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Forests
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Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts
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Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907). This special issue belongs to the section "Forest Ecology and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2025) | Viewed by 6105

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Yanmin Teng

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Guest Editor
Research Center for Eco-Environmental Engineering, Dongguan University of Technology, Songshan Lake, Dongguan 523808, China
Interests: ecological planning; ecosystem services; forestry ecosystem management
Dr. Chao Wang

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Guest Editor
School of Labor Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business, Beijing 100089, China
Interests: land use/cover change; carbon emissions and carbon sequestration; ecosystem services
Prof. Dr. Jinyan Zhan

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Guest Editor
State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
Interests: land use/cover change; ecosystem services; environmental impact scenario estimation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

As a nature-based solution, afforestation plays a vital role in combating global warming, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. With limited resources and imminent threats, deciding where to carry out afforestation is a crucial issue. However, due to improper selection of afforestation areas and tree species, it is difficult to enhance corresponding ecosystem services using large-scale afforestation, and it has many negative impacts on a local scale (such as vegetation degradation, soil organic carbon depletion, increased pests and diseases, and excessive consumption of regional water resources). At present, where afforestation efforts should be directed is not well understood and agreed upon, especially in the face of rapid climate change and socio-economic development. Therefore, it is necessary to rationally optimize afforestation patterns and tree species based on input–output analysis, linear programming, machine learning, and other spatial optimization analysis methods by considering the costs and benefits of forest from multiple perspectives, so as to enhance regional ecosystem services and reduce negative impacts. This Special Issue plans to give an overview of the most recent advances in the field of afforestation pattern optimization and ecological management.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Forest monitoring and assessment;
  • Forest ecosystem functions and services;
  • Urban and regional forest spatial pattern optimization;
  • Cost and benefit analysis of afforestation;
  • Impacts of climate change and human activities on forests;
  • Ecological planning and management;
  • Model simulation and scenario analysis.

Dr. Yanmin Teng
Dr. Chao Wang
Prof. Dr. Jinyan Zhan
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. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2600 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

  • pattern optimization
  • ecosystem services
  • afforestation
  • forest ecological management
  • spatial planning

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 5720 KiB  
Article
Short-Term Effects of Three Tree Species on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Communities During Land-Use Change from Farmland to Forests
by Yi Jian, Jing Lin, Changlong Mu, Yuqi Wang, Zhenyang He, Gang Chen and Wei Ding
Forests 2025, 16(2), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/f16020362 - 17 Feb 2025
Viewed by 400
Abstract
In recent decades, much of China’s farmland has been transformed into forests due to the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project. While past research has mainly examined soil nutrients and water conservation, less attention has been given to soil microbial communities. [...] Read more.
In recent decades, much of China’s farmland has been transformed into forests due to the Conversion of Farmland to Forests and Grasses Project. While past research has mainly examined soil nutrients and water conservation, less attention has been given to soil microbial communities. This study examined the effects of converting farmland to forests of Pleioblastus amarus (PA), Populus deltoides (PD), or Zanthoxylum bungeanum (ZB) on the soil physiochemical properties, enzymes, and microbial communities, using abandoned land (AL) as the control, over a period of five years. The results showed that PA increased the soil organic carbon (SOC) content, although not significantly, while significantly boosting the C:N and C:P ratios and urease activity compared to the AL. PD notably reduced the amylase and cellulase activities, as well as the fungal Shannon index. Additionally, the beta diversity of both the bacterial and fungal communities in the PA stand was clearly distinct from that of the AL and the other tree species. The SOC content, total potassium content, and cellulase activity showed significant correlations with bacterial communities. Moreover, the bacterial community changes in the PD and ZB stands were mainly driven by the genera Steroidobacter, Roseisolibacter, and Serendipita, and were negatively correlated with the SOC content, C:N and C:P ratios, and cellulase activity. In contrast, the fungal community changes in the PA stand were primarily influenced by the order Capnodiales, family Capnodiaceae, genus Chaetocapnodium, and species Chaetocapnodium philippinense, which were positively correlated with the soil pH, C:N and C:P ratios, and cellulase activity. Furthermore, “Metabolism” was identified as the primary bacterial function, and converting farmland to forest altered the fungal nutritional type from Saprotroph to Pathotroph–Saprotroph–Symbiotroph, particularly in the PA stand. These findings indicate that converting farmland to forest, particularly with bamboo P. amarus, significantly impacts the bacterial and fungal communities in the soil and changes the fungal trophic type due to the carbon source and cellulase activity of this tree species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts)
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14 pages, 2028 KiB  
Article
Effects of Chinese Fir Retention Density on Soil Bacterial Community Structure in Chinese Fir and Betula luminifera Mixed Forests Plantations in China
by Meiman Zhang, Zhibing Wan, Wenhui Gao and Ye Zhang
Forests 2024, 15(12), 2107; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15122107 - 28 Nov 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 847
Abstract
Mixed broad-leaved trees are particularly effective in addressing ecological issues such as soil degradation and biodiversity loss caused by the dense planting of Chinese fir. Understanding the changes in soil bacterial communities in fir–broadleaf mixed forests as a function of fir retention density [...] Read more.
Mixed broad-leaved trees are particularly effective in addressing ecological issues such as soil degradation and biodiversity loss caused by the dense planting of Chinese fir. Understanding the changes in soil bacterial communities in fir–broadleaf mixed forests as a function of fir retention density may offer new insights for optimizing management practices and enhancing the ecological functions of the underground components of forest ecosystems. In this study, the diversity and composition of soil bacterial communities in mixed Cunninghamia lanceolata and Betula luminifera forests (CFBFs) with diverse retention densities of Chinese fir (1250, 1560, and 1690 trees/hm2) were analyzed. The results suggested that the soil characteristics and microbial communities’ diversity and structure are significantly influenced by the retention densities of Chinese fir in CFBFs. At the aggregate scale, the CFBFs with a retention density of 1560 trees/hm2 presented the greatest soil bacterial community diversity (based on the Chao 1 (3562.75) and Shannon indices (6.58)), and the diversity and richness of soil bacteria initially increase and then decrease as the retention density decreases. In CFBFs, regardless of the retention density, bacterial communities in soil were mainly composed of Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Planctomycetes. The relative abundance of soil Acidobacteria first elevated and afterwards decreased as the retention density decreased, with the highest levels (47.15%) observed in the stand with 1560 trees/hm2 of Chinese fir. The Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) showed that the soil microbial community structure in CFBEs with a retention density of 1560 trees/hm2 is significantly different from CFBEs with a retention density of 1260, and 1690 trees/hm2. Moreover, with different retention densities of Chinese fir, soil organic C, total N concentrations, and soil pH also significantly affected the diversity and composition of CFBF soil bacterial communities. Our results show that the choice of retention densities significantly influences soil microbial diversity and composition in CFBFs. Optimal retention densities (1560 trees/hm2) of Chinese fir in CFBFs can maximize bacterial diversity and stability, providing management guidance for thinning for sustainable management of the soil microenvironment of CFBFs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts)
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24 pages, 9718 KiB  
Article
Study on the Effect and Enhancement of Near-Natural Integrated Plant Positioning Configuration in the Hilly Gully Region, China
by Hongsheng Zhao, Shuang Feng, Wanjiao Li and Yong Gao
Forests 2024, 15(5), 841; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050841 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1027
Abstract
The establishment of protective forests plays a crucial role in mitigating soil erosion on slopes within hilly and gully regions. However, in practical applications, the configuration of protective forests on slopes is intricate and diverse, and the suitability and rationality of different configuration [...] Read more.
The establishment of protective forests plays a crucial role in mitigating soil erosion on slopes within hilly and gully regions. However, in practical applications, the configuration of protective forests on slopes is intricate and diverse, and the suitability and rationality of different configuration patterns for various slope sections have not been thoroughly investigated. This study focuses on a 40-year-old artificial protective forest, examining 16 different configuration patterns on the top, middle, and lower slopes. It compares the growth conditions, community structure stability, and characteristics of the saturated soil’s hydraulic conductivity. The findings indicate that the top slope should be identified as a critical area for slope protection. The optimal configuration for this area is the “tree + grass” pattern with a spacing of 5 m × 5 m, which promotes the optimal growth of tree species and effectively reduces the surface runoff of gravel particles ranging from 1 cm to 3 cm in diameter. On the middle slope, the “tree + shrub + grass” structure proves effective in slowing down the erosive force of slope runoff. The recommended spacing for trees is 5 m × 6 m, and for understory shrubs, it is 1 m × 6 m. This configuration pattern results in the most stable structure for the plant community and maximizes the water conservation potential of forest litter. By analyzing the characteristics of the saturated soil’s hydraulic conductivity, we find that the complexity of the plant configuration on the lower slopes is correlated with a greater coefficient of variation in the saturated soil’s hydraulic conductivity. Nevertheless, there is no significant difference in the average soil saturated hydraulic conductivity per unit area between the different configuration patterns. Consequently, the lower slope can rely on the natural recovery of herbaceous plants. The results of this research contribute valuable scientific and technical insights to the management of soil erosion in hilly and gully areas, both in China and around the world. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts)
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21 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
Sustainable Afforestation Strategies: Hybrid Multi-Criteria Decision-Making Model in Post-Mining Rehabilitation
by Ersin Güngör and Gökhan Şen
Forests 2024, 15(5), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050783 - 29 Apr 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1381
Abstract
This article describes an effective approach for selecting suitable plant species for afforestation in post-mining rehabilitation. The research was conducted in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey. The aim of the research is to perform accurate criteria weighting and species prioritization for [...] Read more.
This article describes an effective approach for selecting suitable plant species for afforestation in post-mining rehabilitation. The research was conducted in the Western Black Sea region of Turkey. The aim of the research is to perform accurate criteria weighting and species prioritization for afforestation in post-mining degraded areas. This helps to ensure consistent conditions for the future use of the site as a forest, sustainability of nature, and selection of appropriate species adapted to the difficult post-mining conditions. In this study, which is a multi-criteria decision-making problem (MCDM), the weights of the criteria were determined by stepwise weight assessment ratio analysis (SWARA), and the priority ranking of the species was determined by the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Analyses were carried out with 10 afforestation criteria and five tree species. According to the analysis, the top three ranked criteria are Economic Efficiency > Carbon Stock and Credit > Reducing Afforestation Cost. The five species’ priority ranking is Robinia pseudoacacia L. (0.456) > Alnus glutinosa subsp. glutinosa (0.248) > Populus nigra subsp. nigra (0.146) > Salix alba L. (0.103) > Quercus robur subs. robur (0.048). The hybrid approach is expected to increase the effectiveness of post-mining rehabilitation works. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts)
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17 pages, 4278 KiB  
Article
The Carbon Storage of Reforestation Plantings on Degraded Lands of the Red Soil Region, Jiangxi Province, China
by Peng Li, Xiaojun Liu, Chen Wang, Yanjie Lu, Laicong Luo, Lingjian Tao, Tingqi Xiao and Yuanqiu Liu
Forests 2024, 15(2), 320; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15020320 - 7 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1608
Abstract
To assess the effects of reforestation on ecosystem carbon storage, a long-term Forest Restoration Experimental Project (FREP) was established in 1991 on southern degraded red soil in Taihe County, Jiangxi Province, China. In this study, we selected five types of plantations: Schima superba [...] Read more.
To assess the effects of reforestation on ecosystem carbon storage, a long-term Forest Restoration Experimental Project (FREP) was established in 1991 on southern degraded red soil in Taihe County, Jiangxi Province, China. In this study, we selected five types of plantations: Schima superba plantation (SS), Liquidambar formosana plantation (LF), Pinus massoniana plantation (PM), Pinus elliottii plantation (PE), and P. elliottii and broadleaf mixed plantation (MEB). The unforested land was used as an experimental control check (CK). We aimed to assess the changes in carbon storage in plantations and the factors affecting them. Thirty years after reforestation, the ecosystem carbon storage of the five types of plantations was significantly higher than that of the control site, and there were also significant differences in the ecosystem carbon storage between the different plantation types (p < 0.05). The ecosystem carbon storage of SS, MEB, LF, PM, and PE were 211.71 Mg ha−1, 199.02 Mg ha−1, 160.96 Mg ha−1, 155.01 Mg ha−1, and 142.88 Mg ha−1, respectively. Compared to the CK, these values were increased by 436.8%, 404.6%, 308.1%, 293.1%, and 262.3%, respectively. The ecosystem carbon storage was significantly positively correlated with soil porosity, total nitrogen (TN), and stand density, and was significantly negatively correlated with pH, Pielou’s evenness index (PEI), and the Shannon–Weiner diversity index (SWDI). The soil water content (SWC), bulk density (BD), SWDI, and stand density can be used as indicators of the impact of reforestation plantings on ecosystem carbon storage. The research results has shown that reforestation plantings significantly increase ecosystem carbon storage, and that afforestation should be encouraged on degraded land. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Afforestation to Enhance Ecosystem Services and Reduce Negative Impacts)
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