Remote Sensing of Ecosystem Functions: Advances for Ecosystems Conservation Status Assessment

Dear Colleagues,

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD 2014) and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (UNDP 2015) advocate the assessment of ecosystem conservation status. Biodiversity conservation, both inside and outside protected areas, is imperative due to its intrinsic and extrinsic importance for Earth system equilibrium and human wellbeing.

Remote sensing technologies are usually applied in the context of the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems and the EU Habitats Directive for the quantification of spatial indicators (e.g., geographical distribution, extent) and their trends. Despite the recognized great potential and advantages offered by these technologies, their application in the same context to functional indicators (e.g., vegetation phenology, defoliation, habitat quality, water availability, shade provided to the ground) and corresponding proxies is so far underrepresented.

This Special Issue will comprise a selection of research papers reporting scientific advances in the application of cost-effective, integrated and transferable remote sensing based frameworks to ecosystem function assessment, within the perspectives of enhancing monitoring and reporting capacities of managing authorities.

Dr. Paola Mairota
Prof. Javier Cabello
Prof. Domingo Alcaraz-Segura
Dr. Ana Sofia Vaz
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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