Study on Factors Influencing Forest Distribution in Barcelona Metropolitan Region

Xu Zhang, Blanca Arellano () and Josep Roca
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Xu Zhang: Centre for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV), Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Blanca Arellano: Centre for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV), Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Josep Roca: Centre for Land Policy and Valuations (CPSV), Barcelona School of Architecture (ETSAB), Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 08028 Barcelona, Spain

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 13, 1-32

Abstract: As a precious natural resource, forests are being destroyed. In previous studies, there is a lack of an interactive assessment of their distribution that comprehensively considers multiple external disturbances. This paper takes the Barcelona Metropolitan Region as an example. Based on remote sensing, it analyzes the development process of the forest from 2006 to 2018 through multiple landscape indicators, and OLS models were established to analyze variables that have direct and indirect effects on forest distribution. In addition, the ecological structure of the forest was analyzed based on NDVI. It was found that the forest area is the largest area but has been decreasing, becoming more complex in distribution structure. Much of the forest was converted to agricultural land and grassland. The green quality of the forests has been increasing, and the broad-leaved forest, the second largest area, contributes the most. NDVI is the most important positively correlated variable, and daytime surface temperature is an important inverse factor related to NDVI. In addition, NDBI is also a negative condition that inhibits forest development. In conclusion: The BMR forest area is decreasing and becoming more fragmented. NDVI and daytime LST are the two most significant factors. Climate warming may lead to worse forest development.

Keywords: forest system; climate change; ecological environment; NDVI; urban expansion; sustainable development (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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