Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.9
3.2
Journals
Land
Special Issues
Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and...
share announcement

Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land, Biodiversity, and Human Wellbeing".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2025 | Viewed by 7747

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. María de la Cruz del Río-Rama

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Business Management and Marketing Department, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; heritage; resource and service management; sustainable rural de-velopment; natural and cultural resources; water resources management; agricultural resources management; land resources management; financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. María Montserrat Cruz González

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Business Management and Marketing Department, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: business and tourism; management systems for tourism companies and destinations; resource and service management; natural resource; cultural resource; sustainable rural development; sustainability
Dr. Francisco Xabier Sánchez Sellero

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Business Management and Marketing Department, Faculty of Business Sciences and Tourism, University of Vigo, 32004 Ourense, Spain
Interests: business and tourism; management systems for tourism companies and destinations; resource and service management; natural resource; cultural resource; sustainable rural development; sustainability
Prof. Dr. José Álvarez-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Economía Financiera y Contabilidad, Instituto Universitario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Territorial Sostenible (INTERRA), Universidad de Extremadura, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
Interests: business; finance and tourism; heritage; resource and service management; sustainable rural de-velopment; natural and cultural resources; water resources management; agricultural resources management; land resources management; financial economics; accounting and management; sustainability; entrepreneurship; innovation; quality and environmental management system
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following the success of the Special Issue "Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents", we are happy to announce the opening of a second volume.

In the current context, natural and cultural resources have become a factor in the development of territories. For this reason, the use of natural and cultural resources by human beings aimed at satisfying their subsistence needs (food, health, economic and leisure) have become a tool for the development of the community that lives in enclaves where those resources are located. This development will allow for improvements in the quality of life of its residents (social, economic and cultural well-being) which benefits their health and safety. The importance of using these resources in a sustainable way should not be forgotten, since they are generally scarce resources, which implies considering their renewal capacity and, therefore, avoiding their over-exploitation. In this sense, respect for natural resources, their enhancement, the environmental management of the territories, cooperation and commitment are key to their use by human beings.

The scope of this Special Issue is broad and manuscripts that present conceptual and/or empirical works from all areas of knowledge on the sustainable use of the natural and cultural resources of territories for improvements in the quality of life of the residents are welcome. We welcome both original research articles that offer interesting empirical insights and novel theoretical contributions, as well as review articles.

Specifically, the following topics are welcome:

  • Topics related to the sustainable territory and the sustainable use of natural and cultural resources.
  • Natural resources, environment and sustainability.
  • Actions to enhance the value of natural and cultural resources allowing the development of territories. Among others, those related to:
    • Agroecology, understood as a set of practices that seeks sustainable agricultural systems that optimize and stabilize production.
    • Efficient use of water resources.
    • Forest exploitation.
    • Mining resources.
    • Renewable and non-renewable energy resources.
    • Conservation and recovery of the landscape.
    • Conservation and improvement of biodiversity.
    • Conservation and enhancement of natural spaces.
  • Use of natural and cultural resources for tourism purposes.
  • Other topics related to the theme.

We look forward to receiving your original research articles and reviews.

Prof. Dr. María de la Cruz del Río-Rama
Dr. María Montserrat Cruz González
Dr. Francisco Xabier Sánchez Sellero
Prof. Dr. José Álvarez-García
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

  • sustainability
  • sustainable territory
  • sustainable development
  • sustainable management
  • sustainable development goals (SDG)
  • regional and local development
  • natural and cultural resources
  • water resources
  • forest exploitation
  • mining resources
  • renewable and non-renewable energy resources
  • natural spaces
  • improvement in biodiversity
  • quality of life
  • sustainable tourism

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.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (5 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

23 pages, 21443 KiB  
Article
Strategic Approaches to Sustainable Rural Development by Harnessing Endogenous Resources to Improve Residents’ Quality of Life
by Romulus Iagăru, Nicolae Concioiu, Anca Șipoș, Pompilica Iagăru, Achim Daniel Băluță and Andrei Vasile
Land 2025, 14(3), 491; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030491 - 26 Feb 2025
Viewed by 475
Abstract
The sustainable development of the Romanian countryside follows strategies outlined in the Common Agricultural Policy. This policy aims to ensure the sustainability of agricultural and non-agricultural businesses, improving inhabitants’ quality of life. Achieving sustainable development is the objective of every rural locality in [...] Read more.
The sustainable development of the Romanian countryside follows strategies outlined in the Common Agricultural Policy. This policy aims to ensure the sustainability of agricultural and non-agricultural businesses, improving inhabitants’ quality of life. Achieving sustainable development is the objective of every rural locality in Romania. This is accomplished by determining the state of endogenous resources and identifying potential conservation and sustainable exploitation alternatives by developing relevant strategic options. The purpose of this research is to develop relevant strategic options for the sustainable rural development of Gușoeni Commune, Vâlcea County, by using the case study methodology and involving stakeholders and community members. In this study, we develop an integrated and dynamic model based on information from a secondary analysis of statistical data and the specialized literature, with the help of the PESTEL (political, economic, social, technological, ecological, legislative), SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats), problem tree, objective tree, and DFPSIR (drivers, pressure, status, impact, response) diagnostic models. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 6966 KiB  
Article
From an Ideal Village to a Cultural Landscape: Rediscovering People’s Commune Heritage
by Fei Yu, Yue Yu, Rui Wang and Chaoran Shen
Land 2024, 13(12), 2017; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13122017 - 26 Nov 2024
Viewed by 863
Abstract
As an important ideal social practice in world history, the people’s commune system and its organized architectural activities took the first step in promoting rural modernization in modern China and had a significant impact on the built environment of urban and rural areas. [...] Read more.
As an important ideal social practice in world history, the people’s commune system and its organized architectural activities took the first step in promoting rural modernization in modern China and had a significant impact on the built environment of urban and rural areas. This study aims to discuss how to view the legacy of rural people’s communes in service of contemporary society. Taking the Weixing Commune, which was the earliest established commune in China in 1958, as an example, through a comparative study of relevant planning and construction archives and the literature, combined with onsite investigations and through the perspective of the cultural landscape, this study delves into the history of local rural construction and sorts out the types, specific compositions, and value elements of the commune’s remains from four dimensions: environment, industry, architecture, and memory. The heritage of the people’s commune is unique. It was a comprehensive transformation of land to farmland, water conservancy, and other natural environmental patterns carried out by residents and related professionals to realize the ideal life of socialism and ultimately resulted in the shaping of a unique type of cultural landscape, presenting the coexistence of political landscapes that hold ideals and vernacular landscapes that carry life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

28 pages, 31544 KiB  
Article
Planning Public Space Climate Comfortability: A GIS-Based Algorithm for the Compact Cities of the Far North
by Anna Korobeinikova, Nina Danilina and Irina Teplova
Land 2024, 13(11), 1763; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13111763 - 26 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1139
Abstract
The issue of forming a comfortable environment in cities with complex climatic conditions has always been an urgent and difficult issue for urban planners. Cities located in the territories of the Far North are characterized by extremely harsh climatic characteristics that affect the [...] Read more.
The issue of forming a comfortable environment in cities with complex climatic conditions has always been an urgent and difficult issue for urban planners. Cities located in the territories of the Far North are characterized by extremely harsh climatic characteristics that affect the planning solutions for the public spaces of the city. Low temperatures and strong winds reduce the time of comfortable stay in the open air, which leads to a decrease in the mobility of the population in the city and stimulates the use of personal cars. The research question is the rational placement of points of interest on the street network to ensure a comfortable travel time between objects. The research methodology of public space planning taking into account the climatic comfortability of Far North cities is proposed in this article. Also, an automated GIS-based algorithm for determining intermediate points on linear objects to increase POIs’ connectivity for the development of the public space of Far North cities under the condition of organizing climatic comfort is proposed. Development of safe and comfortable public space on the basis of network accessibility, taking into account the difficult climatic conditions of these cities, will increase the social activity of the population and tourists, as well as promote economic growth and business development in the city. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 6320 KiB  
Article
Application of Protection Features to a Biosphere Reserve for the Control and Development of Tourist Activities: The Case of the Gêres–Xurés Park
by María Montserrat Cruz, Francisco Javier Sánchez and Vanessa María Suárez
Land 2024, 13(10), 1725; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101725 - 21 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1214
Abstract
In this study, we consider the importance of applying legal protection and management measures to natural tourist areas. We assess the sensitivity of these areas with respect to tourist demand, which drives the need for protective and corrective measures, such as carrying capacities [...] Read more.
In this study, we consider the importance of applying legal protection and management measures to natural tourist areas. We assess the sensitivity of these areas with respect to tourist demand, which drives the need for protective and corrective measures, such as carrying capacities controlled via admissions; in particular, we analyse the protective features that exist in a transboundary biosphere reserve, the Gêres–Xurés Baixa Limia Reserve, which occupies territory in northern Spain, southern Galicia (Spain) and northern Portugal. Our objective is to assess the relevance and effectiveness of the features used by both countries to protect their natural spaces while guaranteeing sustainability and environmental development. These measures ensure that the value of their resources is not compromised for future generations or negatively affected by tourist use. To carry out the analysis, we first conducted a geographical study of the area to characterize the different areas found in this biosphere reserve. Subsequently, we analysed the regulatory norms used for protection in both countries, and we explain the management mechanisms that have been implemented in both countries. This approach enables us to compare the relative importance assigned by each country for the sustainable management of the chosen territory and tourist space. Furthermore, we can compare the use of control measures for sustainable and respectful tourism planning, such as guiding plans, use plans and management and protective regulations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

23 pages, 1662 KiB  
Article
From Health Risks to Environmental Actions: Research on the Pathway of Guiding Citizens to Participate in Pocket-Park Governance
by Jing Zhang, Zhigang Li and Jialong Zhong
Land 2024, 13(10), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101612 - 4 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1021
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the demand for urban pocket parks near residential areas, posing new challenges for environmental governance. However, there is a lack of research on how to engage citizens in pocket-park governance to address both potential and unforeseen risks. This [...] Read more.
The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened the demand for urban pocket parks near residential areas, posing new challenges for environmental governance. However, there is a lack of research on how to engage citizens in pocket-park governance to address both potential and unforeseen risks. This study combines social information processing theory with a norm activation model to develop a framework that identifies the shaping stages and influencing factors of citizens’ intentions to participate in pocket-park governance. Using partial least squares structural equation modeling, this research analyzed the relationships among external factors, attitudes, moral norms, and intentions to participate based on 719 responses from an online survey targeting Chinese citizens in November and December 2023. Results indicate that health risks and pocket-park environmental quality positively affect perceived usefulness. Attitudes and moral norms are indeed important factors mediating the positive effect of the external environment on the intention to participate. The pathway of guiding citizens to participate in pocket-park governance is clarified, which helps bolster the resilience of urban green spaces and improve the quality of life of residents after public crises. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development of the Territory and Use of Natural and Cultural Resources to Improve the Quality of Life of Residents, 2nd Edition)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-5
Back to TopTop