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

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 Sestraș
Topic Editors