Regional Land Use Dynamics: The Natural Environment and Socioeconomic Perspectives
A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Social Ecology and Sustainability".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2025 | Viewed by 543
Special Issue Editor
Interests: land use and its dynamics; ecosystem services; sustainable rural livelihoods; coupled human–environmental systems
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Exploring the dynamics of regional land use offers a vital lens through which it is possible to examine the intricate interplay between the natural environment and socioeconomic driving forces. This understanding is essential in terms of designing strategies that harmonize environmental preservation with human needs, fostering more sustainable and resilient land management practices. The scope of this Special Issue encompasses a comprehensive examination of how land is utilized and transformed over time within a specific region. Our aim is to explore the multifaceted impacts of land use changes on the natural environment, as well as the socioeconomic factors that drive these changes. Therefore, this Special Issue seeks to delve into topics such as rapid urbanization, agricultural practices, land use planning and management, conservation efforts, and policy implications, providing a platform for interdisciplinary research and discussion. The topics covered may include, but are not limited to:
- Understanding the processes, driving forces, and outcomes of land use dynamics and their implications for sustainability;
- Employing simulations to forecast and optimize land use towards sustainable development goals;
- Assessing the efficiency of urban land use and its drivers;
- Evaluating the capacity of resources and the environment to sustain regional economic and ecological development;
- Investigating the mechanisms behind land pricing and their governance;
- Revealing the features of scientific knowledge and technological innovation and the factors influencing them.
These topics directly address several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly:
- SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Investigating urban land expansion and its socioeconomic determinants informs urban planning and management, contributing to sustainable management of cities;
- SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production): Understanding land use efficiency and environmental capacity helps to promote efficient resource use and minimize environmental impacts;
- SDG 15 (Life on Land): Understanding land use change and its ecological consequences supports efforts to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, and mitigate biodiversity loss.
Dr. Ying Wang
Guest Editor
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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.
Keywords
- land use
- patterns
- processes
- mechenisms
- land use planning
- sustainable management
