Restoring Forests, Restoring Soils: Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Land Management

Dear Colleagues,

Forests and healthy soils are fundamentally intertwined, forming the backbone of global environmental stability and the endurance of terrestrial systems. Forests serve as crucial carbon sinks, support immense biodiversity, regulate water cycles, and shield against erosion. Simultaneously, robust soils underpin these vital functions by supplying essential nutrients, retaining water, and fostering vibrant microbial activity. However, pervasive land degradation over recent decades—fueled by deforestation, unsustainable farming, a changing climate, and other human-caused pressures—has severely jeopardized both the health of forests and the vitality of soils across vast global expanses. This deterioration often culminates in desertification, diminished agricultural output, a decline in biodiversity, and heightened susceptibility to extreme weather events.

Recognizing the urgent need for comprehensive solutions, this Special Issue, titled "Restoring Forests, Restoring Soils: Integrated Approaches for Sustainable Land Management," compiles pioneering research that explores the mutual benefits of integrated land management strategies. Our goal is to spotlight novel methods that simultaneously tackle forest restoration and soil revitalization, building resilience in damaged landscapes. The papers within this collection delve into various facets of this complex interaction, ranging from how reforestation and afforestation affect soil organic carbon dynamics and nutrient cycling to the role of sustainable forest practices in improving soil structure and microbial communities. By presenting a variety of viewpoints and research methods, this Special Issue aims to deepen our understanding of how integrated approaches can lead to more effective and sustainable land management outcomes—a necessity for the well-being of both ecosystems and human societies.

This Special Issue will welcome manuscripts that link the following themes:

• Quantifying Carbon Sequestration Synergies: In-depth analysis of how specific forest restoration techniques (e.g., using native species or planting mixed species) interact with soil type and climate to maximize long-term carbon storage in both plant matter and soil.
• Microbial Community Dynamics: Investigating changes in soil microbial communities during different phases of forest restoration and their impact on nutrient cycles, organic matter breakdown, and overall soil vitality.
• Hydrological Regulation and Erosion Control: Researching how effectively various forest and soil restoration practices improve water infiltration, reduce surface runoff, and curb soil erosion in vulnerable areas.
• Integrating Traditional Ecological Knowledge: Exploring how the ecological insights and land management practices of indigenous and local communities can inform and strengthen contemporary restoration initiatives, especially in diverse ecological contexts.
• Socio-Economic Impacts and Policy Frameworks: Evaluating the societal and economic benefits and obstacles associated with integrated forest-soil restoration, including the development of effective policy tools and incentive programs for sustainable land stewardship.
• Climate Change Resilience: Examining how restored forests and healthy soils contribute to the overall ability of landscapes to withstand the impacts of climate change, such as extended droughts, intense rainfall, and rising temperatures.
• Remote Sensing and AI for Monitoring: Developing and applying advanced remote sensing technologies and artificial intelligence algorithms for large-scale, cost-effective tracking and evaluation of forest and soil restoration progress and effectiveness.

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

Prof. Dr. Jorge Mongil-Manso
Guest Editor

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.

• soil health
• land degradation
• forest restoration
• carbon sequestration
• integrated land management
• agro-silvo-pastoral systems
• biodiversity
• climate change adaptation
• ecosystem services