02 Contents Frame
Chapter 3 Expansion of concepts and
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40 2019 ND-CP 413905
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- FUNCTIONS OF THE LAND AND LIMITING FACTORS Functions of the land
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Chapter 3 Expansion of concepts and definitions There is a perceived need to update the existing Framework for land evaluation (FAO 1976) and related tools for participatory processes, such as the Guidelines for integrated planning for sustainable management of land resources (FAO 1999a), in response to recent concerns and progress on environmental and socio-economic issues. This recent progress requires a review of some of the concepts and tools that were formulated in the 1976 Framework. A revised definition of land (Chapter 1) reflects the latest developments. Concepts related to biodiversity, global change, agro-ecosystem functions, stakeholder participation and agro-environmental monitoring are discussed in view of integrating them into an updated land evaluation framework. Food, fibres, livestock feed and livestock are the prime products of concern in most existing land evaluation studies. During recent decades, however, concerns related to sustainability, degradation, biodiversity and carbon sequestration have gained importance and will have to be dealt with together with the goal of land productivity. This calls for integrated analysis and monitoring of land use. FUNCTIONS OF THE LAND AND LIMITING FACTORS Functions of the land Following the broader definition of land and land resources (UN 1995; Chapter 1), land performs a multitude of key environmental, economic, social and cultural functions, vital for life. These functions are generally interdependent and the extent to which land performs them is highly relevant to sustainability. When land fulfils one function, its ability to perform other functions may be reduced or modified, leading to competition between the different functions and stakeholders. However, many of the functions of land are not mutually exclusive. Land is a limited non-renewable natural resource due to its potentially rapid degradation rates and extremely slow regeneration processes. Where land is degraded, the overall potential to perform its functions is reduced. Therefore prevention, precaution and sustainable land management should be at the core of any land use planning. Land is an indispensable resource for the most essential human activities: it provides the basis for agriculture and forest production, water catchment, recreation, and settlement. The range of uses that can be made of land is limited by environmental factors including climate, topography and soil characteristics, and is to a large extent determined by demographic, socio-economic, cultural and political factors such as population density, land tenure, markets, institutions, and agricultural policies. The different functions of the land are discussed in this section. The following two sections deal with the biophysical, socio-economic and political factors that may limit or inhibit certain functions of the land. tải về 0.57 Mb. Chia sẻ với bạn bè của bạn:
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