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Land
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Modeling Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Planning (Second Edition)
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Modeling Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Planning (Second Edition)

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 May 2025 | Viewed by 1998

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Eve Bohnett

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
2. Florida Institute for Built Environment Resilience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
Interests: landscape ecology; landscape conservation planning; spatial analysis; sustainable development; biodiversity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Eben N. Broadbent

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Spatial Ecology and Conservation Lab, School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32603, USA
Interests: remote sensing; forest ecology; conservation biology; airborne sensors; GatorEye; landscape simulation models; ecosystem and canopy ecology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Loss of biodiversity is one of the most serious environmental issues facing the planet. Many researchers are turning to model-based approaches to better predict the ecological effects of habitat fragmentation, climate change, and anthropogenic impacts, aiming to identify conservation strategies that are more effective at preserving biodiversity. Models play a crucial role in biodiversity and landscape conservation planning, areas where various computer programs can be utilized to create models for the issues of biodiversity and connectivity facing these habitats. Once these models have been created, they can be used to evaluate alternative landscape management techniques, spatial conservation prioritization, and future scenario planning in terms of their impact on biodiversity preservation.

Increasingly, conservation strategies and policies for multi-use landscapes are being developed at the intersection of science and policy. There exists a gap between social research and the comprehension of the complexities of actor, stakeholder, and policy participation in landscape planning. In light of these knowledge gaps and the value of geodesign methods and technology for facilitating strategic planning, the use of spatially explicit design scenarios to strengthen the link between environmental dynamics and territorial systems is ripe for investigation. Research articles may discuss a variety of topics related to the integration of biodiversity and conservation planning, such as:

  • metrics/methods for quantifying biodiversity;
  • mapping biodiversity using remote sensing and GIS;
  • numerical models for biodiversity;
  • connectivity models and approaches;
  • spatial conservation prioritization;
  • landscape conservation planning and geodesign;
  • examining alternative future scenarios;
  • social network analysis;
  • participatory geographic information systems;
  • agent-based modeling of environmental policies;
  • evaluation of community-based conservation and payments for ecosystem services.

Dr. Eve Bohnett
Dr. Eben N. Broadbent
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. Land 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

  • biodiversity
  • conservation planning
  • geodesign
  • modeling
  • spatial ecology
  • spatial conservation prioritization
  • landscape architecture
  • alternative futures

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 25344 KiB  
Article
Identifying Priority Conservation Areas in Shennongjia National Park Based on Monetary Costs and Zonation Model
by Weixuan Ding, Liangyi Huang, Jirong Guang and Jingya Zhang
Land 2024, 13(12), 2164; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122164 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 377
Abstract
Identifying priority conservation areas (PCAs) for national parks is critical for improving the cost-effectiveness and viability of conservation efforts, given the multiplicity of conservation values, the complexity of human activities, and the limited financial resources available. Assessing conservation costs is central to systematic [...] Read more.
Identifying priority conservation areas (PCAs) for national parks is critical for improving the cost-effectiveness and viability of conservation efforts, given the multiplicity of conservation values, the complexity of human activities, and the limited financial resources available. Assessing conservation costs is central to systematic conservation planning (SCP). To compensate for the limitations of the alternative cost method in small-scale case studies and accurately reflect the cost differences due to specific land use, tenure, and management strategies, conservation costs are quantified and spatialized in this study using monetization methods. Taking Shennongjia National Park (SNP) as an example, we considered the core conservation values of species, ecosystems, and geological heritage, using the Zonation 5 model to identify PCAs under three different targets: 17%, 30%, and 50%. The results indicated that, as the conservation targets increased, PCAs expanded from the central and southern high-altitude areas to the northwest and northeast. Conservation gaps are primarily concentrated in the western part of Songluo and the northern parts of Hongping and Songba. Conservation costs exhibit clear spatial heterogeneity, increasing gradually from the central high mountains towards the surrounding areas. Among these, ecological compensation cost was the primary factor driving the sharp increase in total costs, while opportunity cost remained consistently low with minimal fluctuations. Compared to the alternative method, our study clarified the spatial distribution and types of costs in the process of national park construction, providing a quantitative basis and scientific guidance for future fiscal investment directions, methods, and responsible entities. At the administrative division level, we revealed the main cost challenges faced by townships in balancing resource conservation with community development, leading to more targeted, timely, and actionable community governance strategies. These findings further illustrate the significant advantages of using monetary costs in optimizing the boundaries of individual national parks and enhancing funding allocation efficiency, while promoting effective unified management of natural resource assets within spatial planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Planning (Second Edition))
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20 pages, 3462 KiB  
Article
Bird Diversity in Suburban Greenway Was Driven by Habitat Heterogeneity and Landscape Patterns in Autumn–Winter Seasons—Evidence from Hangzhou Qingshan Lake Greenway
by Yizhou Tao, Wenhao Hu, Wenjing Wang, Lan He and Wenhui Xu
Land 2024, 13(8), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081192 - 2 Aug 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 960
Abstract
Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of bird community distribution within urban greenways is crucial for optimizing ecological functions and supporting urban biodiversity. While ecological corridors enhance connectivity and biodiversity, specific mechanisms by which landscape composition and configuration influence bird diversity remain unclear. This study [...] Read more.
Understanding the spatial heterogeneity of bird community distribution within urban greenways is crucial for optimizing ecological functions and supporting urban biodiversity. While ecological corridors enhance connectivity and biodiversity, specific mechanisms by which landscape composition and configuration influence bird diversity remain unclear. This study examines bird community distribution along the Qingshan Lake Greenway in Hangzhou during autumn and winter, using 17 observation points across wetlands, forests, and mixed habitats. The key findings indicate that wetlands have significantly higher species richness compared to forests and mixed habitats, underscoring wetlands’ critical role in supporting diverse bird communities. Greenways primarily facilitate short-distance bird movement with limited permeability between habitats. Additionally, greenway effectiveness in enhancing bird diversity depends heavily on design and structural characteristics. This research highlights the necessity of incorporating microhabitat design and diverse habitat configurations in greenway planning to enhance ecological connectivity and biodiversity. It provides essential insights for urban planners and ecologists, emphasizing detailed landscape composition and configuration analyses. Future research should include year-round studies and advanced ecological monitoring technologies to validate and expand these findings, ultimately contributing to more effective urban biodiversity conservation and sustainable development strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modeling Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Planning (Second Edition))
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