2025 DCERP Research Conference on Human Settlement Planning

VOLUME 3

NO 3

The interconnected global challenges in urbanization, climate change, food security, resource depletion, and social justice call for the urgency of developing more holistic and inclusive solutions grounded in the principles of human ecology. Human ecology, as an interdisciplinary field, bridges natural and social sciences to examine the dynamic interaction between humans and their environments, spanning from ecological, cultural, social, economic, and institutional dimensions. It provides a critical lens through which to analyze systems of production, consumption, settlement, and governance, making it especially relevant in the context of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Anchoring human settlements planning in this holistic perspective enables planners, researchers, and policymakers to develop more adaptive, resilient, and human-centered approaches to urban and rural development.

This special issue features the selected papers presented at the 2025 DCERP Research Conference in Human Settlements Planning of the College of Human Ecology, University of the Philippines Los Banos. This covers various topics in Human Ecology, such as Human and Family Development, Food and Nutrition, Human Settlements Planning, and Social Technology, with a common goal of contributing to the realization of the SDGs.

This special issue welcomes original research, reviews, short communication, and case studies that are not limited to the following topics:

Climate change mitigation and adaptation, Resilience, and Disaster Risk Reduction
Community Development
Environmental and Resource Management
Health, Food and Nutrition Security
Gender and Development
Human Development
Land use, Rural, Urban, and regional planning
Vulnerable communities, Informal settlements, urban poverty, and housing justice
Nature-based solutions and urban ecological systems
Cultural heritage, place-making, and urban identity
Participatory governance and inclusive urban planning
Sustainable and just energy transition
Smart cities and communities