Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
3.7
3.9
Journals
Land
Special Issues
Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability
share announcement

Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability

A special issue of Land (ISSN 2073-445X). This special issue belongs to the section "Land Environmental and Policy Impact Assessment".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 23 August 2024 | Viewed by 7985

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Sougata Bardhan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Environment & Human Sciences, Lincoln University, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
Interests: forest management; agroforestry; soil health; climate-change mitigation; land allocation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Shibu Jose

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources, 2-44 Agriculture Bldg., University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
Interests: forest ecology; ecological restoration; carbon sequestration; invasive plant ecology and management; agroforestry; biomass and biofuels
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental sustainability concerns, such as biodiversity conservation, climate change, food security and sustainable energy use, are influenced by agriculture, forestry and land use activities. How humans manage and allocate land for forestry and agriculture, while taking into account the relevant environmental requirements, is central to achieving sustainable development.

This Special Issue invites scholars and practitioners to describe their practical experiences and insights into forestry, agriculture and land allocation, to provide guidance on navigating the challenges of land use sustainability.

We welcome submissions which develop technological, environmental, political, social and economic innovations for rational land allocation for sustainable forestry and agriculture, in order to solve global environmental challenges. The research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Multifunctional land use and land suitability assessments;
  • Forest and agricultural systems at the landscape level;
  • Ecosystem services of forest and agricultural systems;
  • Environmental impacts of forestry and agricultural development;
  • Sustainable strategies for forestry and agriculture.

Dr. Sougata Bardhan
Prof. Dr. Shibu Jose
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

  • land allocation
  • agriculture
  • forestry
  • environmental sustainability
  • land suitability
  • ecosystem services

Published Papers (7 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 19268 KiB  
Article
Does the State of Scientific Knowledge and Legal Regulations Sufficiently Protect the Environment of River Valleys?
by Monika Konatowska, Adam Młynarczyk, Irmina Maciejewska-Rutkowska and Paweł Rutkowski
Land 2024, 13(5), 584; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13050584 - 28 Apr 2024
Viewed by 197
Abstract
The pressure of human activity in river valley environments has always been high. Even today, despite the increasing awareness of societies around the world regarding the need to protect water and biodiversity, there are concerns that the current river valley management systems are [...] Read more.
The pressure of human activity in river valley environments has always been high. Even today, despite the increasing awareness of societies around the world regarding the need to protect water and biodiversity, there are concerns that the current river valley management systems are insufficient. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the state of knowledge about the soils and forest ecosystems of river valleys in terms of the possibility of protecting river valley environments. This study used data obtained from the Forest Data Bank (FDB) database, which focuses on forests in Poland. After analyzing 17,820 forest sections where the soils were described as fluvisols, it was found that forest areas associated with fluvisols (typical, fertile soils of river valleys) are quite well recognized and protected in Poland. Most (55%) forested fluvisols are located in Natura 2000 sites (an important European network of biodiversity hotspots), 4% in nature reserves, and 1% in national parks. Additionally, the main forest habitat type associated with fluvisols is riparian forest, composed mainly of Quercus, Ulmus, and Fraxinus, which is protected as Natura 2000 habitat type 91F0. Preserving the sustainability of the forest is also a form of soil protection. Despite the identification of soils and forests in river valleys, as well as appropriate legal tools, their protection may be ineffective due to the fragmentation of forms of protection and the lack of a coherent system for managing river valleys. Because the conservation status of the river valleys is also influenced by the management of areas located outside the river valleys, in order to protect river valley ecosystems, integrated conservation plans for entire catchments should be implemented. Due to potential conflicts related to the management of areas with diverse expectations of local communities, it would be advisable for such plans to be created by local experts but under the supervision of a specialist/specialists from outside the area covered by a given river basin. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

20 pages, 4044 KiB  
Article
Land Tenure, Loans, and Farmers’ Cropland Conservation Behavior: Evidence from Rural Northwest China
by Guoren Long, Xiaoyan Zhou and Jun Li
Land 2024, 13(4), 413; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13040413 - 23 Mar 2024
Viewed by 941
Abstract
The pivotal role of farmers’ cropland conservation behavior (CCB) in advancing green agricultural practices is well-recognized. This paper underscores the critical role of stable land tenure in enhancing farmers’ CCB, exemplified by the practice of mulch recycling. Drawing on a survey of 349 [...] Read more.
The pivotal role of farmers’ cropland conservation behavior (CCB) in advancing green agricultural practices is well-recognized. This paper underscores the critical role of stable land tenure in enhancing farmers’ CCB, exemplified by the practice of mulch recycling. Drawing on a survey of 349 cotton farmers in Xinjiang, Northwest China, it offers a systematic examination of how land tenure stability influences CCB and its underlying mechanisms. The findings reveal a significant positive correlation between land tenure stability and CCB. Notably, this relationship is mediated by the facilitation of land mortgages, wherein written contracts and extended land tenure durations enhance farmers’ participation in land mortgages, thereby bolstering CCB. Furthermore, the stabilizing effect of land tenure on CCB also mitigates the negative impacts of risk aversion and time preference. The study additionally highlights the differential effects of land tenure stability based on farm size and technical training; its facilitative role in CCB is more pronounced among larger-scale farmers and those engaged in technical training. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

19 pages, 2577 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Coupling Degree between Agricultural Modernization and the Coordinated Development of Black Soil Protection and Utilization: A Case Study of Heilongjiang Province
by Guiling Zhao, Zhongji Deng and Chang Liu
Land 2024, 13(3), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030288 - 26 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 601
Abstract
Agricultural management encompasses various processes, including agricultural modernization and land protection and utilization; however, these aspects are seldom considered simultaneously. This study focuses on Heilongjiang Province, a major grain-producing region in China, in efforts to address this gap. The objective is to facilitate [...] Read more.
Agricultural management encompasses various processes, including agricultural modernization and land protection and utilization; however, these aspects are seldom considered simultaneously. This study focuses on Heilongjiang Province, a major grain-producing region in China, in efforts to address this gap. The objective is to facilitate the mutual sustainable development of agricultural modernization as well as the protection and utilization of black soil through research and coordination. Statistical data from a case study conducted in Heilongjiang Province serve as the basis for this investigation, aiming to identify contradictions in the coordinated development of agricultural modernization and black soil protection and utilization in the province, design mechanisms to sustain this development, and ensure the mutually supportive progress of both aspects. This research delves into an infrequently explored dimension of the current policies surrounding black soil imposed by the Chinese authorities, offering significant insights into agricultural modernization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1277 KiB  
Article
Value Perception, Government Regulation, and Farmers’ Behavior toward Continuing to Maintain the Sloping Land Conversion Program
by Chen Chen, Qiheng Zhong and Liqun Wang
Land 2024, 13(3), 286; https://doi.org/10.3390/land13030286 - 25 Feb 2024
Viewed by 581
Abstract
As a major ecological project with the largest investment scale, strongest policy support, most extensive involvement, and the highest level of public participation in the world, the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP) implemented by China is important for protecting the ecological environment and [...] Read more.
As a major ecological project with the largest investment scale, strongest policy support, most extensive involvement, and the highest level of public participation in the world, the Sloping Land Conversion Program (SLCP) implemented by China is important for protecting the ecological environment and achieving long-term stability. Consolidating the SLCP’s achievements is key to its sustainable operation. Based on a sample of 612 farmers in Guizhou Province, this paper discusses the impact of value perception and government regulation on farmers’ behavior in terms of their continued SLCP maintenance. The results show that (1) value perception and government regulation are important factors affecting the sustainability of farmers’ behavior of continuing to maintain the SLCP. Perceived economic value and perceived cost input, as dimensions of value perception, and policy publicity and economic incentives, as dimensions of government regulation, have important influences on farmers’ continued SLCP maintenance. (2) There are complementary effects between value perception and government regulation. Policy publicity and perceived ecological value, technical guidance and perceived economic and social value, and economic incentives and perceived economic value can have complementary effects on farmers’ continued maintenance behavior. (3) Value perception and government regulation heterogeneously impact different groups of farmers. In terms of intergenerational differences, perceived cost inputs and punitive measures significantly affect only new-generation farmers. In terms of farmer type, perceived economic value does not significantly affect nonfarmers; perceived cost input significantly affects part-time farmers engaged mainly in off-farm employment, and technical guidance and economic incentives have the greatest impact on pure farmers. In terms of tree species, perceived cost input and policy publicity significantly impact only ecological forest farmers, while technical guidance has a greater impact on economic forest farmers. The findings provide an in-depth understanding of the mechanism underlying farmers’ behavior in maintaining the SLCP and offer a reference for promoting the goals of forestry ecological policies against the background of rural revitalization and green development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 2522 KiB  
Article
Survey of Missouri Landowners to Explore the Potential of Woody Perennials to Integrate Conservation and Production
by Raelin Kronenberg, Sarah Lovell, Bhuwan Thapa, Christine Spinka, Corinne Valdivia, Michael Gold and Sougata Bardhan
Land 2023, 12(10), 1911; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101911 - 12 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1644
Abstract
The state of Missouri, USA offers a unique opportunity for tree planting under several federal conservation programs. However, many landowners remain hesitant to enroll and take land out of agricultural production. This study explores the willingness of landowners to adopt agroforestry systems with [...] Read more.
The state of Missouri, USA offers a unique opportunity for tree planting under several federal conservation programs. However, many landowners remain hesitant to enroll and take land out of agricultural production. This study explores the willingness of landowners to adopt agroforestry systems with food producing tree and shrub species through federal conservation program funding using mail and online surveys. Surveys followed the Dillman Tailored Design Method to collect data on landowners’ farm characteristics, production practices, and land management choices. Survey participants were sampled on a county basis within each of the six major geographic regions of the state. Twelve counties were randomly selected, and surveys were mailed to a proportional sampling of farm addresses gathered from each of the county tax assessor offices. The goal of the survey was to (1) identify landowners’ current land management practices and goals, (2) understand landowners’ perceptions of and preferences for different planting plans for their farm, and (3) capture landowners’ interest in participating in conservation programs to assist in the planting of trees and shrubs on their land. Our analysis of this survey found that landowners are receptive to agroforestry plantings, rating them higher on average than traditional agricultural land management practices. Landowner age, past participation in a conservation program, and presence of marginal land all had significant correlation with willingness to adopt agroforestry. The inclusion of technical assistance or federal conservation funding was found to increase the willingness of landowners to plant multifunctional agroforestry designs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 1017 KiB  
Article
Farm Sustainability Assessment and Model: Achieving Food Security through the Food Estate Program in North Sumatra
by Dany Juhandi, Dwidjono Hadi Darwanto, Masyhuri Masyhuri, Jangkung Handoyo Mulyo, Nugroho Adi Sasongko, Martin Anda and Tri Martini
Land 2023, 12(10), 1833; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12101833 - 26 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1552
Abstract
Improving food crop production is critical for achieving food security. The Food Estate (FE) program initiated by the government seeks to accomplish this through extensive and intensive farming practices while taking sustainability into consideration. In this paper, a multidimensional scaling (MDS) approach to [...] Read more.
Improving food crop production is critical for achieving food security. The Food Estate (FE) program initiated by the government seeks to accomplish this through extensive and intensive farming practices while taking sustainability into consideration. In this paper, a multidimensional scaling (MDS) approach to determine the status and model of agricultural sustainability of the FE program was adopted. Three scenarios were developed to improve the sustainability status based on primary data from interviews with 50 farmers in Ria-Ria Village, Pollung District, North Sumatra. The findings indicate that the farming status is at a moderate sustainability, and improving all aspects can significantly increase the sustainability value. The study suggests that the government should prioritize the improvement of all aspects to raise the sustainability status of FE farming in order to achieve food security. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3477 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Land Ecological Security Based on the Boston Model: A Case Study from China
by Yingchao Li, Zhongkang Lian, Tianlin Zhai, Xiaotong Xie, Yuchen Wang and Minghui Li
Land 2023, 12(7), 1348; https://doi.org/10.3390/land12071348 - 06 Jul 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1279
Abstract
Land resources are essential natural resources and strategic economic resources for human survival and development. However, human improper use has brought unprecedented pressure and challenges to the ecosystem. Therefore, the assessment and analysis of land ecological security status and the identification and diagnosis [...] Read more.
Land resources are essential natural resources and strategic economic resources for human survival and development. However, human improper use has brought unprecedented pressure and challenges to the ecosystem. Therefore, the assessment and analysis of land ecological security status and the identification and diagnosis of obstacles affecting land ecological security are helpful to avoid land ecological security problems caused by improper land use at the source and provide a theoretical basis for the sustainable use of land resources and the construction of ecological civilization in China. Based on the data from 2006 to 2020, this study constructed the land ecological risk-evaluation index system and land ecological health-evaluation index system. AHP, entropy method, combination weighting method, TOPSIS model, Boston matrix and obstacle degree model were used to assess the land ecological security situation in Nanyang City and to analyze the obstacle factors. The results show the following: (1) during the study period, the land ecological risk value of Nanyang City exhibited a Kuznets inverted “U” curve change, while the land ecological health value showed a “U” curve change; (2) the overall level of land ecological security in Nanyang City has gradually improved, with a security level pattern of “relatively safe (2006–2020)–unsafe (2011–2016)–relatively safe (2017–2019)–safe (2020)”; (3) the main obstacle factors of land ecosystem were the following: erosion area, sewage discharge, area of waterlogging control, grain sown area, coverage of urban green built-up area and farmland effective irrigated area. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Agriculture, Forestry, Land Allocation and Environmental Sustainability)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-7
Back to TopTop