Announcements

World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year on 2 February to raise awareness about wetlands. This day also marks the anniversary of the Convention on Wetlands, which was adopted as an international treaty in 1971.

Nearly 90% of the world’s wetlands have been degraded since the 1700s, and we are losing wetlands three times faster than forests. Yet, wetlands are critically important ecosystems that contribute to biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, freshwater availability, world economies and more.

“Protecting Wetlands for Our Common Future” is the theme for World Wetlands Day 2025.

“Extracting Wetlands in Coastal Louisiana from the Operational VIIRS and GOES-R Flood Products”
by Tianshu Yang, Donglian Sun, Sanmei Li, Satya Kalluri, Lihang Zhou, Sean Helfrich, Meng Yuan, Qingyuan Zhang, William Straka, Viviana Maggioni and Fernando Miralles-Wilhelm
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(20), 3769; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16203769

“Random Forest Classifier Algorithm of Geographic Resources Analysis Support System Geographic Information System for Satellite Image Processing: Case Study of Bight of Sofala, Mozambique”
by Polina Lemenkova
Coasts 2024, 4(1), 127-149; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4010008

“Evaluation of Remote Sensing Products for Wetland Mapping in the Irtysh River Basin”
by Kaiyue Luo, Alim Samat, Jilili Abuduwaili and Wenbo Li
Geosciences 2024, 14(1), 14; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences14010014

“Monitoring of Coastal Dunes and Lagoons: Important Ecosystems to Safeguard”
by Carmine Massarelli, Claudia Campanale and Vito Felice Uricchio
Environments 2023, 10(12), 211; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments10120211

“Monitoring the Kotychi Lagoon in Western Peloponnese, Greece, Using Remote Sensing Techniques and Environmental Assessment”
by Dionysios N. Apostolopoulos, Dionysios Giannikopoulos, Alexis Ramfos, Sara Faulwetter, Dionisios Panagiotaras, Konstantinos G. Nikolakopoulos and Pavlos Avramidis
J. Mar. Sci. Eng. 2023, 11(2), 411; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse11020411

Special Issues:

“Monitoring and Simulation of Wetland Ecological Processes (Second Edition)”	“Remote Sensing for Mapping and Monitoring Wetlands and Their Ecosystems”

“Birds as Cultural Ambassadors: Bridging Ecosystem Services and Biodiversity Conservation in Wetland Planning”
by Michela Ingaramo, Anna Rita Bernadette Cammerino, Vincenzo Rizzi, Maurizio Gioiosa and Massimo Monteleone
Sustainability 2024, 16(23), 10286; https://doi.org/10.3390/su162310286

“Three Decades of Inundation Dynamics in an Australian Dryland Wetland: An Eco-Hydrological Perspective”
by Indishe P. Senanayake, In-Young Yeo and George A. Kuczera
Remote Sens. 2024, 16(17), 3310; https://doi.org/10.3390/rs16173310

“Impacts of Freshwater Sources on Salinity Structure in a Large, Shallow Estuary”
by Mohamed Z. Moustafa, Zhen-Gang Ji and John Hamrick
Environments 2024, 11(4), 72; https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11040072

“Priming of Soil Organic Carbon Decomposition Induced by Exogenous Organic Carbon Input Depends on Vegetation and Soil Depth in Coastal Salt Marshes”
by Yaru Zhang, Xue Li, Baohua Xie, Xiaojie Wang, Mingliang Zhao, Guangxuan Han, Yongjin Chen and Weimin Song
Soil Syst. 2024, 8(1), 34; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems8010034

“Forest Fuel Bed Variation in Tropical Coastal Freshwater Forested Wetlands Disturbed by Fire”
by Romeo de Jesús Barrios-Calderón, Dulce Infante Mata, José Germán Flores Garnica and Jony R. Torres
Forests 2024, 15(1), 158; https://doi.org/10.3390/f15010158

“Horizontal Rates of Wetland Migration Appear Unlikely to Keep Pace with Shoreline Transgression under Conditions of 21st Century Accelerating Sea Level Rise along the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern USA”
by Randall W. Parkinson
Coasts 2024, 4(1), 213-225; https://doi.org/10.3390/coasts4010012

“Ecological Basis of Ecosystem Services and Management of Wetlands Dominated by Common Reed (Phragmites australis): European Perspective”
by Hana Čížková, Tomáš Kučera, Brigitte Poulin and Jan Květ
Diversity 2023, 15(5), 629; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15050629

“Examining the Hydro-Climatic Drivers of Lagoon Breaching and Healing in a Deltaic Barrier”
by Juan Felipe Gómez, Eva Kwoll, Ian J. Walker and Andrés F. Orejarena
Geosciences 2023, 13(4), 118; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences13040118

“Scientific Evidence for the Effectiveness of Mangrove Forests in Reducing Floods and Associated Hazards in Coastal Areas”
by Christopher Ihinegbu, Stefan Mönnich and Thecla Akukwe
Climate 2023, 11(4), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11040079

“Dynamic Modeling of the Trophic Status of an Urban Tropical Wetland under ENSO Conditions”
by Leidy Gisselle García-León, Julio Eduardo Beltrán-Vargas and Carlos Alfonso Zafra-Mejía
Climate 2023, 11(3), 61; https://doi.org/10.3390/cli11030061

“Characterization of Phosphate Compounds along a Catena from Arable and Wetland Soil to Sediments in a Baltic Sea lagoon”
by Julia Prüter, Rhena Schumann, Wantana Klysubun and Peter Leinweber
Soil Syst. 2023, 7(1), 15; https://doi.org/10.3390/soilsystems7010015

“A Study of the Influence of Environmental Factors on Water–Heat Exchange Process in Alpine Wetlands”
by Yan Xie, Jun Wen, Yulin Zhang, Jinlei Chen and Xianyu Yang
Atmosphere 2023, 14(12), 1802; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos14121802

“Conservation and Restoration of Mangroves in Response to Invasion of Spartina alterniflora Based on the MaxEnt Model: A Case Study in China”
by Lina Cui, Uta Berger, Minmin Cao, Yaqi Zhang, Junming He, Lianghao Pan and Jiang Jiang
Forests 2023, 14(6), 1220; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061220

Special Issues:

“Wetland Conservation and Ecological Restoration”	“Effect of Mangrove Ecosystems on Coastal Ecology and Climate Change”

“Water CO₂ Emission Monitoring in a Romanian Peri-Urban Wetland to Enhance GHG Reporting”
by György Deák, Natalia Enache, Lucian Laslo, Monica Matei, Madalina Georgiana Boboc and Cristina Ileana Covaliu Mierla
Atmosphere 2024, 15(11), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15111345

“Surface Water (SW) and Shallow Groundwater (SGW) Nutrient Concentrations in Riparian Wetlands of a Mixed Land-Use Catchment”
by Bidisha Faruque Abesh, James T. Anderson and Jason A. Hubbart
Land 2024, 13(4), 409; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040409

“Success Factors and Challenges: Implications of Real Options Valuation of Constructed Wetlands as Nature-Based Solutions for Wastewater Treatment”
by Casper Boongaling Agaton and Patricia Marie Caparas Guila
Resources 2024, 13(1), 11; https://doi.org/10.3390/resources13010011

“Evaluation of Phosphate and E. coli Attenuation in a Natural Wetland Receiving Drainage from an Urbanized Catchment”
by Charles Humphrey, Jarrod Underwood, Guy Iverson, Randall Etheridge, Mike O’Driscoll and Avian White
Hydrology 2024, 11(6), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrology11060074

“Quantifying the Nitrogen-Removal Performance of a Constructed Wetland Dominated by Diffuse Agricultural Groundwater Inflows Using a Linked Catchment–Wetland Model”
by Linh Hoang, James P. S. Sukias, Valerio Montemezzani and Chris C. Tanner
Water 2023, 15(9), 1689; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15091689

“Assessing the Zooplankton Metacommunity (Branchiopoda and Copepoda) from Mediterranean Wetlands in Agricultural Landscapes”
by Juan Diego Gilbert, Francisco J. Márquez and Francisco Guerrero
Diversity 2023, 15(3), 362; https://doi.org/10.3390/d15030362

“A Connectivity Approach to Agricultural Diffuse Pollution in Tropical Montane Catchments Dominated by Swidden Landscapes”
by Luc Sandevoir, Laurent Lespez and Candide Lissak
Land 2023, 12(4), 784; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040784

“Habitat Mapping and Spatiotemporal Overlap of the Amazon River Dolphin, Fishers, and Tourism in the Central Region of the Brazilian Amazon”
by Cadi Y. Fung, Brad G. Peter and Cynthia S. Simmons
Conservation 2023, 3(4), 523-542; https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation3040034

Special Issues:

“Impacts of Climate Change and Human Activities on Wetland Hydrology”	“Methods and Practices for the Sustainable Management of Lake and River Hydrological Systems”

The editorial team at Land extends our heartfelt thanks to the dedicated reviewers whose expertise and commitment have been key to the journal's success in 2024. Last year, Land received 11983 review reports from 5170 reviewers representing 103 countries and regions worldwide.

To recognize the invaluable time, effort, and attention to detail that each reviewer dedicates, Land expresses its sincere gratitude through an annual acknowledgment of reviewers. As a further token of appreciation, all reviewers are eligible for the Outstanding Reviewer Award, which honors their essential role in enhancing the quality of our publications.

We are honored to recognize the reviewers who allowed us to publish their names each year. The names of these reviewers are listed below in alphabetical order by first name:

In honor of World Wetlands Day 2025, MDPI is hosting a special webinar to unite researchers, experts, and environmental advocates in a dynamic conversation about the critical importance of wetlands. This event will highlight the diverse range of wetlands, spanning freshwater, coastal, and human-made ecosystems, and emphasize their essential environmental, social, and economic contributions.

During this session, we will delve into the invaluable ecosystem services that wetlands provide, including flood control, water purification, and biodiversity support. By raising awareness, we aim to inspire collective action towards the protection and preservation of these irreplaceable ecosystems.

Date: 3 February 2025
Time: 7:00 p.m. CET | 1:00 p.m. EST
Webinar ID: 839 7775 3692
Webinar Secretariat: [email protected]
Webinar Announcement: https://sciforum.net/event/WWDW2025\

Register here!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic or institutional email addresses will be prioritized.  
  
Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to watch.

Webinar Chair and Keynote Speakers:

• Pankaj Kumar Gupta, Ramanujan Fellow, ANRF-Govt. of India, at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, India and Adjunct Assistant Professor, Wetland Hydrology Research Laboratory, University of Waterloo, Canada;
• Melanie Vanderhoof, U.S. Geological Survey, Geoscience and Environmental Change Science Center, USA;
• Brian Huberty, SharedGeo, USA;
• Muhammad Arslan, University of Alberta, Canada;
• Alex Okiemute Onojeghuo, Alberta Geological Survey, Canada.

Relevant Special Issues: 

Remote Sensing
“Remote Sensing for Mapping and Monitoring Wetlands and Their Ecosystems”
Guest Editor: Dr. Andy Hardy
Deadline for submission: 10 July 2025

Sustainability
“Methods and Practices for the Sustainable Management of Lake and River Hydrological Systems”
Guest Editors: Dr. Charalampos Doulgeris and Dr. Dimitra Bobori
Deadline for submission: 30 June 2025

Nine new journals covering multiple subjects launched their inaugural issues in December 2024. We are excited to be able to share with you the newest research rooted in the value of open access.

We would like to express our deepest appreciation to all of the Editorial Board Members, and each journal will ensure its high-quality output by using excellent editorial and rigorous peer-review processes, to ensure that the articles achieve high impact and visibility.

Please feel free to browse and discover more about the new journals below.

Journal	Founding Editor-in-Chief	Journal Topics (Selected)
	Prof. Dr. Zhaoyang Dong City University of Hong Kong, China Editorial | View inaugural issue	energy storage technologies; energy storage system management; energy storage applications; strategies in renewable energy generation grid integration; distributed storage systems; economics and markets for energy storage View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Yang-Hui He 1. London Institute for Mathematical Sciences, Royal Institution, UK 2. University of Oxford, UK Editorial | View inaugural issue	Euclidean geometry; differential geometry; algebraic geometry; complex geometry; discrete geometry; computational geometry; geometric group theory;  convex geometry View journal scope | Submit an article
	Dr. Michel Planat Université de Franche-Comté, France Editorial | View inaugural issue	differential topology; algebraic topology; manifold topology; homology theory; low-dimensional topology; fuzzy sets View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Rashid Al Abri 1. Sultan Qaboos University, Oman 2. Oman Medical Association, Oman Editorial | View inaugural issue	clinical practices as well as research and innovation in medical education, risk management in healthcare, and patient safety View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Ecevit Bilgili* New Jersey Institute of Technology, USA *Prof. Dr. Ecevit Bilgili passed away before the completion of the inaugural issue. His dedication and vision for JPBI will always be remembered and serve as a guiding inspiration. Editorial | View inaugural issue	early drug discovery and development; product characterization and pre-clinical testing; drug delivery systems and drug design; active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) production View journal scope | Submit an article
	Dr. Weiyong Liu Huazhong University of Science and Technology, China Editorial | View inaugural issue	theories, methodologies, technologies, and applications in the fields of laboratory medicine and clinical chemistry View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Manuel Pedro Rodríguez Bolívar University of Granada, Spain Editorial | View inaugural issue	scientometrics; informetrics; bibliometrics; altmetrics; webometrics; research evaluation View journal scope | Submit an article
	Prof. Dr. Fei Fan Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China Editorial | View inaugural issue	regional growth theory and methods; regional system modeling and optimization; regional development policy; regional spatial evolution; environmental policy and instrument choice View journal scope | Submit an article
	Dr. Kevin Cianfaglione Université Catholique de Lille, France Editorial | View inaugural issue	wild species and their habitats; wild environments and biodiversity; natural environment management; wild land preservation View journal scope | Submit an article

We wish to thank everyone who has supported the development of open access publishing. You are welcome to send an application here, or contact the New Journal Committee ([email protected]) if you would like to create more new journals.

Abstract
The Editorial Board Meeting for Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) was held on October 14, 2024, at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The meeting was organized by Associate Prof. Le Yu, the Section Editor–in–Chief of Land, Ms. Viola Gao, the Publisher, Ms. Hannah Tian, the Associate Publisher. It brought together eleven Editorial Board Members (EBMs) from five institutions, along with four members of the Land Editorial Office Team, to discuss the journal's development strategy. Since its establishment in 2012, Land has focused on land science, delivering timely, accurate, and comprehensive reports on significant research achievements from international scholars. Despite the journal's considerable progress, it continues to face challenges in effectively managing the academic quality of submissions and attracting high-quality original articles. During the meeting, the EBMs provided valuable feedback and suggestions on four key themes: (1) future development strategies, (2) improving manuscript quality control, (3) creating innovative Special Issues, and (4) strengthening the editorial team.
keywords: Land; editorial board meeting; journal development; innovation; land science; academic quality

Attendees
The meeting gathered eleven EBMs from five institutions: Tsinghua University, the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing Normal University, China University of Geosciences Beijing, and the Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences. The attendees included Prof. Xiangzheng Deng, Prof. Chuanglin Fang, Prof. Shiliang Liu, Prof. Jianjun Zhang, Prof. Jinyan Zhan, Prof. Fang Li, Associate Prof. Mengyao Han, Associate Prof. Yongsheng Wang, Associate Prof. Wei Song, Associate Prof. Linshan Liu and Associate Prof. Le Yu, along with four members of the journal editorial team: Ms. Viola Gao, Ms. Hannah Tian, Mr. Simms Zhao, and Ms. Kaleen Fan (Figure 1).

Review and expectations of Land

During the meeting (Figure 2), the discussion incorporated suggestions offered by Associate Prof. Le Yu and Prof. Peng Gong, and it was additionally based on a report presented by Prof. Peng Gong. The points of this discussion have been summarized as follows:

• Suggestions for journal enhancement:
  • Gathering and incorporating feedback from EBMs to improve the journal's quality and processes.
• Promote the role of land science:
  • Continuing to emphasize the importance of land resources in urbanization and environmental governance.
  • Showcasing significant research achievements by international scholars to advance global knowledge.
• Strengthen the journal’s academic standing:
  • Working collectively to position Land as a leading international academic journal;
  • Providing decision-making support for global land and environmental governance initiatives.
• Develop editorial strategies:
  • Evaluating and refining the journal’s editorial processes, including peer review, to maintain high standards;
  • Exploring ways to further engage the Editorial Board in shaping the journal’s direction.
• Expand journal activities and outreach:
  • Planning and executing the 2024 international academic conference;
  • Establishing new awards to recognize excellence in the field;
  • Organizing author training sessions and online seminars to support scholarly development.
• Enhance awareness of open access publishing:
  • Highlighting the benefits of the open access publishing model to contributors and stakeholders;
  • Promoting an understanding of the journal’s achievements and operations among EBMs and the wider academic community.
• Monitor and improve key metrics:
  • Regularly assessing the journal’s performance using key metrics to identify areas for growth;
  • Sharing performance updates with EBMs to maintain transparency and foster collaboration.
• Strengthen collaborative efforts:
  • Encouraging the greater involvement of EBMs in journal initiatives and decision-making processes;
  • Leveraging collective expertise to drive innovation and academic influence.

The open discussion, carried out by the EBMs, focused on four main topics, which were the following:

• Future development strategies

 In the open discussion, the EBMs engaged in an in-depth and comprehensive discussion around the future development strategy of Land. (Figure 3).

First, it is recommended that the EBMs co-author an editorial or perspective article each year as feedback for the meetings. Additionally, they should update a review article annually to summarize the annual research hotspots, key advancements, and development trends in the field, providing the academic community with a comprehensive and concise overview of research dynamics. Furthermore, it is suggested that they collaborate closely with schools, institutions, and societies to attract high-quality submissions.
Secondly, in terms of the internationalization strategy, it is essential to diversify the author community and ensure a balanced presence of scholars from various countries. Moreover, it is of great significance to closely monitor the trends in international academic conferences to stay informed about emerging research directions and hot topics in different fields. After these conferences, the relevant manuscripts should be promptly sorted and filtered to incorporate the significant research findings into the journal's content framework. While Land has gained a certain degree of recognition in the field of land science, there is still a need to explore ways to enhance its visibility and attractiveness in broader academic areas, particularly in interdisciplinary and integrated fields. Therefore, it is recommended that the EBMs conduct a comprehensive review of the journal to clarify its unique positioning and distinctive features. This will enable the journal to stand out among numerous academic publications and attract more attention and submissions from interdisciplinary researchers, ultimately promoting its international development and overall impact.
Finally, the EBMs should enhance the journal’s influence by actively promoting academic activities. This can be achieved by co-organizing conferences, hosting events targeted at students, and publishing reports on trending topics and annual reviews in the field. In addition to these initiatives, effective article promotion is crucial. Regularly highlighting highly cited articles and organizing discussions around popular topics are recommended. To promote the dissemination and sharing of articles, the journal can utilize QR codes and create both online and offline promotional materials. The journal can foster sustainable development and significantly enhance its academic influence by implementing these strategies.

• Improving manuscript quality control:

The EBMs attached great importance to quality control. To tackle this concern, they thought the journal should concentrate on obtaining high-quality submissions and actively invite influential scholars to contribute articles.
The EBMs emphasized the necessity of maintaining stringent quality standards throughout the manuscript review process, with the quality of submissions being the primary consideration. Additionally, careful attention should be given to the backgrounds of the reviewers and the relevance of their research to improve the quality of review reports.
During the initial screening of submissions, the Editorial Team must evaluate the quality of figures and tables, the clarity of language, and the completeness and detail of the content. This thorough review is crucial before forwarding the manuscripts to the Editorial Board for final quality checks. Implementing this foundational review process is essential to mitigate potential issues that may arise later in the review process.

• Creating innovative Special Issues:

The EBMs unanimously concur that Land ought to implement several measures to develop frontier Special Issues to boost its academic influence.
First, by integrating classic topics and high-quality published articles, the journal should establish a centralized collection to sustain the annual vitality of updates within the field. In cases where certain classic topics are lacking suitable foundational Special Issues, interested EBMs should be invited to take the lead in developing new Special Issues.
Second, the journal should keep a close eye on the latest advancements in the field of land science and collaborate with international scholars to build academic bridges. Regular meetings should be held to work with experts to select projects and identify topics, ensuring that the content of Special Issues remains at the forefront of academic discourse.
Finally, encouraging the EBMs to write annual thematic articles on trending topics can assist in reflecting academic trends, stimulating the participation of scholars, and ensuring the continuous development and influence of the journal. Simultaneously, close attention should be given to international hot topics as well as new terms and policies. By employing academic language for dissemination, Land can enhance its capability to connect policy topics on an international scale, continuously explore new and classic issues, and thereby lay a solid foundation for innovation and development. This comprehensive strategy aims to position the journal as a leading platform in the field, driving the progress of land science research and academic exchanges.

• Strengthening the editorial team:

The attendees emphasized the importance of maintaining young EBMs. In addition to invitations from the Editorial Team, EBMs should proactively reach out to more young scholars and international researchers, encouraging their involvement in the journal's activities. This approach will help continuously refresh the Editorial Board and introduce new perspectives.
When seeking recommendations for candidates for various projects, it is advisable to establish clear criteria, such as requiring candidates to have a minimum number of published articles. This will enable the EBMs to recommend more suitable candidates effectively. Implementing these strategies will significantly enhance the journal's vitality and academic influence, fostering a dynamic environment that attracts fresh talent and diverse ideas.

Conclusion

This was the first Editorial Board Meeting for Land’s China region, during which many valuable ideas were proposed. All EBMs expressed their commitment and enthusiasm for the journal's development, valuing its significance in the field of land science while fully endorsing its handling procedures and publishing services. They offered important insights on future development strategies, improving manuscript quality control, creating innovative Special Issues, and strengthening the Editorial Team.
The EBMs reached a consensus on the journal's development strategy, which encompasses deepening the construction of a diverse and international scholar community, nurturing outstanding young scholars, and leveraging the journal’s platform to focus on cutting-edge content in land science. Concerning the construction of journal and Special Issue topics, the EBMs proposed tracking key projects to ensure that the content of Special Issues remains at the academic vanguard. They also recommended regularly reviewing achievements in the field of land science to stimulate greater participation and contribution from scholars. Moreover, the EBMs unanimously agreed that the quality of manuscripts is fundamental to the journal's development. All EBMs will remain dedicated to maintaining strict quality control over submissions while continuously pursuing innovation and development.

Researchers from Stanford University have recently published an update of the list of the top 2% most widely cited scientists—the World’s Top 2% Scientists.

The statistical data informing these rankings cover the period from 1960 to 2024, and the data is divided into two lists: “Lifetime Scientific Influence Ranking” and “2024 Annual Scientific Influence Ranking”. The “Lifetime Scientific Influence Ranking” calculates the comprehensive influence of scientists during their careers, and the “2024 Annual Influence Ranking” highlights the academic influence of scientists in the previous year. The World's Top 2% Scientists rankings, considered the most prestigious worldwide, is based on bibliometric information contained in the Scopus database and includes more than 200,000 researchers out of more than 10 million scientists considered active worldwide, with 22 scientific fields and 174 sub-fields taken into account.

We are pleased to share that 13 Editorial Board Members from Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) were featured as the World’s Top 2% Scientists in 2024.

The latest rankings reflect the significant influence and research excellence of scientists who are committed to furthering their knowledge for the benefit of the world.

As all of the articles published in our journal Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) are presented in an open access format, everyone has free and unlimited access to the full texts. We welcome you to read our annual recommended articles included in the issues released in 2024, listed below:

1. “Toward Evidence-Based Local Food Policy: An Agroecological Assessment of Urban Agriculture in Rome”
by Davide Marino, Francesca Curcio, Francesca Benedetta Felici and Giampiero Mazzocchi
Land 2024, 13(1), 30; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13010030
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/1/30

Highlights:

• Research objective: The aim of this research is to explore potential relationships between local food policies and agroecology by applying an agroecological assessment methodology to a city region context;
• Policy recommendations: This study recommends enhancing support for agroecology in urban agriculture through targeted local food policies, promoting both social and economic drivers of sustainability;
• Future implications: The results highlight the potential of agroecological practices and their integration into urban planning and policy frameworks.

Highlights:

• Spatial model assessment with a participatory process were combined in one approach;
• Both ecosystem services and disservices for human health were considered;
• Participant-generated green space designs result in a considerable self-assessed increase in use;
• Model-assessed positive and negative health effects of green space designs are limited;
• The combined approach produces clear outcomes regarding health benefits and use of designs.

3. “Soil Loss Estimation by Water Erosion in Agricultural Areas Introducing Artificial Intelligence Geospatial Layers into the RUSLE Model”
by Nikiforos Samarinas, Nikolaos L. Tsakiridis, Eleni Kalopesa and George C. Zalidis
Land 2024, 13(2), 174; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020174
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/2/174

Highlights:

• The implementation of a Digital Soil Mapping (DSM) approach for the prediction of topsoil SOC and soil texture via Sentinel-2 satellite imagery data and AI architectures;
• Innovative integration of Artificial Intelligence into the RUSLE model for the generation of finer spatial resolution maps;
• Utilization of the Soil Data Cube self-hosted custom tool to process and handle a large volume of EO data.

4. “Potential Interactions between Climate Change and Land Use for Forest Issues in the Eastern United States”
by Brice B. Hanberry, Marc D. Abrams and Gregory J. Nowacki
Land 2024, 13(3), 398; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030398
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/3/398

Highlights:

• We examined climate change and land use and disturbance changes in the eastern U.S.;
• Climate has not warmed but precipitation has increased;
• Climate and land use have interacted to reduce wildfire frequency and increase tree growth;
• Human activities facilitated the expansion of native tree species distribution, non-native species invasion, and damaging native species outbreaks;
• Recent climate change and land use have not influenced deer herbivory levels;
• A warmer and drier climate may reverse interactions with land use, varying by species;
• Management can correct non-climate stressors and support ecosystems against climate change.

5. “Structure and Carbon Capture of a Temperate Mixed Forest across Altitudinal Gradients in Northern Mexico”
by Luis U. Castruita-Esparza, Raúl Narváez-Flores, Mélida Gutiérrez, Aldo S. Mojica-Guerrero, Gerónimo Quiñones-Barraza and Javier Hernández-Salas
Land 2024, 13(4), 461; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040461
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/461

Highlights:

• This research examined floristic diversity and biomass in a vast mixed pine-oak forest in Chihuahua, Mexico, at various altitudes;
• In a mixed pine-oak forest in Chihuahua, Mexico, species richness and diversity were greatest at lower altitudes, and lower at higher altitudes;
• At 2601-2850 m, forest carbon storage peaked. Pine trees held more carbon generally, yet at higher altitudes;
• Social protections and carbon credit sales aid carbon storage in shifting climates. Reforestation, genetic enhancements, and mixed stands may boost carbon storage.

Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) is an international and cross-disciplinary, peer-reviewed, open access journal on land system science, landscape, soil and water, urban study, land–climate interactions, water–energy–land–food (WELF) nexus, biodiversity research and health nexus, land modelling and data processing, ecosystem services, and multifunctionality and sustainability etc., published monthly online by MDPI. The International Association for Landscape Ecology (IALE), European Land-use Institute (ELI), Landscape Institute (LI) and Urban Land Institute (ULI) are affiliated with Land, and their members receive discounts on the article processing charges.

More information about the journal is available through the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/land.

We are currently recruiting Guest Editors for this journal and have put out an open call for Special Issue proposals. Special Issues present an opportunity for a group of authors to work on an interconnected set of papers on an innovative topic. We aim to solicit high-quality proposals that will be evaluated with a competitive procedure on an ongoing basis throughout the year.

Proposed Special Issues should have a well-articulated unifying topic and reflect, at an international level, the best work in a particular research area—either a well-established area or an important emerging area—in which future investigations may be boosted by the publication of a set of high-quality papers. Hence, an international group of Guest Editors and a few high-quality planned papers are encouraged.

As a Guest Editor, you would be responsible for the following:

• Defining the aims and scopes of Special Issues;
• Providing potential author lists and inviting high-quality contributions;
• Pre-screening, supervising the whole peer-review process, and making decisions on new submissions to the Special Issue (according to the review reports);
• Promoting the Special Issue at conferences, on social media and on other relevant platforms.

The Editorial Office will set up the Special Issue website, arrange promotional materials, assist with invitations to contribute papers, and take care of administrative tasks associated with the peer review process, including inviting reviewers, collating reports, and contacting authors, and professional production before publication.

As a Guest Editor, you would have the following privileges:

• A certificate of recognition as a Guest Editor of Land;
• The ability to publish one feature paper in your Special Issue;
• The ability to provide invited authors with discounts when they submit high-quality papers to be published in your Special Issue;
• Travel grant opportunities to attend featured conferences;
• Special Issue Reprints: If a Special Issue publishes more than 10 papers after a full peer review, it may be published as a reprinted Special Issue book with an ISBN, and each Guest Editor will receive a hard copy free of charge. Reprints will be brought to the conference booth for display as representatives of successful Special Issues;
• Promotion of the Special Issue and published papers on the journal's official social media account;
• Consideration as a Land Editorial Board Member candidate if a Special Issue is successful;
• The opportunity to participate in or host academic meetings or online seminars related to the Guest Editors' research focus;
• Further opportunities to apply for journal awards of Land;
• An ideal avenue for networking and communicating with scholars in the research community, as well as a chance to be an influential person within your discipline. The relationships you develop will last beyond the publication of your Special Issue, establishing a network for future collaboration.

Information to be provided in your proposal:

• A 300–500-word summary explaining the proposed topic’s significance, novelty, technical advancement, and adherence to the scope of the journal;
• A few keywords on the topic;
• A plan for obtaining high-quality papers or a list of at least three planned papers;
• A brief resume of the proposed Guest Editors together with their information (title, name, email, affiliation, personal website, keywords of interests);
• A proposed submission deadline (Special Issues normally run for 6–8 months).

You can submit your application directly via the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/land.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Land Editorial Office if you are interested and would like further details or clarification.

We look forward to receiving your proposals.

Land Editorial Office

As all of the articles published in our journal Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) are presented in an open access format, everyone has free and unlimited access to the full texts. We welcome you to read our annual recommended articles published in 2024, listed below:

1. “Spatiotemporal Analysis of Soil Quality Degradation and Emissions in the State of Iowa (USA)”
by Elena A. Mikhailova, Hamdi A. Zurqani, Lili Lin, Zhenbang Hao, Christopher J. Post, Mark A. Schlautman and Gregory C. Post
Land 2024, 13(4), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040547
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/4/547

Highlights:

• The concept of soil quality (SQ) is defined as the soil's capacity to function to support plant and animal life, maintain water and air quality, and support human health, and is often applied at the field scale;
• Soil quality (SQ) is composed of inherent (soil suitability) and dynamic (soil health, SH) components that form a landscape-level SQ continuum (SQC);
• This study analyzed SQ degradation and emissions from land developments for the state of Iowa (IA) in the United States of America (USA);
• The results support pending soil health-related legislation in IA that works towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) promoted by the United Nations (UN).

2. “Resilience of Terraced Landscapes to Human and Natural Impacts: A GIS-Based Reconstruction of Land Use Evolution in a Mediterranean Mountain Valley”
by Titouan Le Vot, Marianne Cohen, Maciej Nowak, Paul Passy and Franck Sumera
Land 2024, 13(5), 592; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050592
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/592

Highlights:

• Terraced lands are a historical landscape under risk in Mediterranean mountains;
• Their surface and land-use trajectories are analyzed across five centuries in a GIS;
• Although mostly abandoned, they persist in the ground landscape;
• Their environmental and productive functions are part of their future resilience.

3. “Exploring Urban Service Location Suitability: Mapping Social Behavior Dynamics with Space Syntax Theory”
by Saleh Qanazi, Ihab H. Hijazi, Isam Shahrour and Rani El Meouche
Land 2024, 13(5), 609; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050609
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/5/609

Highlights:

• Research objective: This paper investigates urban service suitability by integrating social factors with spatial analysis at the community level using space syntax theory;
• Main findings:

• This study identifies the optimal locations for essential governmental facilities, such as health clinics and fire stations, and suggests reallocation for some schools;
• It demonstrates ways to improve the placement of community amenities, finding ideal locations for parks but noting suboptimal placements for mosques;
• The study highlights areas for enhancement in commercial services, including gas stations and shops.

• Future implications: The insights from this research can guide policymakers and planners in creating more efficient, equitable, and accessible cities.

4. “Modeling Irrigation of Tomatoes with Saline Water in Semi-Arid Conditions Using Hydrus-1D”
by Sabri Kanzari, Jiří Šimůnek, Issam Daghari, Anis Younes, Khouloud Ben Ali, Sana Ben Mariem and Samir Ghannem
Land 2024, 13(6), 739; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060739
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/6/739

Highlights:

• Hydrus-1D successfully simulated soil water and salt dynamics in a soil profile, with tomatoes irrigated with saline water;
• The multiplicative S-model was the best model for reproducing a decrease in tomato relative yield due to irrigation water salinity;
• An increase in seasonal temperature of 2°C had no significant effect on tomato yield.

5. “Facilitated Forest Restoration Using Pioneer Seed Dispersers in Madagascar: The Example of Microcebus spp.”
by Jörg U. Ganzhorn, Jean-Basile Andriambeloson, Sylvia Atsalis, Lis M. Behrendt, Marina B. Blanco, An Bollen, Stéphanie M. Carrière, Lounès Chikhi, Melanie Dammhahn, Giuseppe Donati et al.
Land 2024, 13(12), 1971; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13121971
Available online: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/12/1971

Highlights:

• The aim of this research is to explore the potential contributions of a small primate seed disperser (genus Microcebus) to forest restoration projects at early stages when the restored vegetation cannot yet attract large seed dispersers, which are often targeted by the concept of “facilitated restoration”;
• Microcebus disperses the seeds of small-seeded plants such as pioneer herbs and shrubs, but also the seeds of some large trees;
• In reforestation plots bordering natural forest, these small animals could be lured into the restoration plots by planting fast-fruiting shrubs and herbs that set fruit within one to two years;
• Considering the potential roles of these small seed dispersers in restoration planting could accelerate the trajectory of a reforested area that might otherwise might remain species-poor for a long period of time towards a species-rich plant community.