The Global Land Project is a joint research project for land systems between the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP) and the International Human Dimensions Programme (IHDP).The research planning was built upon the extensive heritage of IGBP I global networks of scientists, data, and largely disciplinary understanding, particularly from the Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems (GCTE) project and the Land Use/Cover Change (LUCC) project.

The GLP Science Plan (2005) indicates three objectives: 1) the dynamics of land system change; 2) the consequences of land system change, and 3) integrating analysis and modeling for land sustainability. This research strategy is designed to better integrate the understanding of the coupled human and environment system. These integrated science perspectives reflect the recognition of the fundamental nature of how human activities on land are affecting feedbacks to the earth system and the response of the human-environment system to global change.

GLP is led by a Scientific Steering Committee (SSC) consisting of representatives from IGBP and IHDP communities. GLP International Project Office (IPO), located in the Centre for Development and Environment of the University of Bern, Switzerland, has central coordinative, organizational and communicative GLP functions. Eight nodal offices have been set up around the world. Each nodal office has infrastructural, personnel, and scientific input and support in the process of implementing the GLP Science Plan.

The Japan Nodal Office, under a consortium agreement with five universities across Japan(Hokkaido University, Sapporo (Chief organization); Hiroshima University, Hiroshima; Tohoku University, Sendai; Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu; and University of Tsukuba), manages research on Vulnerability, Resilience, and Sustainability of the Land Systems. The vulnerability of coupled human-environment system is a major element of sustainability research. Vulnerability results not only from exposure to biophysical and social perturbations but also resides in the sensitivity and adaptive capacity of the system experiencing such stresses. Thus the overall goal is to improve the understandings of the causal processes of vulnerability, the quality of coping capacity linked to different perturbations, and the role of governance in bolstering resilience.​