Special Issue "Ecosystem Service and Land-Use Change in Asia: Implications for Regional Sustainability"

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 1 April 2022.

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kikuko Shoyama
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-0006, Japan
Interests: socio-ecological systems; land-use change; ecosystem services; disaster resilience
Dr. Rajarshi Dasgupta
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0115, Japan
Interests: land-use change; ecosystem services; conservation; environmental policies
Dr. Ronald C. Estoque
E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute (FFPRI), Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8687, Japan
Interests: GIScience and remote sensing; sustainability science; land change science; social–ecological system; ecosystem services; climate change impacts, vulnerability, risk and adaptation; forest transition; forest cover monitoring
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Asia is expected to experience population growth, peaking around 2030–2060 (World Population Prospects 2019), which will likely result in unpredictable socio-economic changes that will present new challenges for land management. Sustainable land and natural resource management will play a crucial role in addressing these issues in the region. In particular, assessing land-use change and its effects on ecosystem services (ESs) is necessary to foster regional sustainability.

In response to the trade-offs in multiple land use, the concept of ESs has been introduced to find synergies between nature conservation and other aspects of human wellbeing. In recent years, many studies have addressed the impacts of land-use change on bundles of multiple ESs by considering the influences of direct and indirect factors, e.g., region-specific changes in population and other socio-economic statuses. These case studies have provided insight on how land use, with the interaction of historical land management, has configured the ESs provided by ecosystems. Thus, the findings from such empirical studies contribute to developing sustainability in Asia, at both local and regional scales.

In this Special Issue, we will focus on qualitative and quantitative analyses of ESs specifically toward sustainability in Asia. The Special Issue will include, but will not be limited, to case studies, conceptual or analytical reviews, and policy-relevant articles toward achieving the 17 SDGs in Asia. Contributions can be in the form of articles, reviews, and perspectives and viewpoints.

Dr. Kikuko Shoyama
Dr. Rajarshi Dasgupta
Dr. Ronald C. Estoque
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 papers will be 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. Sustainability 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 1900 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

  • land-use and cover change
  • biodiversity and ecosystem services
  • nature’s contributions to people
  • landscape sustainability
  • sustainability assessment
  • SDGs
  • future scenarios
  • spatial analysis
  • GIS and remote sensing
  • transformative change
  • nexus of food, water, and energy

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

Article
Evaluation of ESV Change under Urban Expansion Based on Ecological Sensitivity: A Case Study of Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8490; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158490 - 29 Jul 2021
Viewed by 357
Abstract
In recent years, ecosystem service values (ESV) have attracted much attention. However, studies that use ecological sensitivity methods as a basis for predicting future urban expansion and thus analyzing spatial-temporal change of ESV are scarce in the region. In this study, we used [...] Read more.
In recent years, ecosystem service values (ESV) have attracted much attention. However, studies that use ecological sensitivity methods as a basis for predicting future urban expansion and thus analyzing spatial-temporal change of ESV are scarce in the region. In this study, we used the CA-Markov model to predict the 2030 urban expansion under ecological sensitivity in the Three Gorges Reservoir area based on multi-source data, estimations of ESV from 2000 to 2018 and predictions of ESV losses from 2018 to 2030. Research results: (i) In the concept of green development, the ecological sensitive zone has been identified in Three Gorges Reservoir area; it accounts for about 35.86% of the study area. (ii) It is predicted that the 2030 urban land will reach 211,412.51 ha by overlaying the ecological sensitive zone. (iii) The total ESV of Three Gorges Reservoir area showed an increasing trend from 2000 to 2018 with growth values of about USD 3644.26 million, but the ESVs of 16 districts were decreasing, with Dadukou and Jiangbei having the highest reductions. (iv) New urban land increases by 80,026.02 ha from 2018 to 2030. The overall ESV losses are about USD 268.75 million. Jiulongpo, Banan and Shapingba had the highest ESV losses. Full article
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Article
The Impact of Impervious Surface Expansion on Soil Organic Carbon: A Case Study of 0–300 cm Soil Layer in Guangzhou City
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7901; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147901 - 15 Jul 2021
Viewed by 371
Abstract
Empirical evidence shows that the expansion of impervious surface threatens soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in urbanized areas. However, the understanding of deep soil excavation due to the vertical expansion of impervious surface remains limited. According to the average soil excavation depth, we [...] Read more.
Empirical evidence shows that the expansion of impervious surface threatens soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration in urbanized areas. However, the understanding of deep soil excavation due to the vertical expansion of impervious surface remains limited. According to the average soil excavation depth, we divided impervious surface into pavement (IS20), low-rise building (IS100) and high-rise building (IS300). Based on remote-sensing images and published SOC density data, we estimated the SOC storage and its response to the impervious surface expansion in the 0–300 cm soil depth in Guangzhou city, China. The results showed that the total SOC storage of the study area was 8.31 Tg, of which the top 100 cm layer contributed 44%. The impervious surface expansion to date (539.87 km2) resulted in 4.16 Tg SOC loss, of which the IS20, IS100 and IS300 contributed 26%, 58% and 16%, respectively. The excavation-induced SOC loss (kg/m2) of IS300 was 1.8 times that of IS100. However, at the residential scale, renovating an IS100 plot into an IS300 plot can substantially reduce SOC loss compared with farmland urbanization. The gains of organic carbon accumulation in more greenspace coverage may be offset by the loss in deep soil excavation for the construction of underground parking lots, suggesting a need to control the exploitation intensity of underground space and promote residential greening. Full article
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Article
Herders’ Perceptions about Rangeland Degradation and Herd Management: A Case among Traditional and Non-Traditional Herders in Khentii Province of Mongolia
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7896; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147896 - 15 Jul 2021
Viewed by 406
Abstract
Herders play essential roles in sustaining Mongolia’s economy and rangeland conditions. As about 90% of Mongolia’s livestock grazes on natural pasture, how herders manage it largely affects the future sustainability of the livestock industry. Since Mongolia transformed its grazing practices from communal management [...] Read more.
Herders play essential roles in sustaining Mongolia’s economy and rangeland conditions. As about 90% of Mongolia’s livestock grazes on natural pasture, how herders manage it largely affects the future sustainability of the livestock industry. Since Mongolia transformed its grazing practices from communal management into loosely regulated household practices in 1990, overgrazing has become a growing concern. Considering this concern, this paper examines the extent to which traditional and non-traditional herders perceive pasture conditions and practice management. We conducted the questionnaire survey among 120 herders in Murun Soum of Khentii Province and asked about rangeland degradation and their coping strategies. To determine correlations between their perceptions/practices and sociodemographic characteristics, we conducted multiple regression analyses. We found that, overall, most herders identified rangeland conditions degrading and grass yield declining with less plant diversity and more soil damage by Brandt’s vole. Herders’ mobility and herd movement frequency have decreased since 1990, placing more strains on limited pasture areas. In coping with overgrazing, about 20% of the respondents had practiced traditional rangeland management, whereas many others had overlooked pasture conditions and increased goat production as the world’s demand for cashmere rose. In response to our question about herders’ future contribution of their traditional knowledge to sustainable rangeland management, traditional herders demonstrated their willingness to help local officials manage the pasture. This paper then explores how local administrations and herders may collaborate in the future. Full article
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Article
Food Waste in Da Nang City of Vietnam: Trends, Challenges, and Perspectives toward Sustainable Resource Use
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7368; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137368 - 01 Jul 2021
Viewed by 647
Abstract
Food waste has become a critical issue in modern society, especially in the urbanized and fast-growing cities of Asia. The increase in food waste has serious negative impacts on environmental sustainability, water and land resources, and food security, as well as climate and [...] Read more.
Food waste has become a critical issue in modern society, especially in the urbanized and fast-growing cities of Asia. The increase in food waste has serious negative impacts on environmental sustainability, water and land resources, and food security, as well as climate and greenhouse gas emissions. Through a specific case study in Da Nang City, Vietnam, this paper examines the extent of food waste generation at the consumption stages, the eating habits of consumers, food waste from households and service establishments, as well as prospects for the reuse of food waste as pig feed. The results of this study indicate that per capita food waste generation in Da Nang has increased from 0.39 to 0.41kg in 2016, 0.46 in 2017, and reached 0.52kg in 2018. According to the results of our consumer survey, 20% of respondents stated that they often generate food waste, 67% stated they sometimes do, and 13% stated they rarely do. Furthermore, 66% of surveyed households stated that their food waste is collected and transported by pig farmers to be used as feed for pigs. The use of food waste as feed for pigs is a typical feature in Da Nang. The study also found that there is a high level of consumer awareness and willingness to participate in the 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) program, which was being initiated by the city government. In service facilities such as resorts and hotels, daily food waste reached 100–200 kg in large facilities and 20–120 kg in small facilities. This waste was also collected for use in pig farming. However, there has been a fall in demand for pig feed in line with a decrease in the number of pig farms due to the African swine fever epidemic that occurred during the implementation of this study. This paper suggests that there is a strong need to take both consumer-oriented waste prevention and waste management measures, such as waste segregation at source and introduction of effective food waste recycling techniques, to ensure that food waste can be safely and sustainably used as a “valuable resource” rather than “wasted.” Full article
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Article
Assessment of the Impacts of Spatial Water Resource Variability on Energy Planning in the Ganges River Basin under Climate Change Scenarios
Sustainability 2021, 13(13), 7273; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13137273 - 29 Jun 2021
Viewed by 411
Abstract
Availability of water in the Ganges River basin has been recognized as a critical regional issue with a significant impact on drinking water supply, irrigation, as well as on industrial development, and ecosystem services in vast areas of South Asia. In addition, water [...] Read more.
Availability of water in the Ganges River basin has been recognized as a critical regional issue with a significant impact on drinking water supply, irrigation, as well as on industrial development, and ecosystem services in vast areas of South Asia. In addition, water availability is also strongly linked to energy security in the region. Hence, quantification of spatial availability of water resources is necessary to bolster reliable evaluation of the sustainability of future thermal power plants in the Ganges River basin. This study focuses on the risks facing existing and planned power plants regarding water availability, applying climate change scenarios at the sub-basin and district level up to 2050. For this purpose, this study develops an integrated assessment approach to quantify the water-energy nexus in four selected sub-basins of the Ganges, namely, Chambal, Damodar, Gandak, and Yamuna. The results of simulations using Soil and Water Assessment Tools (SWAT) showed that future water availability will increase significantly in the Chambal, Damodar, and Gandak sub-basins during the wet season, and will negligibly increase in the dry season, except for the Yamuna sub-basin, which is likely to experience a decrease in available water in both wet and dry seasons under the Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 8.5 scenario. Changes in the water supply-demand ratio, due to climate change, indicated that water-related risks for future power plants would reduce in the Chambal and Damodar sub-basins, as there would be sufficient water in the future. For 19 out of 23 districts in the Chambal sub-basin, climate change will have a moderate-positive to high-positive impact on reducing the water risk for power plants by 2050. In contrast, existing and future power plants in the Yamuna and Gandak sub-basins will face increasing water risks. The proposed new thermal power installations, particularly in the Gandak sub-basin, are likely to face serious water shortages, which will adversely affect the stability of their operations. These results will stimulate and guide future research work to optimize the water-energy nexus, and will inform development and planning organizations, energy planning organizations, as well as investors, concerning the spatial distribution of water risks for future power plants so that more accurate decisions can be made on the location of future power plants. Full article
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Article
Scenario-Based Hydrological Modeling for Designing Climate-Resilient Coastal Water Resource Management Measures: Lessons from Brahmani River, Odisha, Eastern India
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6339; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116339 - 03 Jun 2021
Viewed by 808
Abstract
Widespread urban expansion around the world, combined with rapid demographic and climatic changes, has resulted in serious pollution issues in many coastal water bodies. To help formulate coastal management strategies to mitigate the impacts of these extreme changes (e.g., local land-use or climate [...] Read more.
Widespread urban expansion around the world, combined with rapid demographic and climatic changes, has resulted in serious pollution issues in many coastal water bodies. To help formulate coastal management strategies to mitigate the impacts of these extreme changes (e.g., local land-use or climate change adaptation policies), research methodologies that incorporate participatory approaches alongside with computer simulation modeling tools have potential to be particularly effective. One such research methodology, called the “Participatory Coastal Land-Use Management” (PCLM) approach, consists of three major steps: (a) participatory approach to find key drivers responsible for the water quality deterioration, (b) scenario analysis using different computer simulation modeling tools for impact assessment, and (c) using these scientific evidences for developing adaptation and mitigation measures. In this study, we have applied PCLM approach in the Kendrapara district of India (focusing on the Brahmani River basin), a rapidly urbanizing area on the country’s east coast to evaluate current status and predict its future conditions. The participatory approach involved key informant interviews to determine key drivers of water quality degradation, which served as an input for scenario analysis and hydrological simulation in the next step. Future river water quality (BOD and Total coliform (Tot. coli) as important parameters) was simulated using the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) tool, considering a different plausible future scenario (to 2050) incorporating diverse drivers and pressures (i.e., population growth, land-use change, and climate change). Water samples (collected in 2018) indicated that the Brahmani River in this district was already moderately-to-extremely polluted in comparison to the desirable water quality (Class B), and modeling results indicated that the river water quality is likely to further deteriorate by 2050 under all of the considered scenarios. Demographic changes emerged as the major driver affecting the future water quality deterioration (68% and 69% for BOD and Tot. coli respectively), whereas climate change had the lowest impact on river water quality (12% and 13% for BOD and Tot. coli respectively), although the impact was not negligible. Scientific evidence to understand the impacts of future changes can help in developing diverse plausible coastal zone management approaches for ensuring sustainable management of water resources in the region. The PCLM approach, by having active stakeholder involvement, can help in co-generation of the coastal management options followed by open access free software, and models can play a relevant cost-effective approach to enhance science-policy interface for conservation of natural resources. Full article
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title:Driving forces of ecosystem services change in the Loess Plateau: climate change or human activities?
Jia Ning
Abstract:Ecosystem services change and its driving forces are hot issues in global change research. In this paper, the Loess Plateau, a typical fragile and sensitive area, is selected as the study area. We studied the main ecosystem services in the Loess Plateau from 2000 to 2018, including water conservation, soil conservation and sand fixation. Those ecosystem services were estimated by using the method of precipitation storage, Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) and Revised Wind Erosion Equation (RWEQ). Based on the analysis of land use change and climate change in the Loess Plateau, the driving forces of ecosystem services in the Loess Plateau were studied. Compared with 2000-2010, the amount of water conservation and soil conservation in 2011-2018 increased, the amount of wind prevention and sand fixation decreased, and the water erosion modulus and wind erosion modulus decreased. The interannual variation of ecosystem services in the Loess Plateau is mainly due to the fluctuation of climate factors such as temperature and precipitation, while the decadal or longer scale variation is due to the dual effects of global climate change and land use change. This study can provide scientific and technological support and relevant policy recommendations for the healthy development of the Loess Plateau ecosystem under global change.

Tentative date of submission:30 June 2021.
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