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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus...
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United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus Perspectives

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Water, Energy, Land and Food (WELF) Nexus".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2025 | Viewed by 5154

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jingying Fu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: spatiotemporal simulation for the potential and benefit of renewable energy resources; remote sensing applications for resources and the environment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Dong Jiang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: overall optimization for the Production–living–ecological (PLE) space; remote sensing applications for resources and environment; spatio-temporal simulation for the potential and benefit of renewable energy resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Gang Lin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: land use classification and evolvement based on the Production–living–ecological (PLE) Perspective; resource utilization and its environmental impact; water-energy nexus
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent decades, the demand for natural resources has been rapidly growing, causing serious impacts, risks, and threats to humans on different scales. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) address the more serious problems. Therefore, it is necessary to manage nature resources in a more sustainable manner, considering an integrated approach to the interdependencies of resource use to achieve the SDGs. In future, scientific concerns should include the interrelationships between resources, their synergistic trade-off mechanisms with the Sustainable Development Goals, and modeling approaches to the SDGs from a policy perspective.

This Special Issue (SI) focuses on discussing how to address the issue of land-resource misallocation hindering regional sustainable development from a resource-nexus perspective. We will discuss the ability of a nexus approach to assess critical interlinkages across natural resources (water, energy, food, materials, and land), along their value chains, and to enable sustainable resource-use pathways, particularly with respect to the SDGs concerning food (SDG 2), water (SDG 6), energy (SDG 7), cities (SDG 11), and production and consumption (SDG 12). This provides an opportunity for scholars around the world, including environmental scientists, geographers, ecologists, and natural resource scientists, to share their multidisciplinary knowledge. We encourage submissions on the integration of natural-resource coupling into land-use transformation research, and land-use transformation regulation strategies from the perspective of the water–energy–food–materials–ecological nexus. This not only helps to further improve theoretical land-use transformation systems, but also provides a new research perspective for land-system optimization and regional sustainable development.

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

  1. Sustainable utilization of land resources;
  2. Coupled simulation of resource systems;
  3. Utilization of water, soil, and energy resources under the SDGs;
  4. The constraining relationship between the misallocation of land resources and sustainable development;
  5. Contribution of the reutilization of abandoned land resources to the SDGs;
  6. Land-use optimization for sustainable development.

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

Dr. Jingying Fu
Prof. Dr. Dong Jiang
Dr. Gang Lin
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

  • SDGs
  • resource coupling
  • resource policy
  • water-energy-food-materials-land nexus
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 15125 KiB  
Article
Detection of Agricultural Terraces Platforms Using Machine Learning from Orthophotos and LiDAR-Based Digital Terrain Model: A Case Study in Roya Valley of Southeast France
by Michael Vincent Tubog, Karine Emsellem and Stephane Bouissou
Land 2025, 14(5), 962; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050962 - 29 Apr 2025
Viewed by 440
Abstract
Terraces have long transformed steep slopes into gradual steps, reducing erosion and enabling agriculture on marginal land. In France’s Roya Valley, these dry stone structures, neglected for decades, demonstrated remarkable resilience during storm Alex in October 2020. This prompted civil society and researchers [...] Read more.
Terraces have long transformed steep slopes into gradual steps, reducing erosion and enabling agriculture on marginal land. In France’s Roya Valley, these dry stone structures, neglected for decades, demonstrated remarkable resilience during storm Alex in October 2020. This prompted civil society and researchers to identify terraces that could support food security and agri-tourism initiatives. This study aimed to develop a semi-automatic method for detecting and mapping terraced areas using LiDAR and orthophoto data from French repositories, processed with GIS and analyzed through a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classification algorithm. The model identified 18 terraces larger than 1 hectare in Saorge and 35 in La Brigue. Field visits confirmed evidence of abandonment in several areas. Accuracy tests showed a user accuracy (UA) of 97% in Saorge and 72% in La Brigue. This disparity reflects site-specific differences, including terrain steepness, vegetation density, and data resolution. These results highlight the value of machine learning for terrace mapping while emphasizing the need to account for local geomorphological and data-quality factors to improve model performance. Enhanced terrace detection supports sustainable land management, agricultural revitalization, and risk mitigation in mountainous regions, offering practical tools for future landscape restoration and food resilience planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus Perspectives)
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28 pages, 31921 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Evolution and Conflict Diagnosis of Territorial Space in Mountainous–Flatland Areas from a Multi-Scale Perspective: A Case Study of the Central Yunnan Urban Agglomeration
by Yongping Li, Xianguang Ma, Junsan Zhao, Shuqing Zhang and Chuan Liu
Land 2025, 14(4), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040703 - 26 Mar 2025
Viewed by 290
Abstract
Investigating spatio-temporal differentiation patterns of land-use conflicts in mountainous and flatland regions provides critical insights for optimizing spatial regulation strategies and advancing sustainable regional development. Using the Urban Agglomeration in Central Yunnan (UACY) as a case study, the production–living–ecological space (PLES) was classified [...] Read more.
Investigating spatio-temporal differentiation patterns of land-use conflicts in mountainous and flatland regions provides critical insights for optimizing spatial regulation strategies and advancing sustainable regional development. Using the Urban Agglomeration in Central Yunnan (UACY) as a case study, the production–living–ecological space (PLES) was classified through land-use functional dominance analysis based on 2010–2020 geospatial datasets. Spatio-temporal evolution patterns and mountain–dam differentiation were analyzed using spatial superposition, dynamic degree analysis, transfer matrices, and geospatial TuPu methods. A multi-scale conflict index incorporating landscape metrics was developed to assess PLES conflict intensities across spatial scales, with contribution indices identifying key conflict-prone spatial types. Analysis revealed distinct regional differentiation in PLES distribution and evolutionary trajectories during 2010–2020. Forest Ecological Space (FES) and Agricultural Production Space (APS) dominated both the entire study area and mountainous zones, with APS exhibiting particular dominance in dam regions. Grassland Ecological Space (GES) and Other Ecological Space (OES) experienced rapid conversion rates, contrasting with stable or gradual expansion trends in other space types. Change intensity was significantly greater in mountainous zones compared to flatland area (FA). PLES conflict exhibited marked spatial heterogeneity. FA demonstrated substantially higher conflict levels than mountainous zones, with evident scale-dependent variations. Maximum conflict intensity occurred at the 4000 m scale, with all spatial scales demonstrating consistent escalation trends during the study period. ULS, FES, and WES predominantly occurred in low-conflict zones characterized by stability, whereas APS, Industrial and Mining Production Space (IMPS), RLS, GES, and OES were primarily associated with high-conflict areas, constituting principal conflict sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus Perspectives)
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23 pages, 1965 KiB  
Article
Spatial and Temporal Distribution and Influencing Factors of “Water-Energy-Food-Ecology” System Resilience
by Yaofeng Yang, Yajuan Chen and Xiuqing Li
Land 2025, 14(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14010008 - 25 Dec 2024
Viewed by 727
Abstract
Research into the resilience of the water-energy-food-ecology (WEFE) system is of great significance to ensure the safety and high quality of resources in the Yellow River Basin. To investigate WEFE system resilience and its influencing factors, this paper constructs an indicator system for [...] Read more.
Research into the resilience of the water-energy-food-ecology (WEFE) system is of great significance to ensure the safety and high quality of resources in the Yellow River Basin. To investigate WEFE system resilience and its influencing factors, this paper constructs an indicator system for WEFE system resilience based on prefecture-level city data from the Yellow River Basin spanning the years 2008 to 2021, and explores its dynamic evolution. Furthermore, this paper employs the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression model to explore the factors influencing WEFE system resilience. It utilizes a spatial panel model to investigate the spatial spillover effects of these factors. The results indicate that WEFE system resilience in the Yellow River Basin exhibits a fluctuating upward trend. Spatially, a pattern of “low in the middle and upstream regions, high in the downstream regions” emerges. Among the driving factors, infrastructure development and the degree of innovation exhibit negative spatial spillover effects, while other factors demonstrate positive spatial spillover effects. Therefore, integrated basin management needs to be promoted by considering the systematic interlinkages of water, energy, food production and ecology and the sustainable use of resources to ensure the long-term resilience of cities. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers to formulate more effective and coordinated resource management strategies in the Yellow River Basin, and also contributes to enriching the international literature on WEFE system research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus Perspectives)
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22 pages, 5604 KiB  
Article
Coupling Relationships and Driving Mechanisms of Water–Energy–Food in China from the Perspective of Supply and Demand Security
by Qin Zhang, Jing Shao, Jianmin Qiao, Qian Cao and Haimeng Liu
Land 2024, 13(10), 1637; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13101637 - 8 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1259
Abstract
The rapid increase in population and economy, coupled with accelerated urbanization, is placing immense pressure on the water–energy–food (WEF) system. In this context, the water–energy–food nexus framework has emerged, recognizing the interdependencies and interactions among water, energy, and food systems, with the aim [...] Read more.
The rapid increase in population and economy, coupled with accelerated urbanization, is placing immense pressure on the water–energy–food (WEF) system. In this context, the water–energy–food nexus framework has emerged, recognizing the interdependencies and interactions among water, energy, and food systems, with the aim of optimizing resource management through cross-sectoral collaboration to promote sustainable development. Understanding the spatio-temporal differentiation patterns of the WEF nexus and elucidating the driving mechanisms behind changes in their coupling relationships is essential. This knowledge is crucial for ensuring the security of each subsystem and enhancing the overall sustainability of interconnected systems through coordinated efforts. To address these challenges, this study first established evaluation indicators for water, energy, and food security to quantify their levels and spatio-temporal dynamics. Subsequently, the degrees of coupling coordination within the WEF nexus were calculated. Finally, the WEF nexus’s spatial correlations were analyzed by using a spatial autocorrelation model. Spatial econometric models then identified key factors affecting its coordination. The results revealed significant spatial heterogeneity in water, energy, and food security across mainland China’s provinces. From 2002 to 2022, water security improved substantially in 87% of the provinces, while energy security began to improve in the eastern regions following a phase of high consumption. Food security saw significant enhancements, particularly in Inner Mongolia and the northeastern provinces. The overall coupling coordination of the WEF nexus improved across 30 provinces, progressing toward primary coordination. However, Henan and Anhui provinces experienced fluctuations in WEF nexus coordination. Spatial correlation analysis showed upward trends and increased clustering in WEF nexus coordination. Factors such as economic development and population positively influenced coordination, while economic agglomeration, education, and effective irrigation area had negative effects. This study elucidates the complex interconnections and key influencing factors within the WEF nexus, providing a reference framework and practical recommendations for equitable resource management. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus Perspectives)
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21 pages, 4912 KiB  
Article
Modelling Multi-Scenario Ecological Network Patterns and Dynamic Spatial Conservation Priorities in Mining Areas
by Wanqiu Zhang, Zeru Jiang, Huayang Dai, Gang Lin, Kun Liu, Ruiwen Yan and Yuanhao Zhu
Land 2024, 13(7), 1065; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13071065 - 16 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1575
Abstract
Mining activities have significantly altered the land use patterns of mining areas, exacerbated the degree of landscape fragmentation, and thereby led to the loss of biodiversity. Ecological networks have been recognized as an essential component for enhancing habitat connectivity and protecting biodiversity. However, [...] Read more.
Mining activities have significantly altered the land use patterns of mining areas, exacerbated the degree of landscape fragmentation, and thereby led to the loss of biodiversity. Ecological networks have been recognized as an essential component for enhancing habitat connectivity and protecting biodiversity. However, existing studies lack dynamic analysis at the landscape scale under multiple future scenarios for mining areas, which is adverse to the identification of ecological conservation regions. This study used the MOP-PLUS (multi-objective optimization problem and patch-level land use simulation) model to simulate the land use patterns in the balance of ecology and economy (EEB) scenario and ecological development priority (EDP) scenario for the Shendong coal base. Then, climate change and land use patterns were integrated into ecosystem models to analyze the dynamic changes in the ecological networks. Finally, the conservation priorities were constructed, and dynamic conservation hotspots were identified using landscape mapping methods. The following results were obtained: (1) From 2000 to 2020, large grassland areas were replaced by mining areas, while cultivated land was replenished. By 2030, the forest and grassland areas (967.00 km2, 8989.70 km2) will reach their peaks and the coal mine area (356.15 km2) will reach its nadir in the EDP scenario. (2) The fragmentation of ecological sources intensified (MPS decreased from 19.81 km2 to 18.68 km2) and ecological connectivity declined (in particular, α decreased by 6.58%) from 2000 to 2020. In 2030, the connectivity in the EDP scenario will increase, while the connectivity in the EEB scenario will be close to that of 2020. (3) The central and southeastern parts of the Shendong coal base have higher conservation priorities, which urgently need to be strengthened. This study offers guidance on addressing the challenges of habitat and biodiversity conservation in mining areas. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Land-Use Systems from Resource-Nexus Perspectives)
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