Topic Editors

Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Biotechnical Faculty, University of Montenegro, Mihaila Lalića 15, 81000, Podgorica, Montenegro
Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, University of Novi Sad, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
Department of Land Measurements and Exact Sciences, Faculty of Forestry and Cadastre, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania

Global Challenges and Local Solutions in Natural Resource Management: Insights from the GEA 2025 Conference

Abstract submission deadline
31 December 2025
Manuscript submission deadline
31 March 2026
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2462

Topic Information

Dear Colleagues,

This issue of MDPI Topics brings together a collection of scientific contributions presented at the GEA International Scientific Conference titled “Global Challenges and Local Solutions in Natural Resource Management: Insights from the GEA 2025 Conference”, held from 29 to 31 May 2025 in Podgorica, Montenegro. The GEA itself (Geo Eco-Eco Agro) serves as a multidisciplinary research platform, uniting researchers and professionals from the fields of Geosciences, Ecology, Economy, Agriculture, and Cultural Heritage Conservation, as well as from related disciplines concerned with sustainable development and environmental resilience.

In the face of accelerating climate change, demographic transitions, and growing pressures on natural systems, the conference emphasized the urgent need for integrated, cross-sectoral approaches to resource management and climate adaptation. Particular attention was given to the complex interrelations between the biosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and atmosphere, and how their interconnected management is crucial for building sustainable, adaptive strategies.

Through a series of presentations, discussions, and policy-relevant exchanges, the GEA Conference underscored the importance of regional solutions grounded in local knowledge, supported by science-based innovation and international collaboration. The event also placed a strong emphasis on supporting young researchers, offering them a platform to present their findings, engage in interdisciplinary dialogue, and build professional networks across institutions and borders.

This MDPI Topics issue reflects the core themes of the conference, with contributions that address:

  • Natural Resource Management
  • Sustainable Development
  • Erosion modelling and soil conservation strategies
  • Hydrological and watershed planning under climate stress
  • Remote sensing and geoinformatics in natural resource monitoring 
  • Agricultural innovation and sustainable land use 
  • Cultural and geoheritage valorization as part of ecosystem resilience

A particular strength of this volume lies in its interdisciplinary scope, which mirrors the structure of the conference itself. By bringing together empirical research, conceptual frameworks, and case-based insights, the papers featured here contribute to a growing body of literature that bridges global environmental challenges with localized, actionable solutions.

As the scientific community continues to seek sustainable pathways for natural resource management, we hope that the findings and ideas presented in this MDPI Topics issue will inform both academic inquiry and practical implementation across diverse regions and disciplines.

We warmly thank all contributors, reviewers, and organizing partners who made the GEA 2025 Conference and this publication possible. We invite the readership of MDPI Topics to engage with these works and continue the dialogue on climate resilience, sustainability, and the responsible stewardship of our shared environment.

Dr. Tin Lukić
Dr. Velibor Spalevic
Prof. Dr. Slobodan B. Marković
Dr. Paul SestraÈ™
Topic Editors

Keywords

  • natural resource management
  • hydro-meteorological hazards
  • environmental geography
  • climate change adaptation
  • sustainable development
  • soil and water conservation
  • watershed management
  • remote sensing and gis
  • environmental resilience and dynamics
  • agroecology
  • geoheritage and cultural landscape conservation

Participating Journals

Journal Name Impact Factor CiteScore Launched Year First Decision (median) APC
Atmosphere
atmosphere
2.3 4.9 2010 16.9 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Geosciences
geosciences
2.1 5.1 2011 23.4 Days CHF 1800 Submit
Heritage
heritage
1.9 3.7 2018 18.6 Days CHF 1600 Submit
Sustainability
sustainability
3.3 7.7 2009 19.3 Days CHF 2400 Submit
Water
water
3.0 6.0 2009 19.1 Days CHF 2600 Submit

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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17 pages, 2720 KB  
Article
Studying Natural Radioactivity of Coals and Ash and Slag Waste as Potential Raw Materials for Quality Assessment and Extraction of Rare Earth Elements
by Yuriy Pak, Dmitriy Pak, Pyotr Kropachev, Vladimir Matonin, Diana Ibragimova, Anar Tebayeva, Pavel Timoshenko, Natalya Tsoy and Yelena Tseshkovskaya
Geosciences 2025, 15(11), 420; https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences15110420 - 4 Nov 2025
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Abstract
A significant portion of coal mined in Kazakhstan is mainly used for fuel energy and metallurgy. Approximately 60% of electricity is generated by coal-fired power engineering. About 19 million tons of ash and slag waste (ASW) are annually sent to dumps. After coal [...] Read more.
A significant portion of coal mined in Kazakhstan is mainly used for fuel energy and metallurgy. Approximately 60% of electricity is generated by coal-fired power engineering. About 19 million tons of ash and slag waste (ASW) are annually sent to dumps. After coal combustion, in ASW not only are natural radioactive nuclides NRN (U238, Th232, K40) concentrated, but also rare and rare earth elements (REE). In this regard, ASW that essentially turns into quasi-technogenic deposits of NRN and REE, requires systemic measures for their utilization. The possibilities of extracting REE from coal power-industry waste are estimated based on the analysis of the concentration of REE (Ce, La, Nd, Sm, etc.), NRN (U238, Th232 and their decay products, K40) and the established significant correlations between rare earth and radioactive elements. The purpose of this paper is to study the natural radioactivity of coals and ash and slag waste as potential raw materials for assessing the quality and extracting rare earth metals. The stated purpose involves solving the following problems: studying the features of the NRN and REE distribution in coals and ash and slag waste; assessing the possibility of using ash and slag waste as a promising source of REE extraction based on nuclear radiometric studies; and studying the spectrometry of natural gamma radiation for assessing the quality of coals. Full article
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