Editorial: Land-use management in peri-urban areas

Peri-urban areas represent a complex and contested interface between urban and rural space, where transitions in land use occur under socio-ecological tensions and governance challenges (Hutchings et al., 2022). As urban settlements expand and sprawl outward toward surrounding lands, managing transitional space is essential for achieving sustainability, resilience, and equity in development (Mulya et al., 2023). Despite increased attention in research and policy discussions, peri-urban land-use management remains a complex domain in both theory and practice (Kwadwo Anane and Cobbinah, 2022). The disconnect between theory and practice is a testament to the necessity for innovative, context-dependent strategies for managing peri-urban land use, for addressing unique problems and competing demands, and generating integrated, sustainable solutions (Buxton, 2022).Peri-urban land-use management is not an urban or extended urban or rural plan but a unique domain requiring context-dependent and adapted frameworks for analysis and governance (Mortoja et al., 2020;Ahani and Dadashpoor, 2021). These transitional zones, characterized by their hybridity and rapid transformation, require strategies for managing it in recognition of unique socio-ecological dynamics, competing demands for land use, and multiple stakeholder relationships (Tacoli, 1997;Kwadwo Anane and Cobbinah, 2022). Managing these areas involves balancing urban encroachment, farm preservation, conservation, and infrastructure expansion while addressing fragmented governance structures (Hersperger et al., 2020;Salem et al., 2020).The articles featured in this research topic contribute to key discourses, including:• Integrated strategies for delineating and analyzing peri-urban areas across different geographic and socio-economic contexts. • The role played by peri-urban landscapes in achieving sustainability and regenerative urban systems.• Interlinkages between resource efficiency, environmental sustainability, and urban expansion.• Adaptive governance frameworks for addressing unique problems in peri-urban areas, particularly in the Global South.This research topic includes five papers presenting diverse perspectives on conceptualizing and engaging with peri-urban landscapes. Figure 1 provides an overview of peri-urban land use management challenges, illustrating the interconnections among the various themes explored in this research topic.Readers are encouraged to consult the full articles for detailed discussions. The key contributions are summarized as follows:In "Where is the peri-urban? Mapping the areas 'around, beyond and between,'" Ravetz and Sahana establish a methodological framework for research and policy in the peri-urban. The authors' research demonstrates an integrated solution to complex systems-based thinking, and a functional methodology for identifying peri-urban areas through population density and 'functional urban area' data. Through analysis of 21 cities worldwide, the authors offer a scalable methodology as a precursor to systematic peri-urban classification and planning.Referring to the literature on sustainability, Andrew Butt's paper, "Sustainable, resilient, regenerative? The potential of Melbourne's peri-urban region", discusses the possibility of periurban areas to increase socio-ecological resilience. Based on the case of Melbourne, the research condemns dominant policy paradigms and advocates a move towards regenerative urban systems that integrate community participation and multifunctional land use.Rural AreaUnclear BoundariesCompeting Land-Use Land Tenure ClashesInformal DevelopmentEnvironmental DegradationLand SpeculationIn Together, these contributions advance the understanding of peri-urban land-use management by integrating conceptual, methodological, and policy-oriented perspectives. The key takeaways from this Research Topic emphasize the following needs:• A clear methodology for defining and analyzing peri-urban areas.• Policies to recognize and utilize the multifunctionality of peri-urban landscapes.• A peri-urban land use management framework that incorporates land tenure dynamics, food-energy-water resource management, socio-economic mobility in peri-urban-rural linkages, and resilience to climate and economic change. • Implementation of urban growth strategies aligned with environmental adaptation and resource efficiency principles. • Adopting governance structures that are adaptive, participatory, and context-sensitive.Looking ahead, future research should refine the classification of peri-urban typologies, investigate the relationship between governance and socio-ecological resilience, and create decision-support tools to improve land-use management. As peri-urbanization continues to transform urban regions worldwide, the insights from this research topic offer a strong foundation for advancing sustainable and flexible land-use strategies.