Big Earth Data for Ecological Sustainability: Assessing Ecological Responses and Trade-offs under Anthropogenic Pressures

The integrity of ecosystems (SDG 15) and climate stability (SDG 13) are fundamental to planetary health but face unprecedented challenges from anthropogenic drivers, particularly the rapid expansion of human settlements and infrastructure (SDG 11). While Earth observation offers vast data, a critical gap remains in translating these observations into specific, quantifiable ecological indicators that can accurately capture how ecosystems and biotic communities respond to, and adapt within, these intensifying human-dominated landscapes. Advanced platforms, such as the Sustainable Development Science Satellite 1 (SDGSAT-1), are providing unprecedented high-precision data to bridge this gap.This Research Topic aims to leverage Big Earth Data to assess ecological sustainability by focusing on the interface between biological conservation, climate regulation, and development pressures. We aim to reveal the synergies and trade-offs between maintaining ecological function and meeting human development targets.The main objectives are to: (1) Investigate ecological responses (e.g., biodiversity intactness, carbon sequestration capacity, habitat quality) to varying intensities of land use and urbanization; (2) Quantify the trade-offs between ecological/climate goals (SDG 15 & 13) and development targets (SDG 11) using spatial indicators; (3) Develop and refine SDG indicators relevant to ecosystem health and climate resilience at regional scales; (4) Assess ecological sustainability in critical transition zones (e.g., ecological barriers, urban agglomeration fringes) using high-resolution remote sensing.We welcome contributions in areas such as:Development and localization of ecological and climate-related SDG indicators based on Big Earth Data.Assessment of anthropogenic impacts on ecosystem services (including carbon dynamics) and biotic communities.Quantification of interactions between SDG 15 (Life on Land), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities).Regional studies on ecological dynamics in rapidly changing environments (e.g., the "Mid-Spine Belt of Beautiful China"). Topic editors: Zhe Chen, Lorenzo Picco, Zhongchang Sun, Huiping Jiang, Yingzhou Tang Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/76095/big-earth-data-for-ecological-sustainability-assessing-ecological-responses-and-trade-offs-under-anthropogenic-pressures