o:8236 Sustainable Land Use in Moldova: GIS & Remote Sensing of Forests and Crops en "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." "Forest land GIS Sustainable Land Use Moldova Google Earth Engine CORINE Crops Suitability Climate extremes" 1552099 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107515 1552101 0264-8377 2025-09-25T12:12:17.446Z 44 yes 46 Aleksandar Valjarević 0000-0003-2997-2164 46 Morar Cezar 0000-0003-0211-5883 46 Ljiljana Brašanac-Bosanac 0000-0002-3324-674X 46 Tatjana Ćirković-Mitrović 0000-0003-2620-1751 46 Tatjana Đekić 46 Marija Mihajlović 46 Ivica Milevski 46 Golub Ćulafić 0000-0001-9494-8844 46 Milan Luković 46 Liudmyla Niemets 46 Kateryna Sehida 0000-0002-1122-8460 46 Gordana Kaplan 0000-0001-7522-9924 application/pdf 5735885 https://unilib.phaidrabg.rs/o:8236 no yes 1 70 1552253 2025 Land Use Policy 152 Elsevier 2025