Conservation Of Forest Ecosystems Research Articles

Research Trends in Wildland Fire Prediction Amidst Climate Change: A Comprehensive Bibliometric Analysis

Wildfire prediction plays a vital role in the management and conservation of forest ecosystems. By providing detailed risk assessments, it contributes to the reduction of fire frequency and severity, safeguards forest resources, supports ecological stability, and ensures human safety. This study systematically reviews wildfire prediction literature from 2003 to 2023, emphasizing research trends and collaborative trends. Our findings reveal a significant increase in research activity between 2019 and 2023, primarily driven by the United States Forest Service and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The majority of this research was published in prominent journals such as the International Journal of Wildland Fire, Forest Ecology and Management, Remote Sensing, and Forests. These publications predominantly originate from Europe, the United States, and China. Since 2020, there has been substantial growth in the application of machine learning techniques in predicting forest fires, particularly in estimating fire occurrence probabilities, simulating fire spread, and projecting post-fire environmental impacts. Advanced algorithms, including deep learning and ensemble learning, have shown superior accuracy, suggesting promising directions for future research. Additionally, the integration of machine learning with cellular automata has markedly improved the simulation of fire behavior, enhancing both efficiency and precision. The profound impact of climate change on wildfire prediction also necessitates the inclusion of extensive climate data in predictive models. Beyond conventional studies focusing on fire behavior and occurrence probabilities, forecasting the environmental and ecological consequences of fires has become integral to forest fire management and vital for formulating more effective wildfire strategies. The study concludes that significant regional disparities in knowledge exist, underscoring the need for improved research capabilities in underrepresented areas. Moreover, there is an urgent requirement to enhance the application of artificial intelligence algorithms, such as machine learning, deep learning, and ensemble learning, and to intensify efforts in identifying and leveraging various wildfire drivers to refine prediction accuracy. The insights generated from this field will profoundly augment our understanding of wildfire prediction, assisting policymakers and practitioners in managing forest resources more sustainably and averting future wildfire calamities.

Seed Availability and Small Mammal Populations: Insights from Mediterranean Forests

Plant–animal interactions play a crucial role in ecosystem functioning, especially through seed dispersal mechanisms. Understanding how small mammal populations respond to seed availability is essential for ecosystem management and biodiversity conservation, especially in the context of habitat loss and climate change. We conducted a 10-year study in mixed Mediterranean oak–beech forests to investigate the population dynamics of common small mammal species in response to seed availability. Our findings revealed distinct responses among species, influenced by life history traits, foraging behaviour, and diet. Wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus) showed a rapid population increase with seed availability both in the same year of seed fall and the following year, suggesting a flexible foraging strategy and a dependence on arboreal seed producers. Yellow-necked mice (Apodemus flavicollis) revealed immediate population increases in response to seed availability in the autumn, probably because of their arboreal habits and preference for exploiting seeds prior to maturation. Bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) showed responses with population peaks in years following high seed availability, indicating a slower demographic response to resource abundance. Surprisingly, the greater white-toothed shrew (Crocidura russula) responded indirectly to seed availability in Mediterranean forests, suggesting complex interactions with seed-associated invertebrates or dependence on other variables not considered. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding how changes in seed availability influence the population ecology of small mammals, with significant implications for the conservation and management of Mediterranean forest ecosystems in the context of climate change and recurrent droughts. These results emphasise the need to consider species interactions, resource availability, and climate change in the conservation and management of evolving ecosystems.

Impact of Deforestation on Water Quality in Cameroon

Purpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the impact of deforestation on water quality in Cameroon. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: Deforestation in Cameroon significantly impacts water quality, as evidenced by increased sedimentation, higher pollutant levels, and elevated risks of waterborne diseases. Loss of forest cover reduces natural filtration capacities, leading to higher concentrations of contaminants in water sources. Alterations in hydrological patterns and changes in land use further exacerbate these issues, affecting water availability and aquatic habitats. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Hydrological cycle theory, land use/land cover change (LU/LC) theory & ecosystem services theory may be used to anchor future studies on impact of deforestation on water quality in Cameroon. Implement land-use planning measures that prioritize the conservation and sustainable management of forest ecosystems, including protected area designation, forest restoration initiatives, and sustainable forest management practices. Develop and enforce policies that incentivize forest conservation and sustainable land management practices, such as payment for ecosystem services schemes, land-use zoning regulations, and carbon offset programs.

Regional uniqueness of tree species composition and response to forest loss and climate change

The conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems require detailed knowledge of the native plant compositions. Here, we map global forest tree composition and assess the impacts of historical forest cover loss and climate change on trees. The global occupancy of 10,590 tree species reveals complex taxonomic and phylogenetic gradients determining a local signature of tree lineage assembly. Species occupancy analyses indicate that historical forest loss has significantly restricted the potential suitable range of tree species in all forest biomes. Nevertheless, tropical moist and boreal forest biomes display the lowest level of range restriction and harbor extremely large ranged tree species, albeit with a stark contrast in richness and composition. Climate change simulations indicate that forest biomes are projected to differ in their response to climate change, with the highest predicted species loss in tropical dry and Mediterranean ecoregions. Our findings highlight the need for preserving the remaining large forest biomes while regenerating degraded forests in a way that provides resilience against climate change.

Forest Worker Households in the NFPP: Enhancing Sustainable Livelihoods through Capital and Transformation

The persistent conflict between strict conservation and community welfare highlights the growing need to address sustainable livelihoods in forest protection programs. The Natural Forest Protection Program (NFPP) is a comprehensive forest protection program spearheaded by the Chinese government. It is designed to facilitate the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems through a range of interventions, including logging ban, management, tending, and afforestation efforts. Drawing upon longitudinal micro-level household survey data spanning five consecutive years from 2017 to 2021, this research quantifies the sustainable livelihood levels of frontline participants in the NFPP by examining two dimensions: livelihood capital stock and livelihood transformation capacity. Additionally, it investigates the internal differentiation phenomenon within this cohort. The findings suggest that forest worker households engaged in tasks related to forest management, tending, and afforestation are the frontline participants in the NFPP, in contrast to management, technical, and service personnel. Moreover, these forest worker households exhibit a pattern characterized by a higher livelihood capital stock but a lower livelihood transformation capacity compared to non-forest worker households. Furthermore, within forest worker households, there is a significant group differentiation phenomenon, resulting in inter-group differentials in the sustainable livelihood levels based on geographical and seniority stratification criteria. The developers of the global forest protection program should prioritize addressing the sustainable livelihood issues of frontline participants in the program, especially the real problem of mismatches between livelihood capital stock and livelihood transformation capacity. This can be achieved through designing income incentives, stimulating consumption, and other means to enhance the relatively disadvantaged position of frontline participants while balancing the coordination and fairness of the protection program based on the aspects of both protection and development.

Perception of Locals on Multiple Contributions of NTFPs to the Livelihoods of Forest Fringe Communities in Ghana

Forest-dwelling residents frequently collect non-timber forest products (NTFPs) for various reasons, such as food, medicine, firewood, religious reasons, or handicrafts. This study examines the multiple benefits derived from NTFPs and how they contribute to the livelihoods of Ghanaian communities to alleviate poverty. Resources and services provided by NTFPs have an essential role in providing economic, nutritional, medicinal, cultural, and environmental benefits. This study examines the diverse range of NTFPs locals collect, such as chewing sticks, games, herbs, honey, leaves, mushrooms, pestles, raffia and palms, snails, and straws. In addition to serving different purposes, these NTFPs contribute to income generation, food security, health care, cultural practices, and the protection of the environment. A qualitative research approach was used in this study to collect data through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with members on multiple collections of NTFPs and their multiple benefits. We interviewed 732 residents regarding their multiple NTFPs and their potential to improve the livelihood of the locals. The data for the study were analysed using descriptive statistics. As a result of the survey, the frequency and percentages of responses were analysed for each indicator related to multiple values of NTFPs. Both males and females collected a list of NTFPs during the survey. Regarding NTFPs used for sale, 275 were reported, representing 37.57% of the total. In addition to emphasising the importance of sustainable management practices and equitable distribution of benefits, the study explores the multiple benefits of NTFPs for poverty alleviation in Ghanaian communities. It is essential to ensure the conservation of forest ecosystems and promote inclusive policies to harness the potential of NTFPs and maximise their positive impact on livelihoods. NTFPs provide multiple benefits for Ghanaian communities, including income, nutrition, healthcare, cultural preservation, and environmental sustainability. To promote sustainable development, it is imperative to understand the role of NTFPs and implement appropriate strategies.

Effect of Vegetation Structure on Lift-Off and Dispersal Velocities of Diaspores with Different Morphological Characteristics in Secondary Wind Dispersal

Diaspore dispersal is crucial in shaping plant population dynamics, biodiversity, and ecosystem functions. The effect of the vegetation structure on the secondary wind dispersal of diaspores with different appendage types is not well understood. Using a wind tunnel and a high-definition video camera, we accurately measured the lift-off and dispersal velocities of diaspores from sixteen plant species across six wind velocities (2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 m s−1) under six simulated vegetation structures. Vegetation structure and appendage type were pivotal factors, explaining 41.1% and 42.3% of the variance in lift-off velocity and accounting for 12.0% and 25.3% of the variability in diaspore dispersal velocity, respectively. Vegetation coverage was the main factor influencing near-surface wind velocity, and the lift-off and dispersal velocities of diaspores changed significantly when vegetation coverage exceeded 40%. Diaspores with one wing, having high lift-off velocities and low dispersal velocities, adopt the anti-long-distance wind dispersal strategy, whereas diaspores with pappus, having low lift-off velocities and high dispersal velocities, adopt the long-distance wind dispersal strategy. In contrast, diaspores with thorn, discoid, balloon, and four wings adopt the non-long-distance wind dispersal strategy, suitable for environments such as low-coverage deserts and desert steppes but not high-coverage typical steppes. This study could help comprehend the effect of the vegetation structure on the dispersal process of diaspores, which facilitate habitat restoration and biodiversity conservation of grassland and forest ecosystems.

Importance of Soil Health for Coffea spp. Cultivation from a Cooperative Society in Puebla, Mexico

The cultivation systems of Coffea spp. in a cooperative society in Puebla, Mexico, include Rustic, Traditional Polyculture, Commercial Polyculture, Unshaded Monoculture and Shaded Monoculture. In this work, the properties of the soil were analyzed through physical, chemical and biological analyses to determine its nutritional status. Composite sample analyses were conducted to determine physical, chemical and microbiological parameters (fungi, actinomycetes, mesophilic bacteria, nitrifying and denitrifying bacteria). Leaf nutrients were determined. Rustic was the cropping system with the highest amount of K in the soil and nutrient assimilation in the leaf (N, P, K and Fe) (p = 0.001); in addition, it had high populations of mesophilic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes and very low nitrification and denitrification rates. The principal component analyses (PCA) (>3.25%) indicated that actinomycetes and K in soil favor the assimilation of Fe, K and P. This Coffea spp. cultivation system generated a lower impact on soil health than the rest of the systems and favored forest ecosystem conservation.

Suitability assessment for forest landscape restoration based on species diversity conservation

Forest landscape fragmentation poses a significant challenge to the conservation of species diversity. Evaluating the suitability of forest landscape restoration (FLR) becomes essential as it promotes effective management of forest resources and protects species diversity. This study focused on deploying and testing a suitability evaluation framework system for FLR in the Saihanba area of Hebei, China. The framework system incorporated factors such as land cover type, landscape structure, soil quality, and topography. Using the matter-element model, the study evaluated the restoration suitability and identified priority restoration areas. The results revealed that land cover type and landscape structure were the primary factors influencing FLR in the study area. The suitable area for FLR in the study area was about 519.20 km2, accounting for 55.55% of the total area. The area of moderate, marginal, and unsuitable restoration accounted for 17.30%, 23.96%, and 3.18% of the study area, respectively. The suitable restoration areas predominantly consisted of natural secondary forest characterized by large patch areas, short distances between patches, and complex patch shapes. In the study area, the objective of FLR should be protect large and complex shaped patches of natural secondary forests for better conservation of species diversity. The FLR suitability evaluation conducted in this study provide a valuable guidance for promoting species-diversity conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems at the landscape scale in the study area and other similar regions.

Nutrient allocation patterns of Picea crassifolia on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

It can provide a basis for decision making for the conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystems in mountains to understand the stoichiometric properties and nutrient allocation strategies of major tree species. However, the plant nutrient allocation strategies under different environmental gradients in forest systems of arid and semi-arid mountains are not fully understand. Therefore, three typical regions in the Qilian Mountains on the eastern edge of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau were selected based on precipitation and temperature gradients, and the stoichiometric characteristics and nutrient allocation strategies of Qinghai spruce (Picea crassifolia) of the dominant tree species under different environmental gradients were investigated. The results showed that (1) the stoichiometric characteristics of plant tissues were different in the three regions. (2) The importance of each tissue in the plant nutrient allocation varied in different regions, showing that the plant roots are more important in the warm-wet region, while the plant leaves, branches and trunks are more important in the transition and hot-dry regions. (3) The influencing factors affecting plant nutrient allocation strategies were inconsistent across regions, which showed that plant nutrient allocation strategies in the warm-wet and transition region were mainly influenced by soil factors, while they were more influenced by climatic factors in the hot-dry region. The patterns of plant nutrient allocation strategies and drivers under different environmental gradients could help us better understand the ecological adaptation mechanism and physiological adjustment mechanism of forest ecosystem in mountains.

Willingness to Pay for the Protection and Conservation of Forest Ecosystems in the Abra River Basin, Philippines

The forest ecosystems of the Abra River basin, Philippines, provide various ecosystem goods and services that are important to the wellbeing of its residents. This study used the Contingent Valuation Method (CVM) to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) of local residents for the protection and conservation of forest ecosystems within the basin. A total of 368 households were involved in the survey. The result showed that 78.26% of the respondents were willing to pay for forest protection and conservation activities. The estimated mean WTP (MWTP) using binary logistic regression is PhP 5.13/month/household. The MWTP was significantly influenced by marital status and bid amount. Further, the respondents showed awareness of the various goods and services provided by forest ecosystems, especially provisioning services.

Contribution of the Majang Forest Ecosystem to Local Communities' Livelihoods: The Case of Majang Forest Biosphere Reserve in Southwest Ethiopia

Ecosystems contribute to sustainable development by integrating economic and social development through sustainable natural resource conservation. This paper examines the contribution of the Majang forest ecosystem to livelihoods, the main products derived from the Majang forest ecosystem, and the factors affecting the dependence on ecosystem goods and services. Our present paper's main objective was to investigate how local livelihoods are impacted by Majang forest ecosystems and how those ecosystems contribute to local livelihoods. Before the main survey, we carried out reconnaissance and a pretest survey. The research was conducted using a mixed-method approach that combined quantitative and qualitative methods. Semi-structured survey questionnaires were used to gather the data. Our research showed that the products of the forest ecosystem are very important for the subsistence of the local populations and how dependent they are on them. Our research showed that the essential components of the Majang forest ecosystem products are beekeeping, fish, bushmeat, mushrooms, firewood, and building materials. According to our research, beekeeping accounts for 42.7% of household income, followed by firewood at 26.5 percent. Our findings indicate that income from the Majang forest ecosystems contributes 64.53% of total household income, compared to 35.47% from other alternative income sources. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that household characteristics had a significant impact on the reliance level of the forest ecosystem. Our research has shown how heavily local communities rely on the goods of Majang forest ecosystems. Our findings show the enormous socioeconomic importance of Majang forest ecosystem services to local communities. Our research's conclusions have significant implications for managers and decision-makers. Our results suggest that the conservation and sustainable use of forest ecosystems requires the intervention of decision-makers.

Evolutionary game analysis of forest carbon note system in China

The Forest Carbon Note System (FCNS) is a novel carbon trading scheme for China's forestry sector. It aims to engage more social actors in forest ecosystem conservation, while pursuing both regional carbon neutrality and poverty alleviation. To explore the dynamics of FCNS, this study examines the roles of local governments, companies, and forest farmers, and develops an evolutionary game model to identify the key determinants of FCNS adoption and the interplay and equilibrium among different stakeholders. The main findings of this study are: (1) The FCNS can reach three stable equilibrium strategies under certain conditions, namely (01,0), (0,1,1), and (1,1,1). (2) The local governments' motivation to promote the FCN depends on factors such as political performance, administrative costs, and transaction subsidies. (3) The companies' participation is influenced by factors such as mandatory and voluntary carbon offset amounts, branding benefits from joining the FCNS, and government penalties for exceeding carbon emission limits. (4) The forest farmers' participation is affected by the development costs of FCN projects and government subsidies. (5) The FCN price should be reasonable, covering the forest farmers' costs of developing and trading the FCN, while keeping the companies' interest, enabling the forest farmers to increase their income, and the companies to reduce their carbon emissions at a fair cost. (6) A higher social awareness of green development will lead to more involvement from the government, companies, and forest farmers. This study fills the research gap on the experiential synthesis and institutional analysis of FCN, and offers policy recommendations for improving the FCNS.

FOREST LITTER PRODUCTION VARIES WITH SEASON AND ELEVATION GRADIENT IN CHIAPAS, MEXICO

<p><strong>Background.</strong> Forest litterfall is a fundamental process of ecosystem nutrient cycling, also, it is a source of energy for the development and propagation of wildfire. Understanding the temporal dynamics of litter production and storage is critical for sustainable management and conservation of forest ecosystems. <strong>Objective. </strong>To quantify<strong> </strong>the monthly production and storage of forest litter in an elevation gradient. <strong>Methodology.</strong> We selected forest sites at three elevations: 670, 775, and 1010 masl, corresponding to pine, oak, and tropical lowland forest ecosystems in Nambiyugua hill, Chiapas, Mexico. Sixteen sampling sites with a radius of 11.28 m were established for tree measurements, and 48 litter traps of 0.50 m<sup>2 </sup>were installed to collect monthly litterfall for a year. To sample ground litter eight 30 by 30 cm<sup>2</sup> quadrats were used in each site. The fallen woody material was measured with the planar intersection method. Litter samples were oven-dried at 60 °C for 72 h and separated into leaves and other plant parts. One-way ANOVA was used to test the significant differences between forests.<strong> Results.</strong> The highest total loads of litter and fallen woody material were obtained in the pine forests of upper elevation with 29.01 t ha<sup>-1</sup>. The highest litter production was obtained in January and April, with a mean of 1.34 ± 0.19 and 0.74 ± 0.13 t ha<sup>-1</sup> respectively in pine forests. In the oak forest, the highest production occurred in March, with 1.08 ± 0.25 t ha<sup>-1</sup>; while the lowland forest reached the highest production in January with 0.85 ± 0.26 t ha<sup>-1</sup>, with a decreasing trend in June. <strong>Implications.</strong> Understanding the seasonal variability in litter production and forest fuel loads is crucial for forest productivity, carbon sequestration, and wildfire prevention <strong>Conclusions.</strong> The production of forest fuels was different among the ecosystems representing the elevation gradients. The highest monthly production of litter was registered during the January-May period for the pine and oak ecosystems but in November - January in tropical lowland forests.</p>

Quantifying patch size distributions of forest disturbances in protected areas across the European Alps

AbstractAimNatural disturbances are key drivers of forest ecosystem dynamics and are highly sensitive to global change. Despite their importance, central disturbance characteristics remain unknown for many forests worldwide. Here, we quantified an important component of the forest disturbance regime—the distribution of patch sizes—in strictly protected areas by asking: (i) How are patch sizes of naturally occurring disturbances distributed across the Alps and how can they best be quantified? (ii) Are patch size distributions stochastic or can they be explained by environmental drivers? (iii) What are the return periods of extreme disturbance events?LocationEuropean Alps.MethodsWe analysed satellite‐based disturbance maps for the period 1986–2020 across a network of 12 strictly protected areas, modelling patch sizes of all observed disturbance patches as well as of annual extreme events. We tested the influence of temperature, precipitation, topographic complexity and forest type on patch size distributions.ResultsDisturbance patch sizes across the Alps (median 0.36 ha, 5th percentile 0.18 ha and 95th percentile 1.71 ha) as well as their annual extremes (0.72 ha, 0.18–7.11 ha) are best described by a Fréchet distribution. The size of annual extreme events significantly increased with intra‐annual temperature amplitude (+0.98 ha with a one standard deviation increase) and the share of evergreen trees (+0.63 ha). On average, disturbance patches of 5.5 ha (95% credible interval 2.6–17.5 ha) occur once every 30 years, whereas patches of 2.6 ha (1.2–7.0 ha) occur once every 10 years.Main ConclusionsDisturbances caused by natural agents are generally small and stochastic across the Alps. Extreme events are driven by climate, suggesting sensitivity of disturbance patch sizes to climate change. Our results provide a baseline for monitoring climate‐induced changes in forest disturbance regimes, and provide important information for the management and conservation of forest ecosystems.

Spatial Distribution and Determinants of Aboveground Biomass in a Subalpine Coniferous Forest in Southwestern China

Aboveground biomass (AGB) is the most dynamic carbon pool in forest ecosystems and is sensitive to biotic and abiotic factors. Previous studies on AGB have mostly focused on tropical and temperate forests, while studies on AGB and its determinants in subalpine coniferous forests are lacking and the mechanisms are not yet clear. Here, we systematically investigated all woody plants in 630 subplots (20 m × 20 m) in the Wanglang Plot (25.2 ha) to explore the spatial distribution of AGB and the effects of topography, soil, and stand structure on AGB. The results showed that AGB varied remarkably among different subplots with an average of 184.42 Mg/ha. AGB increased significantly with aspect, soil organic matter, maximum DBH, and important value of spruce–fir, while it decreased significantly with slope, total phosphorus, and stem density. Stand structure exerted greater influences than topography and soil factors, and especially maximum DBH determines the variation of AGB. Our results are of great significance to accurately estimate and predict the productivity of this forest type, and can provide insights into the diversity maintenance of subalpine coniferous forests as well as the conservation and management of forest ecosystems.

Farmers’ Perception and Willingness to Pay for Bamboo Forest Ecosystem Conservation in the Case of Tongo Woreda (Mao Komo Special Woreda), Western Ethiopia

Farmers’ Perception and Willingness to Pay for Bamboo Forest Ecosystem Conservation in the Case of Tongo Woreda (Mao Komo Special Woreda), Western Ethiopia

Divergent response of leaf unfolding to climate warming in subtropical and temperate zones

The conservation of subtropical forest ecosystems is critical for stabilizing global vegetation productivity and land carbon sink. However, unlike temperate trees, the effects of climatic factors on the phenology of subtropical trees remain largely unclear. In this study, we examined the response of leaf unfolding to heat and chilling accumulation and drought by ridge regression using leaf unfolding data from 154 woody species across eastern China during 1963 and 2014 and compared the differences between subtropical and temperate zones. The results showed that the mean leaf unfolding dates for species in the subtropics were 20 days earlier than those in the temperate zone; similarly, heat accumulation for leaf unfolding in the subtropics was also significantly higher than that in the temperate zone, while chilling accumulation showed the opposite trend. Forcing temperature was still the primary driver of leaf unfolding in the both zones; nevertheless, there are more species that are not significantly affected by forcing temperature in the subtropics than in the temperate zones. Furthermore, more species showed delayed leaf unfolding due to reduced chilling in the subtropics, indicating that insufficient chilling caused by climate warming may have exerted a more noticeable effect on leaf unfolding in the subtropics than in the temperate zone. In addition, the average temperature sensitivity of leaf unfolding was higher in the subtropics than the temperate zone, which may have resulted from faster heat accumulation per 1 °C temperature increase, associated with more heat-accumulating hours due to the warmer climate in the subtropics. Moreover, a larger species-specific variation in the sensitivity of leaf unfolding to forcing temperature occurred in the subtropical zone than in the temperate zone. These differences in phenological responses among species may desynchronize ecological interactions and thereby threaten ecosystem function in the subtropics under continued warming.

Assessing the environmental destruction in forest ecosystems using landscape metrics and spatial analysis

Forest degradation is a serious environmental issue that has significant implications for ecological stability, biodiversity, and human well-being. Identifying the extent and severity of forest degradation is crucial for effective management and conservation of forest ecosystems. The objective of this study was to assess the ecological vulnerability of the forest in the Dadabad region using spatial analysis and landscape metrics. The land cover map of the area was divided into 13 sub-basins to quantify landscape metrics, and the severity of human activities, degradation level, and ecological vulnerability were calculated for each sub-basin. Each sub-basin was evaluated as a single landscape to determine the extent of degradation, and landscape zoning was performed based on the degradation coefficients. The study found that sub-basins 2 and 4 had the highest levels of degradation, while sub-basins 3, 7, 8, 11, and 12 were the least degraded. Over half of the Dadabad region, 37.8% for protection and 32.25% for rehabilitation, was recommended for conservation planning. The research highlights the importance of using spatial analysis of landscape metrics to assist managers and planners in protecting and conserving natural areas.

Analyzing the correlation of forest and wetland with land surface temperature by using geospatial technology: a case of Yayo district, Southwestern Ethiopia

Forests and wetlands played a crucial role in minimizing the increasing trends of land surface temperature (LST). This study aimed to analyze the contribution of forests and wetlands on LST in Yayo district using multi-spectral and multi-temporal satellite. Landsat images of 1986, 2003 and 2021 were downloaded from United State Geological Survey website with 30 m spatial resolution. Results show that the mean LST was increased from 22.8 °C in 1986 to 27 °C in 2003 over cultivated land. As the results of forest conservation and wetland protection, the LST in Yayo district is experencing a declining trend in the recent year. Result reveal that the normalized difference vegetation index and Normalized Difference Water Index show a strong negative relationship with LST. Over the last two decades, the LST was declined by 1.5 °C due to the protection of forest and wetland ecosystem. Thus, governmental and non-governmental organization should encourage the conservation and protection of forest and wetland ecosystems.