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Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Reclamation
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Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Reclamation

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Soil Conservation and Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 29 October 2026 | Viewed by 2185

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Alexandre Marco Da Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Environmental Engineering, Institute of Sciences and Technology of Sorocaba, São Paulo State University (Unesp), Sorocaba 18087-180, SP, Brazil
Interests: the development of technologies aimed at solving environmental problems; the rehabilitation of degraded areas; nature-based solutions; biophilic designs; conservationist soil and water management; restoration and applied ecology; geoprocessing (GIS)
Dr. Jakub Kostecki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Environmental Engineering, University of Zielona Góra, 65-417 Zielona Góra, Poland
Interests: soil degradation; environmental pollution; soil science; environmental risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We invite researchers to submit original papers that aim to attend to the urgent global challenge of land degradation and its impact on ecosystems and food security. This Special Issue seeks to highlight innovative approaches to soil conservation and sustainable land management practices. Contributions exploring biophysical, socio-economic, and policy dimensions are especially welcome. We encourage interdisciplinary studies that propose practical solutions for degraded land restoration. Soil health is vital to climate resilience, biodiversity, and agricultural productivity. This Special Issue seeks to advance knowledge and promote actions for reclaiming and protecting the Earth's soils. Submissions are open until [insert deadline], with peer-reviewed publication ensuring high scientific quality. Join us in shaping a more sustainable future using science.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include, but not limited to, the following:

Innovative Soil Conservation Techniques: New methods, approaches, or technologies to prevent soil erosion, nutrient depletion, and degradation.

Restoration of Degraded Lands: Practical case studies or scalable models for reclaiming or rehabilitating lands impacted by overuse, deforestation, or climate change.

Climate Change and Soil Health: Interactions between climate variability and soil degradation, and adaptive strategies for building climate-resilient soils.

Agroecological Practices for Sustainable Land Use: Use of ecological principles and approaches in farming to maintain soil fertility and ecosystem services.

Socio-economic Impacts of Land Degradation: Investigations of how soil degradation affects communities, food systems, livelihoods, and social stability.

Policy and Governance for Sustainable Land Management: Evaluations of land use policies, governance structures, and incentives for sustainable practices.

Soil Biodiversity and Ecosystem Functioning: Role of soil organisms in maintaining soil health and supporting ecosystem services.

Technological Innovations in Land Monitoring and Management: Use of remote sensing, AI, GIS, or IoT for monitoring soil quality and guiding land management decisions.

Integrating Traditional Knowledge and Scientific Approaches: Contributions that blend indigenous or local practices with modern science for sustainable land use.

Food Security and Land Use Dynamics: Connections between land degradation, soil health, crop productivity, and food system resilience.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Alexandre Marco Da Silva
Dr. Jakub Kostecki
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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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.

Keywords

  • ecosystems restoration
  • food security
  • land degradation
  • soil conservation
  • soil health
  • sustainable land management
  • urban soils

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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18 pages, 4291 KB  
Article
Assessing Hiking-Induced Trail Degradation in Enseleni Nature Reserve, Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
by S’phesihle Fanelesibonge Mlungwana, Kwanele Phinzi and Sibusisiwe Mnembe
Sustainability 2026, 18(7), 3539; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18073539 - 3 Apr 2026
Viewed by 392
Abstract
Nature-based tourism in protected areas brings economic benefits but can also lead to negative environmental impacts, such as trail degradation. This study aimed to quantify hiking-induced degradation on the Mvubu and Nkonkoni trails in Enseleni Nature Reserve, South Africa. Data were collected through [...] Read more.
Nature-based tourism in protected areas brings economic benefits but can also lead to negative environmental impacts, such as trail degradation. This study aimed to quantify hiking-induced degradation on the Mvubu and Nkonkoni trails in Enseleni Nature Reserve, South Africa. Data were collected through systematic sampling at 20 points along each trail, with 50-m intervals between sampling locations. Several trail degradation indicators were recorded, including: trail grade (TG), landform grade (LG), cross-sectional area (CSA), soil compaction, surface composition, soil texture, and soil moisture. Maximum incision depth (MID) and trail width (WID) were treated as response variables. Statistical relationships between degradation indicators and response variables were analysed using linear regression and partial least squares regression (PLSR). The results indicated significant differences (p < 0.05) between the two trails for several degradation indicators, including surface composition (specifically soil cover), soil compaction, soil texture, and soil moisture. PLSR models explained 19–20% of the variance in MID and 12–55% of the variance in WID. Such weak model performance suggests that trail degradation may be influenced by additional factors not measured in this study. In particular, human behavioural factors, such as hiker avoidance of muddy sections, may play an important role in shaping patterns of trail degradation beyond the measured environmental variables. Early signs of rill erosion were observed on the Mvubu Trail, while informal trail formation was evident on the Nkonkoni Trail. Consequently, the study recommends a dual-track strategy involving revegetation along with the installation of water bars and check dams on the Mvubu Trail to prevent rilling, and “Leave-No-Trace” visitor education for the Nkonkoni Trail to reduce informal path formation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Reclamation)
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13 pages, 1191 KB  
Article
Empirically Based Estimates of Soil Organic Carbon Gains After Ecosystem Restoration and Their Global Climate Benefits
by Irene Ascenzi, Jelle P. Hilbers, Marieke M. van Katwijk, Mark A. J. Huijbregts and Steef V. Hanssen
Sustainability 2026, 18(5), 2516; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18052516 - 4 Mar 2026
Viewed by 350
Abstract
Ecosystem restoration is increasingly recognized as a sustainable climate change mitigation strategy, yet global estimates of its carbon sequestration potential widely vary. Modeling-based studies differ in assumptions over key restoration aspects, including restorable areas and restoration outcomes. Many assume recovery of carbon stocks [...] Read more.
Ecosystem restoration is increasingly recognized as a sustainable climate change mitigation strategy, yet global estimates of its carbon sequestration potential widely vary. Modeling-based studies differ in assumptions over key restoration aspects, including restorable areas and restoration outcomes. Many assume recovery of carbon stocks to pristine levels, an expectation not supported by empirical evidence. They also focus primarily on forests and biomass, with limited attention to soil organic carbon (SOC). Here, we estimate the global SOC sequestration potential of forest and grassland restoration by combining current SOC levels on degraded land areas available for restoration with empirically derived SOC increase factors at the ecosystem scale. We provide spatially explicit estimates of SOC sequestration potential, absolute and per hectare. We also assess the carbon sequestration potential achievable under national forest restoration pledges across four major resolutions. With 1223 million hectares (Mha) of degraded land globally, the SOC sequestration potential is 38.5 GtC, of which 35.1 GtC (IQR 30.4–39.3 GtC) in forests and 3.4 GtC (IQR 2.6–4.2) in grasslands. National pledges cover 133 Mha, whose restoration could sequester 4–5.5 Gt of SOC. We show that there is a large unexplored theoretical climate mitigation potential of restoration globally. Environmental policies targeting Southeast Asia and South America, where potential is high and pledges are low, are particularly promising. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Reclamation)
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Review

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22 pages, 1371 KB  
Review
Soil Types and Degradation Pathways in Saudi Arabia: A Geospatial Approach for Sustainable Land Management
by Saif Alharbi and Khalid Al Rohily
Sustainability 2026, 18(4), 2109; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18042109 - 20 Feb 2026
Viewed by 968
Abstract
Land degradation (LD) is an emerging threat of the decade that is not only deteriorating arable lands globally but also threatening global ecosystem sustainability. Therefore, the intensification of LD has stimulated global governing bodies and researchers to undertake initiatives against this dilemma through [...] Read more.
Land degradation (LD) is an emerging threat of the decade that is not only deteriorating arable lands globally but also threatening global ecosystem sustainability. Therefore, the intensification of LD has stimulated global governing bodies and researchers to undertake initiatives against this dilemma through sustainable and eco-friendly approaches. Geographical mapping is critical in analysing land formation, soil composition and land use patterns, subsequently facilitating data-driven planning for soil conservation. In this review, Geographic Information System (GIS) technology, combined with Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, is used to explore soil properties and land use patterns across Saudi Arabia, with a focus on soil types, soil thickness, and soil uses. Spatial analyses indicate that the most predominant soil type in the country is sandy, followed by loam and sandy loam. The soil depth distribution exhibits a notably bimodal pattern, with large areas characterized by shallow soils (0–4 m) and deep soils (43–50 m). These spatial visualizations provide valuable insights into soil heterogeneity, supporting evidence-based, site-specific strategies for sustainable land management. This study also outlines the major land degradation pathways affecting arable lands in Saudi Arabia and describes how these pathways can be used to assess the extent of land loss. Besides land loss pathways, the current study also explains the most suitable mitigation strategies, including mulching, cover cropping, and agroforestry, as well as how international governing bodies like the UNDP, UNEP, FAO, and World Bank can contribute to the mitigation of LD in Saudi Arabia. However, further studies are required to assess the intensity of these solutions for each soil type and thickness under different climatic conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Land Degradation, Soil Conservation and Reclamation)
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