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Land
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Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations
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Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Systems and Global Change".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 December 2024 | Viewed by 11530

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bing-Bing Zhou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of International Affairs and Public Administration, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266100, China
Interests: sustainability science; land system science; environmental governance; collective action; coupled rural-urban system; island and coastal areas
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Taiyang Zhong

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
Interests: land-use policy; food security; sustainable development
Dr. Yujia Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Environmental Studies Program, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH 44074, USA
Interests: land system science; human-environment systems; geospatial data science; urban sustainability
Dr. Ligang Lv

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Administration, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, Nanjing 210023, China
Interests: land use/cover change; land use policy; farmland transition; landscape multi-functionality; spatial planning; sustainable development
Dr. Yuzhu Zang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Public Administration, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
Interests: land use planning; rural sustainability; urban-rural dynamics; spatial governance

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Land plays a crucial role in shaping sustainable development and addressing pressing global challenges. During the past three decades or so, a wide range of land-related disciplines and research areas such as land system science, landscape ecology, soil science, natural resource management, rural geography, and public policy have variously studied land-related sustainability issues. To help reveal how land can contribute to sustainability, we propose a Special Issue in Land that hopes to demonstrate the full spectrum of land-related approaches in advancing sustainability as well as furthering inter- and trans-disciplinary synergies.

This Special Issue aims to provide a platform for scholars to share their insights, findings, and methodologies related to land-based sustainability initiatives at local, regional, and global scales.  We invite submissions that explicitly link land to sustainability through either empirical research or conceptual/theoretical works. They may examine any key issues, including but not limited to:

  • Land-use change and its environmental and socio-economic implications;
  • Spatial analysis and modeling for land-based sustainability assessment;
  • Land tenure systems and their impact on sustainability;
  • Sustainable land governance and policy frameworks;
  • Land-use planning and management for sustainability;
  • Geo-design and land system architecture for sustainability;
  • Land degradation and restoration strategies;
  • Urban spatial governance and sustainable cities;
  • Indigenous land rights and sustainable practices;
  • Land-based climate change mitigation and adaptation measures.

We welcome original research articles and reviews that provide empirical insights, theoretical frameworks, and methodological advancements. Comparative analyses and transdisciplinary studies are particularly encouraged to foster a comprehensive understanding of land-related sustainability approaches. Disciplinary, regional, and scalar diversities in contributions are desired.

Proposed titles and abstracts (200–300 words) can be submitted by 30 April 2024 to the guest editors, at [email protected], for possible feedback, if prospective authors want some suggestions before preparing their manuscripts. We look forward to receiving your contributions!

Dr. Bing-Bing Zhou
Prof. Dr. Taiyang Zhong
Dr. Yujia Zhang
Dr. Ligang Lv
Dr. Yuzhu Zang
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.

Keywords

  • land system science
  • sustainability science
  • landscape ecology
  • land system architecture
  • land management
  • land consolidation
  • spatial governance
  • landscape planning
  • geodesign
  • transdisciplinarity
  • actionable knowledge

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 8211 KiB  
Article
An Exploratory Study on Spatial Governance Toward Urban–Rural Integration: Theoretical Analysis with Case Demonstration
by Lin Tan, Qinyu Cui, Lan Chen and Lan Wang
Land 2024, 13(12), 2035; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122035 - 28 Nov 2024
Viewed by 205
Abstract
Establishing a territorial space governance system that supports URI is essential for modernizing national governance capacity and systems. It also serves as a critical strategic measure to promote sustainable development in both urban and rural areas. The current research has not adequately explored [...] Read more.
Establishing a territorial space governance system that supports URI is essential for modernizing national governance capacity and systems. It also serves as a critical strategic measure to promote sustainable development in both urban and rural areas. The current research has not adequately explored the theoretical mechanisms and pathways of territorial spatial governance, resulting in challenges in providing the necessary theoretical foundations and practical guidance for advancing URI. The methods used in this study include theoretical analysis, logical deduction, and field research. The findings are as follows: (1) The key characteristics of TSG are the synergy of governance entities, the comprehensiveness of governance objects, the diversification of governance methods, and the systematization of governance content. Territorial spatial governance, driven by multiple stakeholders, influences the structure and functional arrangement of urban and rural territorial systems through means such as spatial planning, rights allocation, and top-level institutional design. (2) The essential process and core driving path to promote URI involve the interaction of urban and rural elements, the complementarity of their functions, and the reciprocity of their values, all guided by territorial space governance. (3) In the case study area, TSG facilitates the construction of an orderly element circulation channel, coordinating land circulation and capitalization, promoting local urbanization, and aligning residential with industrial development. This results in a complementary urban–rural functional structure, multifunctional rural development, and an urban–-rural model characterized by stable interest relationships and balanced service facility layouts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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21 pages, 8688 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Differentiation of Land Ecological Security and Optimization Based on GeoSOS-FLUS Model: A Case Study of the Yellow River Delta in China Toward Sustainability
by Lu Han, Yanbo Qu, Shufeng Liang, Luyan Shi, Min Zhang and Haiyan Jia
Land 2024, 13(11), 1870; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111870 - 8 Nov 2024
Viewed by 459
Abstract
Land ecological security (LES) is a crucial issue pertaining to the sustainability of landscapes or land systems. Nevertheless, previous studies largely neglected the impacts of landscape structure on LES. This study, taking the Yellow River Delta (YRD) as the case area, analyzed the [...] Read more.
Land ecological security (LES) is a crucial issue pertaining to the sustainability of landscapes or land systems. Nevertheless, previous studies largely neglected the impacts of landscape structure on LES. This study, taking the Yellow River Delta (YRD) as the case area, analyzed the spatiotemporal differentiation patterns of regional LES in 19 counties (cities and districts) from 2000 to 2020 through the application of landscape metrics and employed GeoSOS-FLUS to forecast the landscape structure and corresponding land ecological security in 2030 under four different scenarios to advance sustainability. The results show that, first, landscape fragmentation and irregularity are decreasing, while aggregation and connectivity are increasing. The primary landscape change involves the transition from farmland to developed areas. Second, the LES index is rising. In 2020, about 73.68% of the research units reached level IV, while most were at level III. Third, it is projected that by 2030, the LES index will rise under all scenarios, exhibiting an eastward-declining gradient in its geographic distribution, with higher values prevailing in the eastern regions and gradually tapering off towards the west. It is expected that in the business-as-usual scenario, the proportion of LES reaching level V will be the highest. This study not only reveals the impact mechanism of the landscape structure on land ecological security but also provides an important basis for formulating scientific and rational land use planning and management strategies from the perspectives of sustainable land governance and sustainable land use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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19 pages, 758 KiB  
Article
How Part-Time Farming Affects Cultivated Land Use Sustainability: Survey-Based Assessment in China
by Xinwei Pei, Xinger Zheng and Cong Wu
Land 2024, 13(8), 1242; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13081242 - 8 Aug 2024
Viewed by 777
Abstract
Part-time farming is a widespread phenomenon associated with the long-term global trend of urbanization, especially in China since its reform and opening-up in 1978. The shift of agricultural labor to non-agricultural sectors has significantly impacted cultivated land use activities, yet the connection between [...] Read more.
Part-time farming is a widespread phenomenon associated with the long-term global trend of urbanization, especially in China since its reform and opening-up in 1978. The shift of agricultural labor to non-agricultural sectors has significantly impacted cultivated land use activities, yet the connection between part-time farming and cultivated land use sustainability (CLS) remains understudied. Here, we construct an index system for assessing CLS that integrates ecological, economic, and social sustainability. Using survey data from seven Chinese villages across three provinces, we analyze the impact pattern and mechanism of part-time farming on CLS. We find the following: (1) The impact of part-time farming on CLS presents an inverted U-shape, peaking negatively at a 45% inflection point; (2) Spatial heterogeneity exists in the effect of part-time farming on CLS; (3) A household’s non-agricultural workforce size and the gender of the household head significantly moderate the link between part-time farming and CLS; (4) CLS strongly hinges on various factors including the household head’s health, other family members’ education levels, commercial insurance, and agricultural skills training. Our findings provide empirical insights into governing part-time farming for sustainable cultivated land use and, eventually, rural human–land system sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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27 pages, 6775 KiB  
Article
Impacts of Cropland Utilization Patterns on the Sustainable Use Efficiency of Cropland Based on the Human–Land Perspective
by Xinyu Hu, Chun Dong and Yu Zhang
Land 2024, 13(6), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13060863 - 15 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 951
Abstract
Confronted with China’s burgeoning population and finite arable land resources, the enhancement of sustainable arable land efficiency is of paramount importance. This study, grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduces a robust framework for assessing sustainable arable land use. Utilizing [...] Read more.
Confronted with China’s burgeoning population and finite arable land resources, the enhancement of sustainable arable land efficiency is of paramount importance. This study, grounded in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), introduces a robust framework for assessing sustainable arable land use. Utilizing the Sustainable Utilization of Arable Land (SUA) indicator system, the DGA–Super-SBM model, the Malmquist–Luenberger production index, and the TO–Fisher–OSM algorithm, we evaluated the efficiency of sustainable utilization of arable land (ESUA) in 52 prefecture-level cities within China’s major grain-producing regions of the Yellow and Huaihai Seas. We analyzed the cropland utilization patterns from 2010 to 2020, examining the influence of these patterns on sustainable utilization efficiency. Our findings indicate that between 2010 and 2020, the arable land usage in these regions exhibited minimal transformation, primarily shifting towards construction land and conversely from grassland and water systems. Notably, the ESUA of arable land demonstrated an upward trend, characterized by pronounced spatial clustering, enduring high efficiency in the northern regions, and a significant surge in the southern sectors. The declining ESUA (D-ESUA) trend was general but increased in half of the cities. The change in the center of gravity of ESUA correlated with the north–south movement of the proportion of cultivated land area, the turn-in rate, and the turn-out rate, yet moved in the opposite direction to that of cultivated land density and yield per unit area. Variables such as the replanting index, cropland density, yield per unit area, and cropland turn-in rate significantly affected ESUA. These findings offer a scientific basis and decision-making support for optimizing the utilization pattern of arable land and achieving a rational allocation of arable land resources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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16 pages, 2360 KiB  
Article
Review of Urbanization-Associated Farmland Research in China: A Sustainability Perspective
by Qiqi Yang, Lijie Pu and Sihua Huang
Land 2024, 13(4), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040534 - 17 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1315
Abstract
Farmland loss in drastically urbanizing landscapes has long been a research concern for resource management, landscape planning, and spatial governance, especially in the context of China. In recent years, the issue of urbanization-associated farmland loss (UAFL) seems to be increasingly recognized as relevant [...] Read more.
Farmland loss in drastically urbanizing landscapes has long been a research concern for resource management, landscape planning, and spatial governance, especially in the context of China. In recent years, the issue of urbanization-associated farmland loss (UAFL) seems to be increasingly recognized as relevant to sustainability. To date, however, existing studies have not yet comprehensively addressed the research gap between UAFL and sustainability. Here, we aim to help fill this knowledge gap by considering UAFL research as an example of the broader land/landscape-related literature, in a hope of informing future studies to better advance sustainability through land-related approaches. Specifically, we combined bibliometric analyses with code-based content analysis to reveal the knowledge base, thematic evolution, and historiographic paths of the literature on UAFL across China and the empirical case studies’ relevance to sustainability. Our main findings include: (1) the examined literature barely draws insights from sustainability science and sustainability only started to arise as a notable topic at around 2016; (2) over half of the empirical studies show awareness in advancing sustainability and interest in understanding the social-environmental drivers and processes underlying landscape dynamics, yet few demonstrate methodological transdisciplinarity; (3) those sustainability-relevant studies either frame UAFL as depletion of the farmland resource that may threat China’s food security and consequently hinder sustainable urbanization or frame UAFL as part of widespread landscape dynamics that affect the environmental outcome(s) or social–environmental tradeoffs of landscape multi-functions; and (4) existing empirical studies are disproportionately focused on 1991–2006, national, regional, and city scales, and some of China’s most developed areas. Our findings provide an overview of this specific research avenue on UAFL and, more importantly, point to the imperative for land/landscape scholars to break out of their disciplinary silos, especially in the natural sciences, to generate more actionable sustainability insights. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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17 pages, 6314 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Accessibility and Equity of Urban Green Spaces from Supply and Demand Perspectives: A Case Study of a Mountainous City in China
by Yawen Jin, Rongxiao He, Jingke Hong, Dan Luo and Guoling Xiong
Land 2023, 12(9), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091793 - 15 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3152
Abstract
Urban green space accessibility is an essential consideration in determining environmental liveability and the well-being of individuals, and the spatial inequity of urban green space supply and demand has become a research focus. However, few studies have conducted a multidimensional and comprehensive assessment [...] Read more.
Urban green space accessibility is an essential consideration in determining environmental liveability and the well-being of individuals, and the spatial inequity of urban green space supply and demand has become a research focus. However, few studies have conducted a multidimensional and comprehensive assessment of the influences on accessibility from the different perspectives of supply and demand. To address this, our study centred on the mountainous Chongqing region and established a comprehensive research framework examining the spatial pattern of accessibility of urban green spaces and its correlation with physical geographical elements and socioeconomic factors. We reveal the spatial distribution characteristics of urban green space accessibility by using Gaussian-based two-step floating catchment area and network analysis methods and further observe the spatial clustering features utilising hotspot analysis. The ordinary least squares (OLS) model and the spatial lag model were used to evaluate the physical geographical and socioeconomic disparities. Our findings reveal explicit blind spots in urban green space accessibility, primarily within the 30 min travel threshold in the city’s marginal area. A discernible supply–demand imbalance existed in the urban core, constituted by implicit blind spots. Furthermore, we identified that the relationship between urban green space accessibility and elevation under different methods is not always consistently significant over space because spatial heterogeneity may exist. Most concerningly, the study found inequities in urban green space accessibility, particularly impacting vulnerable demographics such as the elderly and lower-income groups. These results can inform urban planners and policymakers about the blind spots of urban green space accessibility and sufficiently consider the physical and socioeconomic heterogeneity of the space to determine where and how to implement inclusive urban greening policies or planning schemes. It is also of great significance in increasing awareness of vulnerable groups and preventing environmental inequality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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Review

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21 pages, 9097 KiB  
Review
Smart Growth and Smart Shrinkage: A Comparative Review for Advancing Urban Sustainability
by Yang Yang, Zhe Dong, Bing-Bing Zhou and Yang Liu
Land 2024, 13(5), 660; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050660 - 11 May 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1991
Abstract
In the context of ongoing global urbanization, the disparity in urban development, marked by the dual phenomena of urban sprawl and urban shrinkage at the regional level, has become increasingly evident. In this vein, two land-related governance strategies—smart growth (SG) and smart shrinkage [...] Read more.
In the context of ongoing global urbanization, the disparity in urban development, marked by the dual phenomena of urban sprawl and urban shrinkage at the regional level, has become increasingly evident. In this vein, two land-related governance strategies—smart growth (SG) and smart shrinkage (SS)—emerge as potential remedies to these challenges, targeting urban expansion and shrinkage, respectively. This study bridges the gap in the fragmented discourse surrounding SG and SS by conducting a comprehensive comparative review on the respective literatures. Utilizing the Scopus database, our research employs trend analysis, text and topic mining, time node analysis, and regional analysis, augmented by qualitative reviews of seminal papers. The findings reveal a notable shift in research focus, with interest in SS surging around 2010 (the number of SS-related papers published after 2010 accounts for 92.3% of the total number of the entire study period) as attention to SG waned, suggesting an impending paradigm shift in urban sustainability. The analysis indicates that SS research lacks the disciplinary diversity, thematic breadth, and empirical depth of SG studies, underscoring a need for a more robust theoretical foundation to support urban sustainability. Furthermore, while both SG and SS derive from environmental science foundations, SG predominantly addresses the physical and landscape attributes of urban areas, whereas SS focuses more on socio-economic dimensions. Our findings point to an intrinsic link between SG and SS, which could lay the groundwork for their integration into a unified theoretical framework to better advance urban sustainability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Sustainability through Land-Related Approaches: Theoretical Foundations and Empirical Investigations)
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