The iDirect Interdisciplinary Conference on “Sustainable Landscape and Natural Resources Management” (SLNR) focuses on addressing the most pressing environmental challenges in our cities. It discusses how we manage our planet's landscapes and natural resources will define the health and well-being of future generations. This conference invites a diverse group of researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and community leaders to participate and share their understanding and collaborative approach to sustainable landscape management. The SLNR conference aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and practical application, ensuring that our collective knowledge translates into tangible, positive change on the ground.

The SLNR conference will explore innovative strategies and best practices that balance economic development with environmental preservation. Our discussions will highlight the importance of integrating ecological principles into all aspects of land use planning, from urban design to natural hazard management. We believe that the outcomes of this conference can create resilient landscapes that not only support biodiversity but also provide essential ecosystem services, such as clean water, fertile soil, and climate regulation. This event is more than just a series of presentations; it is a call to action. We invite you to engage, share your expertise, and join us in building a more sustainable and equitable world.

The Scope:

The SLNR conference will cover a broad range of topics and diverse perspectives to explore the full potential and integration possibilities of sustainable landscape and natural resources management. The conference topics include, but are not limited to, the following key areas:

• Sustainable Urban and Landscape Management: Exploring how to address pressing environmental challenges in cities, including the architecture and design of urban and coastal landscapes.
• Geological and Natural Hazard Management: Focusing on the geographic landscape, geoscience, and geomorphology, as well as the management of geological and natural hazards.
• Sustainable Mining and Resource Extraction: Discussing the transition toward sustainable mining practices, including minimizing water usage, managing waste, and rehabilitating post-mining landscapes, as well as the policy frameworks that ensure equitable benefits.
• Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation: Highlighting the importance of restoring ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring that our landscapes provide essential services.
• Water Resources Management: Addressing critical topics related to the management of water resources and finding innovative solutions to ensure water security.
• Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems: Discussing how to transition to more sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that support both the environment and human well-being.
• Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation: Focusing on strategies for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change through effective landscape and resource management.
• Environmental Policy and Governance: Covering the development of effective environmental policies, the importance of inclusive governance models, and the role of community-led initiatives in natural resource management.

The conference is open year-round. Once authors submit their papers, iDirect manages the peer-review process and organizes online sessions where authors can present their research. Accepted papers are published through the selected venue. For those wishing to present in person, options are available at upcoming conferences. Authors are encouraged to choose the nearest upcoming event via IEREK’s conferences [link] or contact the SLNR Conference coordinator for guidance, including information about possible discounts.

• 1. Sustainable Urban and Landscape Management

  Exploring how to address pressing environmental challenges in cities, including the architecture and design of urban and coastal landscapes.

• 2. Geological and Natural Hazard Management

  Focusing on the geographic landscape, geoscience, and geomorphology, as well as the management of geological and natural hazards.

• 3. Sustainable Mining and Resource Extraction

  Discussing the transition toward sustainable mining practices, including minimizing water usage, managing waste, and rehabilitating post-mining landscapes, as well as the policy frameworks that ensure equitable benefits.

• 4. Ecosystem Restoration and Biodiversity Conservation

  Highlighting the importance of restoring ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, and ensuring that our landscapes provide essential services.

• 5. Water Resources Management

  Addressing critical topics related to the management of water resources and finding innovative solutions to ensure water security.

• 6. Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems

  Discussing how to transition to more sustainable agricultural practices and food systems that support both the environment and human well-being.

• 7. Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

  Focusing on strategies for adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change through effective landscape and resource management.

• 8. Environmental Policy and Governance

  Covering the development of effective environmental policies, the importance of inclusive governance models, and the role of community-led initiatives in natural resource management.

Participating in an iDirect conference offers a streamlined path to publishing your research while enhancing your professional reputation. Our unique model provides a direct link between your work and publication in a prestigious book series, all from a year-round online platform.

Key Benefits

• Direct Path to Publication: All papers accepted through the rigorous peer-review process are submitted for publication in a corresponding Springer Nature book series. This offers authors a direct, efficient path to a high-impact publication, cementing their work in a respected, indexed volume.

• International Recognition: Authors receive an internationally recognized soft-copy certificate of participation and contribution, which adds a valuable credential to their curriculum vitae.

• Focused Academic Discussion: Our dedicated online sessions bring together a global community of experts to exchange and share their research. It is a fantastic opportunity to discuss your work with leading academic scientists and gain insights that could inspire future research.

• Expanded Network: While our conferences are online, they provide an opportunity for networking and collaboration. You can engage directly with professors and peers during online discussions, building connections that can lead to future collaborative projects.

• Boosting Your Academic Profile: Publishing with Springer Nature and presenting your work in an iDirect conference will significantly enhance your academic reputation. It demonstrates your active role in the global research community and contributes to your professional visibility.

• Permanent Access to Content: Accepted papers are published in a book series that is permanently archived on the websites of both Springer Nature and IEREK, ensuring your work is immediately and continuously available to the international scientific community.

A single participation fee of 150 Euros covers all types of involvement in an iDirect Interdisciplinary Conference, whether you are an author, co-author, or a general audience member. This all-inclusive fee provides a direct, year-round path for your research to be published with Springer Nature.

The participation fee covers the following:

• Paper Submission and Peer-Review: The fee includes the full, double-blind peer-review process for a single paper.

• Publication Opportunity: Accepted papers will be submitted for publication in the corresponding Springer book series. Publication is included in the fee.

• Online Presentation: Authors will be invited to present their paper in a dedicated online session with other authors.

• Access to Recordings: All participants will receive access to the recordings of the online sessions.

• Certificates: You will receive a soft-copy participation certificate and a preliminary acceptance letter.

 Discounts and Waivers

Despite the single low fee, we are pleased to offer special discounts to applicants from our collaborative university partners and from low and middle-income countries.

• Collaborative Discounts: A special discount is offered to applicants from universities that have signed a partnership agreement with IEREK.

• Income-Based Discounts: Special waivers and discounts are available for authors from low and middle-income countries, as classified by the World Bank.

To apply for a discount, please contact the iDirect Conference coordinator at the email provided on the conference page.

Optional Attendance Upgrades

While iDirect conferences are hosted online, authors have the option to present their work in person at one of IEREK’s upcoming physical conferences. This option is available for an additional fee to cover conference expenses.

At IEREK, we have a strict policy against plagiarism. Copying another author's work or ideas without proper credit is considered fraudulent. Our review committee has the authority to reject any paper, at any stage of the review process, if it is found to have plagiarized content.

To ensure a smooth process, please follow these steps for your paper submissions.

Step 1: Full Paper Submission & Review

After your paper is preliminarily accepted, you will receive an acceptance letter and a proforma invoice. Payment is required to confirm your participation and to initiate the full paper review process.

• Full Paper Guidelines:
• Your paper must be written in English, be a minimum of 6 pages long, and align with a conference topic.
• The paper should follow a standard research structure: Abstract (with keywords), Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Results, Conclusion, and References.
• You can submit a regular paper of up to 12 pages at no extra charge.
• Your submission can be made through the website or sent to the conference email.
• Peer Review Process:
• We use a double-blind peer-review process. Papers are evaluated by a minimum of two reviewers and a final decision is made by the responsible Editor.
• All submissions are screened for plagiarism using the iThenticate software. Papers with a similarity score above 30% will be rejected.
• You may be asked to revise your paper to reduce a lower similarity score or to address reviewer comments.
• Missed deadlines for revisions may result in the complete rejection of your paper from publication.

Step 2: Publication & Presentation

Upon full paper acceptance, you will be contacted to finalize your submission.

• Publication:
• If your paper is accepted for publication, you will be asked to provide a final version that follows Springer's guidelines and to sign a consent-to-publish (CTP) form.
• Your paper will then be published in the corresponding iDirect book series with Springer Nature.
• Presentation:
• You have two options for presenting your work. You can attend a special online session organized to discuss submitted papers.
• Alternatively, you can present your work in person at one of IEREK’s upcoming conferences. This option requires paying the difference in fees.

Please inform the conference support team if you do not intend to publish an extended paper in the proceedings.

Due to the nature of the year-round, online iDirect conferences, all refunds are subject to a penalty based on the time elapsed since the payment was made. Please note that no refunds will be provided to participants after their papers have been submitted for publication.

Cancellation Plan: