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- Info
Land use planning and national soils policies
| Author: |
Verheye, Willy H. |
| Date: |
1997 |
| Periodical: |
Agricultural Systems. Great Britain: Elsevier Science Ltd. |
| Abstract: |
Land is used for many purposes. It is also the focus of conflict between a wide range of land uses including agriculture, mining, forestry and nature protection, leisure, and urban and industrial development. Competition between users grows more under increasing population pressure and in countries with a mired economy. Decision making on land use options is therefore a current problem of modern societies. Adequate planning and decision making about land use is facilitated by a national soils policy framework. This is a set of guidelines, aimed at ensuring a sustainable utilization of the land-either for agricultural or non-agricultural uses-and limiting direct or indirect damage to the environment. The policy is integrated into a national development plan, and addresses the natural diversity and specific physical and socio-economic problems of the region concerned. National soils policies are therefore very country-specific; they rely on clearly defined long-term objectives and involve strategies and tools for implementation. A number of examples are given to illustrate the most relevant issues in national soils policies. |
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