recognized as a pivotal factor driving the spatio-temporal dynamics of ES supply and demand. However, the future impact of land-use changes on supply–demand risks remains largely unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, we conducted a study in the Gansu section of the Yellow River Basin. By integrating Cellular Automata (CA) and an enhanced Markov model within the GeoSOS-FLUS framework, we dynamically simulated land-use changes under three scenarios—the Normal Development Scenario (NDS), Ecological Protection Scenario (EPS), and Rapid Socio-economic Development Scenario (RDS)—spanning from 2020 to 2050. Furthermore, we employed the InVEST model to analyze the spatio-temporal pattern of supply, demand, supply-to-demand ratios, and supply–demand risks for water provision, carbon storage, and soil conservation under all scenarios. Firstly, all scenarios project an increase in built-up land, primarily from unused land, shrubland, grassland, and cropland. Forest land and water bodies remain stable. Secondly, water provision increases, but demand grows faster, leading to supply–demand imbalances, with high-risk areas in the north, central, and east. Soil conservation shows balanced supply and demand with high-risk areas in the north. Carbon storage remains stable, with high-risk areas in the central and east regions. Thirdly, high-risk areas for water provision increase under all scenarios, particularly under the Rapid Socio-economic Development scenario. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Protection in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Supported by Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data)
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28 pages, 13111 KiB  
Article
Developing Strategies for Carbon Neutrality Through Restoration of Ecological Spatial Networks in the Thal Desert, Punjab
by Tauqeer Nawaz, Muhammad Gohar Ismail Ansari, Qiang Yu, Buyanbaatar Avirmed, Farhan Iftikhar, Wang Yu, Jikai Zhao, Muhammad Anas Khan and Muhammad Mudassar Khan
Remote Sens. 2025, 17(3), 431; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs17030431 - 27 Jan 2025
Viewed by 828
Abstract
Carbon neutrality is an important goal for addressing global warming. It can be achieved by increasing carbon storage and reducing carbon emissions. Vegetation plays a key role in storing carbon, but it is often lost or damaged, especially in areas affected by desertification. [...] Read more.
Carbon neutrality is an important goal for addressing global warming. It can be achieved by increasing carbon storage and reducing carbon emissions. Vegetation plays a key role in storing carbon, but it is often lost or damaged, especially in areas affected by desertification. Therefore, restoring vegetation in these areas is crucial. Using advanced techniques to improve ecosystem structure can support ecological processes, and enhance soil and environmental conditions, encourage vegetation growth, and boost carbon storage effectively. This study focuses on optimizing Ecological Spatial Networks (ESNs) for revitalization and regional development, employing advanced techniques such as the MCR model for corridor construction, spatial analysis, and Gephi for mapping topological attributes. Various ecological and topological metrics were used to evaluate network performance, while the EFCT model was applied to optimize the ESN and maximize carbon sinks. In the Thal Desert, ecological source patches (ESPs) were divided into four modularity levels (15.6% to 49.54%) and five communities. The northeastern and southwestern regions showed higher ecological functionality but lower connectivity, while the central region exhibited the reverse. To enhance the ESN structure, 27 patches and 51 corridors were added to 76 existing patches, including 56 forest and 20 water/wetland patches, using the EFCT model. The optimized ESN resulted in a 14.97% improvement in carbon sink capacity compared to the unoptimized structure, primarily due to better functioning of forest and wetland areas. Enhanced connectivity between components contributed to a more resilient and stable ESN, supporting both ecological sustainability and carbon sequestration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecosystem Protection in Arid and Semi-Arid Regions Supported by Multi-Source Remote Sensing Data)
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