Land Transformation, Climate Change and Agroecosystems Response and Adaptation

Dear Colleagues,

Agroecosystems are manmade ecosystems created for farming, animal husbandry, and fishing to meet the essential needs of humanity for food, fuel, and fiber. As the largest manmade ecosystems, they are constantly interacting with other natural and manmade ecosystems to affect the provision of the ecosystem services that are critical to planetary health and human well-beings. The state of agroecosystems and their capacity to provide variety of ecosystem services directly and indirectly affects the attainment of all 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) defined by the United Nations, most notably no poverty (SDG 1), zero hunger (SDG 2), good health and well-being (SDG 3), clean water and sanitation (SDG 6), affordable and clean energy (SDG 7), climate action (SDG 13), life below water (SDG 14) and life on land (SDG 15).   

The world population has reached 8.7 billion and will continues to grow. Future development of agroecosystems faces tremendous challenges. First, the growth of agroecosystems has already breached multiple planetary boundaries. Second, the structure and functions of agroecosystems are constantly shaped  by large scale land transformation such as urbanization, industrial development, deforestation, desertification and  land degradation. Third, agroecosystems are highly vulnerable to climate change and the elevated climate risk further degrades agroecosystems and their ecosystem services. The impacts of land transformation and climate change on agroecosystems and their ecosystem services are further complicated by technological innovation, economic development, geopolitics and regulations and policies. Meanwhile, agroecosystems are changing to adapt to the evolving social, economic, environmental, and technological environments to demonstrate their resilience. The notable examples include fast growing urban agriculture, agriculture in controlled environment and regenerative farming.

For the Special Issue on “Land Transformation, Climate Change, and Agroecosystem Response and Adaptation” we invite researchers, academics, practitioners, and experts to submit a wide range of interdisciplinary contributions, case studies, and methodological and applied research to explore the intricate relationship between land use changes, climate change impacts, and the adaptive responses of agricultural ecosystems at various scales ranging from a field to global scale. Through this interdisciplinary inquiry, we aim to shed light on the challenges and opportunities in sustainable land management and agricultural practices to mitigate climate risks while ensuring food security and achieving SDGs. Submissions may explore but are not limited to the following topics:

1. Assessing the influence of land use transformations, such as deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion, on agroecosystems and ecosystem services;
2. Analyzing the effects of changing climatic conditions on crop productivity, livestock health, and overall agricultural resilience;
3. Investigating innovative and practical strategies for farmers, policymakers, and communities to adapt to climate change impacts and mitigate associated risks;
4. Exploring the role of ecosystem-based approaches, such as agroforestry, conservation agriculture, and sustainable water management, in enhancing agricultural resilience and reducing vulnerability to climate-related hazards;
5. Evaluating the effectiveness of national and international policies and governance mechanisms in promoting sustainable and equitable land use practices and climate-smart agriculture;
6. Showcasing advancements in agricultural technologies and their potential to enhance climate resilience and sustainable land management.

This call for paper proposals offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the critical relationship between land transformation, climate risk, and agroecosystem response and adaptation. We anticipate that the research presented in this special issue will inspire informed decisions and innovative solutions to address the challenges posed by climate change on agroecosystems while fostering sustainability and resilience.

We look forward to your valuable contributions to this important discourse.

Prof. Dr. Zeyuan Qiu
Dr. Subhasis Giri
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Land is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• agroecosystems
• ecosystem services
• urban agriculture
• land use change
• resilience and adaptation
• climate change
• climate-smart agriculture