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Land
Special Issues
Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development
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Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Planning and Landscape Architecture".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2025) | Viewed by 15086

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Luís Carlos Loures

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre (IPP), 7300-555 Portalegre, Portugal
Interests: landscape architecture; sustainable development; territorial planning; ecosystem services; environmental management
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the development of urbanization worldwide, some contradictions, such as environmental pollution and resource shortage, have gradually emerged in the harmonious symbiotic relationship between man and nature. Sustainable development or sustainability has become a topic of wide concern. While the science and rationality of local and regional planning are closely related to the planning actors and processes, there are new approaches, strategies and methodologies that might foster this global endeavor. Formulating and implementing collective actions for local and regional development is and increasingly clearer objetive for which pertinence and specific implementation need to be investigated and assessed.

The goal of this Special Issue is to collect papers (original research articles and review papers) to provide insights into the local and regional planning for sustainable development.

  • Principles and insights into local and regional planning;
  • Territorial sustainable design;
  • Local identity branding;
  • Territorial planning methods and ideas;
  • Regional development;
  • Territorial identity and uniquiness;
  • Local landscape architecture;
  • Stakeholder involvement in local planning;
  • Worldwide local and regional planning schemes or successful case studies.

We welcome your contributions, including, but not limited to the above directions.

Prof. Dr. Luís Carlos Loures
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 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

  • landscape architecture
  • territorial design
  • territorial marketing
  • sustainable development
  • sustainable design
  • local and regional planning
  • stakeholders
  • environmental impact

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

26 pages, 74183 KiB  
Article
Exploring the Feasibility of Building Parks for Peace in China: From Global Cases to Localized Solutions
by Shuyue He, Yixue Wang, Di Wang and Fan Zhang
Land 2025, 14(4), 894; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040894 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 385
Abstract
The “Parks for Peace” concept represents transboundary protected areas with ecological, cultural, and economic significance that can transcend geopolitical and ideological differences. Despite the global proliferation of these conservation models, China lacks officially designated peace parks and comprehensive development frameworks in this domain. [...] Read more.
The “Parks for Peace” concept represents transboundary protected areas with ecological, cultural, and economic significance that can transcend geopolitical and ideological differences. Despite the global proliferation of these conservation models, China lacks officially designated peace parks and comprehensive development frameworks in this domain. This research addresses this gap through rigorous methodological approaches. The study conducts fieldwork in existing parks for peace and border national parks, collecting data through field observation, open-ended interviews, and informal conversations. The case analysis method is employed to analyze spatial relationships across different border contexts comparatively. This comparative analysis explores the feasibility of transboundary national parks by examining development bottlenecks, deconstructing rigid border narratives, and assessing long-term cultural benefits. Based on empirical findings, the research proposes a context-appropriate framework for Chinese border national parks encompassing four dimensions: establishing a transfrontier national park system, implementing multi-stakeholder governance mechanisms, building consensus around park cultural values, and developing transboundary recreational infrastructure. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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21 pages, 2858 KiB  
Article
Urbanization and Environmental Sustainability: Planning Diagnosis of Symbiosis Between Osogbo City and UNESCO World Heritage Site in Osun State, Nigeria
by Oyewale Oyeleye and Liora Bigon
Land 2025, 14(4), 707; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040707 - 26 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 447
Abstract
Recently, the only UNESCO river in Nigeria has become polluted, with its color turning dark brown. Osun River serves not only domestic purposes in the city of Osogbo, but also spiritual purposes during the annual Osun Osogbo Festival (OOF). This study examines the [...] Read more.
Recently, the only UNESCO river in Nigeria has become polluted, with its color turning dark brown. Osun River serves not only domestic purposes in the city of Osogbo, but also spiritual purposes during the annual Osun Osogbo Festival (OOF). This study examines the physicochemical properties and presence of heavy metals in Osun River, and the air quality at the heritage site before, during, and after the festival. Water samples from Osun River at the UNESCO site were collected before, during, and after the 2024 festival. The water was analyzed at the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of Osun State University, Nigeria, to determine the quantity of heavy metals present in the river. Additionally, an air quality detector was used to assess the quantity of pollutants (CO2, CO, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, and HCHO) in the air before, during, and after the festival. In Osun River, the quantities of arsenic and copper were within the permissible levels set by the World Health Organization (WHO) for drinking water, while those of lead, chromium, and cadmium were far above the safety standards set by the WHO. The pollution rate of the river was in the order of festival day > before the festival > after the festival. The air quality on the festival day was hazardous to human health, as particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) and carbon dioxide were found to be far above the permissible levels set by the WHO. The implications of the findings of this study are discussed, and measures to ensure the future sustainability of this important UNESCO site in the city of Osogbo are recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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19 pages, 14261 KiB  
Article
Spatiotemporal Characteristics and Decoupling Effects of Urban Construction Land Expansion in Plateau Basins
by Yi Zeng, Tashi Lobsang, Xingyun Luo, Zhengxin Zhang, Hengyi Yang and Xiaoqing Zhao
Land 2025, 14(4), 685; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040685 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 305
Abstract
The expansion of construction land is a key feature of urbanization. Understanding its spatiotemporal evolution in Yunnan’s plateau basins is crucial for minimizing resource waste and promoting coordinated regional development. This study employs land use and nighttime light data to analyze the spatiotemporal [...] Read more.
The expansion of construction land is a key feature of urbanization. Understanding its spatiotemporal evolution in Yunnan’s plateau basins is crucial for minimizing resource waste and promoting coordinated regional development. This study employs land use and nighttime light data to analyze the spatiotemporal dynamics of construction land expansion and its decoupling from economic growth, using various indices and the Tapio decoupling model. The results reveal a steady rise in urban construction land from 1990 to 2020, characterized by significant spatial variations in expansion speed and intensity. Edge expansion predominated throughout all periods, accounting for over 50% in most regions. After 2010, expansion spread into smaller basins, markedly increasing the number of areas experiencing new expansion. The decoupling between construction land expansion and economic growth in these basins remains primarily weak and unstable, indicating a strong reliance on land for economic development. Factors such as socioeconomic conditions, geography, ecology, and policy influence both land expansion and economic growth, highlighting the interdependence between the two. These findings provide a foundation for sustainable basin development and offer valuable insights for planning and policy-making. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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21 pages, 7096 KiB  
Article
Analyzing Dispersion Characteristics of Fine Particulate Matter in High-Density Urban Areas: A Study Using CFD Simulation and Machine Learning
by Daeun Lee, Caryl Anne M. Barquilla and Jeongwoo Lee
Land 2025, 14(3), 632; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030632 - 17 Mar 2025
Viewed by 668
Abstract
This study examines how urban morphology, road configurations, and meteorological factors shape fine particulate matter (PM2.5) dispersion in high-density urban environments, addressing a gap in block-level air quality analysis. While previous research has focused on individual street canyons, this study highlights [...] Read more.
This study examines how urban morphology, road configurations, and meteorological factors shape fine particulate matter (PM2.5) dispersion in high-density urban environments, addressing a gap in block-level air quality analysis. While previous research has focused on individual street canyons, this study highlights the broader influence of building arrangement and height. Integrating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations with interpretable machine learning (ML) models quantifies PM2.5 concentrations across various urban configurations. CFD simulations were conducted on different road layouts, block height configurations, and aspect ratio (AR) levels. The resulting dataset trained five ML models with Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), achieving the highest accuracy (91–95%). Findings show that road-specific mitigation strategies must be tailored. In loop-road networks, centrally elevated buildings enhance ventilation, while in grid-road networks, taller perimeter buildings shield inner blocks from arterial emissions. Additionally, this study identifies a threshold effect of AR, where values exceeding 2.5 improve PM2.5 dispersion under high wind velocity. This underscores the need for wind-sensitive designs, including optimized wind corridors and building alignments, particularly in high-density areas. The integration of ML with CFD enhances predictive accuracy, supporting data-driven urban planning strategies to optimize road layouts, zoning regulations, and aerodynamic interventions for improved air quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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46 pages, 9965 KiB  
Article
A Digital Twin Framework to Improve Urban Sustainability and Resiliency: The Case Study of Venice
by Lorenzo Villani, Luca Gugliermetti, Maria Antonia Barucco and Federico Cinquepalmi
Land 2025, 14(1), 83; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010083 - 3 Jan 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3004
Abstract
The digital transition is one of the biggest challenges of the new millennium. One of the key drivers of this transition is the need to adapt to the rapidly changing and heterogeneous technological landscape that is continuously evolving. Digital Twin (DT) technology can [...] Read more.
The digital transition is one of the biggest challenges of the new millennium. One of the key drivers of this transition is the need to adapt to the rapidly changing and heterogeneous technological landscape that is continuously evolving. Digital Twin (DT) technology can promote this transition at an urban scale due to its ability to monitor, control, and predict the behaviour of complex systems and processes. As several scientific studies have shown, DTs can be developed for infrastructure and city management, facing the challenges of global changes. DTs are based on sensor-distributed networks and can support urban management and propose intervention strategies based on future forecasts. In the present work, a three-axial operative framework is proposed for developing a DT urban management system using the city of Venice as a case study. The three axes were chosen based on sustainable urban development: energy, mobility, and resiliency. Venice is a fragile city due to its cultural heritage, which needs specific protection strategies. The methodology proposed starts from the analysis of the state-of-the-arts of DT technologies and the definition of key features. Three different axes are proposed, aggregating the key features in a list of fields of intervention for each axis. The Venice open-source database is then analysed to consider the data already available for the city. Finally, a list of DT services for urban management is proposed for each axis. The results show a need to improve the city management system by adopting DT. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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20 pages, 23249 KiB  
Article
Ecological Security Pattern Construction in Loess Plateau Areas—A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China
by Yongyong Fu, Wenjia Zhang, Feng Gao, Xu Bi, Ping Wang and Xiaojun Wang
Land 2024, 13(5), 709; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050709 - 18 May 2024
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1620
Abstract
Strong soil erosion and increasing human activities have made Loess Plateau areas ecologically fragile regions. Constructing the ecological security pattern (ESP) is imperative to maintain their ecosystem functions and sustainable development. However, it is still challenging to establish the ESP in such an [...] Read more.
Strong soil erosion and increasing human activities have made Loess Plateau areas ecologically fragile regions. Constructing the ecological security pattern (ESP) is imperative to maintain their ecosystem functions and sustainable development. However, it is still challenging to establish the ESP in such an unstable and scattered ecological environment. In this study, we take Shanxi Province, which suffers severe ecological problems in Loess Plateau areas, as an example to construct the ESP in a pattern of “source-resistance-corridor”. The proposed methods include the following steps: (1) potential ecological sources are selected with important ecosystem functions based on contributions of soil and water conservation, habitat quality, and carbon storage; (2) ecological sources are determined by considering core areas at the landscape scale based on morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) along with stability based on dynamic assessment on previous sources; (3) the comprehensive resistance surface is constructed by multiple resistance factors and remotely sensed nighttime light data; (4) ecological corridors are simulated and extracted based on circuit theory. As a result, the proposed ESP in our study area mainly includes 13,592 km2 of ecological sources, 8519.64 km of ecological corridors, and 277 ecological nodes. Meanwhile, an ecological framework of “two axes, three belts, and three zones” was proposed based on the optimization and reorganization of ecological components within the ESP. Our research lays a methodological and practical foundation for regional ESP construction and sustainable development in Loess Plateau areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 8422 KiB  
Article
Planning for Deer-Hunting Management at the Local and Regional Scales: Reconciling Economic, Social and Ecological Functions
by Cláudio Bicho, Rui Machado, Russell Alpizar-Jara and Pedro Santos
Land 2024, 13(4), 525; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040525 - 16 Apr 2024
Viewed by 2415
Abstract
Game species with home ranges exceeding the area of the management units may entail conflicts over hunting rights and cause damage to crops and forest stands in surrounding areas. This is currently the case in the Mendro Mountain Range (Portugal), inhabited by free-ranging [...] Read more.
Game species with home ranges exceeding the area of the management units may entail conflicts over hunting rights and cause damage to crops and forest stands in surrounding areas. This is currently the case in the Mendro Mountain Range (Portugal), inhabited by free-ranging red (Cervus elaphus) and fallow deer (Dama dama) populations. This study’s primary goal was to uncover the processes underlying these tensions and identify solutions to overcome them, thus reconciling the economic, social, and ecological functions of hunting. We analyzed data from three different sources of information regarding the surveyed management units: biophysical and anthropical spatial data collected using a GIS; typology, whether fenced, area and game bag results, data provided by a public institute; crop and forest damage locations reported by game managers. Approximately half of the surveyed open management units reported damage. We found no relationship between damage and game bag results, regardless of the typology and habitat quality index. To address this disconnection between the negative and positive values associated with deer locally, we proposed habitat management solutions. It is of chief importance to keep valuable crops apart from deer’s refuge cover, such as bushy areas, to minimize damage in management units where deer hunting is a subsidiary activity. Conversely, in management units where deer hunting is of significant economic importance, the food and refuge cover should be closely interspersed to increase the management unit’s carrying capacity. To improve the efficacy of measures such as this at a regional scale, as in the Mendro Mountain Range, we recommend implementing a so-called Global Management Plan. In Portuguese law, this governance instrument applies to the entire biologic unit where the deer populations occur, thus implying arrangements between the involved stakeholders and multiple other concerned institutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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23 pages, 832 KiB  
Article
Integration of Climate Change Strategies into Policy and Planning for Regional Development: A Case Study of Greece
by Stavros Kalogiannidis, Dimitrios Kalfas, Olympia Papaevangelou, Fotios Chatzitheodoridis, Katerina-Navsika Katsetsiadou and Efthymios Lekkas
Land 2024, 13(3), 268; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030268 - 21 Feb 2024
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4751
Abstract
Climate change presents a pressing challenge to regional development, impacting economies, environments, and societies across the globe. Europe, with its diverse regions and commitment to sustainability, serves as a unique case study for exploring the integration of climate change strategies into regional policy [...] Read more.
Climate change presents a pressing challenge to regional development, impacting economies, environments, and societies across the globe. Europe, with its diverse regions and commitment to sustainability, serves as a unique case study for exploring the integration of climate change strategies into regional policy and planning. The purpose of this study is to analyze the integration of climate change strategies into policy and planning for regional development in Europe, especially in Greece. Data was collected from 270 environmental experts across Greece using a questionnaire. The results highlight the significance of regional economic growth (gross regional product), infrastructure quality, educational attainment, and a conducive business environment as key measures of regional development. Opportunities arising from climate change strategy integration are explored, revealing economic benefits, environmental opportunities, social enhancements, and technological advancements. These opportunities not only mitigate climate change’s adverse impacts but also foster innovation, economic growth, and community resilience. Successful integration can position regions as global leaders in sustainability and innovation. Correlation and regression analyses reveal that opportunities for integration and common climate change strategies positively influence regional development, while barriers exhibit a counterintuitive positive relationship. However, several barriers hinder integration efforts, including institutional fragmentation, resource constraints, conflicting political and economic priorities, and insufficient stakeholder engagement. This study sheds light on the intricate relationship between climate change, policy integration, and regional development in Greece. It supports the potential for regions to drive sustainability and innovation while navigating the challenges of climate change, ultimately contributing to a more resilient and prosperous future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Local and Regional Planning for Sustainable Development)
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