Land use changes, degradation, and impact on ecosystem services in Asia and Southeast Asia

Several Asian countries are undergoing rapid economic development driven by diverse factors. This development is leading to continuous land use changes, including deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural conversion. Such transformations threaten essential ecosystem functions and services, like food provision, climate regulation, and cultural benefits. Land-use changes, influenced by economic activities and policies, carry extensive consequences, impacting ecosystem productivity, water resources, and climate stability. Remote sensing technology significantly aids in monitoring and quantifying these changes, offering valuable insights for land management and policy decisions. The NASA Land-Cover and Land-Use Change (LCLUC) Program within NASA’s Earth Science Division program aims to establish global assessments of land changes using space-based methods (https://lcluc.umd.edu/). The South/Southeast Asia Research Initiative (SARI), funded by NASA LCLUC, focuses on advancing LCLUC science in the region and fostering collaborations between US and Asian researchers. Utilizing geospatial data from remote sensing and models, SARI employs a comprehensive approach, considering biophysical and socioeconomic aspects of land systems and their interactions. SARI has been enhancing LCLUC science through science projects, partnerships, training, workshops, and capacity building exchanges since 2015. This Special Issue, stemming from SARI meetings in the Philippines and Malaysia in 2018 and 2019, gathers articles focusing on LCLUC, degradation, and ecosystem services in Asia. Of over 90 submissions, 30 have been accepted, providing insights into these issues and their regional impacts. The articles are summarized into various sub-themes below.