Droughts are among the greatest threats to sustainable development. Forecasts estimate that by 2050 droughts may affect over three-quarters of the world’s population. The number and duration of droughts has increased by 29% since 2000, as compared to the two previous decades (WMO 2021). Simultaneously, desertification, defined as land degradation in dry-subhumid, semi-arid, and arid regions, has exacerbated over the last decades, risking expansive lands across the world. The combined impact of ‘natural’ and anthropogenic factors has exaggerated the stressors imposed on rangelands, forest lands, and croplands, risking their functioning and lowering their potential productivity. The resulted in environmental degradation has elevated the risk to water and food security for enormous populations, and particularly in developing countries.

In addition to soil science, we invite relevant submissions from related disciplines such as agronomy, environmental science, forestry, hydrology, and physical geography.

The UN now has a World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought. The Spanish Journal of Soil Science (Impact Factor of 2.0 and Citescore of 2.2) would like to welcome any manuscripts (original research, review articles, opinion pieces) on this noteworthy topic.

Fee Support
As a Gold open-access journal, all submissions are subject to publishing fees. Authors can benefit from financial support from their institution through Frontiers' Institutional Agreements. For full details please see the journals Publishing Fees page. Members of the SECS are also entitled to a 30% discount off their publishing fees.

Please contact the Editorial Office if you have any questions.

Article types and fees

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Review

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Special Issue accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Special Issue description:

• Brief Research Report
• Commentary
• Editorial
• Letter to the Editor
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Review

Keywords: climatic change mitigation and adaptation, ecological services and functions, environmental degradation and restoration, extreme climate, primary productivity, soil quality