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Inclusive Sustainable Development in Highland Regions

Edited by:

Gillian Bowser, PhD, Colorado State University, United States
Shai André Divon, PhD, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway
Ilinca Valentina Stoica, PhD, University of Bucharest, Romania

Submission Status: Open | Submission Deadline: 31 July 2025
 

Sustainable Earth Reviews is calling for submissions to our new Collection, Inclusive Sustainable Development in the Highland Regions. Highland regions, rich in ecosystems and services, often lack evidence-based models for sustainable local development. A special collection in Sustainable Earth Reviews seeks contributions to promote inclusive sustainable development in these regions through collective research and innovation, highlighting innovative approaches and lessons learned from local initiatives.

For further information, please, read the About the collection section below.

Image credits: Gillian Bowser, Colorado State University, United States

New Content ItemThis collection supports and amplifies research related to SDG 13: Climate Action and SDG 15: Life on Land.

About the collection

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Highland regions, incorporating plateaus, alpine systems, mesas and similar landscapes, are home to vital ecosystems and provide numerous goods and services. However, these areas often lack evidence-based models and tools for sustainable local development, particularly in rapidly changing climate conditions.  

We seek contributions for a special collection in Sustainable Earth Reviews that explores strategies to bridge this gap by promoting Inclusive Sustainable Development in Highlands through collective and impact-driven research and innovation. Overview papers and analyses are welcome as they shed light on innovative approaches and lessons learned from communities and research teams working towards sustainable livelihoods in highland regions. This collection will explore overarching and transferable ideas from exemplary local initiatives and co-created visions of inclusive and sustainable development in the highlands.

Themes of Interest

We invite papers that align with the themes and objectives of the HIGHLANDS.3 project, particularly those co-created with community members and researchers. Submissions should focus on one or more of the following themes:

1. Food Security Strategies in Highland Regions

  • Examination of innovative agricultural practices and strategies to enhance food security in highlands.
  • Studies on the impact of climate change on highland agriculture and adaptive measures. Community-driven initiatives and policy recommendations for improving food security in highland regions.


2. Protected Areas and Sustainable Tourism Approaches

  • Innovative strategies for balancing conservation and tourism in highland protected areas.
  • Examples of sustainable tourism practices that support local communities and biodiversity.


3. Livestock Systems in the Highlands and Sustainability Challenges with Changing Climate

  • Research on the impacts of climate change on highland livestock systems.
  • Sustainable practices and adaptation strategies for livestock management in highland regions.


4. Nature-Based Solutions: Sustainable Livelihoods Across Different Economies

  •  Example: Exploring the role of beekeeping and honey production in supporting sustainable livelihoods in highland regions.
  • Case studies and research on integrating bees or other species into local ecosystems and economies. 


5.   Partnerships for Education on Inclusive Sustainable Livelihoods and Sustainable Development Goals

  • Initiatives that promote educational partnerships to foster sustainable livelihoods.
  • Programs and projects that engage local communities in educational activities aimed at sustainable development.

Meet the Editors

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Gillian Bowser, PhD, Colorado State University, United States

Dr. Gillian Bowser is an associate Professor in the department of Ecosystem Science and Sustainability at Colorado State University. Previous to her faculty appointment, Dr. Bowser worked for the US National Park Service as an ecologist and research coordinator at 8 different posting including Yellowstone and Wrangell St. Elias National Parks.  Her expertise is on ecosystem services with a focus on pollinators using participatory science approaches.

Shai André Divon, PhD, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Norway 

Shai André Divon is an Associate Professor of Global Studies in the Department of International Environment and Development Studies (Noragric) at the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU). His research focuses on power and human security, with expertise in development politics, culture, security, and society. He investigates various issues at the intersection of human security, the environment, and development. Dr. Divon has initiated and participated in numerous research and educational projects, with professional experience spanning four continents, including extensive work in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and North America.

Ilinca Valentina Stoica, PhD, University of Bucharest, Romania

Ilinca-Valentina Stoica studied Geography at the University of Bucharest, Romania. She holds a PhD in Geography (2010) and pursued postdoctoral studies focused on integrated rural development in restrictive environments (2010 - 2013). Currently, she is working at the University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geography, Human and Economic Geography Department and within the Interdisciplinary Centre for Advanced Research on Territorial Dynamics (CICADIT). She has been involved in various scientific projects focused on spatial planning, rural development, and the urban-rural interface, among others, at different scales of analysis (local, national or international). Her current research interests include small towns, urban expansion processes, post-socialist dynamics, socio-economic disparities, and local development in mountain areas. She is currently the coordinator of the University of Bucharest team in the Highlands.3 project (Collective Approach of Research and Innovation for Sustainable Development in Highland, ID: 872328, Horizon 2020, implementation period 2020-2025).

  1. This research investigates the benefits of the dairy value chain beyond food provision, and its contribution to inclusive sustainable development (ISDH) in European highlands. Transdisciplinary teams interview...

    Authors: Andrea Ceppatelli, Claudio A. Pozo, Celeste M. Bonnet, Alexandros Siampanopoulos, Mariana Vogg, Peg Strankman, Enrico Sturaro, Jean-François Tourrand and Liz Wedderburn
    Citation: Sustainable Earth Reviews 2024 7:27
    Content type: Analysis Published on:

Submission Guidelines

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This Collection welcomes submission of Research Articles. Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure you have read our submission guidelines. Articles for this Collection should be submitted via our submission system. During the submission process, under the section additional information, you will be asked whether you are submitting to a Collection, please select "Inclusive Sustainable Development in Highland Regions" from the dropdown menu.

Articles will undergo the journal’s standard peer-review process and are subject to all of the journal’s standard policies. Articles will be added to the Collection as they are published.

The Guest Editors have no competing interests with the submissions which they handle through the peer review process. The peer review of any submissions for which the Guest Editors have competing interests is handled by another Editorial Board Member who has no competing interests.