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Land
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Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of...
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Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 December 2023) | Viewed by 18123

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Uchendu Eugene Chigbu

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Guest Editor
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek 999122, Namibia
Interests: land governance; land tenure; tenure responsive land use planning; urban-rural land governance; urban-rural land linkages
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Chao Ye

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Guest Editor
School of International Relations & Public Affairs, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
Interests: urbanization; rural-urban governance; sustainability science; production of space; urban and rural planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Ruishan Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Design, Shanghai Jiaotong University, No.800 Dongchuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai 20040, China
Interests: land use change; natural resource management; land use planning; environmental governance; rural–urban interaction; social justice; disaster risk reduction; extreme events; sustainable development goals
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Walter T. de Vries

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Guest Editor
School of Engineering and Design, Department of Aerospace and Geodesy, Technical University of Munich (TUM), Arcisstrasse 21, 80333 München, Germany
Interests: land management; land administration; land use planning; cadastre; land information; organizational and institutional aspects of land management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires research based on how land and natural resources are shared, used, owned, and politicised to benefit societies. This cannot be carried out without adequate knowledge of how spaces (above or under land) can be delineated to ensure that human activities align with development objectives hinged on socio-economic and political issues. Hence, there is a need to investigate land tenure and spatial functions in the living conditions of people in a global world.

Land tenure entails rules governing human–land relations (decisions and activity-based issues). Spatial concerns connote information about how geographic features relate to one another or compare (including their impacts). The ways that land tenure and spatial issues function to influence the living conditions of people around the world cannot be underestimated. Land policies, spatial planning, and people–land–environment dimensions all need to be explored. They relate to understanding socio-economic relations, resource governance, and people politics at different levels (global, continental, national, local, and household)

This Special Issue presents insights on experiences, theories, concepts, and practices on land tenure and spatial functions in the context of liveability around the world. We, therefore, invite conceptual, case studies, field research, and review articles focusing on (but not limited to) the following themes:

  • Spatial planning issues in the context of urban, peri-urban, and rural areas;
  • Land governance (encompassing land management, land administration, and land policy issues);
  • Spatial planning (including physical planning, land use planning, town and country planning, or urban and regional planning);
  • Property studies (embracing property valuation, real estate management, and facilities of management applications within the public and private sector);
  • Application of land methods to societal issues (including the history of dispossession, gender concerns, environmental issues, health or well-being and social changes linked to behavioural problems related to land tenure security).

Dr. Uchendu Eugene Chigbu
Prof. Dr. Chao Ye
Prof. Dr. Ruishan Chen
Prof. Dr. Walter T. de Vries
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.

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 10383 KiB  
Article
A Spatio-Temporal Analysis of the Ecological Compensation for Cultivated Land in Northeast China
by Lu Wang, Bonoua Faye, Quanfeng Li and Yunkai Li
Land 2023, 12(12), 2179; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12122179 - 17 Dec 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1604
Abstract
Ecological compensation for cultivated land is a prominent means to coordinate the protection and utilization of cultivated land ecosystems. This study assessed the ecological compensation for cultivated land, considering both the ecological footprint and value of ecosystem services. We used the ecological footprint [...] Read more.
Ecological compensation for cultivated land is a prominent means to coordinate the protection and utilization of cultivated land ecosystems. This study assessed the ecological compensation for cultivated land, considering both the ecological footprint and value of ecosystem services. We used the ecological footprint model to calculate the ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity of cultivated land, combined with the value of its ecosystem services, with a focus on estimating its ecological compensation standard, and we analyzed the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of Northeast China. We found that the ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity of cultivated land showed a fluctuating growth trend in Northeast China from 2000 to 2020, increasing by 288.83 × 105 ha and 131.37 × 105 ha, respectively. The spatial distribution of cultivated land’s ecological footprint and ecological carrying capacity showed growth from the southwest to the northeast. The value of its ecosystem services presented an overall trend of growth over the past 20 years, increasing by CNY 13.64 billion, or an increase of 12.47%. In terms of spatial distribution, the trends of the ecological compensation for cultivated land showed obvious differences. This study mainly focused on black soil cultivated land, and its results are helpful for governments in different countries solving similar problems in terms of the ecological compensation for cultivated land. This study will provide a valuable reference to measure the compensation standard scientifically and to provide policy recommendations for sustainable cultivated land’s protection and utilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World)
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21 pages, 2698 KiB  
Article
Facilitating Community Transition to Sustainable Land Governance: A Study of a Communal Settlement in South Africa
by Nicholas Pinfold and Masilonyane Mokhele
Land 2023, 12(6), 1132; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12061132 - 26 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2185
Abstract
Land is a fundamental resource that provides a foundation for the economy. Despite a wide range of studies on land governance systems, there is a lack of literature that analyzes the ability of communities to manage a change to different land governance systems. [...] Read more.
Land is a fundamental resource that provides a foundation for the economy. Despite a wide range of studies on land governance systems, there is a lack of literature that analyzes the ability of communities to manage a change to different land governance systems. The study aimed to analyze the potential for the Goedverwacht communal settlement in the Western Cape province, South Africa, to transition from a hierarchical governance structure to one based on a communal land governance system. This aim was addressed by answering the research question: What are the roles, expectations and management strategies of the institutions and stakeholders participating in land governance? The study considered the community’s desire to maintain its communal settlement’s existence, and the choice between communal or individual freehold land governance. To understand these issues, the study utilized a framework that includes three theories: the theory of planned behaviour, the theory of institutional capacity, and the critical theory. (2) Methods: Through a survey, qualitative interviews, and focus group discussions, the study analyzed various underlying factors that influenced land governance and the land governance system desired by the community. (3) Results: The findings reveal that power dynamics and conflicting interests significantly affected the community’s ability to manage potential modernization resulting from land reform. While establishing land rights can positively impact economic growth and social mobilization, the lack of the communal settlement’s central government’s capacity to manage modernization effectively can lead to instability. (4) Conclusions: The paper concludes that balancing institutionalization and modernization is crucial for effectively managing the transition to new land governance systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World)
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25 pages, 4456 KiB  
Article
Small Farms in Italy: What Is Their Impact on the Sustainability of Rural Areas?
by Concetta Cardillo and Orlando Cimino
Land 2022, 11(12), 2142; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11122142 - 28 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3652
Abstract
Small farms are gaining space and importance within the agricultural policies implemented by the European Union, mainly for the role that they play for the preservation of the territory and for the economic development of local rural areas. Small farms represent a new [...] Read more.
Small farms are gaining space and importance within the agricultural policies implemented by the European Union, mainly for the role that they play for the preservation of the territory and for the economic development of local rural areas. Small farms represent a new opportunity to guarantee the permanence of populations and agricultural workers in rural areas, contributing to the formation of the income of farming families. Therefore, in this study, after identifying small farms as those farms that have a Standard Output (SO) of less than EUR 25,000, their structural characteristics were defined, as well as their economic and financial situation. The analysis was performed using the Italian FADN data for the years 2018–2020 and using a set of structural and economic–financial indicators. Furthermore, the study analyzes the relationship between farm performance and agricultural resources and also with farmer demographics and farm size. The principal Component analysis was used to reduce the number of variables used in the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression model which was applied to identify the factors contributing to the small farms’ profitability. The territorial distribution of small farms shows a polarization: 37% of them are in Southern Italy, and more than 34% of them are in Northern Italy. The analysis also reveals that about 67% of the Italian small farms are specialized, in particular, in arable land (37.6%) and herbivores (16.8%). They are mainly conducted by men with a high school education level and with an age that is between 40 and 65 years. The economic results also show a good performance, however, there is a wide district differentiation: while the Northern regions have the best results in terms of farm net income, those of Southern Italy are more dependent on the public support they receive. The results of the multiple linear regression analysis revealed which variables (e.g., land size, labor, public aid, etc.) had a direct relationship with the profitability of small farms. The research provides interesting insights to stakeholders on the public support (specific measures) that needs to be designed and implemented to favor the survival of small farms in rural areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World)
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18 pages, 4731 KiB  
Article
Protecting Traditional Agricultural Landscapes by Promoting Industrial Integration Development: Practices from Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS) Sites in China
by Yongxun Zhang and Xiande Li
Land 2022, 11(8), 1286; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11081286 - 10 Aug 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2175
Abstract
Traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) have a long history. They have received significant attention due to concerns regarding their multiple functions and scarcity. Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS), designated by the FAO or some countries, are typical TAL that are facing conservation problems. This [...] Read more.
Traditional agricultural landscapes (TAL) have a long history. They have received significant attention due to concerns regarding their multiple functions and scarcity. Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (IAHS), designated by the FAO or some countries, are typical TAL that are facing conservation problems. This study takes IAHS as an example and examines the pathway and coordinating mechanism that industrial integration development (IID) uses to promote TAL conservation using available literature reviews and field surveys in IAHS sites. The findings suggest that the main pathways protecting IAHS, depending on IID, include increasing product price by IAHS branding, diversifying farmers’ income by developing special resources, and employing more seasonal surplus laborers by extending local industrial chains. Building a fair and reasonable benefit coordination mechanism among stakeholders in IID is crucial to prompt IAHS conservation. It rests on accurately identifying key stakeholders in IAHS conservation, selecting industrial organization modes that are suitable to an IAHS site, and introducing beneficial distribution mechanisms that can encourage farmers to stay on the farm. The case studies show that diversifying income channels and increasing income with industrial development are the main forces driving farmers to protect IAHS. The IID based on IAHS resources and the win-win benefit distribution principle are key to sustainable conservation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World)
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21 pages, 2278 KiB  
Article
Forests, Fields, and Pastures: Unequal Access to Brazil Nuts and Livelihood Strategies in an Extractive Reserve, Brazilian Amazon
by Bruno Ubiali and Miguel Alexiades
Land 2022, 11(7), 967; https://doi.org/10.3390/land11070967 - 24 Jun 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3366
Abstract
This article examines access to an economically important forest product (Brazil nuts) and its relationship with livelihood strategies in the Cazumbá–Iracema Extractive Reserve (CIER), Acre, Brazil. The objective is twofold: (i) to clarify how social mechanisms regulating access to Brazil nuts operate and [...] Read more.
This article examines access to an economically important forest product (Brazil nuts) and its relationship with livelihood strategies in the Cazumbá–Iracema Extractive Reserve (CIER), Acre, Brazil. The objective is twofold: (i) to clarify how social mechanisms regulating access to Brazil nuts operate and (ii) to analyse the relationship between differential access to Brazil nuts and livelihood diversification in terms of cash income. For this, we conducted 55 semi-structured interviews with household heads in three rubber tapper (seringueiro) communities. Our findings indicate that Brazil nuts are important to seringueiro livelihoods, although both access to Brazil nuts and livelihood strategies are highly variable between households and communities. Limited access to Brazil nuts is partly overcome through informal arrangements and investment in wage labour, swidden agriculture, and cattle raising, as part of highly diversified livelihood portfolios. However, restrictions to agriculture and cattle raising generate considerable tensions between many seringueiros and environmental managers. We highlight the importance of viewing livelihood diversification and adaptability as important components of the long-term viability of the extractive reserve model, particularly in the context of the growing uncertainties and risks associated with accelerating climate and socio-environmental change as well as amidst ongoing political dynamics in Brazil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World)
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Review

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20 pages, 1216 KiB  
Review
Green Hydrogen Production and Its Land Tenure Consequences in Africa: An Interpretive Review
by Uchendu Eugene Chigbu and Chigozie Nweke-Eze
Land 2023, 12(9), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12091709 - 1 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3452
Abstract
Globally, a green hydrogen economy rush is underway, and many companies, investors, governments, and environmentalists consider it as an energy source that could foster the global energy transition. The enormous potential for hydrogen production, for domestic use and export, places Africa in the [...] Read more.
Globally, a green hydrogen economy rush is underway, and many companies, investors, governments, and environmentalists consider it as an energy source that could foster the global energy transition. The enormous potential for hydrogen production, for domestic use and export, places Africa in the spotlight in the green hydrogen economy discourse. This discourse remains unsettled regarding how natural resources, such as land and water, can be sustainably utilized for such a resource-intensive project, and what implications this would have. This review argues that green hydrogen production (GHP) in Africa has consequences where land resources (and their associated natural resources) are concerned. It discusses the current trends in GHP in Africa, and the possibilities for reducing any potential pressures it may put on land and other resource use on the continent. The approach of the review is interpretive, and hinges on answering three questions, concerning the what, why, and how of GHP and its land consequences in Africa. The review is based on 41 studies identified from Google Scholar, and sources identified via snowballed recommendations from experts. The GHP implications identified relate to land and water use, mining-related land stress, and environmental, ecological, and land-related socioeconomic consequences. The paper concludes that GHP may not foster the global energy transition, as is being opined by many renewable energy enthusiasts but, rather, could help foster this transition as part of a greener energy mix. It notes that African countries that have the potential for GHP require the institutionalization of, or a change in, their existing approaches to land-related energy governance systems, in order to achieve success. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Tenure and Spatial Functions in the Living Conditions of People in a Global World)
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