Research that aims at increased awareness raising, stakeholder participation, effective knowledge transfer and policy integration with respect to land management decisions, will benefit all stakeholders in that their interests will be explicitly and transparently weighted against all other interests.

Researchers are challenged to work together with policymakers, land managers, companies and citizens, as well as cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary, connecting the natural and social sciences. This topic is about understanding public and private decision-makers needs and enhancing uptake of scientific knowledge with respect to land use management and land use planning.

Every citizen drinks, eats, lives, works, recreates and is mobile, hence is a land user. Quite often, citizens are also landowners, and hence land managers. Increased awareness of the role that citizens are capable to play in sustainable land use planning and land management, based on knowledge of the functions and potential benefits of the soil-water-sediment system, will enable citizens to participate meaningfully and with authority in discussions at different scales, within their own neighbourhoods, in national or international movements, and individually in their own consumption pattern. This will contribute to ownership and willingness to care for their neighbourhood and community, which will add to social cohesion and liveability.