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 Lecture - 7

Rural Land Use Planning

Land Use Planning

(GPA-303)
Outline
• Importance of Land

• Rural Land and Rural Land Use Planning

• Rural Development and Rural Land Use Planning

• Regional Development and Rural Land Use Planning

• Rural Land Uses

• Principles of Rural Land Use Planning

• Process of Rural Land Use Planning

 Characteristics of Rural Areas
• Small Population Size

• Low Population Density

• Land based economy

• Low Income and Productivity

• Poverty

• Low Literacy

• Unhygienic Condition
 Importance of Land
Land is one of the factors of production

Land is the original source of all material

wealth, money and material can be generated
from land

Economic prosperity of country is closely linked

with the richness of land and natural resources

Creation of wealth is dependent on availability

of raw material and energy which is generated
from natural resources like coal, water, geo-
thermal, fossil fuels , solar, wind, nuclear etc
 Importance of Land
• People are dependent on land for
– Food
– Water
– Fuel
– Shelter
– Employment

• Land is scarce – Demand is greater than available land

• Land is a common good, exploitation and degradation
• Scarcity and degradation of land compels for its efficient use
• “Land Use Planning” make best use of scarce land
 Rural Land Use
Land Use Planning creates balance between the
economic, social and environmental needs
required from a particular land.

Rural Land Use ranges from:

Extensive Agricultural Uses

(Cropping, grazing, forestry, etc)

Intensive Agricultural Uses

(Gardens, orchards, poultry and cattle feed,
vegetables growing etc.)
 Rural Land Use Planning
Land Use Planning mitigate the negative effects
of land use, enhance efficient use of resources
with minimal impact on future generations.

Governments use Land Use Planning to manage

and support development of land for sustainable
development

Land Use Planning order and regulate land

use in an efficient and ethical way, thus prevent
Land Use conflicts.
 Land Use Conflicts
Land Use Planning resolve Land Use Conflicts
Rural Development and Rural Land Use Planning

• Rural Development:

– Centered around land and other natural resources

– Process of improving economic well-being of rural people

– Socio-Economic development of Rural Communities

– Improvement in the standard of life of rural communities

Rural Development and National Development

• Importance of Rural Development:

– Investments in rural infrastructure and people is critical

for sustainable development, which can enhance national well-being.

– Beyond meeting basic needs, investments must be linked to the potential

to raise rural productivity and income from rural land, which is not
possible without land use planning

– Rural Population 63%

– Labour Force =50%
– People attached with Land = 80%
– GDP Share = 20%

– To improve the living standards by providing food, shelter, clothing,

employment and education
 Regional Development and Land Use Planning

Regional Planning deals with

the efficient placement of land-
use activities, infrastructure,
and settlement across a larger
area of land, as it relates land
use practices on a larger scale

Development across different

countries, regions, areas comes
under regional development

Changing bio-physical factors,

different socio-economic
conditions and regulations
make it quite challenging.
Regional Development and Land Use Planning
Land Use Map and Regional Development
 Rural and Urban Land Use Planning

Planning provides guidance in cases of conflict

between rural and urban land use, by specifying
which areas of land are most valuable under
rural or urban use.

Rural land use involved:

• Agriculture
• Pastoralism
• Forestry
• Wildlife conservation
• Rural Tourism
 Rural Land Uses
Type Rural Land Use
Agriculture Land reserved for growing
Agriculture Lesser inputs, more land under cultivation
Extensive
Agriculture Higher inputs, less land under cultivation e.g. vege-culture,
Intensive floriculture
Agro. - Forestry Trees and shrubs are grown among crops
Agro. - Industry Industry which converts agriculture raw material into value
added products
Farming Farming is growing crops or keeping animals by people for
food and raw materials.
Water Supply Canals, water courses, wells etc.
Wind Corridor Wind power breeze for wind mills
Solar Park Solar panels
 Rural Land Uses
Type Rural Land Use
Pastoral Land Pastoral farming is a non-nomadic form of pastoralism in which
the livestock farmer has some form of ownership of the land
Pastures/Range Land covered with grass and shrubs for grazing animals,
Land especially cattle or sheep, usually nomads use this land
Rural Settlement Rural dwellings, house and farm house

Tree Farm A tree farm is a privately owned forest managed for wood
production.
Dairy/Livestock Animal rearing for milk and meat
farming
Orchards Orchards comprise fruit- or nut-producing trees
Natural Vegetation Plants grown naturally without human aid
Services BHUs, Primary School, Post Office, Mosque, Graveyards etc
Wild life Undomesticated animals
 Rural Zoning
Rural Zoning is not very common in third
world, but loose zoning evolve over period
of time, purpose is to:

Promote the health, safety, morals, and

general welfare of the community

Encourage the most appropriate use of

the land

Protect and conserve natural resources for

future

Reduce the Land Use conflicts

 Principles of Rural Land Use Planning
1. Land use planning is dependent on local conditions in terms of both
method and content.

2. Land use planning considers cultural factors and customs and builds up
on local environmental knowledge

3. Land use planning takes into account traditional strategies for solving
problems and conflicts.

4. Land use planning assumes a concept which understands rural

development to be a "bottom-up" process based on self-help and self-
responsibility.

5. Land use planning is a dialogue, creating the prerequisites for the

successful negotiation and co-operation among stakeholders.
 Principles of Rural Land Use Planning
6. Land use planning is a process leading to capacity building of the participants
to plan and take actions

7. Land use planning requires transparency. Therefore, free access to

information for all participants is a prerequisite

8. The differentiation of stakeholders and the gender approach are core

principles in land use planning.

9. Land use planning is based on interdisciplinary cooperation.

10. Land use planning is an iterative process; it is flexible and open, reaction
based on new findings and changing conditions.

11. Land use planning is implementation-orientated.

12. Land Use planning is technical and complex

 Rural Land Use Planning Process
• Step 1. Establish Goals and Objectives

– Ascertain the present situation; find out the needs of the people and of the
government; decide the broad goals and specific objectives of the plan

• Step 2. Organize the planning work

– Decide what needs to be done; identify the activities, plan activities, select
planning team; decide outputs; ensure that stakeholders are consulted.

• Step 3. Carry-out analyses of Land and People’s needs

– Study the existing land-use , talk to the land users and find out their needs and
views; identify the problems and analyze their causes; identify constraints and
limitations
 Rural Land Use Planning Process
• Step 4. Identify land use opportunities

– Identify range of land-use types that might achieve the goals of the plan;
present these options for public discussion

• Step 5. Evaluate land suitability

– For each promising land-use type, establish the land requirements and match
these with the properties of the land to establish physical land suitability

• Step 6. Appraise alternatives: environmental, socio-economic analysis

– For each physically suitable combination of land use and land

properties, assess the environmental, socio-economic impacts, for the
land users and for the community as a whole
 Rural Land Use Planning Process
• Step 7. Choose the best option
– Hold public and executive discussions of the viable options and their
consequences. Based on these discussions and appraisal, decide
which changes in land use should be made
• Step 8. Prepare the land-use plan
– Make allocations or recommendations of the selected land uses for
the chosen areas of land; make plans for appropriate land
management; draw up policy guidelines, prepare a budget and draft
necessary legislation; if required
• Step 9. Implement the plan
– Land Use Plan is to be put into practice; planning team should work in
conjunction with the implementing agencies.
• Step 10. Monitor and revise the plan
– Monitor the progress of the plan towards its goals; modify or revise
the plan in the light of experience.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 1. Establish goals and Objectives

• Define the Planning area

• Carry out stakeholders consultations

• Collect basic data of Land [Bio-Physical] and People [Socio-Economic ]

• Bio-Physical
– Land Type and Natural Resources: Climate, hydrology, geology,
landforms, soils, vegetation (including forest and pasture , fauna, pests
and diseases. Sources include topographic maps, air photographs and
satellite imagery, existing surveys, GIS mapping and departmental
records
– Present Land Use. Surveys and departmental records of land use,
farming systems, forestry, production levels and trends.
 Land Use Planning Process
– Present Infrastructure. Transport, communication and services to agriculture,
livestock management and forestry.

– Land Tenure. Legal and traditional ownership and user rights for land, trees
and grazing; forest reserves, national parks.

– Government. Administrative structure and key authorities; services provided

and demands placed upon them.

– Legislation. Laws and regulations that affect land use; traditional law and
custom; whether laws are enforced.

– Non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Find out about NGOs in the

planning area, for example farming and marketing cooperatives, that may
have roles in planning or implementing a land-use plan.

– Commercial organizations. Contact any commercial organizations, e.g. mining

companies, oil exploration company whose interests may be affected.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Socio-Economic Factors:

– Population. Numbers, demographic trends, location of settlements, role of

women, ethnic groups, class structure, leadership.

– Social structure and traditional practices. Land use is tied up with the history
and culture of the people and has usually evolved over a long period.
Understanding the present situation is a prerequisite for devising
improvements.

– Employment and income: Summarize data by area, age, social and ethnic
groups.

– Production and trends: Tabulate production data; graph production trends

and economic projections for the planning period. This information should be
as quantitative as possible.
 Goals and Sustainability
• Goals
– what is meant by the "best" use of the land.
– Goals may be grouped under the three headings of efficiency, equity and
sustainability.
• Efficiency
– Land use must be economically viable, so one goal of development planning is
to make efficient and productive use of the land.
– For any particular land use, certain areas are better suited than others.
– Efficiency is achieved by matching different land uses with the areas that will
yield the greatest benefits at the least cost.
– Greatest return on capital and labour invested or the greatest benefit from the
area available.
• Equity
– Land use must also be socially equitable.
– Land improvements and redistribution of land may be undertaken to reduce
inequality or, alternatively, to attack absolute poverty.
• Ecology
– Environmental Conservation
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 2. Organize the work.
• Plan activities and tasks
– Estimate resources needed
– Estimate the time needed
• Draw up a work plan for the project as a whole (table, bar chart or critical
path analysis)
• Calculate Lead and Lag
• Work out Crashing and Fast tracking
• Allocate resources - Budget for staff, office, equipment and transport costs
• Arrange administrative matters and logistics
• Check and arrange security clearances for staff and equipment
• Inputs from other agencies
• Training, travel, meetings and consultancies must be scheduled ahead.
• Make provision for wet or hot seasons, public and local holidays, and
contingencies
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 3. Analyze the Problems.

• To identify and analyze a problem it is necessary to establish the present

situation, judge ways in which it is unsatisfactory and identify ways in
which it might be made better.

• This stage of diagnosis of problems is of highest importance, without

identifying problems and analyzing their causes, one is in no position to
plan for improving the situation.

– Bio-Physical Assessment
– Socio-Economic Need Assessment
– Above will guide where lies the problem
– Carry out detail Problem Analysis
 Land Use Planning Process
Bio-Physical Assessment of Irrigated Land
 Land Use Planning Process
Socio-Economic Assessment of Rural Area
 Land Use Planning Process
• Symptoms of Land Use Problems
– Migration to towns
– Low rural incomes
– Lack of employment opportunities in rural areas
– Poor health and nutrition
– Inadequate subsistence production
– Shortage of fuel and timber
– Shortage of grazing land
– Low, unreliable crop yields
– Desertion of farmland
– Encroachment on forest and wildlife reserves
– Conflicts among farming, livestock and non-agricultural uses
– Visible land degradation, e.g. eroded cropland, silted bottomlands,
degradation of woodland, salinity
– Water shortage
 Land Use Planning Process
• Underlying Causes Related to Land Use
• Social Problems
• Population pressure on land resources
• Unequal distribution of land, capital and opportunities
• Restrictions on land tenure and land ownership
• Natural hazards and limitations
• Inadequate water supply and distribution
• Irregular relief
• Drought-prone soils
• Poor drainage
• Diseases
 Land Use Planning Process
• Underlying Causes Related to Land Use
• Mismatch between Land Use and Land Suitability
• Inadequate water control
• Clearance of forest on steep lands
• Inadequate soil conservation practices
• Inadequate crop pattern
• Rural Planning Related Problems
• Inadequate power
• Lack of fertilizer and pesticides
• Lack of markets, unsatisfactory price structure
• Lack of finance
• Inadequate transport
• Lack of technical support
 Land Use Planning Process
• Identification of options for solving a problem
• Existing situation: chronic food shortage, accelerating degradation of
grazing land.
• Options for improved land use: increase rural income, arrest land
degradation.
• Options
• Non-land-use planning options: Emigration or birth control.
• Do-nothing policy, which means accelerating land degradation and
increasing dependence on food aid.
• Sustainable increase in production might be achieved by:
• Diversification of land use by combining livestock, crops and possibly fuel
wood production by agro-forestry.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 4. Identify opportunities
– Generate a range of options for solving each problem, in terms of:
– Opportunities: the people, land resources, improved technology, economic
measures, government action;
– Land-use strategies: no change, maximum production, minimum investment,
maximum conservation, maximum equity;
– Kinds of production, the role of conservation, self-reliance versus external
investment.
– Develop realistic options that best meet the needs of production,
conservation and sustainability and that minimize conflicts of land use.
– Prepare outline budgets and time frames for each option.
– Present the problem statements and the opportunities for change for public
and executive discussion.
– Select the priority problems.
– Select the option for solution.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 5. Evaluate Land Suitability.
– Describe land-use types in sufficient detail for subsequent analysis.
– Select land qualities and land characteristics to be used in comparisons of land-use
requirements with land.
– Map the land units and determine their relevant land characteristics and qualities.
– Set limiting values to land-use requirements, to be used for determining class limits
for land suitability.
– Take into account sustainability and the ratio of benefits to inputs.
– Match land use with land requirements
– Compare land-use requirements with land qualities or characteristics to determine
provisional land suitability classes; consider modifications to land-use types, in order
that they become better suited to the land
– Consider land improvements that could make the land better suited to the land use.
– Map land suitability for each land-use type.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 6. Appraise the alternatives: environmental, Socio-Economic Analysis.

• Environmental impact assessment: soil and water resources, pasture and forest
resources, wildlife conservation, resources for tourism and recreation; off-site
effects.

• Financial analysis: are the proposed land-use types profitable for the farmer or
other land users

• Economic analysis: what is the value of the proposed changes to the community,
within and beyond the planning area? Are there areas of land of critical
importance (for production or conservation) for certain uses

• Social impact: what effects will the proposed changes have on different sections of
the community, especially women, minority groups and the poor
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 7. Choose the best option.
– Set out a series of options for the allocation of land-use types to land units.
– state their evaluation in terms of land suitability and environmental, socio-economic
analysis.
– Set out the consequences of these options in terms of the goals and planning
objectives.
– Present the options and their consequences in a way that is appropriate for review.
– Make arrangements for consultations with the communities affected as well as with
the implementing agencies; obtain views about feasibility and acceptability.
– Assemble and review the comments received. In the light of these, make any
necessary changes to the options.
– Decide if the response to comments is adequate.
– Consider the options in terms of goals and policy criteria.
– Choose the best option.
– Authorize preparation of the plan.
Identification of Land Use Options
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 8. Prepare the land-use plan.
– Prepare maps - the basic or master land-use plan and supporting maps.
– Set out the land-use allocations and recommendations, based on the preferred option
selected
– Give descriptions of land-use types, including management recommendations on each
kind of land.
– Set targets for achievement, by land-use type, area and agency. Specify how they will be
reached. Check that they are within the capabilities of the agencies and infrastructure.
– Draw up logistic preparations, specifying the capital works, recurrent inputs and
responsibilities for implementation.
– Establish mechanisms for monitoring progress and revising the plan
– Make arrangements for research needed to support the plan.
– Determine the finance needed for each operation and determine sources of funds.
– Write the report - executive summary, main report, maps and appendixes.
– Establish mechanisms for communication with, and the participation of, all institutions
involved.
– Prepare public relations material.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 9. Implement the plan.
– Implementation involves a wide range of practical activities
– Ensure that the changes recommended in the plan are correctly applied in the
plan; by the implementing agencies, incorporate any suggested modifications.
– Maintain communications between all people and institutions participating in
or affected by the plan, i.e. land users, sectoral agencies, government, non-
governmental organizations, commercial organizations.
– Assist in coordination of the activities of implementing agencies.
– Assist in institution-building by strengthening links between existing institutions,
forming new bodies where necessary and strengthen cooperation.
– Focus on the participation of the land users; ensure adequate incentives.
– Organize research in association with the plan; ensure that results from
research are communicated and, where appropriate, incorporated into the plan.
– Arrange for education and training of project staff and land users.
 Land Use Planning Process
• Step 10. Monitor and revise the plan
– List the goals and criteria of achievement
– Gather data relevant to each criterion of attainment: physical, economic and social.
– Compare what has been achieved with what was planned.
– Identify elements of success and failure.
– Seek explanations for failures. Were they caused by incorrect assumptions of the
plan, changed economic or political circumstances, logistic problems of
implementation, Problems of communication and participation
– Review the goals: are they still valid?
– Initiate modification or revision of the plan
– Minor modifications through action by implementing agencies
– Larger revisions by the preparation of proposals and reference back to decision-
makers.
Thanks