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Prof. Dr. Debin Lu

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Department of Geography, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK

Dr. Yahui Wang

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School of Geographical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China

Dr. Min Cao

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1. School of Earth Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming 650106, China
2. International Karst Joint Research Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650106, China

Prof. Dr. Yingbin Feng

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School of Public Administration, Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550031, China

Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning

Abstract submission deadline

31 December 2025

Manuscript submission deadline

30 June 2026

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Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

Food and grain are fundamental to human survival and development. In today's globalized world, food security is not merely a national or regional concern but a matter of shared human destiny. Farmland is essential for grain production and crucial for ensuring food security. However, in recent years, the phenomena of farmland abandonment, conversion to non-agricultural uses, and production for non-food purposes have become increasingly serious globally. Exacerbated by multiple factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic, regional conflicts, extreme weather events, and trade protectionism, food security faces severe challenges. These factors, compounded by rising inequality, hinder the agricultural food system's ability to provide nutritious, safe, and affordable diets for all. This poses a significant challenge to achieving the Sustainable Development Goal of "zero hunger" (SDG2) by 2030. Statistics show that a vast number of people continue to experience food insecurity and malnutrition, with global hunger levels remaining high for the third consecutive year. In 2023, between 713 million and 757 million people (a median of 733 million) were projected to suffer from undernourishment, representing an increase of approximately 152 million since 2019. Given the current food security challenges, it is imperative to reassess sustainable farmland management practices for crop cultivation to meet future food demands. Land use change and farmland protection are critical factors in ensuring food security and provision. Effective land governance, including well-designed and implemented land use planning, can promote both farmland protection and high-quality land development. Therefore, the rational allocation of land resources and the implementation of differentiated land policies are essential for ensuring food security, optimizing national land use patterns, and achieving sustainable development goals.

This Special Issue seeks to advance the scientific understanding of global farmland conservation, food security and land use planning in the contemporary context. We invite submissions exploring relevant theories, methods, technologies, policies, and practices. We welcome diverse methodological approaches, including quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Submissions may focus on, but are not limited to, the following themes:

Land use planning
Land use sustainable development
Crop growth and remote sensing monitoring
Agricultural investment and farmland protection
Heavy Metal Pollution and Farmland Protection
Human–wildlife Conflict and Farmland Protection
Emerging Technologies for Land Use Governance

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

Prof. Dr. Debin Lu
Dr. Yahui Wang
Dr. Min Cao
Prof. Dr. Yingbin Feng
Topic Editors

Keywords

land use change
farmland protection
food security
land use planning
remote sensing
crop modeling

Participating Journals

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Earth earth	3.4	5.9	2020	19.4 Days	CHF 1400	Submit
Land land	3.2	5.9	2012	16 Days	CHF 2600	Submit
Sustainability sustainability	3.3	7.7	2009	19.3 Days	CHF 2400	Submit

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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22 pages, 2370 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Land Use Conversion from Upland Field to Paddy Field on Soil Temperature Dynamics and Heat Transfer Processes

by Jun Yi, Mengyi Xu, Qian Ren, Hailin Zhang, Muxing Liu, Yuanhang Fei, Shenglong Li, Hanjiang Nie, Qi Li, Xin Ni and Yongsheng Wang

Land 2025, 14(7), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14071352 - 26 Jun 2025

Viewed by 206

Abstract

Investigating soil temperature and the heat transfer process is essential for understanding water–heat changes and energy balance in farmland. The conversion from upland fields (UFs) to paddy fields (PFs) alters the land cover, irrigation regimes, and soil properties, leading to differences in soil temperature, thermal properties, and heat fluxes. Our study aimed to quantify the effects of converting UFs to PFs on soil temperature and heat transfer processes, and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. A long-term cultivated UF and a newly developed PF (converted from a UF in May 2015) were selected for this study. Soil water content (SWC) and temperature were monitored hourly over two years (June 2017 to June 2019) in five soil horizons (i.e., 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 cm) at both fields. The mean soil temperature differences between the UF and PF at each depth on the annual scale varied from −0.1 to 0.4 °C, while they fluctuated more significantly on the seasonal (−0.9~1.8 °C), monthly (−1.5~2.5 °C), daily (−5.6~4.9 °C), and hourly (−7.3~11.3 °C) scales. The SWC in the PF was significantly higher than that in the UF, primarily due to differences in tillage practices, which resulted in a narrower range of soil temperature variation in the PF. Additionally, the SWC and soil physicochemical properties significantly altered the soil’s thermal properties. Compared with the UF, the volumetric heat capacity (C_s) at the depths of 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 cm in the PF changed by 8.6%, 19.0%, 5.5%, −4.3%, and −2.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity (λ_θ) increased by 1.5%, 18.3%, 19.0%, 9.0%, and 25.6%, respectively. Moreover, after conversion from the UF to the PF, the heat transfer direction changed from downward to upward in the 10–20 cm soil layer, resulting in a 42.9% reduction in the annual average soil heat flux (G). Furthermore, the differences in G between the UF and PF were most significant in the summer (101.9%) and most minor in the winter (12.2%), respectively. The conversion of the UF to the PF increased the C_s and λ_θ, ultimately reducing the range of soil temperature variation and changing the direction of heat transfer, which led to more heat release from the soil. This study reveals the effects of farmland use type conversion on regional land surface energy balance, providing theoretical underpinnings for optimizing agricultural ecosystem management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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20 pages, 2119 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quantifying the Impacts of Grain Plantation Decline on Domestic Grain Supply in China During the Past Two Decades

by Yizhu Liu, Jing Zhu, Tingting He and Hang Liu

Land 2025, 14(6), 1283; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061283 - 16 Jun 2025

Viewed by 401

Abstract

An adequate food supply is a core issue for sustainable development worldwide. Amid greater instability in the food supply triggered by more armed conflicts, trade disputes, and climate change, a decline in grain cultivation area still plagues many regions. China, a major food producer globally, is a case in point. The truth is that at the moment, the formulation and implementation of policies as well as academic discussions regarding this issue are predominantly based on the sown area of grains, overlooking the fundamental role co-played by population, yield efficiency, and sown area in determining food supply. Furthermore, the commonly used indicator, the non-grain cultivation rate, fails to directly reflect the impact of the phenomenon on the grain supply. To address these gaps, this study introduces trend-change detection and factor-contribution analysis, uses long-term grain sown area data to identify regions with significant grain retreat, and quantifies the relative influence of population shifts, crop yield improvements, and sown area changes on food supply. Key findings include the following: China’s total grain production maintained steady growth from 2003 to 2023, far exceeding conventional food security thresholds. Temporary reductions in grain sown area (2015–2019, 2021–2022) were offset by rising yields, with no substantial decline in supply. Twelve provinces/municipalities, Beijing, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Hainan, exhibited substantial declines in grain plantation. However, Sichuan and Shaanxi achieved counter-trend growth in food supply, while Ningxia and Guizhou experienced frequent fluctuations. The sown area was not always the dominant factor in per capita grain availability. Yield increases neutralized cropland reduction in Sichuan, Shaanxi, Guizhou, and Ningxia, whereas population inflows outweighed the sown area effect in the other eight provinces. The study concludes that China’s grain cropland reduction has not yet posed a threat to national food security. That said, the spatial concentration of these affected regions and their ongoing output reductions may raise domestic grain redistribution costs and intensify inter-regional conflicts over cropland protection. Meanwhile, population influx plays a similarly important role to that of grain plantation decline in the grain supply. Considering that, we believe that more moderate measures should be adopted to address the shrinkage of grain planting areas, with pre-set food self-sufficiency standards. These measures include, but are not limited to, improving productivity and adopting integrated farming. Methodologically, this work lowers distortions from normal annual cropland fluctuations, enabling more precise identification of non-grain production zones. By quantifying the separate impacts of population, crop yield, and sown area changes, it supplements existing observations on grain cropland decline and provides better targeted suggestions on policy formulation and coordination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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23 pages, 1015 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Does Farmland Transfer-Out Reshape Household Consumption Structure? Insights from Generational Heterogeneity in Rural China

by Shaojun Chen, Jixing Xiu and Kexin Zhou

Land 2025, 14(6), 1134; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14061134 - 22 May 2025

Viewed by 322

Abstract

China’s ongoing urbanization, expanding land transfer, has reshaped rural land use and generational consumption patterns. Using three waves of China Family Panel Studies data, this study applies a two-way fixed effect model to examine the impact of farmland transfer-out on generational consumption structure and explores the mediating role of household income, the moderating role of non-agricultural income share, and regional and income heterogeneity. Findings show the following: (1) Farmland transfer-out significantly increases subsistence, developmental, and hedonic consumption among middle-aged and young farmers, with the greatest rise in hedonic consumption. For elderly farmers, only subsistence consumption increases, and to a lesser extent. (2) Among middle-aged and young farmers, transfer-out raises household income, boosting all consumption types; a higher share of non-farm income further strengthens subsistence and hedonic consumption. For elderly farmers, while income increases, a higher non-farm income share weakens the income effect on subsistence consumption. (3) Regionally, land transfer-out significantly boosts subsistence and hedonic consumption in the eastern region for younger farmers, and all three types—especially subsistence—in the central and western regions. Elderly farmers in the east also see a rise in subsistence consumption. (4) An income heterogeneity analysis shows stronger effects for low-income younger farmers and high-income elderly farmers. Based on these findings, this study proposes targeted policies to promote farmland transfer-out, offering insights for optimizing land use and enhancing rural consumption, with implications for other countries’ land management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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21 pages, 4003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of the Evolution of Non-Agriculturization Arable Land Use Pattern and Its Driving Mechanisms

by Ying Zhang, Qiang Wang, Yueming Hu, Wei Wang and Xiaoyun Mao

Land 2025, 14(5), 968; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14050968 - 30 Apr 2025

Viewed by 332

Abstract

Arable land is a crucial natural resource for human survival and development, which supports food production, ecological services, and material–energy cycling. It is not only an important production resource for agriculture but also a key guarantee for ensuring food security and sustainable agricultural development. Understanding the current utilization of arable land, exploring the spatial–temporal evolution characteristics, and analyzing the driving mechanisms behind its pattern changes are essential for the rational allocation and sustainable utilization of arable land resources. This study focuses on the utilization of arable land in Guangzhou from 2005 to 2018, employing methods such as statistical analysis and spatial econometrics to provide an in-depth analysis of the spatial–temporal distribution characteristics and driving mechanisms of arable land changes. The results show that from 2005 to 2018, the issue of the conversion of arable land to non-agricultural uses was quite severe in Guangzhou, with the primary form being the conversion of arable land into urban residential construction land. Kernel density analysis revealed that non-agriculturization in Guangzhou exhibited spatial clustering, mainly concentrated in areas with lower elevation. Using standard deviation ellipses and centroid migration analysis, it was found that the center of gravity of non-agriculturization in Guangzhou was generally distributed in a southwest–northeast direction, with a more distinct dispersion compared to the northwest–southeast direction. From 2005 to 2010, the rapid increase in the non-agriculturization rate of arable land in Guangzhou was mainly driven by population density and per capita income, both having a positive impact. From 2010 to 2015, the main driving factor shifted to regional GDP. From 2015 to 2018, regional GDP and the value of the tertiary industry became the main driving factors, but unlike the impact of GDP, the tertiary industry exerted a negative influence on non-agriculturization. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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20 pages, 1072 KiB

Open AccessSystematic Review

A Systematic Review of Developments in Farmland Cover in Chile: Dynamics and Implications for a Sustainable Future in Land Use

by Fabián Argandoña-Castro and Fernando Peña-Cortés

Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 3905; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17093905 - 26 Apr 2025

Viewed by 737

Abstract

Farmland covers present diverse characteristics, methods, and techniques to monitor and evaluate crops in other geographic areas. This study systematically reviews Land Use/Land Cover Change (LULCC) in agricultural land in Chile through a systematic review of the scientific literature. Using the PRISMA 2020 method, the Web of Science (WOS) database was consulted using the keywords “Landuse”, “Landcover”, “Agriculture”, and “Chile”. We applied six exclusions criteria and constructed a matrix to select relevant aspects, such as title, year of publication, study area and period, methods used, and principal results. In our review, we identified four studies that focused specifically on agricultural land dynamics, mainly in south-central Chile. Chile was selected as the study area due to its geographical diversity, which poses significant challenges for decision-making in land use regulation. These results underscore the need for more spatially informed data on farmland dynamics to inform decision-making, particularly during the alternatives evaluation stage. In this phase, it is essential to assess the impacts on and potential of the territory in order to define suitable economic activities. Although there are numerous studies on LULCC, most emphasize changes in native forests, underscoring the need to address LULCC more comprehensively by considering other land categories, such as agricultural land, shrublands, grasslands, and others. This evidence is crucial for designing practical land management tools and identifying areas that have been extensively studied but lack sufficient research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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22 pages, 2430 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluation of Arable Land Intensive Utilization and Diagnosis of Obstacle Factors from the Perspective of Public Emergencies: A Case Study of Sichuan Province in China Based on the Pressure-State-Response Model

by Qianyu Zhao, Hao Liu, Peng Zhang, Cailong Deng and Yujiao Li

Land 2025, 14(4), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14040864 - 15 Apr 2025

Viewed by 435

Abstract

Promoting the intensive utilization of arable land is a critical strategy for addressing the scarcity problem of arable land resources and thus ensuring food security. However, public emergencies pose significant challenges to the intensive utilization of arable land. Based on the pressure-state response (PSR) model and taking Sichuan Province, known as China’s “Heavenly Granary”, as an example, this study constructs a suitable evaluation system and analyzes the variation trend of the intensive utilization of arable land from the perspective of public emergencies. Key factors constraining the intensive utilization of arable land are further analyzed using the obstacle diagnostic model. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) Despite the shocks of public emergencies, the intensive utilization level of arable land in Sichuan Province in China shows an overall upward trend, indicating a high level of resilience and adaptability. (2) The pressure to utilize arable land intensively in Sichuan exhibits periodic fluctuations, yet the state remains generally stable. The whole system shows positive adaptive responses to external pressures and contemporary conditions during the mid-to-late stages of the research period. Nevertheless, coordination among subsystems within the PSR framework remains suboptimal, and a dynamic equilibrium across the subsystems has not yet been achieved. (3) Obstacle factors constraining the intensive arable land utilization in Sichuan exhibit notable temporal variations. Early-period constraints centered on multiple cropping indexes, grain yield per unit area, and irrigation index, reflecting limitations of traditional agricultural production modes. In the later stages, key obstacles shifted to factors including per capita cultivated land, population density, and pesticide/fertilizer input index, highlighting the impediment effects caused by evolving socio-demographic dynamics influenced by public emergencies. The findings of this study reveal critical pathways for local governments to achieve sustainable arable land management amidst global uncertainties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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26 pages, 1377 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effectiveness of Agricultural Technology Services on Fertilizer Reduction in Wheat Production in China

by Chenyang Liu, Tiehui Zhu and Ling Xin

Sustainability 2025, 17(7), 2840; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17072840 - 22 Mar 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 620

Abstract

Under the intensifying constraints of resources and environment, reducing fertilizer use while enhancing efficiency in China’s grain production has become imperative. This study empirically analyzes the effect of agricultural technical services on fertilizer reduction in wheat production using 2024 micro-survey data. Agricultural technical services exert a significantly negative influence on the fertilization intensity among wheat growers. In comparison with non-adopters, adopters achieve a reduction in fertilization amounting to 8.351 kg/mu (equivalent to 125.265 kg/ha) and realize a decrease in chemical fertilizer costs of CNY 26.735/mu (or USD 56.625/ha). Additionally, from the perspective of service components heterogeneity, soil testing, formula fertilization, mechanical fertilization, and straw returning significantly contribute to fertilizer reduction. From the perspective of service model heterogeneity, if farmers participating in market-oriented, cooperative, and industrialized services discontinue participation, their fertilizer application intensity would increase by 5.43%, 7.96%, and 12.79%, respectively. Finally, this study calls on the government to further leverage the technological dissemination advantages of agricultural technology service institutions, guide farmers to reduce the use of chemical fertilizers, so as to accelerate the realization of more sustainable agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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18 pages, 9070 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Cropping and Transformation Features of Non-Grain Cropland in Mainland China and Policy Implications

by Yizhu Liu, Ge Shen and Tingting He

Land 2025, 14(3), 561; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030561 - 7 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 608

Abstract

The decrease in grain plantation areas poses a growing concern for global food security. China, with its large population, increasingly diversified food demands, and relatively small cultivated lands, has suffered deeply from this phenomenon (non-grain production, NGP) in recent years. Since 2020, the central government of China has claimed to deal with this problem by attracting agriculturalists and organizations involved in grain plantation. In this context, understanding the global NGP of the national situation is vital for policy making. Remote sensing is regarded as the most effective and accurate method for this purpose, but existing studies have mainly focused on algorithms operating at the local scale or exploring grain-producing capability from the perspective of agricultural space. As such, the characterization of NGP on a national scale remains deficient. In this study, we tried to bridge the gap through spatio-analysis with a newly published nationwide crop pattern and land use geo-datasets; the quantitative, spatial, and structural features, as well as the utilization of NGP cropland in the year 2019, were observed. The results showed that about 60% of the cropland was used for non-grain plantation. About 15% of the NGP parcels were cultivated with grains at least three times in the past 4 years, and of these 60% and 40% were parcels with double- or single-season plantation, respectively, which could result in a 16–22% increase in the grain-sown area compared with 2019. Forest and grassland were the dominant non-cropping categories which NGP cropland transferred into, indicating more time and economic cost for regaining grains. NGP parcels also presented spatio-heterogeneity regarding cropping intensity and transformation. Parcels with double-season plantation mostly emerged in northern, central, and southern provinces, while those with single-season plantation were always located in northeastern and western provinces. The parcels that were transferred into forest or grassland mainly appeared in southern and Inner Mongolia, respectively, while the parcels in northern and central areas mostly continued cropping. According to these results, we propose remediation policies focusing on raising the cropping intensity of cultivated land in central and northern provinces due to their advantages of water, heat, terrain, and land use change features. Future work is warranted based on this study’s deficiencies and uncertainties. As a forerunner, this study provides a holistic observation of the NGP phenomenon in mainland China on a national scale, and the findings can inform improvements in land use policies concerning grain production and food security in China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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17 pages, 535 KiB

Open AccessArticle

How Can the Capability Approach Contribute to a New Perspective on the Value of Cropland Ecosystem Services?

by Yi Tang, Junzhu Liu and Zhoupeng Chen

Land 2025, 14(3), 464; https://doi.org/10.3390/land14030464 - 23 Feb 2025

Viewed by 546

Abstract

Cultivated land ecosystems are complex systems that integrate human activities with natural environments, playing a critical role in both ecological and socio-economic processes. These ecosystems face significant challenges, including land degradation, soil erosion, and biodiversity loss. Despite their importance, there is currently no standardized conceptual framework or unified approach for valuing cultivated land ecosystems and their ecosystem services. This paper aims to address this gap by developing a comprehensive framework that incorporates the unique characteristics of cultivated land ecosystems, with particular focus on the relationship between ecosystem services and human well-being. It introduces a novel theoretical approach for evaluating these services through the capability approach, emphasizing the integration of key concepts, the clarification of ecosystem service definitions, and the classification of their functions. Furthermore, the study explores the practical applications of this framework for the management and valuation of cultivated land ecosystems. The capability approach, as an innovative solution, is utilized to support and enhance the ecosystem services and benefits provided by cultivated land ecosystems, ultimately contributing to improved social well-being. The findings of this research are crucial for promoting sustainable management practices and advancing the implementation of ecological compensation strategies within the context of cultivated land. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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19 pages, 2231 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial Pattern of Traditional Villages in Remote Mountainous Areas and Their Development Potential Assessment: The Case of Enshi, China

by Fangjie Liu, Wei Xu and Qiang Niu

Sustainability 2025, 17(3), 1138; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17031138 - 30 Jan 2025

Viewed by 891

Abstract

Remote mountainous areas, due to their unique geographical and climatic environments, have ideal conditions for the preservation of traditional villages. However, economic development is also limited as a result. Rationally utilizing traditional village resources to drive economic development in remote mountainous areas is a key topic in academic research. This paper explores the spatial pattern and spatial evolution mechanisms of traditional villages in Enshi Prefecture by factor analysis and K-means clustering algorithm. It proposes a preliminary method for evaluating the development potential of traditional villages based on influencing factors of their evolution, considering four aspects: (1) Traditional villages in Enshi Prefecture were mainly formed in the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. (2) Through the study of the spatial pattern of traditional villages in Enshi Prefecture, water systems, ethnic compositions, road network densities, and national policies have significant impacts. (3) A preliminary assessment of the development potential of traditional villages in Enshi Prefecture shows that there are 25 high-potential villages, 58 medium-potential villages, and 9 low-potential villages. Corresponding construction strategies are proposed for each category. This study revealed the influencing factor of the spatial pattern of traditional villages, underscoring the sustainable development and offering practical guidance for traditional villages in remote mountainous areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Global Farmland Protection, Food Security and Land Use Planning)

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