Aligning land use with sustainability: Context-sensitive pathways forward

The concept of sustainable development states that economic, social, and technological progress needs to be harmonised with nature. However, with the rate of global environmental deterioration now higher than at any time in human history and an ever-increasing human population, sustainability slips out of reach. One of the central processes and key issues in attaining sustainability is human use of and interaction with land resources. These can be described by two main processes that often go hand in hand: land conversion and land-use intensification. As these two phenomena accelerate, the level of disturbance in the environment increases, transforming natural ecosystems into altered, novel ecosystems or intensively used ecosystems. Depending on the degree of human-induced land alterations, different actions are needed to achieve and maintain sustainability. Conservation and prevention are necessary in natural areas with a low level of anthropogenic pressures. In areas that have already been disturbed by humans, sustainable management allows for a harmonious coexistence between humans and nature. Restoration and mitigation can help address the negative impacts of the most altered habitats. Sustainability, however, is not a fixed target but a dynamic condition shaped by evolving local contexts and global drivers. We advocate for transformative change grounded in flexible, context-sensitive land-use strategies that integrate ecological resilience, participatory governance, and institutional adaptability. With such systemic shifts, land systems can become catalysts for long-term sustainability.