Mapping, Remote Sensing, and GIS
Bridging conservation and policy: evaluating national targets to reduce mangrove loss under the Kunming–Montreal biodiversity frameworkBackgroundThis research examines the alignment between the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets and national efforts to halt mangrove loss. Under the Convention on Biological Diversity, GBF’s Targets 1 and 3 aim to reduce habitat loss and expand protected areas to conserve 30% of critical ecosystems by 2030. Mangroves, vital for biodiversity, carbon storage, and coastal protection, continue to experience degradation due to both human and natural drivers. Despite partial success in global mangrove protection, national policies often fail to address underlying drivers of degradation or incorporate specific, measurable conservation actions. Open access copy available |
The enduring world forest carbon sinkBackgroundForests are critical to mitigating climate change because they absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) and store it in biomass and soils. In 2023, atmospheric CO₂ levels exceeded 420 ppm, intensifying the urgency to understand terrestrial carbon sinks. Forests historically lost 180 Pg of carbon through land-use change, yet they remain central to achieving global net-zero goals by 2050. While remote sensing and modeling offer insights, this study emphasizes long-term, ground-based forest inventory data as the most reliable source for assessing trends in carbon sinks across boreal, temperate, and tropical forest biomes. Open access copy available |
The changing global carbon cycle: linking plant–soil carbon dynamics to global consequencesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Addressing critiques refines global estimates of reforestation potential for climate change mitigationBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Putting seedlings on the map: Trade‐offs in demographic rates between ontogenetic size classes in five tropical forestsBACKGROUND:The study examines tropical forests in regions such as Panama, Puerto Rico, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Ecuador, which are characterized by their high biodiversity and significant environmental challenges like cyclonic storms. These forests are ideal for investigating demographic trade-offs due to their diverse coexisting tree species that align along growth, survival, and stature recruitment axes. The forests have experienced varying levels of disturbance from natural events, making them unique examples for studying tree species’ life-history strategies and the mechanisms that facilitate species coexistence. Available with subscription or purchase |
How to Achieve Effective Participation of Communities in the Monitoring of REDD+ Projects: A Case Study in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)BACKGROUND:The Miombo woodlands of southern Africa represent one of the region's most extensive dry forest ecosystems, spanning several countries and supporting the livelihoods of over 100 million people. These woodlands have undergone significant environmental degradation over recent decades, primarily driven by shifting cultivation, charcoal production, and unsustainable land-use practices. Given their ecological importance and critical role in rural livelihoods, particularly among low-income people, understanding and promoting sustainable management of Miombo woodlands is essential for both environmental conservation and socioeconomic development. Open access copy available |
Community perceptions of long-term mangrove cover changes and its drivers from a typhoon-prone province in the PhilippinesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Expanding forest carbon sinks to mitigate climate change in AfricaBACKGROUND:Forests play a crucial role in climate change mitigation by acting as carbon sinks that sequester atmospheric CO2. African forests, covering 22% of the continent, provide substantial benefits but are under threat from deforestation and degradation. A comprehensive strategy that integrates social, economic, and environmental aspects is essential to preserve their ability to capture carbon effectively. The authors seek to examine the relationship between forest loss and increased CO2 emissions in Africa. Open access copy available |
Biodiversity conservation in Costa Rica: a correspondence analysis between identifi ed biodiversity hotspots (Araceae, Arecaceae, Bromeliaceae, and Scarabaeinae) and conservation priority life zonesBackgroundOpen access copy available |
Patterns and drivers of disturbance in tropical forest reserves of southern GhanaBackgroundOpen access copy available |
