Ecological and Disaster Risk Assessment of Land Use Changes

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the impact of alterations in land use on ecosystems has significantly intensified, emerging as a pivotal force driving global transformations. Imprudent land utilization has led to a spectrum of ecological threats, encompassing land desertification, soil erosion, substantial depletion of forest reserves, biodiversity loss, pollution concerns, and a decline in the functionality of ecosystem services. Furthermore, it contributes to the heightened frequency of natural disasters and extreme weather events. Given the escalating global tensions between population growth, resource availability, and environmental preservation, there is an urgent imperative for assessing the ecological disaster risks associated with changes in land use. This assessment is crucial for promoting ecological rejuvenation and advancing sustainable development efforts.

The primary objective of this Special Issue is to disseminate the most recent research findings concerning the assessment of ecological and disaster risks associated with changes in land use. Its overarching goal is to mitigate the adverse impacts on ecosystems and promote sustainable development across regional economies, societies, and environments. This Special Issue aims to propose well-reasoned strategies for responding to ecological and disaster risks effectively.

The scope of this issue encompasses a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Analyzing current and future ecological and disaster risks resulting from land use changes at both global and regional scales.
2. Introducing innovative technologies, frameworks, and methodologies for assessing these risks and predicting their magnitude.
3. Implementing proactive management, policies, and governance to prevent potential ecological disasters.
4. Advancing sustainable development in the context of land use.

We welcome submissions that present groundbreaking methodologies for understanding and addressing these environmental challenges, as well as manuscripts that provide empirical case studies exploring the scientific, managerial, and policy dimensions of ecological and disaster risk assessment associated with changes in land use.

Dr. Jianjun Cao
Dr. Asim Biswas
Dr. Jian Zhang
Prof. Dr. Dewei Yang
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.