application/pdf 5735885 bytes "Forest land GIS Sustainable Land Use Moldova Google Earth Engine CORINE Crops Suitability Climate extremes" Land Use Policy volume: 152 Valjarević, Aleksandar Cezar, Morar Brašanac-Bosanac, Ljiljana Ćirković-Mitrović, Tatjana Đekić, Tatjana Mihajlović, Marija Milevski, Ivica Ćulafić, Golub Luković, Milan Niemets, Liudmyla Sehida, Kateryna Kaplan, Gordana https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8236 doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107515 ISSN: 0264-8377 "Forests and agricultural lands are critical components of the environment, influencing ecosystem stability, biodiversity, and land productivity. In the Republic of Moldova, a country with limited forest cover (11.4 % of its territory), the relationship between forested areas and cultivated land plays a key role in sustainable land management. This study examines the spatial interactions between forest land and two major agricultural crops—sunflower (Helianthus annuus) and grapes (Vitis vinifera) - using remote sensing and GIS techniques. By integrating Google Earth Engine (GEE), CORINE Land Cover data, and cadastral records, we analyze land cover changes from 1996 to 2018, identifying vulnerable areas where deforestation and agricultural expansion intersect. Additionally, fuzzy aggregate AHP and zonal statistical methods are applied to assess land suitability for crop cultivation and reforestation. Our findings highlight regions where sustainable land management policies should be prioritized to balance agricultural development with forest conservation. The study provides actionable insights for policymakers, emphasizing the need for adaptive land-use strategies that account for climate variability, urban expansion, and rural land degradation." info:eu-repo/semantics/article All rights reserved eng 2025 Elsevier Sustainable Land Use in Moldova: GIS & Remote Sensing of Forests and Crops