Ecological Connectivity of Forest Ecosystems

Forests, which cover 31% of Earth’s land area (UNEP & FAO, 2020), occupy a central position in the discourse on ecological connectivity. Brimming with diverse plant, fungal, vertebrate, and invertebrate life forms, these ecosystems carry signifcant importance. Even though forests are incredibly important for biodiversity (Liang et al., 2016), climate regulation and ecosystem services, deforestation, and forest degradation remain ongoing issues that have yet to be resolved. Common and ongoing of deforestation and forest degradation lead to a signifcant decline in biodiversity, especially among specialist species (Sverdrup-Thygeson et  al., 2017), exacerbated by the expansion of human land use as the primary cause of these problems (Andronache et al., 2019; Collins et al., 2009; Fahrig, 2003). In this context, ecological connectivity emerges as a vital lifeline for forest ecosystems, playing a crucial role in biodiversity restoration and facilitating adaptation to the rapidly changing climate conditions.