How humans use terrestrial land affects the earth and all life forms on it. Biodiversity loss and climate change are consequences of the same inappropriate and careless uses of land that negatively impact ecosystems on a smaller scale. Land Use, Climate Change and Biodiversity Modeling: Perspectives and Applications combines state-of-the-art modeling approaches at various scales with case studies from across the world. These examples help natural resource managers, scientists, and decision makers overcome their fear of models. The case studies show how to translate models into results and illustrate how pro-active implementation can mitigate biodiversity loss. This material will interest individual researchers, but it is also critical for policy-makers committed to the future of the planet.

Thailand has been recognized as having rich natural resources, the natural capital to support the countrys economic development and the livelihood of Thai people. Tapping on its vast fertile area, the country has been one of the players in global food production for last four decades. However, these achievements have also had negative consequences on biodiversity, ecosystem functions, and human health both in rural and urban areas. Thailand: Environmental Resources and Related Policies and Social Issues reviews the pressures, impacts and status of selected natural resources and environmental concerns, e.g., forest resources, coastal and marine resources, protected areas and biodiversity, soil and land resources, water resources, energy and climate change, and economic instruments and modeling tools for enhancing management planning through various contributed chapters that are organised into five sections: Section One: Setting the Scene; Section Two: Physical Environment and Natural Resources; Section Three: Governance and Management; Section Four: Global Initiatives and Economic Tools; and Section Five: Conclusions and Recommendations. In addition, the concepts and lessons learned from case studies presented in this book do not only provide the analytical review status, but also identify key issues and management options for achieving the designated national goals and international commitments on biodiversity conservation and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030. It is hoped that this book will be of value in terms of the necessary inputs to effectively support the implementation of the Thai governments initiatives on moving the country towards Thailand 4.0 or a value-based economy, as well as the recent 20-year National Strategic Plan (2017-2036). The contents and materials will also be of interest to individual scientists, stakeholders, practitioners and policy-makers working for the cause of natural resources and environmental, management and sustainable development in Thailand and beyond.