Landadapting

Landadapting is a term used to describe the deliberate modification of land use and landscape characteristics to increase resilience to environmental change, reduce vulnerability, and support sustainable development. It encompasses planning, ecological restoration, and climate adaptation across agricultural, urban, and peri-urban contexts, aiming to align ecological integrity with social and economic needs.

Practices under landadapting include restoration of degraded lands, soil and water conservation, agroforestry and diversified cropping systems, wetland and mangrove rehabilitation, and the integration of green infrastructure in cities (parks, permeable surfaces, green roofs). Planning often employs nature-based solutions and landscape-scale assessments to coordinate actions across sectors and jurisdictions, with attention to long-term outcomes such as biodiversity, carbon sequestration, and hazard mitigation.

Outcomes are evaluated through changes in land cover and health of soils and ecosystems, measurements of biodiversity and carbon storage, and indicators of reduced exposure to hazards like floods or heat. Economic and social indicators—such as livelihood resilience, access to resources, and community adaptation capacity—are also considered. Common challenges include data gaps, limited funding, governance fragmentation, land tenure uncertainties, and competing land-use demands. The term is sometimes used interchangeably with land-use adaptation or landscape adaptation, and its definition and methods can vary by region and context. Examples include coastal marsh restoration to buffer storm impacts, urban brownfield redevelopment into green spaces to mitigate heat islands, and the adoption of drought-tolerant crops and water-smart farming in arid areas.