Announcements
1 June 2026
The International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA) Now an Affiliated Society Member of Land and Architecture
1 June 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO’s Letter #35 – 30 Years of Open Science, Open Access Policies, Spain Summit, MMCS 2026 & Antibiotics 2026
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
30 Years of Open Science, Built Together
This month, we officially launched MDPI’s 30th Anniversary campaign and dedicated anniversary website, marking an important milestone in our journey as an open access publisher. What began in 1996 with a single journal and the simple belief that scientific knowledge should be shared openly and freely has grown into a global publishing organization supporting more than 500 journals, 68,000 Editorial Board Members, and millions of researchers worldwide.
The anniversary page, entitled 30 Years of Open Science, Built Together, reflects on the people, milestones, and partnerships that have shaped MDPI over the past three decades. It includes a retrospective of our development, key moments in the evolution of open access, landmark research articles, journal anniversaries, an interview with the CEO, and perspectives from colleagues and partners who have contributed to our success.
Looking back, one of the most striking aspects of our journey is not simply our growth, but the broader transformation of scholarly publishing itself.
Open access has moved from a niche concept to a widely adopted publishing model, helping make research more accessible, discoverable, and impactful for researchers, institutions, policymakers, and society.
MDPI has been part of this transition and continues to invest in the people, technology, partnerships, and research integrity infrastructure needed to support high-quality open science at scale.
While anniversaries naturally encourage reflection, they are also an opportunity to look ahead. The challenges facing scholarly publishing today, including research integrity, artificial intelligence, accessibility, and global participation in science, will require continued collaboration across the research ecosystem. As we celebrate 30 years of publishing, our focus remains on supporting researchers, strengthening trust in open science, and helping shape the future of scholarly communication together.
I encourage you to visit the anniversary page, explore the milestones, and take a moment to reflect on the role each of us has played in contributing to MDPI’s story.
Thank you for being part of this journey.
Impactful Research
Highlights from MMCS 2026 in Beijing (14-17 May)
From 14–17 May, MDPI hosted The 5th Molecules Medicinal Chemistry Symposium (MMCS 2026) in Beijing, China, bringing together academia and industry to explore advances in chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and drug discovery.
The conference hosted more than 230 attendees from 37 countries and regions, alongside 257 submissions and 145 accepted abstracts. With a significant increase in attendance – up by 100 participants compared with the previous edition – the popularity of MMCS continues to grow in terms of its international profile and scientific relevance within this rapidly evolving field.
The scientific program covered seven themes:
- Chemical Biology for Drug Discovery
- Medicinal Chemistry Research Progress
- Natural Products in Drug Discovery
- AI-enabled Drug Discovery
- GPCR & Ion Channel Targeted Drug Development
- Innovative Proximity-Based Drug Modalities
- Biocatalysis for Natural Product & Drug Synthesis
The event featured three plenary speakers, 14 keynote speakers, 35 selected oral presentations, and 98 poster presentations, creating opportunities for open scientific exchange and collaboration. Conference Chair Prof. Dr. Diego Muñoz-Torrero described this edition as one of the most successful MMCS events to date.
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Thanks to our Sponsors
MMCS 2026 secured sponsorship support from 12 industrial partners, 11 of which set up on-site exhibition booths. Covering biopharmaceutical R&D, life science supplies, pharmaceutical experimental instruments, and industrial service sectors, exhibitors were able to connect their businesses directly with attendees and make connections at the conference.
30th Anniversary Celebration of Molecules
During the conference, we also celebrated the 30th anniversary of Molecules, one of MDPI’s flagship journals. The celebration brought together Section Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, MDPI leadership, and editorial colleagues to reflect on the journal’s development, achievements, and continued future growth.
Events such as MMCS 2026 highlight the important role conferences play in creating scientific exchange and collaboration, and in connecting our research communities in person.
They also reflect the continued development of MDPI’s conference portfolio and our commitment to supporting academic engagement beyond publishing alone. Thanks to everyone involved in organizing and contributing to the success of this event.
Inside MDPI
Open Access Policies Continue to Accelerate Globally
One of the clearest indicators of the continued momentum behind open access is the growing number of national and institutional policies supporting, and increasingly requiring, open dissemination of research.
Around the world, governments, funding agencies, and universities are building their open access mandates, with increasing focus on transparency, rights retention, and public accessibility of publicly funded research. While these policies vary across regions, the broader direction is clear: expectations around openness and compliance continue to accelerate.
For researchers, navigating these evolving requirements can be complex and time-consuming. Supporting the research community therefore means not only publishing high-quality open access content but also helping stakeholders better understand changing requirements and emerging opportunities. At MDPI, we see this as an important part of our role within scholarly communication.
“Expectations around openness and compliance continue to accelerate”
Through the MDPI Blog, our Content team continues to publish monthly articles overviewing different countries’ relationships with open access, exploring their histories, policies, opportunities, and statistics. All this information is centralized into an article which contains brief summaries of each country, with links to all the full articles, and is updated monthly.
Recent Policy Developments
South Africa
In 2026, South Africa’s Department of Science and Innovation introduced the South African Open Science Policy. The policy states that: “Open access shall be required for publications arising from publicly funded research, and desirable for research from all sources of funding.”
The policy envisions a coordinated and broad approach to open science that will sustainably and ethically drive socio-economic development by increasing the practice of open science through policy, training, incentivization, and infrastructure.
Canada
In Canada, the Tri-Agency OA Policy on Publications was revised, removing the 12-month embargo for research that must be deposited in a repository with an open license and with author rights retained.
The Agencies argue that “societal advancement is made possible through widespread and barrier-free access to cutting-edge research and knowledge.”
Chile
Chile is a collaborative and engaged member of the global open access movement.
The National Research and Development Agency (Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo, or ANID) is Chile’s main funding agency for R&D. It mandates that all beneficiaries must deposit the final version of their published scientific output, with an embargo period of up to 12 months, into a repository.
ANID also supports the InES Open Science funding program, which allows universities to request funding for capacity and infrastructure building. Further, Chile is an active participant in various international initiatives, such as Redalyc, SciELO, and Red de Repositorios Latinoamericanos.
Openness Beyond Research
At MDPI, openness remains one of our core values, ensuring that research outputs are freely accessible to anyone. This commitment also extends to sharing knowledge about the scholarly publishing landscape itself, which we practice on the MDPI Blog through various topics, including open access, recent advances in science, and opportunities for researchers.
As the open access landscape continues to evolve, helping researchers, institutions, editors, and partners navigate these changes will remain an important priority for us.
Thank You
I would like to thank Jack McKenna (Senior Content Specialist, MDPI) from our Content team for his ongoing work on the MDPI Blog series covering global open access policy developments. Initiatives such as this help make complex policy discussions more accessible and useful to the wider research community.
Coming Together for Science
Reflections from the MDPI Spain Summit 2026 in Valencia (21 May)
On 21 May, we hosted the MDPI Spain Summit 2026 in Valencia.
The Summit brought together 30 Editorial Board Members and MDPI colleagues for a discussions on the future of publishing, research integrity, peer review, artificial intelligence, and the evolving research landscape in Spain.
We hosted participants from leading Spanish institutions and spoke on the importance of Spain as a major contributor to global open access (OA) research. In 2025 alone, Spain ranked among the leading countries worldwide for OA publishing, with more than 85% of publications made openly accessible. MDPI also continues to play a significant role within the Spanish research ecosystem.
MDPI in Spain
Spain remains one of MDPI's most important academic markets and a leading contributor to OA research globally. Ever since our Barcelona office opened in 2016 (Happy 10th Anniversary!), MDPI Spain has been actively supporting researchers, institutions, societies, and academic partners across the country. Today, the office plays an important role in creating engagement with the Spanish scholarly community through editorial support, partnerships, conferences, training initiatives, and outreach activities.
A cluster of high-level indicators highlight both the strength of the local research ecosystem and MDPI’s role within it:
- 43,218 total publications in Spain in 2025, of which 35,728 (83%) were open access (49% Gold OA).
- 211,200+ total publications (2021–2025), with 84% published open access.
- 13,444 MDPI publications from Spanish institutions in 2025, representing 14% of all open access publications in Spain.
- More than115,100 MDPI publications from Spanish institutions since 1996.
- More than 4,500 Editorial Board Members from Spain, including more than 150 Chief Editors and 57 Associate Editors.
- 42 institutional partners participating in MDPI’s Institutional Open Access Program (IOAP).
- Spain ranks second globally for MDPI society affiliations, with 26 affiliated society agreements currently in place.
Program Overview
What made this summit special was the openness of the discussions around the research landscape in Spain and the role MDPI plays within the market. General topics of the presentations included:
- MDPI Introduction – Stefan Tochev (CEO).
- Engagement with the Academic Community – Dr. Marta Colomer (External Affairs Lead).
- Latest Developments in the Editorial Process – Dr. Jordi Martinez (Deputy Managing Editor).
- Research integrity and Publication Ethics – Slavomir Nikodijevic (Research Integrity Specialist).
- A 360 View of Academic Publishing – Prof. Dr. Luis Angel Ruiz Fernandez (EBM of Remote Sensing).
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Panel Discussion
We also hosted a panel discussion moderated by Marta, entitled “The Future of Academic Publishing” with Prof. Luis Ruiz, Prof. Marta Feliz (EBM of the journal Catalysts), Dr. Enric Sayas (Product Owner, AI & Technology Innovation), and myself. The discussion looked at the evolving role of editors, the future of peer review, and the growing importance of maintaining trust, ethics, and research integrity in an era increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence.
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Themes from the Summit
Several themes emerged throughout the discussions, reflecting broader conversations taking place across publishing:
- The academic community values efficient publishing workflows, but expectations around scientific quality and editorial rigor continue to rise.
- Reviewer fatigue and long-term sustainability of peer review remain major challenges across the industry.
- AI is rapidly changing scholarly communication and requires transparent and responsible governance.
- Reputation and trust continue to depend on long-term engagement, transparency, and quality-focused decision-making.
“Maintaining an open dialogue with researchers, editors, reviewers, and institutions remains a priority for MDPI”
It was constructive to see the willingness of participants to engage directly and candidly with us. These conversations provide insights that help inform how we continue to develop our editorial processes, engagement activities, and support for the research community. While certain discussions included concerns, there was also recognition that open dialogue between publishers and the research community is essential if we want to improve scholarly communication together.
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Events such as this are increasingly important for MDPI. They allow us to present our perspective, to listen to the experiences, expectations, and concerns of editors, reviewers, and researchers, and to address these accordingly.
Thank You
Thank you to our Barcelona Office and all colleagues involved in organizing the summit, as well as all participants for contributing to these thoughtful and constructive discussions.
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As publishing continues to evolve, maintaining an open dialogue with researchers, editors, reviewers, and institutions remains an important priority for MDPI. Events such as the Spain Summit play an important role in helping us to build relationships, foster trust, and better understand the needs of our community.
Closing Thoughts
Highlights from Antibiotics 2026 in Barcelona (11–14 May)
This week, MDPI hosted the Antibiotics 2026 — Advances in Antimicrobial Action and Resistance conference in Barcelona, bringing together academics and industry experts to discuss one of the most important scientific and public health challenges of our time: antimicrobial resistance.
The conference welcomed 145 attendees from 42 different countries and territories, alongside 265 submissions and 127 accepted abstracts, showing the international reach of the event and the strong scientific interest in this rapidly evolving field.
Scientific Exchange on a Global Challenge
Antimicrobial resistance continues to be a global concern, creating collaboration across disciplines, institutions, and regions. The conference program focused on a range of topics including:
- Antimicrobial resistance mechanisms
- One Health approaches to antimicrobial stewardship
- Discovery of novel antimicrobial agents
- Innovation in clinical strategies and treatment approaches
- Ethnopharmacology and emerging therapies
Through keynote plenaries, invited lectures, oral presentations, and poster sessions, the conference created a platform for dialogue and scientific exchange.
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International Participation and Collaboration
One of the highlights of the event was the diversity of participation across both geography and expertise. Researchers and speakers from Europe, North America, Asia, Africa, Australia, and Latin America took part in discussions throughout the conference, highlighting the global nature of both the challenge and the scientific response.
The scientific program included:
- 2 keynote speakers
- 10 invited speakers
- 36 selected talks
- 78 posters
The conference brought together perspectives from academia, healthcare, and industry, helping facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration around future approaches to antimicrobial research and resistance management.
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The Role of Conferences in Scholarly Communication
Conferences are an important platform for collaboration, scientific exchange, and community-building. Events such as Antibiotics 2026 show the value of bringing researchers together in person to discuss emerging challenges, share new findings, and strengthen international networks across disciplines and regions.
Thank You
I would like to thank the conference chairs, speakers, participants, sponsors, and the entire MDPI conference team for their work in making this event a success. The engagement and positive feedback from attendees highlight the importance of our events in addressing some of the most pressing scientific challenges facing society today.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
25 May 2026
Meet Us at AET CÁCERES 2026, 8–11 June 2026, Cáceres, Spain
22 May 2026
Land | Invitation to Read Papers and Hot Topic Special Issues Related to Urban Biodiversity Conservation
We are delighted to share some papers on urban biodiversity conservation research that were published in our journal Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) between 2024 and 2026. In addition, some Special Issues related to this topic are currently open for submission.
The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that we believe will interest you:
1. “Managing Landscape Urbanization and Assessing Biodiversity of Wildlife Habitats: A Study of Bobcats in San Jose, California”
by Yongli Zheng, Yuxi Wang, Xinyi Wang, Yuhan Wen and Shuying Guo
Land 2024, 13(2), 152; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13020152
2. “Analysis of Spatial Divergence in Bird Diversity Driven by Built Environment Characteristics of Ecological Corridors in High-Density Urban Areas”
by Di Wang, Lang Zhang, Qicheng Zhong, Guilian Zhang, Xuanying Chen and Qingping Zhang
Land 2024, 13(9), 1359; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13091359
3. “The Effects of Spatial Structure and Development Intensity of the Urban Landscape on Bird Biodiversity in Anhui Province”
by Minglu Hu, Xinghao Lu and Yuncai Wang
Land 2024, 13(10), 1660; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101660
4. “Assessing Urban Agriculture’s Potential for Biodiversity Conservation, Carbon Sequestration, and Community Development: A Comparative Study of Residents’ Perceptions in Three Western Romanian Cities”
by Simona Gavrilaș, Oana Brînzan, Eugenia Tigan, Radu Lucian Blaga and Tiberiu Iancu
Land 2025, 14(2), 271; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020271
5. “Wealth and Altitude Explain Urban Plant Diversity in Residential Areas of Hainan, China”
by Linke Su, Huiting Tang, Gong He, Mir Muhammad Nizamani and Huafeng Wang
Land 2025, 14(2), 328; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14020328
6. “The New Zealand Biodiversity Factor—Residential (NZBF-R): A Tool to Rapidly Score the Relative Biodiversity Value of Urban Residential Developments”
by Jacqueline Theis, Christopher K. Woolley, Philip J. Seddon, Danielle F. Shanahan, Claire Freeman, Maibritt Pedersen Zari and Yolanda van Heezik
Land 2025, 14(3), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030526
7. “Reconciling Urban Expansion with Biodiversity: Habitat Dynamics and Ecological Connectivity in Xiong’an New Area’s Full-Cycle Development”
by Zihao Huang, Kai Su, Sufang Yu, Xuebing Jiang, Chuang Li, Shihui Chang and Yongfa You
Land 2025, 14(3), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030533
8. “Phytoplankton Diversity, Abundance and Toxin Synthesis Potential in the Lakes of Natural and Urban Landscapes in Permafrost Conditions”
by Sophia Barinova, Viktor A. Gabyshev, Olga I. Gabysheva, Yanzhima A. Naidanova and Ekaterina G. Sorokovikova
Land 2025, 14(4), 721; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040721
9. “Investigation of Avian Diversity and Habitat Variations in Urban Parks: A Case Study of Xuzhou Quanshan Forest Park”
by Yuan Kang, Haolian Luan, Pingjia Luo, Yuchen Dong and Shiyuan Zhou
Land 2025, 14(4), 797; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040797
10. “Factors Shaping Biodiversity in Urban Voids: A Systematic Literature Review”
by Jian Cui, Ehsan Sharifi, Carlos Bartesaghi Koc, Linna Yi and Scott Hawken
Land 2025, 14(4), 821; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040821
11. “The Role of Urban Tree Areas for Biodiversity Conservation in Degraded Urban Landscapes”
by Sonja Jovanović, Vesna Janković-Milić, Jelena J. Stanković and Marina Stanojević
Land 2025, 14(9), 1815; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14091815
12. “Investigating the Impact of Urban Parks on Bird Habitats and Diversity Through Remote Sensing: A Case Study of Chengdu City (China)”
by Chenyang Liao, Yumeng Jiang, Mingle Yang, Kexin Feng and Jiazhen Zhang
Land 2025, 14(10), 2086; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14102086
13. “Tree Supports—A Method for Managing the Protection of Habitat Trees, Increasing Biodiversity and the Resilience of Urban Ecosystems”
by Wojciech Bobek
Land 2025, 14(11), 2200; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14112200
14. “Threshold Effects of Biodiversity on Ecological Resilience: Evidence from Guangdong’s Prefecture-Level Cities”
by Xin Huang, Yiwen Chen, Chang Liu, Kailun Fang and Tingting Chen
Land 2025, 14(12), 2327; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14122327
15. “Speculative Drawing as a Tool for Developing Biodiversity Scenarios in the Cityscape Within the New European Bauhaus Framework”
by Snežana Zlatković and Ana Nikezić
Land 2026, 15(5), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15050726
Special Issues:
“Urban Planning and Ecosystem Protection: A Path to Mutual Benefits”
Guest Editors: Naglaa A. Megahed, Khalid S. Al-Hagla and Asmaa Mohammed Hassan
Submission deadline: 1 October 2026
“Reconsidering Urban Green Spaces: Biodiversity Functionality, Accessibility, and Wellbeing in Cities”
Guest Editors: Melissa Anne Beryl Vogt and Alessio Russo
Submission deadline: 30 November 2026
“Enhancing Biodiversity-Friendly Built Environments in Line with the New European Bauhaus”
Guest Editors: Ana Nikezić, Slađana Lazarević and Marco Acri
Submission deadline: 31 December 2026
22 May 2026
Meet Us at the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science, 7–12 June 2026, Nanjing, China
19 May 2026
Land | Invitation to Read Papers and Hot Topic Special Issues Related to Vegetation Biodiversity and Conservation
Biodiversity is truly the foundation of all life on Earth. This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity (IDB) 2026 introduces the theme “Acting locally for global impact”—a call for all of us to protect biodiversity and take care of our shared home, planet Earth.
We are delighted to share a collection of papers on vegetation biodiversity and conservation research that were published in our journal Land (ISSN: 2073-445X) in 2025. In addition, several Special Issues related to this topic are currently open for submission.
The following is a list of articles and Special Issues that we believe will interest you:
1. “Adoption and Diversity of Agroforestry Systems in the Amazon Biome: A Bibliometric Overview”
by Daniela Pauletto, Marcelo Francia Arco-Verde, Ivan Crespo Silva, Lucas Sérgio de Sousa Lopes, Anselmo Junior Correa Araújo, Flávia Cristina Araújo Lucas, Seidel Ferreira dos Santos, Thiago Almeida Vieira, Carlos Tadeu dos Santos Dias and Lucieta Guerreiro Martorano
Land 2025, 14(3), 524; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030524
2. “Scale-Dependent Diversity Patterns in Subalpine Grasslands: Homogenization vs. Complexity”
by Tsvetelina Terziyska, James Tsakalos, Sándor Bartha, Iva Apostolova and Desislava Sopotlieva
Land 2025, 14(4), 823; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040823
3. “Enhancing Climate Resilience and Food Security in Greece Through Agricultural Biodiversity”
by Efstratios Loizou, Konstantinos Spinthiropoulos, Stavros Kalogiannidis, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, Dimitrios Kalfas and George Tzilantonis
Land 2025, 14(4), 838; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040838
4. “Effects of Bothriochloa ischaemum on the Diversity of Pannonian Sandy Grasslands”
by Szilárd Szentes, Károly Penksza, Eszter Saláta-Falusi, László Sipos, Veronika Kozma-Bognár, Richárd Hoffmann and Zsombor Wagenhoffer
Land 2025, 14(5), 1107; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14051107
5. “Integrating Remote Sensing, Landscape Metrics, and Random Forest Algorithm to Analyze Crop Patterns, Factors, Diversity, and Fragmentation in a Kharif Agricultural Landscape”
by Surajit Banerjee, Tuhina Nandi, Vishwambhar Prasad Sati, Wiem Mezlini, Wafa Saleh Alkhuraiji, Djamil Al-Halbouni and Mohamed Zhran
Land 2025, 14(6), 1203; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061203
6. “Modeling Plant Diversity Responses to Fire Recurrence in Disjunct Amazonian Savannas”
by Mariana Martins Medeiros de Santana, Rodrigo Nogueira de Vasconcelos, Salustiano Vilar da Costa Neto, Eduardo Mariano Neto and Washington de Jesus Sant’Anna da Franca Rocha
Land 2025, 14(7), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071455
7. “From Diversity to Homogenisation: Assessing Two Decades of Temperate Native Forest Replaced by Exotic Plantations in the Nahuelbuta Mountain Range”
by Rebeca Martínez-Retureta, Rosa Reyes-Riveros, Iongel Duran-Llacer, Lien Rodríguez-López, Clara Margarita Tinoco-Navarro and Norberto J. Abreu
Land 2025, 14(8), 1648; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14081648
8. “Preliminary Evaluation of High-Diversity Herbaceous Seed Sowings in Different Substrates”
by Judit Doma-Tarcsányi, Attila Gergely, Ádám Serdült and Krisztina Szabó
Land 2025, 14(9), 1746; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14091746
9. “Interactions Between Soil Texture and Cover Crop Diversity Shape Carbon Dynamics and Aggregate Stability”
by Vladimír Šimanský and Martin Lukac
Land 2025, 14(10), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14102044
10. “Integrating Microtopographic Engineering with Native Plant Functional Diversity to Support Restoration of Degraded Arid Ecosystems”
by Yassine Fendane, Mohamed Djamel Miara, Hassan Boukcim, Sami D. Almalki, Shauna K. Rees, Abdalsamad Aldabaa, Ayman Abdulkareem and Ahmed H. Mohamed
Land 2025, 14(12), 2445; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14122445
Special Issues:
“Wetland Plant Diversity and Ecosystem FunctionWetland Plant Diversity and Ecosystem Function”
Guest Editors: Maria Sarika and Anastasios Zotos
Submission deadline: 30 June 2026
“Vegetation Facing Environmental Changes in Terrestrial Systems: Research and Management—Second Edition”
Guest Editor: Eusebio Cano Carmona
Submission deadline: 18 November 2026
13 May 2026
Land | Invitation to Read the Papers Selected from Volume 15, Issue 4, April 2026
We are delighted to announce that Issue 4, Volume 15 of Land (ISSN: 2073-445X), was released in April 2026. The following is a list of partial articles which we believe will be of interest to you:
Cover Story:
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“Evaluating and Improving the Effectiveness of Protected Areas to Conserve Plant Diversity Under Climate and Land-Use Changes” |
Section: “Land Systems and Global Change”
“An Ecosystem-Based Approach: Strategic Planning and Decision-Making in Wells Gray Provincial Park”
by Andrea Patino and Courtney W. Mason
Land 2026, 15(4), 613; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040613
Section: “Landscape Ecology”
“Investigating Old-Growth Forests in Tuscany (Italy): Structural Heterogeneity and Plant Diversity Across Forest Types and Novel Candidate Sites for the National Network“
by Federico Selvi, Marco Cabrucci, Giammarco Dadà and Elisa Carrari
Land 2026, 15(4), 640; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040640
Section: “Land, Soil and Water”
“Soil Fertility and Carbon Stocks in Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) Production Systems Under Acid Soils”
by Andrés Felipe Góngora-Duarte, Francisco José Morales-Espitia, Juan Manuel Trujillo-González, Marco Aurelio Torres-Mora and Raimundo Jimenez-Ballesta
Land 2026, 15(4), 607; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040607
Section: “Land Socio-Economic and Political Issues”
“After-Use Trajectories of Peatlands Under Alternative Policy Pathways in Latvia”
by Normunds Stivrins, Ilze Ozola, Maikls Andriksons, Jovita Pilecka-Ulcugaceva and Inga Grinfelde
Land 2026, 15(4), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040558
Section: “Urban Contexts and Urban-Rural Interactions”
“Plot Subdivision Heterogeneity and Urban Resilience: Preservation, Multifunctionality, and Socio-Cultural Adaptability Across Global Case Studies”
by Jose Antonio Lara-Hernandez and Alessandro Melis
Land 2026, 15(4), 540; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040540
Section: “Land–Climate Interactions”
“Land-Use-Mediated Pathways of Regional Carbon Storage Under Natural and Human Constraints: Evidence from Shaanxi Province, China”
by Yicong Wang and Kimihiko Hyakumura
Land 2026, 15(4), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040550
Section: “Landscape Archaeology”
“An Artificial Canal Connecting the Roman Burgus at Trebur-Astheim (Upper Rhine Graben, Germany) with the River Rhine”
by Elena Appel, Dennis Wilken, Thomas Becker, Henrik Leif Schäfer, Markus Scholz, Sarah Bäumler, Peter Fischer, Timo Willershäuser, Udo Recker and Andreas Vött
Land 2026, 15(4), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040526
Section: “Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing”
“Prioritizing Crucial Habitats for Biodiversity Conservation in Temperate and Tropical North America and the Caribbean: A Fine-Scale Indexing Approach”
by Emmanuel Oceguera-Conchas, Jose W. Valdez, Lea A. Schulte and Patrick J. Comer
Land 2026, 15(4), 664; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040664
Section: “Land Use, Impact Assessment and Sustainability”
“Social–Ecological Memory, Agroecological Diversity and Resilience: A Comparative Analysis After a 10-Year Megadrought Affecting Mapuche and Non-Mapuche Farming Systems in Chile”
by René Montalba, Clara Nicholls, Florencia Spirito, Lorena Vieli and Miguel Altieri
Land 2026, 15(4), 565; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040565
Section: “Land Innovations–Data and Machine Learning”
“GeoAI-Driven Land Cover Change Prediction Using Copernicus Earth Observation and Geospatial Data for Law-Compliant Territorial Planning in the Aosta Valley (Italy)”
by Tommaso Orusa, Duke Cammareri and Davide Freppaz
Land 2026, 15(4), 533; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040533
Section: “Water, Energy, Land and Food (WELF) Nexus”
“Trade-Offs or Synergy? Unraveling the Coupling Mechanisms and Critical Thresholds in the Food-Water-Land-Ecosystem Nexus”
by Zheng Zuo, Li Tian, Haiqing Yang, Hui Zhao, Jing Wang, Lili Fan, Qirui Wang and Jinju Yang
Land 2026, 15(4), 547; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040547
Section: “Land–Observation and Monitoring”
“Enhanced Machine Learning for Reliable Water Body Extraction of Plateau Wetlands Caohai Using Remote Sensing and Big Geospatial Data from Optical Zhuhai-1 and Radar Sat-2 Satellites”
by Yanwu Zhou, Yu Zhang, Guanglai Zhu, Chaoyong Shen, Youliang Tian, Juan Zhou, Yi Guo, Jing Hu and Guanglei Qiu
Land 2026, 15(4), 530; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040530
Section: “Land Planning and Landscape Architecture”
“Integration of Landscape Ecological Data in Spatial Planning in Slovakia”
by Zita Izakovičová and František Petrovič
Land 2026, 15(4), 549; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040549
General
“New Contribution to Knowledge on Pleistocene Pediment Deposits in the Montefeltro Region (Marche–Romagna Apennines, Italy)”
by Laura Valentini, Olivia Nesci, Valentina Ugolini and Cristiano Guerra
Land 2026, 15(4), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040525
“GIS-Based Analysis and Thematic Mapping of LULC Changes over 35 Years in the Historical Lateral Mobility Zone (HLMZ) of the Sele River (Southern Italy)”
by Edoardo Guido D’Onofrio, Floriana Angelone and Paolo Magliulo
Land 2026, 15(4), 581; https://doi.org/10.3390/land15040581
12 May 2026
Land | Special Issue “Cultural Landscapes in Transition: Balancing Heritage, Development, and Sustainability” Reprint
We are delighted to share with you a reprint of the Special Issue published in May 2026 in Land (ISSN: 2073-445X), comprising 13 articles. You can access more Land Special Issue reprints at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/books/search.
“Cultural Landscapes in Transition: Balancing Heritage, Development, and Sustainability”
Edited by Isabel Vaz De Freitas and Fátima Matos Silva
ISBN 978-3-7258-7366-1 (Hardback)
ISBN 978-3-7258-7367-8 (PDF)
If you are interested in editing a Special Issue, please apply at the following link: https://www.mdpi.com/journalproposal/sendproposalspecialissue/land.
6 May 2026
MDPI INSIGHTS: The CEO's Letter #34 - MDPI US Office, Coatings 2026, Media and Partnerships, Recapping Poland Summit & Serbia Salon
Welcome to the MDPI Insights: The CEO's Letter.
In these monthly letters, I will showcase two key aspects of our work at MDPI: our commitment to empowering researchers and our determination to facilitating open scientific exchange.
Opening Thoughts
MDPI Opens First US Office in Philadelphia
I am delighted to highlight an important milestone in MDPI’s continued global development: the recent opening of our first office in the United States, located in Philadelphia.
This marks a significant step in building our engagement with one of the world’s most important research communities. The new office will serve as a hub for supporting scholars across the US, creating closer connections and more localized support.
As highlighted in recent coverage by our press release in InPublishing, this expansion reflects MDPI’s broader commitment to growing our international presence while remaining focused on the needs of the research community.
A Key Market for Research and Collaboration
The United States continues to play a central role in global research. To date, MDPI has published more than 237,000 articles affiliated with US institutions, and we collaborate with nearly 12,000 Editorial Board Members across the country. These relationships are fundamental to our mission of supporting Open Access and advancing scientific communication.
The opening of this office is not just about geography; it is about proximity to the communities we serve. It allows us to better understand the evolving needs of researchers while continuing to build collaboration and trust within the academic ecosystem.
The Team Behind this Milestone
This milestone reflects the efforts of teams across MDPI. I extend a special thank-you to Bob Vrooman (Head of Business Development, MDPI), who is leading this expansion, as well as to our colleagues in Toronto and across our North American teams for their continued support.
Bob shared: “MDPI is already a trusted partner of the North American research community, due in no small part to our dedicated team in Canada. Launching our first US office in Philadelphia is a great first step towards expanding MDPI’s market share and recognition in the US. I’m thrilled to be a part of this new phase in MDPI’s journey.”
As we continue to grow, our focus remains on supporting researchers globally and advancing Open Access with integrity.
Impactful Research
Coatings 2026: Highlights from Our Latest MDPI Conference (20-22 April)
I am pleased to share the successful completion of MDPI conference Coatings 2026, which took place last week in Athens from 20 to 22 April 2026. This conference brought together a diverse international community of researchers, industry experts, and partners, highlighting MDPI’s role not only as a publisher but also as a platform for scientific exchange and collaboration.
Conference Highlights
Coatings 2026 in numbers:
- The event attracted approximately 140 participants from 25 countries
- 143 submissions and a strong scientific program of talks and posters
- 2 keynote speakers and a wide range of invited contributions
- 7 sponsors and 11 media partners supporting the event
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Scientific Programme
The program centered on “Safe and Sustainable by Design,” reflecting the growing importance of sustainability, regulatory frameworks, and technological innovation in materials science. Topics ranged from advanced coating technologies and additive manufacturing to AI-driven simulations and strategies to phase out potentially harmful substances in industrial processes.
Importantly, the conference brought together both academic and industrial perspectives, creating a space for dialogue on how research can translate into real-world impact. This is important as industries navigate environmental challenges, evolving regulations, and the need for more sustainable and circular approaches to production.
Thank You!
I would like to thank the entire conference team for their work in organizing this successful event. As we continue to grow, conferences like this play an important role in building our connection with global research communities, supporting interdisciplinary collaboration, and positioning MDPI at the intersection of science, technology, and societal impact.
Members from Exelisis and MDPI EU Conference & Social Media team at the Coatings 2026 Conference in Athens, Greece.
Inside MDPI
Recent Media Coverage and Partnerships
Over the past two months, news from MDPI has enjoyed strong visibility across international publishing and academic media, reflecting our continued expansion and the increasing relevance of our work within the research community.
Below are some highlights covering partnerships, institutional agreements, and milestones that continue to shape our position in publishing – some of which are featured in leading industry platforms such as InPublishing, which is highly selective and reflects the growing recognition of MDPI’s growth within the publishing ecosystem.
Key Press Releases & Coverage (March–April 2026)
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MDPI × Sikt (Norway): Partnership Renewal
We renewed our national Open Access agreement with Sikt, a key consortium partnership, continuing to support researchers across Norway through this partnership. The renewal was covered by several international publishing trade outlets.
Covered by: Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Europe Says
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MDPI × Jisc (UK): New Two-Year Open Access Agreement
A new two-year agreement with Jisc significantly expands MDPI’s footprint across UK academic institutions. Coverage appeared across major publishing industry titles in the UK and internationally.
Covered by: InPublishing, Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP
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MDPI Opens First US Office
The opening of our first US office marks an important milestone in our North American expansion to build engagement with one of the world’s leading research communities.
Coverage by: EurekAlert!, InPublishing, EdTech Innovation Hub, STM Publishing News, ALPSP
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MDPI × SIGG: Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics
We established a new partnership with the Italian Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (SIGG), adding to our growing portfolio of society collaborations.
Coverage by: EurekAlert!, STM Publishing News, ALPSP
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MDPI × Fast Track Health: New Journal Launch
The launch of a new journal in partnership with Fast Track Health reflects our continued expansion into emerging areas of health innovation.
Coverage by: EurekAlert!, Scienmag, STM Publishing News, ALPSP
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MDPI 2025 Annual Report
Our 2025 Annual Report was also widely covered across international media, highlighting a 12% increase in submissions and continued investment in research integrity, infrastructure, and partnerships.
Coverage by: EurekAlert!, Research Information, STM Publishing News, ALPSP, Choice 360
Coverage also spanned multiple regions including Poland, Romania and South Korea, reflecting our ongoing efforts to communicate more effectively with regional research communities.
Looking Ahead
This coverage shows that MDPI is growing and building on its position through partnerships, visibility, and engagement across regions. As we continue to expand, our focus remains on supporting researchers globally, building on our institutional collaborations, and advancing Open Access with integrity.
Thank you to all teams involved in delivering these initiatives, and to our External Affairs team for ensuring our work is effectively communicated across the global publishing landscape!
Coming Together for Science
Recapping MDPI Poland Summit 2026 in Krakow (23 April)
On 23 April 2206, we hosted the first MDPI Poland Summit 2026 in Kraków, bringing together an engaged group of editors, researchers, and academic leaders from the country.
The Poland Summit welcomed some 45 participants, including Editors-in-Chief, Associate Editors, and Editorial Board Members, many with strong academic track records and international recognition.
Our engagements were open and constructive, focusing on MDPI’s positioning and reputation in Poland, alongside community interest in supporting our development, with active participation across our sessions, including Q&A and panel discussions.
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MDPI Poland Summit Programme
From research integrity and peer review quality to AI in publishing and the future of academic communication, the agenda featured important topics currently shaping our industry.
During the day, MDPI colleagues shared a series of presentations covering:
- MDPI’s performance, growth, and impact in Poland: Stefan Tochev (CEO)
- Engagement with Academic Community: Dr. Marta Colomer (Public Affairs Lead)
- Research Integrity and Publication Ethics: Anna Pena (Research Integrity Manager)
- MDPI Editorial Process and Peer-Review Quality Metrics: Dr. Liliane Auwerter (Conference Organizer)
- AI in the Publishing Industry – Challenges, Innovation and MDPI’s vision: Dr. Enric Sayas (AI Product Owner)
- Panel Session: The Future of Academic Publishing, moderated by Dr. Marta Colomer
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Poland as a Key Market for Open Access
The summit also highlighted the importance of Poland within the global research landscape.
In 2025:
- 75% of publications in Poland were made in Open Access
- 71% of those in Gold Open Access
- and over 344,000 publications produced in the last five years
MDPI plays a significant role in the Polish publishing ecosystem:
- #1 Open Access publisher in Poland
- 17% share of Open Access publications in 2025
- More than 12,500 publications from Polish institutions in 2025
- More than 91,000 publications overall since 1996
Looking Ahead
Events like the Poland Summit are an important part of how we evolve as an organization. They allow us to share the latest developments of MDPI and listen directly to our researchers and editors to better understand the market and align our development with the needs of the local community.
As MDPI continues to grow, this type of engagement will remain essential in ensuring that we are not only scaling globally, but doing so in a way that is aligned, trusted, and collaborative.
With Igor Matic (Office Manager, Krakow, Poland, MDPI) at the MDPI Poland Summit in Krakow.
Closing Thoughts
Recapping MDPI Serbia Salon 2026 in Belgrade (22 April)
On 22 April 2026, we hosted the MDPI Serbia Salon 2026 in Belgrade. The Salon welcomed over 50 participants, including more than 40 invited scholars from leading Serbian institutions, alongside colleagues from MDPI. The event also marked two important milestones: 30 years of MDPI and 10 years of our presence in Serbia, making it a celebration and an opportunity for reflection.
A Platform for Exchange
The Salon was designed not just as a series of presentations, but as a place for dialogue. Throughout the day, discussions focused on important topics around publishing today: research integrity and editorial standards, journal indexing and visibility, the evolving role of artificial intelligence, and funding and support for Open Access publishing.
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Program Overview
- Opening the Salon MDPI Serbia 2026 – Serbia results and direction: Emir Ramadani (Operations Manager)
- Update on MDPI’s performance and growth: Stefan Tochev (CEO)
- Collaboration with MDPI – A personal perspective: Prof. Dr Srećko Stopić (Editorial Board Member)
- Linking Scientific Quality and Visibility: The role of indexing in publishing
- Research integrity and editorial ethics: Ana Stanković (Research Integrity Specialist)
- Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Publishing – Challenges, innovations and vision of MDPI: Dr Miloš Čučulović (Head of Technology Innovation)
It was encouraging to see the high level of engagement and discussion with the local academic community.
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Publishing in Serbia
With 10 years of MDPI in Serbia (since 2016) and over 620 colleagues across 10 departments spread across offices in Belgrade and Novi Sad, MDPI continues to invest in the long-term development of the research community in Serbia and beyond.
Some high-level indicators illustrate both the strength of the local research ecosystem and MDPI’s role within it:
- 12,910 total publications in Serbia in 2025, of which 8,708 (67%) were Open Access (of which, in turn, 75% were Gold OA)
- A total of more than 55,000 publications (2021–2025), with 68% published Open Access
- 2,122 MDPI publications from Serbian institutions in 2025
- 25% of all Open Access publications in Serbia are published with MDPI
- More than 11,000 MDPI publications from Serbian institutions since 1996
- More than 75 Editorial Board Members from Serbia, including Editors-in-Chief and Associate Editors.
These figures reflect the growth of OA publishing in Serbia and the strong collaboration between MDPI and Serbia's research community.
Top 5 Publishers in Serbia (MDPI #1 with steady growth)
Looking Ahead
Research integrity and artificial intelligence will remain central topics for the industry. At the same time, clear communication of editorial processes will be essential in building trust and transparency.
Workshops and direct engagement remain among the most effective ways to strengthen these connections. As Open Access funding models continue to evolve, new opportunities for collaboration are emerging across institutions, publishers, and the broader research community.
Thank You!
The excellent feedback from participants shows the value of creating spaces where ideas can be exchanged openly and constructively. Sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of this event: our speakers, participants, and especially the MDPI Serbia team for their great organization and support.
Chief Executive Officer
MDPI AG
30 April 2026
Final Call | Meet Us at the EGU General Assembly 2026, 3–8 May 2026, Vienna, Austria
As we draw closer to EGU 2026, taking place from 3 to 8 May, MDPI warmly invites you to visit us at Booth #19 in the Austria Center, Vienna. We have prepared a range of engaging activities and special gifts for the event, and our team looks forward to welcoming you and sharing this experience together.
EGU 2026 brings together over 20,000 geoscientists from around the world—a wonderful opportunity to openly address the pressing challenges of our time, including climate realities, energy shortages, and resource allocation, while exploring thoughtful pathways toward climate solutions.
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| Come and join MDPI’s special ‘Meet the Editor’ session at EGU26! Our academic editors will be at the booth, ready to chat with you on questions such as: (1) Paper writing and submission strategies; (2) Experiences as a reviewer, author, or editorial board member; (3) Featured questions collected from on-site participants. |
Have burning questions about paper writing, peer review, or open access publishing? Write down your concerns on sticky note, and post it on the QA Hub board. See what others are asking, add your voice, and maybe hear your question answered on the spot. Selected questions will be answered live during the MDPI ‘Meet the Editor’ session. |
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| Already following MDPI on LinkedIn? Or maybe you are new to MDPI—no worries! Just two simple steps, and you will get a chance to spin the wheel and win some fun surprises: (1) Follow MDPI on LinkedIn; (2) Scan the QR code to register as an MDPI Follower during EGU26. Once you are all set, spin the wheel and enjoy the excitement! |
Step into the MDPI booth and make a promise to your academic journey. After successfully registering as an MDPI follower, write down a research-related wish or goal you hope to achieve within the next year—whether it is submitting your first paper, finishing a review, or celebrating a publication. Drop it into our Time Capsule, and patiently wait for one year. Let MDPI review your progress with you! |
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Our delegates look forward to meeting you in person at booth #19 and answering any questions that you may have. For more information about the conference, please visit the following website: https://www.egu26.eu/.
