In this post, Jingjing Liang, an associate professor of quantitative forest ecology in the College of Agriculture and a member of the Purdue Institute for a Sustainable Future, discusses his recently published research “Spatial database of planted forests in East Asia” which appears in Scientific Data, with the support of the World Resources Institute project “Mapping planted forests in China.”
What did you want to know?
This research aimed to address the significant gap in reliable records of the geographic distribution and tree species composition of planted forests in East Asia. Despite the critical role planted forests play in climate change mitigation and their contribution to timber and non-timber products, existing data were incomplete, inconsistent, and often lacked transparency. Specifically, the study sought to create the first comprehensive spatial database of planted forests in East Asia, leveraging extensive in situ and remote sensing data along with advanced ensemble modeling techniques. The key objectives of the work were to map the geographic distribution of planted forests, identify dominant tree genera, and provide a reliable dataset to support forest management, conservation, and restoration initiatives.
What did you achieve?
The research successfully developed a spatial database of planted forests in East Asia, achieving 95% accuracy and an F1 score of 0.77. The study revealed that China accounts for 87% of the total planted forest area in East Asia, with significant contributions from the lowland tropical/subtropical regions and the Sichuan Basin. Dominant tree genera identified include Cunninghamia, Pinus, and Eucalyptus. The ensemble modeling approach, particularly the Random Forest model, proved effective in predicting the spatial distribution of these forests. The resulting maps provide a detailed, consistent, and ground-truth-based estimation of planted forest extents, enabling accurate quantification of their role in climate change mitigation.
What is the impact of this research?
This research provides a critical tool for addressing global environmental challenges, particularly climate change. The comprehensive spatial database of planted forests in East Asia enables more accurate assessments of carbon sequestration capacities, contributing to global efforts to mitigate climate change. For example, policymakers and conservationists can use these maps to plan and implement afforestation and reforestation projects more effectively, ensuring that efforts are targeted in areas with the highest potential for carbon capture. Furthermore, the data support sustainable forest management practices by identifying regions dominated by specific tree genera, allowing for better resource allocation and protection of biodiversity. This research can also guide international restoration projects, offering a model for other regions to develop similar databases, thus contributing to global forest conservation and climate action initiatives.