What SustainaTerra publishes

Overview. This section focuses on the integration of sustainability principles into agricultural practices and food systems. It explores innovative and traditional farming methods that increase productivity while safeguarding environmental, social and economic sustainability.

What we look for. We invite research that addresses systemic transformations in agricultural production and food distribution, with an emphasis on long-term resilience, equity and ecological harmony. Submissions should show how agriculture can feed a growing global population without degrading the land, water and biodiversity on which it depends.

Key areas

• Agroecology and permaculture. Ecological principles applied to farming systems, including biodiversity-based strategies, closed-loop systems and co-design with farmers.
• Regenerative and conservation agriculture. Practices that restore soil and plant health, increase carbon sequestration and enhance ecosystem services.
• Climate-smart agriculture. Integrating adaptation, mitigation and productivity strategies in agricultural systems.
• Agri-food policy and governance. Policy frameworks and institutional arrangements that support sustainable food systems.
• Food sovereignty and access. Local control over food production, equitable distribution and access to nutritious food, especially in marginalised communities.
• Supply chain sustainability. Reducing waste, improving traceability, shortening supply chains and fostering local food economies.
• Technology and innovation in farming. Precision agriculture, digital platforms, AI in agronomy and mechanisation adapted to smallholder contexts.
• Urban and peri-urban agriculture. City-based agriculture for food security, waste recycling and community resilience.

We also welcome: Interdisciplinary research, meta-analyses, policy reviews, case studies and participatory action research that advance the understanding and practice of sustainability in agriculture and food systems.

Overview. This section addresses the urgent need to conserve biological diversity and manage natural resources sustainably in the face of accelerating human pressures. It covers both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, from the molecular to the landscape level.

What we look for. Submissions should explore the dynamics between human societies and biodiversity, emphasising integrated approaches that reconcile conservation with socio-economic development. The section values both applied and theoretical research, particularly where it informs conservation action, restoration or governance.

Key areas

• Ecosystem-based management. Holistic strategies that consider ecological functions and services in land, forest and aquatic management.
• Landscape ecology. Spatial patterns and ecological processes across landscapes, and how landscape structure affects biodiversity, ecosystem functions and people.
• Protected areas and conservation planning. Reserve design, effectiveness assessments and community-inclusive governance.
• Species conservation and restoration ecology. In-situ and ex-situ conservation, recovery of endangered species and ecosystem rehabilitation.
• Community-based natural resource management. Participatory approaches where local people are central to managing forests, water, wildlife and fisheries.
• Genetic diversity and conservation genetics. Population genetics that inform conservation priorities and the evolutionary potential of species.
• Biodiversity and livelihoods. The value of biodiversity for food security, medicine, cultural identity and poverty alleviation.
• Payment for ecosystem services. Payments for ecosystem services and other incentive-based conservation mechanisms.
• Human–wildlife interactions. The socio-political dimensions of conservation conflicts, and strategies for coexistence.

Overview. This section focuses on the science and practice of environmental protection and climate resilience. It welcomes contributions on how communities, governments and industries can respond to environmental degradation and the many challenges of climate change.

What we look for. Submissions should address mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions, adaptation strategies for vulnerable systems, and innovations that lead to a more sustainable relationship between people and the environment. The section aims to bridge research and policy, and values interdisciplinary contributions.

Key areas

• Climate modelling and risk assessment. Projections, vulnerability mapping and early warning systems that inform policy and action.
• Renewable energy and decarbonisation. Solar, wind, bioenergy and energy efficiency; transitions to low-carbon economies.
• Nature-based solutions. Forests, wetlands and mangroves for carbon storage, flood control and heat regulation.
• Urban climate resilience. Adaptation in cities: green infrastructure, sustainable transport and energy-efficient buildings.
• Water resource management. Integrated watershed management, drought resilience, pollution control and sustainable sanitation.
• Circular economy and waste management. Reducing waste through recycling, upcycling and industrial ecology.
• Environmental justice and climate equity. The unequal burdens of environmental degradation and climate change on marginalised communities.
• Policy instruments and climate governance. Carbon pricing, emissions trading, climate finance and international agreements.