Together, grasslands, forests and mountain ecosystems support the livelihoods of both highland and lowland communities by providing 1) goods such as timber, food, fuel and bioproducts; 2) ecological functions such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification, and wildlife habitats; 3) social and cultural benefits such as recreation, traditional resource uses and spirituality. They also provide 1) habitats that sustain terrestrial biodiversity, 2) climate regulation functions by serving as sinks for carbon storage, 3) flow regulation and freshwater streaming for the varied needs of millions people, such as drinking, cooking, and washing, farming, hydropower, industry and transportation; 4) protective functions against natural and human induced hazards, such as soil erosion, landslides, and floods and, 5) numerous adaptation services by providing buffering climate extremes.
Although these ecosystems are indispensably vital for the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide and the maintenance of ecological and production functions; their sustainability is being threatened by numerous stressors that include climate change, overexploitation of the life-supporting goods and services they provide, natural disasters / disturbances and other externalities which continue to reduce their life supporting potentials.
Unfortunately, however, our abilities to address and respond to the adverse of these stressors and many others continue to be undermined by numerous established and poorly understood challenges, and stressors and drivers. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide informative insights on how these ecosystems can be conserved by creating space for the sharing and communication of science-based knowledge which advances our capacities to the realization of a habitable planet.
It is open for the publication of original articles that provide new insights, innovative strategies, and actionable interventions on how conservation efforts are instrumental to the sustainable use and management of grassland, forested and mountain ecosystems for the benefits of present and future generations. Review papers that have a conservation orientation are also welcome.
Together, grasslands, forests and mountain ecosystems support the livelihoods of both highland and lowland communities by providing 1) goods such as timber, food, fuel and bioproducts; 2) ecological functions such as carbon storage, nutrient cycling, water and air purification, and wildlife habitats; 3) social and cultural benefits such as recreation, traditional resource uses and spirituality. They also provide 1) habitats that sustain terrestrial biodiversity, 2) climate regulation functions by serving as sinks for carbon storage, 3) flow regulation and freshwater streaming for the varied needs of millions people, such as drinking, cooking, and washing, farming, hydropower, industry and transportation; 4) protective functions against natural and human induced hazards, such as soil erosion, landslides, and floods and, 5) numerous adaptation services by providing buffering climate extremes.
Although these ecosystems are indispensably vital for the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide and the maintenance of ecological and production functions; their sustainability is being threatened by numerous stressors that include climate change, overexploitation of the life-supporting goods and services they provide, natural disasters / disturbances and other externalities which continue to reduce their life supporting potentials.
Unfortunately, however, our abilities to address and respond to the adverse of these stressors and many others continue to be undermined by numerous established and poorly understood challenges, and stressors and drivers. The aim of this Research Topic is to provide informative insights on how these ecosystems can be conserved by creating space for the sharing and communication of science-based knowledge which advances our capacities to the realization of a habitable planet.
It is open for the publication of original articles that provide new insights, innovative strategies, and actionable interventions on how conservation efforts are instrumental to the sustainable use and management of grassland, forested and mountain ecosystems for the benefits of present and future generations. Review papers that have a conservation orientation are also welcome.