Landscapes in Transition: The Role of Cultural Landscapes in Land Management
A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Landscape Ecology".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 28
Special Issue Editor
Interests: cultural landscapes; land management; ecosystems services; biodiversity; environmental and agricultural policy
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Cultural landscapes, shaped by historical interactions between humans and their environment, face unprecedented transitions as global dynamics in land use change. Agricultural intensification, land abandonment, rewilding, and urban sprawl continue to transform these landscapes, raising critical questions about their future role in sustainable development. Amidst these challenges, innovative and collaborative strategies are needed to reconcile ecological, social, and economic demands.
This Special Issue, "Landscapes in Transition: The Role of Cultural Landscapes in Land Management", explores pathways towards sustainable land use by embracing forward-looking concepts. Contributions are encouraged to investigate land use scenarios that integrate cooperation among diverse stakeholders, from policymakers to local communities, fostering shared decision-making and knowledge exchange. Particular emphasis is placed on studies exploring urban–rural linkages and their potential to bridge contrasting land use pressures, offering insights into adaptive management frameworks.
Submissions addressing cutting-edge strategies—such as the integration of technological innovation, ecosystem service frameworks, and participatory approaches to landscape planning—are highly welcome. Studies that highlight examples of social or ecological restoration, strategies for multifunctional land uses, and resilient solutions for urban and peri-urban landscapes are of particular interest. By combining interdisciplinary perspectives with practical applications, this Special Issue aims to illuminate sustainable pathways for cultural landscapes in transition, ensuring they remain vibrant and functional for future generations.
Prof. Dr. Andrea Früh-Müller
Guest Editor
Katharina Christenn
Guest Editor Assistant
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
- cultural landscapes
- land use change
- landscape planning
- urban and peri-urban landscapes
- ecosystem services
- participatory planning
- multifunctional land use
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 policies can be found here.
