Restoration of severely degraded land presents a major challenge across a broad range of environments, particularly where both soil structure and ecological memory are lacking. The traditional approaches often fail in such settings, necessitating new solutions for ecosystem recovery. Biorestorer is a modular platform for ecological restoration, designed to create functional soils and catalyze synthetic succession in highly degraded areas. The approach begins with “synthetic pedogenesis”: the substrate is assembled using a combination of dual-fraction biochar (600 °C for rapid microbial activation and 800 °C for long-term stability), carefully selected basaltic minerals for nutrient and pH buffering, and rock-solubilizing bacteria (RSB) to accelerate mineral weathering. A protective mineral cover layer is applied to reduce evaporation and erosion. The second phase, “synthetic succession”, involves sequential microbial colonization, targeted mycorrhizal inoculation, and the introduction of pioneer plant species, supporting the emergence of a self-organizing, resilient ecosystem even on initially sterile substrates. The validated components of Biorestorer are known to support rapid microbial establishment, enhance nutrient availability, and maintain the substrate's structure under simulated extreme conditions. Biorestorer is currently a theoretical platform without comprehensive field testing, but it is composed exclusively of scientifically proven and independently validated components. The system’s modularity allows procedures to be tailored to the local conditions and various levels of degradation while minimizing the ecological risk. Unlike the conventional methods, Biorestorer can be applied where no viable soil or biological legacy exists, opening up restoration opportunities for post-industrial sites, mine tailings, eroded agricultural land, and other critical areas. Biorestorer thus represents a new, flexible approach to restoring severely degraded land and expands the possibilities of ecological engineering.

Introduction

Nearly 53% of New Zealand (NZ)’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions come from the agricultural sector, of which over 90% are from livestock. Lifestyle blocks (LBs), which have been growing in popularity in NZ over the last 20 years, are semi-rural properties (0.5–50 ha) that typically prioritise lifestyle aspirations over production and commercial gains. As a result, their owners demonstrate a strong behavioural preference for keeping livestock for recreational or personal purposes. These livestock are often underreported and frequently excluded from national GHG emission inventories. Existing research has roughly estimated that including them could increase NZ’s total carbon emissions by 1–2%. However, detailed data on livestock and management practices on LBs remain limited, making it difficult to accurately assess their contribution to national carbon budgets and environmental impacts.

Methods

This article presents insights from a national survey of LB owners, which collected detailed information on livestock keeping, land use practices, resource consumption behaviours, and sustainability engagement. Data were analysed using a carbon footprint framework across four key environmental factors, water, carbon, land, and biodiversity, to reveal their potential challenges and contributions.

Results and Conclusion

Findings reveal that 93% of respondents keep at least one type of livestock, and 77% own high-emission animals such as sheep and cattle. These animals are primarily raised for long-term personal enjoyment rather than meat production, resulting in a carbon footprint pattern that differs from traditional, production-oriented livestock farming. Nonetheless, LB owners generally show strong environmental awareness, engaging in sustainable land management practices like composting, manure reuse, and rainwater harvesting, as well as biodiversity conservation efforts like native tree planting and weed control. These positive actions can significantly offset livestock-related carbon emissions. With appropriate financial incentives and technical knowledge support, LB owners could contribute more meaningfully to climate change and NZ’s broader sustainability goals.

Recently, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have emerged as powerful tools across various domains, such as computer vision, audio processing, and text analysis, thanks to their outstanding performance in cutting-edge applications. In this study, we propose a CNN-based system for detecting harmful insects in agricultural fields, leveraging specialized datasets. Our approach utilizes the capabilities of three YOLO architectures, incorporating advanced techniques in deep learning and computer vision. In our work, we focus on four selected classes from the standard IP102 benchmark dataset for pest recognition, Black Cutworm, Red Spider, Aphids, and Flea Beetle, due to their significant impact on crop health and productivity. We propose a convolutional neural network (CNN)-based architecture using "You Only Look Once" (YOLO), specifically YOLOv5, YOLOv10, to process and evaluate our model. During training, the models achieved mAP scores of 83% for YOLOv5 and 86% for YOLOv10. Our experiments yielded high test accuracies, exceeding 92% for YOLOv5 and YOLOv10. The goal is to reduce pesticide usage, enable timely preventive actions, and mitigate economic losses by predicting infestations, supporting rapid interventions, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices through smart farming technologies. However, the application of CNNs to pest detection in agricultural contexts remains underexplored, particularly within the broader framework of climate action, sustainable land use, and resilient agricultural systems.

The Dhaka Metropolitan Area is experiencing rapid industrial growth alongside uncontrolled urban expansion, leading to significant land-use conflicts and environmental pressures. This study investigates how to identify the optimal sites for industrial development that support sustainable urban growth by leveraging Geographic Information Systems (GISs), combined with a structured decision-making approach. The analysis incorporates key environmental and infrastructural factors to guide responsible planning aligned with global sustainability objectives. This study integrates spatial variables such as transport accessibility, land use, environmental sensitivity, and infrastructure presence. Up-to-date satellite imagery and land-use information from recent years ensure relevant and precise analysis. The findings indicate that roughly 10-15% of the metropolitan area is highly suitable for industrial activities, predominantly in the eastern and southern sectors. However, a considerable portion of existing industries is situated outside the officially designated zones, with nearly 9% infringing on protected environments, pointing to gaps in land management policies. Additionally, between 2014 and 2020, industrial expansion resulted in the conversion of over 1,100 hectares of natural land, underscoring urgent ecological concerns. Scenario modeling further demonstrates how strategic land allocation can balance industrial growth with environmental conservation. This research highlights the value of integrating a GIS with multi-criteria evaluation to provide a flexible, data-driven framework for sustainable industrial land-use planning.

The Cañadas Reales (‘Royal Cattle Paths’) have been a transit route for transhumant cattle on their annual winter pilgrimage from northern Spain to central and southern Spain from their creation in the 13^th century to the present day. Their origin dates to the Roman roads and tracks in Hispania. Transhumance was included in the list of UNESCO Intangible Cultural World Heritage in 2023. The Cañadas have been of great importance in the history of the territory of the UNESCO Global Geopark Volcanes de Calatrava, Ciudad Real (Spain). Within it, the areas of Campo de Calatrava and Alcudia Valley are the places where cattle from the northhibernate. Three cañadas—the Toledana, Segoviana and Soriana Oriental—converge and form the backbone of the geopark, together with other secondary cattle paths (cordeles, veredas and coladas).

The geopark shows a high level of geodiversity and geoheritage on an area of 4,383 km² belonging to 40 municipalities, linked to two Spanish Geological Contexts of International Relevance (Law 33/2015): the Mercury Mineralizations and the Neogene–Quaternary Volcanism of the Iberian Peninsula.

This work presents an inventory of the geomorphological heritage of volcanic and natural protected areas at the regional and European level (Natura 2000 network), as well as other resources of historical–cultural and ethnographic heritage, linked to the Cañadas Reales (sour water fountains, hot springs, baths, transhumance architecture, abandoned mines...). The objective is to promote geotourism through sites of geotouristic interest (natural and cultural) and through actions to be carried out by the Geopark's management body.

The proposed actions focus on refurbishing the official hiking routes within the Cañadas (georoutes or geoitineraries), providing them with informative content; creating interpretation centers for the Geopark ('Volcano House') and relative to transhumance, taking advantage of historic or disused buildings (such as the airport visitor center); resuming training courses for Geopark guide staff; and taking advantage of the synergies of the transport network (highways, high-speed trains, airport).

This study investigates the revitalization of abandoned industrial areas along riverbanks and coastal regions in France, assessing their capacity to drive sustainable urban change through cohesive planning and design approaches. Based on three case studies, La Seyne-sur-Mer (former shipyards), Les Rives du Gave in Pau (former logistics and industrial hub), and the PCUK site in Wattrelos/Leers (former chemical production facility), the research explores how sites marked by industrial decline are being reimagined to address contemporary challenges such as ecological recovery, social and spatial integration, and cultural heritage enhancement. The purpose is to examine how the strategic regeneration of decommissioned sites can contribute to sustainable and inclusive urban development. Using a cross-case analysis grounded in landscape and urban environmental research, the study compares planning strategies, tools, and outcomes. The findings reveal diverse but complementary approaches: 1) adaptive reuse of maritime infrastructure in La Seyne-sur-Mer, 2) ecological and recreational redevelopment in Pau, and 3) innovative phytoremediation and rewilding at the PCUK site. Despite their local specificities, these projects collectively illustrate how collaborative governance, nature-based solutions, and cultural initiatives can reintegrate neglected industrial zones into the urban fabric. The paper contributes to the wider discourse on European post-industrial regeneration by offering original insights into flexible, context-sensitive strategies that reconcile historical legacies with future sustainability goals.

The 21st century is witnessing an unprecedented pace of urbanisation due to industrialisation, reshaping landscapes, and redefining the land utilisation process across the world. This transformation presents both opportunities and critical challenges, particularly in rapidly developing nations where urban expansion is often unplanned and ecologically disruptive. The interface between urban growth and land use dynamics has become a focal point for policymakers, planners, and researchers seeking to ensure a sustainable and resilient urban future. Urbanisation in India’s industrial corridors has led to significant land use transformations, particularly in rapidly growing industrial cities such as Ahmedabad and Surat—two strategic urban centres along the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). This study presents a comparative spatiotemporal analysis of built-up expansion and land use/land cover (LULC) dynamics in both cities over the past two decades (2000–2020), aiming to evaluate the spatial implications of industrial growth on urban form and land conversion patterns. Using multi-temporal Landsat satellite imageries, the Normalised Difference Built-Up Index (NDBI) and supervised LULC classifications in a GIS, LULC transformations and built-up changes were spatially analysed within the city boundary. The findings reveal a contrasting yet converging pattern of urban expansion—while Ahmedabad exhibits a more radial and zonally structured growth due to its planned industrial development, Surat demonstrates a dispersed expansion with significant encroachment into agricultural and barren lands. The built-up area in Ahmedabad and Surat is increased by 13.24% and 26.60%, respectively, from 2000 to 2020. Industrial growth and corridor development are significantly contributing to the increase in urban footprints, especially in the areas influenced by economic zones. This study highlights industrialisation as a critical driver of land use transformation, exacerbating peri-urban sprawl and ecological fragmentation, and the need for more planned and sustainable urban growth—merging remote sensing and urban morphology—to provide spatially explicit evidence of the present situation and future sustainable planning.

Soil carbon sequestration is a crucial strategy for addressing climate change; however, the contribution of fast-growing tree plantations under drought conditions remains poorly understood. This study assessed the total belowground carbon flux (TBCF) of eight Eucalyptus genotypes over three years (ages 7–9) under two contrasting irrigation regimes in a plantation located in the Mediterranean region of Chile. The analysis included E. globulus, E. nitens × globulus (high- and low-yielding), E. nitens, E. badjensis, E. smithii, and E. camaldulensis × globulus, evaluated under irrigation (>75% field capacity) and drought (~25% above the permanent wilting point). The TBCF was estimated annually using a carbon mass balance approach, and productivity was assessed via the current annual increment (CAI). The results showed an average CAI of 27.4 m³·ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹ and a TBCF of 1204 gC·m⁻²·yr⁻¹ under irrigation, while under drought, the CAI was reduced by 24% and the TBCF by 13% (to 17.5 m³·ha⁻¹·yr⁻¹ and 1036 gC·m⁻²·yr⁻¹, respectively). E. smithii and E. nitens × globulus (high-yield) showed high stability, with CAI variations <10% and TBCF reductions <5%. In contrast, E. globulus and E. nitens×globulus (low-yield) exhibited >35% reductions in CAI and >20% in TBCF. A logarithmic relationship was observed between CAI and TBCF (R² > 0.80), with steeper slopes under drought, indicating increased belowground carbon allocation per unit of growth as the TBCF:CAI ratio increased from 44.0 under irrigation to 59.2 under drought, reflecting a shift in allocation strategy. These results suggest that under water-limited conditions, trees prioritize belowground functions (e.g., root activity and rhizosphere support), potentially at the expense of stem growth. These results highlight the functional trade-offs among genotypes and identify promising candidates for resilient carbon sequestration strategies under drought conditions.

Due to climate change, runoff simulations and understanding the relationship between rainfall and runoff are of great importance. Various hydrological models have been developed and used to simulate runoff in multiple watersheds in different parts of the world. This study combined a Geographic Information System (GIS) and the Hydrologic Engineering Centre-Hydrologic Modeling System (HEC-HMS) to simulate rainfall-based runoff for the Mangla watershed. This study used a digital elevation model (DEM), freely available satellite-based soil and land use and land cover data, rainfall data for the catchment delineation, and hydrological modeling using the GIS and the HEC-HMS. In the HEC-HMS, different parameters were used for the simulations, like the Soil Conservation Service (SCS)'s Curve Number loss method, the SCS's Unit Hydrograph transform method, the recession baseflow method, and the Muskingum reach routing method. The climate data was obtained from the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), and the hydrological data was obtained from the Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA). The model was manually calibrated from 1991 to 2000 and validated from 2001 to 2010. This study revealed the direct rainfall-based runoff modeling for the watershed using the HEC-HMS model. The model's efficiency was tested based on its statistical parameters, like the root mean square error (RMSE), standard deviation, Percent Bias, and Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency. The Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency for calibration and validation was 0.919 and 0.945, respectively. The results of this study suggest that the hydrological modeling using the HEC-HMS for the Mangla watershed could be applicable to future work on rainfall-based runoff modeling, and to reduce the impact of floods, it is crucial to have strong flood protection measures and emergency response strategies.

Urban growth in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, is creating a growing need for land for housing and socio-economic activities. With the city running out of space, city dwellers are turning to the outskirts where land is still available. Numerous rural land changes are taking place in the Greater Ouaga continuum, which consists of the city of Ouagadougou and seven (07) surrounding rural municipalities. Land transactions are at the heart of the interplay of interests and powers, and of feelings of appropriation/expropriation. At the interface, conflicts are multiplying as a result of widespread land speculation. Urban projects initiated by the Government or private housing promoters dispossess stakeholders of their land, with or without compensation. As a result, the formal or informal reterritorialisation processes that (dis)mobilise them are based on a competitive fabric of spatial occupation. These practices harden social relations and call into question the dichotomous approach to rights in peri-urban areas, as opposed to the surrounding countryside. Disputes over land rights and the non-application of regulatory texts fuel land conflicts and give rise to various forms of social resistance. This situation raises questions about land management in the urban/rural continuum. The aim of this article is to analyse the forms of transformation of rural land tenure in Greater Ouaga, land conflicts, and the issues arising from them. The methodological approach will be based on a mixed socio-spatial approach combining qualitative and quantitative analyses based on documentary research, interviews, surveys, and field observations using appropriate tools such as guides, fact sheets, and satellite images. The data will be processed and analysed using geospatial tools, in particular, GIS and remote sensing. The results obtained will be discussed and suggestions made for better land management in the urban/rural continuum.