Environmental and Social Sustainability in Rural Development

Dear Colleagues,

Rural areas, characterized by their natural landscapes, agricultural activities, and vibrant communities, play a vital role in the global society. However, rural development cannot be pursued in isolation from environmental and social considerations. It is important to recognize that the wellbeing of rural communities, the preservation of natural resources, and the mitigation of climate change impacts are interconnected goals that require a holistic approach. This Special Issue therefore aims to address the critical need to focus on environmental and social sustainability in rural development and its significance for achieving a resilient and equitable future.

Focusing on environmental and social sustainability in rural development is crucial for preserving natural resources, adapting to climate change, promoting socioeconomic wellbeing, empowering communities, and making a global impact. By implementing sustainable land use practices, climate-resilient agriculture, and inclusive development strategies, rural areas can preserve their natural resources, mitigate climate change impacts, improve livelihoods, strengthen community resilience, and contribute to global sustainability goals.

This Special Issue aims to bring together research that explores innovative approaches, best practices, and case studies related to environmental and social sustainability in rural development. We encourage researchers, academics, practitioners, and policymakers to contribute their original research to enhance our understanding of environmental conservation, social wellbeing, and rural development, each on its own and the interconnections between them.

Topics of Interest:

We invite researchers, academics, practitioners, policymakers, and other stakeholders to submit original research papers, article, review addressing various aspects related to ‘Environmental and Social Sustainability in Rural Development’, including but not limited to the following:

• Environmental conservation agriculture;
• Sustainable soil conservation practices;
• Water management and irrigation techniques;
• Agroforestry and sustainable land use practices;
• Biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes;
• Integrated pest management;
• Sustainability of globally important agricultural heritage systems;
• Disaster management;
• Rural diversification and non-agricultural income generation in rural areas;
• Sustainable rural tourism and community development;
• Entrepreneurship and innovation in rural enterprises;
• Innovations in the supply chain;
• Migration and rural development;
• Gender in rural development;
• Climate-smart agriculture;
• Access to resources, education, and technology in rural development;
• Carbon emission and environmental issues;
• Financial inclusion.

Join us in this endeavor to advance knowledge and promote sustainable rural development by submitting your research to this Special Issue on ‘Environmental and Social Sustainability in Rural Development’. Together, we can contribute to creating resilient, inclusive, and environmentally conscious rural communities for a sustainable future.

Note: Please refer to the journal’s submission guidelines for further details on manuscript preparation and submission instructions.

Prof. Dr. Keshav Lall Maharjan
Guest Editor

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.

• sustainable land use
• climate-resilient agriculture
• sustainable rural community development
• social sustainability in rural development
• inclusive development in rural areas