Human Impacts on the Land–River Interface

Dear Colleagues,

1. Overall focus, scope and purpose of the Special Issue

The Special Issue entitled "Human Impacts on the Land–River Interface" seeks to explore and elucidate the myriad ways in which human activities are influencing the critical zones where terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems intersect. The land–river interface, encompassing riparian zones, floodplains, river-associated wetlands, terraces, and estuarine environments, represents a dynamic nexus that is essential for maintaining ecological balance, water quality, and biodiversity.

The primary focus of this Special Issue is to bring together cutting-edge research that examines the following areas:

• Anthropogenic Changes: How urbanization, agriculture, deforestation, and industrial activities are altering the physical and chemical properties of these interfaces.
• Ecological Consequences: The impact of these changes on flora and fauna, including shifts in species composition, habitat fragmentation, and the introduction of invasive species.
• Hydrological Alterations: The effects of water management practices, such as damming, irrigation, and drainage, on the natural flow regimes, sediment transport, and nutrient cycling.
• Pollution and Contamination: The sources, pathways, and effects of pollutants like pesticides, heavy metals, and microplastics entering the river systems from land-based activities.
• Mitigation and Restoration: Strategies for mitigating negative impacts, including restoration ecology, sustainable land-use practices, and the implementation of green infrastructure.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue among ecologists, hydrologists, environmental scientists, and policymakers, aiming to advance our understanding and management of the land–river interface in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures.

2. Situating the Special Issue within the Existing Literature

This Special Issue aims to build upon and expand the existing body of knowledge in the following key ways:

• Integrative Approaches: While current studies are often focused on isolated components (e.g., water quality, species diversity), this Special Issue emphasizes the interconnectedness of physical, chemical, and biological processes. By fostering integrative approaches, it seeks to provide a holistic understanding of the land–river interface.
• Emerging Challenges: With the advent of new environmental challenges such as climate change, the spread of invasive species, and the escalation of pollution, there is a pressing need for updated research that reflects these evolving threats. This Special Issue will highlight contemporary issues and innovative solutions that are not yet fully addressed in the literature.
• Technological Advancements: Advances in remote sensing, GIS, and environmental modeling have opened new avenues for studying land–river dynamics. Contributions to this Special Issue will showcase how these technologies are being employed to gain deeper insights and improve predictive capabilities.

Policy and Management Relevance: By linking scientific research with policy and management practices, the Special Issue aims to bridge the gap between theory and application. It will feature studies that provide actionable recommendations for managing land–river interfaces in a sustainable and resilient manner.

Dr. Long Ho
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. Water 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 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.

• land–river interface
• riparian zones
• floodplains
• estuarine environments
• anthropogenic impacts
• urbanization
• deforestation
• agricultural practices
• industrial activities
• ecological consequences
• habitat fragmentation
• invasive species
• hydrological alterations
• water management
• damming
• irrigation
• sediment transport
• nutrient cycling
• pollution
• contamination
• pesticides
• heavy metals
• microplastics
• restoration ecology
• sustainable land-use practices
• green infrastructure
• climate change
• environmental modeling
• remote sensing
• gis
• water quality
• biodiversity
• ecosystem services
• environmental policy