Land is of multi-dimensional character. It is multi-scale, multi-functional, multi-sectorial, multi-actor based: it needs people from practice and research to interact as equal partners to make sense of research for sustainable land management. The kind of research needed to deal with this complexity and these challenges we term implementation-oriented research. With its many practical examples, this book explores alternatives to the often perceived ‘either – or’ choice between agricultural intensification on the one hand, and expansion of arable land on the other. There is a third route to satisfy human needs for food, fibre, and fodder.

This is the strategy of sustainable intensification. Twelve regional projects with the participation of more than 600 scientists within the seven-year-long research programme gained experience in land management contexts as different as those in Angola, Botswana, Brazil, China, Germany, Madagascar, Namibia, the Philippines, Russia (Siberia), and Vietnam. Lessons were learned about knowledge management and science-practice interaction.

The book provides evidence of how practices of sustainable land management – existing as well as new – can be adapted to specific local and regional contexts. It shows how research can support decision makers and advisors from a variety of sectors - at national, regional, and local levels - in comprehending the complexity of sustainable land management. It assists them in identifying and developing suitable solutions for prevention or restoration of land degradation, improvement of yields, increasing resilience in production systems, and making water management more efficient. A special focus targets measures for climate change adaptation and mitigation.