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Sustainability
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Dynamic Strategies for Sustainable Landscape Conservation and Cultural Legacy
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Dynamic Strategies for Sustainable Landscape Conservation and Cultural Legacy

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Sustainability and Applications".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 4360

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Giuseppe Tagarelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
National Research Council—Institute of Agricultural and Forest Systems in Mediterranean (CNR-ISAFoM), 87036 Rende, Italy
Interests: landscape, material, and immaterial heritage; traditional rural practices
Prof. Salvatore Di Fazio

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Agriculture, Mediterranean University of Reggio Calabria, Reggio Calabria, Italy
Interests: landscape; vernacular architecture; historic rural heritage; farm buildings; rural infrastructures; ecomuseums; sustainable development; landscape planning; agricultural engineering; urbanism; geography; forestry; sustainable architecture; spatial analysis; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Landscapes are the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors over time. On the other hand, landscapes persistently evolve, preserving traces of their historical roots, albeit with varying degrees of integrity, while actively contributing to society and the economy. The ongoing international scientific and technical debate revolves around recognizing landscapes as sources of cultural, ecological, and economic richness and acknowledging their significance as a resource to be dynamically preserved, enhanced, and utilized towards a sustainable future. Dynamic strategies for sustainable landscape conservation and cultural legacy merge scientific rigor with community engagement, technological innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration by integrating insights from ecology, anthropology, history, architecture, agronomy, and economics.

This Special Issue will feature a range of scholarly works addressing interdisciplinary aspects crucial for a comprehensive approach. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research topics may include (but are not limited to) the following: to propose theoretical and methodological approaches for sustainable development of landscapes as systems of tangible and intangible relationships; to examine innovative uses of state-of-the-art strategies, technologies, and methods/models for landscapes and their ecological, agricultural, silvicultural, and zootechnic facets; to evaluate existing methodologies and socio-economic strategies while proposing innovative approaches and advanced tools; to assess the adoption of effective management practices to maintain certain traditional practices and permanent cultivations (sown, wood, vines, marsh, isolated trees, and rice fields), rural buildings, and built elements (such as stone walls and terraces) while fostering sustainable development, including alternative uses such as tourism; to evaluate historical systems of agroforestry as models of resilience and multifunctionality in light of climate change and processes of biodiversification; to foster democratic citizenship, heritage education, and identity in future generations; and to determine the risk of cultural erosion and the level of landscape vulnerability to environmental hazards and human activities.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Dr. Giuseppe Tagarelli 
Prof. Salvatore Di Fazio
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. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2400 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

  • biodiversity
  • time-varying connectivity
  • cultural heritage
  • landscape
  • agroforestry
  • rural buildings

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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28 pages, 3632 KiB  
Article
Life-Centered City: Interspecies Spaces in Contemporary Resilient City Design—The Case of Gliwice
by Paulina Konsek and Alina Pancewicz
Sustainability 2025, 17(15), 6713; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156713 - 23 Jul 2025
Viewed by 346
Abstract
The subject of this research is the original project concept of the life-centered city, which focuses on the planning and design of sustainable solutions for urban landscape transformation. This concept prioritizes the well-being and needs of all life on Earth, including not only [...] Read more.
The subject of this research is the original project concept of the life-centered city, which focuses on the planning and design of sustainable solutions for urban landscape transformation. This concept prioritizes the well-being and needs of all life on Earth, including not only humans but also animals and their natural habitats. The aim of this article is to propose ways to implement the life-centered city concept into the strategic development policies of cities and identify sustainable urban landscape solutions that foster the creation of interspecies spaces. The research employs a comparative analysis of selected European cities, neighborhoods, and urban microspaces that are progressively adapting to climate change, addressing the needs of various users, and prioritizing the development of interspecies spaces. A detailed study focuses on the Polish city of Gliwice, which serves as a pilot example of applying the life-centered city model to local landscapes. Our findings suggest that the life-centered city concept, when effectively integrated into city development strategies and implemented within the urban fabric, can act as a proactive tool for transforming urban landscapes to better accommodate both people and nature. It supports the creation of a sustainable built environment that is inclusive, resilient, and adaptable to change. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamic Strategies for Sustainable Landscape Conservation and Cultural Legacy)
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15 pages, 3346 KiB  
Article
Awareness, Identity, and Place Attachment Among Young People Living in a Calabrian Reclamation Landscape
by Rosalucia Mazzei, Angela Magariello, Alessandra Patitucci, Andrea Tagarelli and Giuseppe Tagarelli
Sustainability 2025, 17(6), 2705; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17062705 - 18 Mar 2025
Viewed by 647
Abstract
Over the centuries, the reclamation of marshy areas has significantly transformed the Italian rural landscape. The Piana di Sibari (North of Calabria) represents a paradigmatic case of this process, because the current landscape is the result of a vast rural transformation. This paper [...] Read more.
Over the centuries, the reclamation of marshy areas has significantly transformed the Italian rural landscape. The Piana di Sibari (North of Calabria) represents a paradigmatic case of this process, because the current landscape is the result of a vast rural transformation. This paper discusses the results of a survey conducted to evaluate students’ knowledge and perception of this “Reclaim Lands” landscape, focusing on their emotional connection and awareness of its cultural and environmental heritage. The survey was administered to 149 middle school and 177 high school students. The study aims to investigate awareness and perception of landscape among mid-to-late adolescents living in the Piana di Sibari, highlighting the key aspects of the relationship between students and the places they inhabit, recognizing the catalytic role of the landscape in fostering a sense of belonging and identity. The results of this survey encourage reflection on a cultural shift that integrates ecological, social, and cultural perspectives, aligned with the European Landscape Convention, advocating for greater investment in youth education and participation to promote active citizenship and chart a course toward a fairer and more sustainable society. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamic Strategies for Sustainable Landscape Conservation and Cultural Legacy)
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19 pages, 8890 KiB  
Article
Forgotten Ecological Corridors: A GIS Analysis of the Ditches and Hedges in the Roman Centuriation Northeast of Padua
by Tanja Kremenić, Mauro Varotto and Francesco Ferrarese
Sustainability 2024, 16(20), 8962; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16208962 - 16 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1557
Abstract
Studying historical rural landscapes beyond their archaeological and cultural significance, as has typically been addressed in previous research, is important in the context of current environmental challenges. Some historical rural landscapes, such as Roman land divisions, have persisted for more than 2000 years [...] Read more.
Studying historical rural landscapes beyond their archaeological and cultural significance, as has typically been addressed in previous research, is important in the context of current environmental challenges. Some historical rural landscapes, such as Roman land divisions, have persisted for more than 2000 years and may still contribute to sustainability goals. To assess this topic, the hydraulic and vegetation network of the centuriation northeast of Padua were studied, emphasising their multiple benefits. Their length, distribution, and evolution over time (2008–2022) were vectorised and measured using available digital terrain models and orthophotographs in a geographic information system (GIS). The results revealed a significant decline in the length of water ditches and hedgerows across almost all examined areas, despite their preservation being highlighted in regional and local spatial planning documents. These findings indicate the need for a better understanding of the local dynamics driving such trends and highlight the importance of adopting a more tailored approach to their planning. This study discusses the GIS metrics utilised and, in this way, contributes to landscape monitoring and restoration actions. Finally, a multifunctional approach to the sustainable planning of this area is proposed here—one that integrates the cultural archaeological heritage in question with environmental preservation and contemporary climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamic Strategies for Sustainable Landscape Conservation and Cultural Legacy)
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Other

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17 pages, 5817 KiB  
Systematic Review
How Place Attachment in Different Landscapes Influences Resilience to Disasters: A Systematic Review
by Maria Teresa Carone, Carmela Vennari and Loredana Antronico
Sustainability 2025, 17(5), 1941; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17051941 - 25 Feb 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 975
Abstract
Human species have colonized many different landscapes since their emergence on Earth, even the extreme ones, preferring landscapes with high biodiversity to look for different resources. This led to a strong connection between individuals and the landscapes in which they live. For landscapes [...] Read more.
Human species have colonized many different landscapes since their emergence on Earth, even the extreme ones, preferring landscapes with high biodiversity to look for different resources. This led to a strong connection between individuals and the landscapes in which they live. For landscapes prone to natural hazards leading to disasters, attachment is an essential non-structural aspect that should be considered when discussing community resilience. Thus, to develop efficient strategies for improving resilience to disasters, it is mandatory to understand how such an attachment can influence this process. Many scholars have addressed the role of attachment in the case of disasters; nevertheless, its influence on community resilience is still understudied. In this paper, to provide an insightful overview of the studies that address this specific aspect, a systematic literature review (SLR) using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) methodology was carried out. Since the concept of attachment has declined in the literature in different dimensions, this SLR encompasses all these dimensions under the broader concept of place attachment (PA). The review highlights that the current literature recognizes a substantial role for attachment in influencing the resilience of disaster-prone communities, but there is no consensus on whether this role is either entirely positive or entirely negative. Given the nuances of the concept of landscape attachment, a better understanding of how to use this non-structural aspect for disaster adaptation measures represents a needed future direction in this field. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dynamic Strategies for Sustainable Landscape Conservation and Cultural Legacy)
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