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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2026 | Viewed by 11703

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Dr. Ferenc Pál-Fám

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Guest Editor

Department of Agronomy, Institute of Plant Production, Hungarian University of Agronomy and Life Sciences, H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary
Interests: mycology; ecology; biodiversity conservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Roman Rolbiecki

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Agrometeorology, Plant Irrigation and Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture and Biotechnology, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, 85-796 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Interests: irrigation systems; water needs of plants; irrigation water needs; evapotranspiration; sustainable development; agriculture production under irrigation conditions; air–plant–soil relationship
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nowadays we live in the age of global climate change, to which not only living beings, populations, ecosystems, but also us, human beings, must adapt. The efficiency of our plant production, animal husbandry, lawn and water management, forestry and also nature conservation activities, which have been operating for decades and even centuries, have been questioned, and in many cases they have ceased to exist. We need to rethink these activities, they need to be redesigned in the light of new environmental challenges. In this way, we must think in the complete restructuring of our relationship with living nature in order to pass on a livable environment for future generations. This is a very big and very urgent task, in short we can formulate it as the ‘sustainable management of our living environment’.

The basic purpose of this issue is to be a publication forum for the latest results of sustainable nature conservation and agricultural habitat management activities. We are looking for original research or review-type manuscripts in very diverse subject areas:

Adaptation of plants, fungi and their communities to many kinds of changes of the environmental conditions;
Changes in diversity, as well as in the structure of plant and fungal communities in light of new environmental challenges;
New perspectives in sustainable forest management, transformation of forest management practices;
New approaches in plant production and plant protection in light of new environmental challenges;
The role of fungi-plant relationships in adaptation and their usability in agriculture, horticulture and forestry;
Responses to the challenges of arable and horticultural water management;
New perspectives in grassland management and new grassland management methods;
Applicable nature conservation methods regarding the maintenance and restoration of natural and seminatural habitats.

Dr. Ferenc Pál-Fám
Prof. Dr. Roman Rolbiecki
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

plant and fungi adaptation
biodiversity change
community structure
forest management
plant production and protection
fungi-plant interaction
water management
grassland management
habitat maintenance and restoration

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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17 pages, 9396 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pathogenic Alternaria Species Associated with Young Cedrus atlantica Manetti: Morphological and Molecular Characterization

by Mohamed Yaakoub Houcher, Fahima Neffar, Beatrice Farda, Rihab Djebaili, Hicham Amouri, Rachid Ait Medjber and Marika Pellegrini

Sustainability 2026, 18(9), 4253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18094253 (registering DOI) - 24 Apr 2026

Viewed by 193

Abstract

The seedlings of the young Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica Manetti) are very important for the regeneration and restoration of forest populations of this endemic species, which inhabits a very fragmented area in the highest mountains of North Africa (Algeria and Morocco). There is very minimal information on the diseases that are afflicting these young plants. In this work, Alternaria strains CHP2, S4.2, and SP1.1 were isolated from different plants and subjected to identification and pathogenicity testing. The infected plants developed clear symptoms of light brown disease spots on the leaves with a yellowish or chlorotic halo around them, which gradually developed to a yellowing of the plantlets and their complete drying. Some spots merged to form large areas of necrosis which covered an average of 80% of the plantlets. The impact of the infection on plant physiology was determined using measurements of photosynthetic pigments, which showed reductions of 46.28% in chlorophyll and 59.90% in carotenoids in strains SP1.1 and CHP2, respectively. Molecular characterization of the ITS region of the isolates revealed that strains CHP2 and S4.2 showed high sequence similarity to reference sequences of Alternaria spp., including taxa related to A. destruens and A. murispora, although species-level identification remains tentative. These findings highlight the growing relevance of fungal pathogens in forest regeneration under global climate change. By revealing the pathogenic role of Alternaria species, this study contributes to sustainable forest management and conservation strategies in changing environments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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26 pages, 5780 KB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Post-Fire Regeneration Dynamics in Pine Plantations Under Naturalistic Management with In Situ Burnt Logs

by Valentina Lucia Astrid Laface, Giuseppe Bombino, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Andrea Rosario Proto and Giovanni Spampinato

Sustainability 2026, 18(2), 971; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18020971 - 17 Jan 2026

Viewed by 573

Abstract

Wildfires represent one of the most destructive natural disturbances, yet they play a fundamental ecological role in the regeneration and evolution of forest ecosystems. In Mediterranean regions, fire acts as a selective factor shaping plant adaptive strategies and the structure of vegetation mosaics. This study analyzes post-fire regeneration dynamics in Pinus radiata and P. pinaster plantations located in Roccaforte del Greco (Metropolitan City of Reggio Calabria, southern Italy), severely affected by the 2021 wildfires. Phytosociological surveys were conducted along permanent transects using the Braun-Blanquet method and analyzed through diversity indices (Shannon, Evenness), Non-Metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS), Indicator Species Analysis (IndVal), and hierarchical clustering. The results reveal a clear floristic differentiation among management conditions, with higher species diversity and variability, and a predominance of pioneer therophytes and hemicryptophytes in burned areas. The in situ retention of burned logs enhances structural and microenvironmental heterogeneity, facilitating the establishment of native species and supporting post-fire functional recovery. Overall, this preliminary study, focusing on early successional dynamics, suggests that the in situ retention of burned logs may positively contribute to ecosystem resilience and biodiversity in post-fire Mediterranean pine forests, while also highlighting the need for long-term monitoring to confirm the persistence of these effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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14 pages, 6877 KB

Open AccessArticle

No Fertilization Is Optimal, but a Low Level of Fertilization Is an Acceptable Compromise for Conserving Lowland Hay Meadows Under Voluntary Agri-Environmental Schemes in Luxembourg

by Julien Piqueray and Arnaud Farinelle

Sustainability 2026, 18(1), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/su18010290 - 27 Dec 2025

Viewed by 471

Abstract

Temperate grasslands rank among the most diverse ecosystems in the world at small spatial scales. Maintaining species-rich grasslands is therefore essential for biodiversity conservation in Europe. Several EU countries have implemented Agri-Environmental Schemes (AES) designed to preserve grassland biodiversity and support farmers in developing their operations in a sustainable manner. While the prohibition of fertilization helps maintain oligotrophic, species-rich grasslands, it remains a stringent requirement that may discourage farmers from enrolling in these schemes. Because hay meadows are mesotrophic habitats, low levels of fertilization could potentially allow the maintenance of satisfactory biodiversity. We compared two AES measures implemented in Luxembourg: P4B (mowing after 15 June, no fertilization) and P3B (mowing after 15 June, fertilization permitted up to 50 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), the latter aiming to increase forage yield while maintaining acceptable biodiversity levels. Nineteen grassland sites were selected across Luxembourg. Within each site, adjacent delimited experimental plots were managed under P3B (350 kg ha⁻¹ of mineral fertilizer, N14–P9–K24) and P4B (no fertilization). Floristic composition and biomass yield were recorded annually over four years. Fertilization had a negative effect on hay meadow biodiversity and conservation status, resulting in fewer typical species, a reduced dicot-to-grass ratio, and greater cover of nitrophilous species. Nevertheless, most fertilized plots still met the criteria for hay meadows of good to medium conservation status according to Luxembourg’s evaluation framework. Fertilization increased biomass yield by approximately 40% compared with unfertilized plots. We conclude that P4B remains the optimal management option for hay meadows and should be prioritized in areas hosting sensitive species and in the most biodiverse sites. However, P3B represents a pragmatic compromise, maintaining an acceptable level of biodiversity while being more attractive to farmers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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17 pages, 7577 KB

Open AccessArticle

Increasing Variability in Precipitation Impacts Alpine Rangeland Grazing Across Tibet

by Cheng Duan, Jin Huang, Yang Yu, Xuejie Mou, Huixia Chai and Xiahui Wang

Sustainability 2025, 17(24), 11159; https://doi.org/10.3390/su172411159 - 12 Dec 2025

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 547

Abstract

Increasing precipitation variability has been tightly coupled to livestock grazing through direct impacts on vegetation productivity in rangeland ecosystems. However, where and to what extent such impacts occur has not been quantified systematically at the regional scale; thus, adaptive grazing management is plagued by this knowledge gap. Hence, using 20 years of precipitation, rangeland productivity, and livestock density data across Tibet, we assessed long-term precipitation variability impacts on alpine rangeland grazing, specifically highlighting variations in intra- and inter-annual precipitation variability. We showed that the precipitation concentration index (PCI) and coefficient of variation in precipitation (CVP) both increased significantly across Tibet over the past two decades, especially in the western region. On the contrary, grazing intensity (GI) in most rangeland areas markedly declined over the same period. Moreover, we found that GI is highly responsive to PCI and CVP for the alpine steppe, but interestingly, only PCI is significantly associated with GI for the alpine meadow. Furthermore, the Granger causality test indicates an extremely significant causality between GI and PCI, further highlighting that PCI was a remarkable determinant of rangeland grazing over the last two decades. Notably, we statistically identified rangelands with higher precipitation variability that experienced intensive livestock grazing, specifically, GI responded positively to CVP and PCI. In conclusion, our findings provide novel support for the increasing precipitation variability impacts on rangeland grazing over time across Tibet, especially the intra-annual variation. Thus, we advocate the implementation of adaptive grazing management, such as excluding and minimizing grazing for the alpine rangeland ecosystem under higher precipitation variability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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14 pages, 1785 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Sulphur/Zinc Fertilizer Application on Selected Tomato Parameters in Poland, Spain and Italy

by Dariusz Pańka, Joanna Kocięcka, Małgorzata Jeske, Aleksander Łukanowski, Jean De Dieu Muhire, Niladri Pati, Komal Shah Bhukhanwala and Ferenc Pál-Fám

Sustainability 2025, 17(21), 9764; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219764 - 1 Nov 2025

Viewed by 882

Abstract

Modern, technologically advanced fertilizers that increase the efficiency of the plant’s use of macro and microelements while reducing the doses used are one of the most important elements of sustainable plant production. Current European Union policy, especially the from-farm-to-fork strategy, which is part of the European Green Deal and sustainable agriculture, requires producers to seek new solutions that will ensure higher yields while reducing the number and volume of fertilizers and pesticides introduced into the environment. The aim of conducted research was to determine the effect of the application of Techno Z (sulphur 67% + zinc 14%), an advanced microgranular sulphur/zinc fertilizer with patented ORT technology on greenhouse-grown tomato, one of the most popular vegetables grown worldwide. Consumption is constantly growing, and demand is much higher in many countries than domestic production. Therefore, measures aimed at increasing yields, such as more effective, sustainable fertilization, are extremely important. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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19 pages, 1693 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Population Density on Morpho-Ecological Characteristics of the Rare Species Pontechium maculatum (Boraginaceae) in “Iron Gates” Natural Park (Romania)

by Mariana Niculescu, Paula Iancu and Ovidiu Florin Păniță

Sustainability 2025, 17(21), 9558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219558 - 27 Oct 2025

Viewed by 709

Abstract

Pontechium maculatum (Boraginaceae) is a species of high conservation concern in the Romanian flora. It is assigned the national IUCN category “vulnerable”, legally protected according to the national Biological Diversity Act, and listed in Annex II of the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC). P. maculatum, formerly known as Echium russicum, is a biennial herbaceous plant, rare in many parts of its range and even critically endangered in some countries. In Romania, populations of this species are found in several areas of Transylvania, Moldova, Dobrogea, and Oltenia, mostly within protected areas, with the number of individuals reaching over 1500, and the populations being stable with a favorable conservation status. In the present study, ten populations of P. maculatum from the “Iron Gates” Natural Park in SW Romania were analyzed. For each density, the composition of the plant community was assessed, as well as some morphological and physiological parameters of the plants. The results indicated the phytocoenotic variability of the species, with a different dominant abundance in the floristic composition of several plant communities. Statistical analysis of quantitative traits revealed variability depending on density (at lower densities, plants have a higher number of leaves and photosynthetic rate). Also, the photosynthetic rate was mainly temperature-dependent, rising with this factor. This research found that in some areas, there are insufficient numbers of individuals due to invasive species. The identified variability of Pontechium maculatum in the “Iron Gates” Natural Park is demonstrated by the interplay of ecological factors, human influence, and conservation efforts. Our findings suggest that effective conservation strategies should focus on managing invasive species and enhancing habitat conditions to support P. maculatum populations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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16 pages, 743 KB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Non-Inversion Tillage and Cover Crops on Weed Diversity and Density in Southeastern Romania

by Mădălin Radu, Ciprian Bolohan, Costel Mihalașcu, Andrei Măruțescu, Max John Newbert and Vasileios P. Vasileiadis

Sustainability 2025, 17(13), 6204; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17136204 - 7 Jul 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1530

Abstract

Conservation agriculture is increasingly recognized as a sustainable alternative to conventional farming in temperate regions due to its benefits in terms of reducing soil erosion, enhancing water retention, and mitigating climate change. Despite these benefits, these practices are not broadly adopted, partially due to perceived weed management challenges in conservation systems. This paper explores how a conservation system that uses cover crops and non-inversion tillage (chiselling) influences the weed flora abundance and evolution before cover crop termination and over a complete rotation cycle (sunflower–winter wheat–maize–sunflower) in southeastern Romania when compared to conventional tillage (ploughing). Overall, the conservation system significantly reduced weed density by 31%, preserving a higher diversity and evenness (H′ = 0.75, E = 0.46) by the end of the rotation cycle and an evenly distributed weed community compared to the conventional system, where the opportunistic species Veronica hederifolia exhibited dominance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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19 pages, 2773 KB

Open AccessArticle

Spatiotemporal Variations in Soil Organic Carbon and Microbial Drivers in the Yellow River Delta Wetland, China

by Xinghua Wang, Jun Li, Luzhen Li, Yanke Guo, Beibei Guo and Changsheng Zhao

Sustainability 2025, 17(11), 5188; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17115188 - 4 Jun 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1763

Abstract

This study explores the spatiotemporal dynamics of SOC and microbial-mediated mechanisms in the Yellow River Delta wetlands. Using redundancy analysis and microbial community profiling, we show that vegetation drives distinct SOC storage patterns: Phragmites australis ecosystems exhibit the highest SOC sequestration, followed by Suaeda salsa and Tamarix chinensis habitats, where salt-tolerant taxa like Desulfobacterota and Halobacteriaota promote short-term carbon storage via anaerobic metabolism. The microbial community structure is shaped by both vegetation-induced microhabitats and environmental gradients: SOC and total nitrogen dominate community assembly, while electrical conductivity, pH, and sulfur/nitrogen nutrients regulate spatiotemporal differentiation. Seasonal turnover drives the reorganization of microbial community structures, shaping the dynamic equilibrium of carbon pools. Seasonal DOC dynamics, linked to tidal fluctuations and exogenous carbon inputs, highlight hydrology’s role in modulating active carbon pools. These findings reveal tight linkages among vegetation, microbial functional guilds, and soil biogeochemistry, critical for wetland carbon sequestration. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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17 pages, 2269 KB

Open AccessArticle

Litter and Pruning Biomass in Mango Orchards: Quantification and Nutrient Analysis

by Alan Niscioli, Constancio A. Asis, Joanne Tilbrook, Dallas Anson, Danilo Guinto, Mila Bristow and David Rowlings

Sustainability 2025, 17(10), 4452; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17104452 - 14 May 2025

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1955

Abstract

Litter and pruning biomass are integral to nutrient cycling in the plant–soil ecosystem, contributing significantly to organic matter formation and humus development through decomposition and nutrient mineralization, which ultimately influence soil fertility and health. However, the litterfall dynamics in mango orchards are not well understood, and its contribution to nutrient cycling has seldom been measured. This study aimed to estimate litterfall and pruning biomass in mango orchards and assess the nutrient contents of various biomass components. Litter and pruning biomass samples were collected from four commercial mango orchards planted with Kensington Pride (‘KP’) and ‘B74’ (‘Calypso^®’) cultivars in the Darwin and Katherine regions, using litter traps placed on the orchard floors. Samples were sorted (leaves, flowers, panicles, fruits, and branches) and analyzed for nutrient contents. Results showed that most biomass abscissions occurred between late June and August, spanning approximately 100 days involving floral induction phase, fruit set, and maturity. Leaves made up most of the abscised litter biomass, while branches were the primary component of pruning biomass. The overall ranking of biomass across both regions and orchards is as follows: leaves > branches > panicles > flowers > fruits. The carbon–nitrogen (C:N) ratio of litter pruning material ranged from 30 (flowers) to 139 (branches). On a hectare basis, litter and biomass inputs contained 1.2 t carbon (C), 21.2 kg nitrogen (N), 0.80 kg phosphorus (P), 4.9 kg potassium (K), 8.7 kg calcium (Ca), 2.0 kg magnesium (Mg), 1.1 kg sulfur (S), 15 g boron (B), 13.6 g copper (Cu), 99.3 g iron (Fe), 78.6 g manganese (Mn), and 28.6 g zinc (Zn). The results indicate that annual litterfall may contribute substantially to plant nutrient supply and soil health when incorporated into the soil to undergo decomposition. This study contributes to a better understanding of litter biomass, nutrient sources, and nutrient cycling in tropical mango production systems, offering insights that support accurate nutrient budgeting and help prevent over-fertilization. However, further research is needed to examine biomass accumulation under different pruning regimes, decomposition dynamics, microbial interactions, and broader ecological effects to understand litterfall’s role in promoting plant growth, enhancing soil health, and supporting sustainable mango production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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17 pages, 610 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Review Articles on Ecological Resettlements: Insights, Gaps, and Pathways

by Hari Prasad Pandey, Tek Narayan Maraseni, Armando Apan and Han Zhang

Sustainability 2025, 17(9), 4094; https://doi.org/10.3390/su17094094 - 1 May 2025

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1716

Abstract

Systematically synthesizing existing knowledge on ecological resettlements (ERs) is crucial for shaping future research and conservation strategies. We conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, analyzing 63 research articles in the review domain of ER. Most reviewed articles emphasize people’s welfare in ERs but adopt traditional review approaches, hindering the identification of specific research gaps. This review identifies and focuses on four cross-cutting themes: anthropocentric notions and social equity, parks–people relationships, political ecology and biodiversity conservation, and connecting nature with people for harmonious coexistence. Further, the review highlights key themes in ER and conservation, emphasizing social equity, political ecology, and human–nature relationships. It underscores the need for social justice, the recognition of displaced communities’ rights, and the promotion of participatory decision making. Conservation efforts should prioritize minimizing displacement and respecting local rights, with a focus on co-management models. Case studies, particularly from India and African countries, reveal the impacts of conservation-induced displacement on marginalized communities and ecosystems. Further, we identified 45 key areas across 15 thematic dimensions for future review and research gaps, which will inform decision making in the discipline. We call for long-term assessments of resettlement to address ecological and social consequences, bridging the gap between social scientists and biologists for balancing conservation and human welfare. Finally, we discuss our findings and propose future research directions to inform conservation policies for the harmonious coexistence of humans and non-human beings on a shared planet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Management: Plant, Biodiversity and Ecosystem)

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