Effectively confronting climate change requires quantitative, place-based metrics that provide measurable integrity for both global climate agreements and locally grounded actions. Soil carbon sequestration is a key mechanism for long-term carbon dioxide removal from the atmosphere, offering additional co-benefits that enhance climate resilience and readiness in both landscapes and communities. Over the past several decades, our understanding of the biological, physical, and chemical processes governing soil carbon storage, retention, and release in natural and agricultural systems has advanced significantly. Now, continued improvements in computational capacity and modeling tools allow us to link these soil processes to both direct (e.g., enhanced soil carbon stabilization through ecosystem restoration) and indirect (e.g., reduced reliance on imported fertilizers and diversion of organic waste through compost amendments) radiative forcing benefits. In Hawaiʻi, where working lands and biodiversity conservation are often seen in conflict, examples of good rangeland stewardship demonstrate how well-managed grazing can align with conservation practices. These stories of resilience, supported by soil carbon and health data, offer quantitative, science-based evidence for the role of agricultural landscapes in climate solutions. Documenting and elevating these examples can dispel assumptions, providing metrics that track progress in ways meaningful to both local communities and broader climate frameworks. To translate this knowledge into meaningful climate action, adaptive, holistic, and quantitative assessment frameworks are needed—frameworks that resonate with communities and decision makers alike, mobilizing collective action in the face of rapidly accelerating environmental change.

The present study addresses the growing need for effective local sustainable development strategies by situating its inquiry within the interdisciplinary context of land system sciences, as well as the global framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The research hypothesis is that the community approach, when integrated with institutional support, results in more legitimate, adaptive, and sustainable land system outcomes than those of the conventional top-down models. This research seeks to assess the transformative capacity of community-led approaches in influencing land use planning, resource management, and policy design. This study uses qualitative case studies, participatory action research, and a comparative policy analysis to systematically investigate how community-driven initiatives contribute to more resilient and adaptive socioeconomic systems. Data were collected from various localities actively engaged in participatory governance, ensuring robust representation of social, cultural, and ecological contexts. The findings indicate that community-led strategies not only foster social cohesion and economic diversification but also enhance the adaptive capacity for land–climate interactions. These strategies are more responsive and more inclusive than traditional governance models. A further analysis reveals that integrating local knowledge and participatory decision-making with institutional support produces more legitimate and sustainable outcomes. This study concludes that dynamic, context-sensitive frameworks that empower communities while leveraging institutional resources are necessary. This study provides practical guidance to policymakers and stakeholders seeking to advance sustainable and equitable land system transformations.

In the realm of sustainable agriculture, the quest for effective weed control methods has been a pressing challenge, with chemical herbicides posing risks to the environment and human health and contributing to herbicide-resistant weed populations. However, the efficacy of allelopathic mulches, such as pine bark or wheat straw, is often limited by inconsistent allelochemical release and environmental factors. This paper explores the potential of phyto-acoustic mulching as an innovative strategy for enhancing allelopathic weed control under field conditions. Allelopathy, the chemical inhibition of weed growth by plant-derived compounds, offers a sustainable alternative. Traditional mulching with allelopathic plant materials such as Pearl millet, Sorghum Parthenium hysterophorus, and Jute nonwoven fibers has demonstrated significant weed suppression, improved soil health, and increased crop yields. Recent research has demonstrated that sound waves can influence plant physiology, including growth, enzyme activity, and secondary metabolite production. For instance, sound waves at 1 kHz and 100 dB have been shown to promote cell division, increase protective enzyme activity, and enhance endogenous hormone levels in plants. Based on the existing literature, phyto-acoustic mulching could achieve significant weed suppression. Studies on allelopathic mulches report weed germination reductions of 20–60% [1]. Sound wave stimulation, which enhances secondary metabolite production by 20–30% in plants, could potentially increase allelochemical release by a similar margin, leading to weed suppression rates of 40–80% [2]. However, the integration of acoustic or vibrational stimuli to augment the release or efficacy of allelochemicals remains underexplored. This study proposes a novel framework for phyto-acoustic mulching, hypothesizing that controlled acoustic frequencies could enhance the decomposition of mulch materials or stimulate allelochemical activity, thereby amplifying weed control.

Facing growing challenges from climate change and soil degradation, regenerative agriculture is emerging as a promising land management approach. It focuses on increasing soil organic carbon, improving soil health, and enhancing biodiversity—key factors for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. Although no single definition exists, regenerative agriculture commonly includes practices such as reduced tillage, cover cropping, diverse crop rotations, minimizing agrochemical use, applying organic fertilizers, and integrating crop–livestock systems. While the carbon sequestration benefits of these practices are well documented, there is limited knowledge about their actual adoption across different regions. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of regenerative agriculture practices and compare their implementation on farms in Poland, Germany, and Belarus. A survey was conducted among active farmers, covering the characteristics of the respondents and the farms they are associated with, as well as the frequency of specific soil-enhancing activities. Data analysis revealed varied adoption levels across the three countries, reflecting differing local conditions and approaches. Preliminary results suggest that although the awareness of regenerative agriculture exists everywhere, its practical use varies among countries. These insights improve the understanding of the current state of regenerative agriculture in the region and highlight disparities likely influenced by agricultural policies, support availability, educational backgrounds, and socio-economic factors. Recognizing these differences is essential for developing effective strategies to promote regenerative agriculture throughout Central and Eastern Europe.

Mehrauli, one of Delhi’s oldest continuously inhabited settlements, lies at the ecological edge of the Aravalli ridge and has historically been sustained by traditional water systems and natural drainage patterns. However, over the past few decades, this balance has been critically disrupted. Rapid urbanization has led to a 76% increase in built-up area and a 51% decline in green cover between 1990 and 2020. The degradation of the Aravalli ridge, fragmentation of forest cover, and the conversion of permeable surfaces into impervious urban land have caused severe ecological and hydrological stress. Groundwater levels have plummeted from an average of 10–12 meters in 1996 to 22–25 meters in 2020. Delhi Police Department has identified 96 flood-prone points in South Delhi and recorded over 250 flooding incidents in the last five years. These incidences have become more frequent due to blocked natural drains and decreased infiltration. There is an urgent need to address the ecological degradation, water scarcity, and flooding risks that threaten Mehrauli’s sustainability and heritage value. The goal is to develop an integrative approach that not only mitigates these urban issues but also revives Mehrauli’s historical water systems and strengthens its cultural identity. The proposed strategy involves a series of landscape-based actions focused on ecological restoration, water management, removal of invasive flora, and the creation of green corridors and bioswales, which will restore ecological balance, reduce surface runoff, and mitigate UHI effects. It will also represent a form of cultural renewal, facilitating the rejuvenation of historic water bodies such as Hauz-i-Shamsi,built in 1230 AD, and key baolis like Rajon Ki Baoli and Gandhak Ki Baoli. Measures include desilting, repairing embankments, and reconnecting feeder channels to revive their groundwater recharge functions. Interventions should be aligned with the Delhi Master Plan 2041 and India’s commitments under the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The Earth's heat comes from the residual heat associated with the formation of our planet, as well as from the decay of radioactive elements in the mantle. Urban development has not considered land properties and management to benefit from geothermal sources, which provide a clean, free, widespread, and programmable renewable energy source.

Scientific and technological progress have contributed to the use of geothermal to favour the transition towards low-carbon energy sources and sustainable development, which are key factors for the mitigation of and adaptation to climate change. Italy, for example, was the first country in the world to exploit geothermal energy, obtaining numerous social and economic benefits, but in the last 30 years, this exploitation has stood still, while other countries are investing and have recently exceeded their predicted electricity production from renewable geothermal resources.

In the present research, the major changes in low–medium–high-enthalpy geothermal systems that have occurred in Italy in the last 30 years are analysed and discussed, and the preliminary results of a larger investigation related to the perception of geothermal energy by the Italian population are presented. The present research is based on a survey, specifically designed to understand the perception of the Italian population with respect to the different geothermal energy systems (uploaded on the Qualtrix Platform^®).

The integration of social and legislative issues is still in progress, but we can say that the use of geothermal energy is driven by a) fiscal benefit in terms of energy efficiency of people's own properties; b) the extraction of critical raw materials from medium- and high-enthalpy geothermal systems; and c) the search for natural hydrogen. From a technical point of view, a description of the progress can be provided, but the scientific community is not taking perspectives from a social and policy point of view, or the important role of urban, landscape, and natural resource management, fully into account.

A methodological framework is outlined for landscape restoration on post-tin mining land, addressing the urgent global need for more effective strategies to restore degraded landscapes caused by extractive industries. Worldwide, open-pit mining has left extensive areas ecologically fragmented, while the conventional reclamation approaches often fail to match the scale or pace of damage. In this context, Bangka Belitung, Indonesia, is presented as a case study, where over one million hectares have been severely disrupted by illegal tin mining yet formal reclamation rates remain below 10%. This situation highlights the need for site-responsive interventions that work in harmony with natural processes rather than opposing them.

Two core components structure the proposed framework: Ecological Timeframes and the Percept of Biological Design. Ecological Timeframes provide a way to map the phases of ecological recovery, ensuring that the pace and sequence of natural regeneration are recognised and integrated. Positioning interventions within these phases clarifies when and where design efforts should be prioritised to effectively support ecosystem renewal.

The Percept of Biological Design functions as a practical design toolbox, comprising nine principles that translate the mapped timeframes into phased, site-specific actions. These principles inform decisions on focus, scale, and sequencing, allowing the interventions to adapt to changing site conditions over time.

By combining these two elements, landscape architecture is positioned as an adaptive and responsive medium aligned with ecological succession. Using Bangka Belitung as a case study, this framework demonstrates how locally grounded, time-sensitive strategies can contribute to more resilient and regenerative post-mining landscapes, supporting broader global restoration goals.

Urban green infrastructure (GI) aims to increase resilience to climate change and provide ecosystem services, bringing benefits to the mental and physical health of residents and visitors. However, in most cities today, GI is fragmented and does not meet the needs of a growing population. The objective of this research is to evaluate the GI of Lagos in southern Portugal and, according to the results obtained, design solutions that help to increase the urban resilience projected for the population of 2051. The GI of Lagos is projected to increase from 27 m² of green area per inhabitant in 2021 to 44 m² in 2051, in line with the recorded population increase of 7%. Accessibility to GI was estimated based on the 3/30/300 rule, using a 30-meter strip for existing trees and a 300-meter strip for parks. The accessibility area, totaling 467 ha, corresponds to 58% of the residential area. Based on the GI analysis, an urban green corridor was designed to connect existing and planned green spaces, with the aim of counteracting the current landscape's fragmentation and increasing the city’s resilience, providing multiple benefits for both the environment and the city’s inhabitants. A comparative analysis with successful case studies such as that in the Emerald Necklace in Boston, the Vitoria-Gasteiz Green Belt in Spain, and the Monsanto Green Corridor in Lisbon, Portugal, was conducted to inform the projected GI.

Increasing land use and land cover change (LULC) and rapid urbanization have considerable impacts on urban green spaces and their ecosystem services (ESs). These impacts result in a loss of urban green space (UGS), especially market gardening, and particularly weaken the climate resilience of the cities. The results of LULC classification analyses and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) were used to track the spatiotemporal dynamics of urban sprawl and its influence on the loss of green spaces in Bamako and Sikasso cities. The rates of cover, average annual change, and annual increase in the area of each land cover class were applied to analyze the evolution of vegetation formations from 1990 to 2020, while the NDVI was used to quantify the evolution of vegetation over the last 30 years (1990 to 2020). The results showed that built-up areas have increased in both cities, while farmland, high vegetation, medium vegetation (such as market gardening), low vegetation, and water bodies have regressed in the spaces occupied in both cities. The decrease in NDVI values observed in both cities indicates a decrease in green spaces, such as vegetation formation. This study recommends specific actions needed to promote the sustainable land use system, such as urban green spaces (specifically market gardening), which are crucial for the provision of ecosystem services in cities.

Introduction

Blue–Green Infrastructure (BGI) is interconnected aquatic green spaces and designed green spaces to combat climate change. The collective effectiveness of BGI measures at catchment scale has been widely demonstrated. Connecting BGI at the catchment/district scale to obtain a large capacity. In stormwater management, where capacity is increased through such connections, detailed analysis of floodways, capacity, etc., is important. This presentation demonstrates the characteristics of decision-making regarding stormwater management that ensure the systematic integration of facilities in six large development plans in Stavanger.

Methods

‘’Opinions in the start’’, ‘’drainage plans’’, and ‘’final regulations regarding stormwater management’’ are summarized, and the interrelationships between the contents are categorized.　Interrelationships are examined in which the contents of discussions and considerations "provide a direction for planning and analysis," "provide a basis for methods and requirements," or "become the contents of regulations as they are."

Results

There were common trends such as discussion of BGI in an early stage, analysis and consideration based on drainage plans, and a process of indicating the degree of BGI introduction at an early planning stage and requesting further analysis and consideration from the developer. There was a common trend that the municipality performed analysis and consideration to the extent that it could indicate main stormwater systems, requests related to specific developments, and specific problems, and the developer performed the remaining work.

Conclusions

The municipality clarifies the overall capacity and system through district-scale analysis. Within that, it integrates BGI for private properties, privately developed public facilities, private shared facilities, and BGI developed by the municipality. To achieve this, there is a systematic approach of discussing and clarifying the degree of BGI introduction and division of tasks based on analysis from an early planning stage, ensuring consistency from the district scale to the site scale.