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Social Sciences · Social Sciences

Land Use and Management
Research Guide

What is Land Use and Management?

Land Use and Management is the planning, allocation, and stewardship of land resources to balance environmental protection, economic development, and social needs, often guided by ecological principles and international governance frameworks.

The field encompasses 13,753 works addressing soil erosion risk assessment, species diversity in land communities, and governance of land tenure for food security. Key documents include the 'Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security' (2019) and 'Ecological Principles and Guidelines for Managing the Use of Land' by Dale et al. (2000). Growth rate over the past five years is not available.

Topic Hierarchy

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graph TD D["Social Sciences"] F["Social Sciences"] S["Political Science and International Relations"] T["Land Use and Management"] D --> F F --> S S --> T style T fill:#DC5238,stroke:#c4452e,stroke-width:2px
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13.8K
Papers
N/A
5yr Growth
9.7K
Total Citations

Research Sub-Topics

Why It Matters

Land Use and Management directly impacts food security through frameworks like the 'Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security' (2019, 318 citations), which provide standards for equitable land allocation affecting millions in agriculture-dependent regions. Soil erosion risk assessment in Europe, as mapped by Van der Knijff et al. (2000, 438 citations), informs policies to prevent annual losses of topsoil estimated in thousands of hectares across the continent. Ecological management principles outlined by Dale et al. (2000, 208 citations) guide restoration projects, such as those combating desertification under the 'United Nations: Convention to Combat Desertification' (1994, 274 citations), protecting arable land in Africa and beyond.

Reading Guide

Where to Start

'Ecological Principles and Guidelines for Managing the Use of Land' by Dale et al. (2000) because it provides a clear, practical set of 28 guidelines applicable to real-world land stewardship without requiring prior expertise.

Key Papers Explained

Whittaker (1977) in 'Evolution of Species Diversity in Land Communities' establishes foundational diversity patterns that Dale et al. (2000) in 'Ecological Principles and Guidelines for Managing the Use of Land' build upon for management applications. Van der Knijff et al. (2000) in 'Soil erosion risk assessment in Europe' applies these to erosion mapping, while the 'Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security' (2019) extends ecological insights to policy frameworks. Diallo (2001) in 'The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification' connects them to international action.

Paper Timeline

100%
graph LR P0["Evolution of Species Diversity i...
1977 · 661 cites"] P1["United Nations: Convention to Co...
1994 · 274 cites"] P2["Soil erosion risk assessment in ...
2000 · 438 cites"] P3["V.I.27 Rio Declaration on Enviro...
2014 · 384 cites"] P4["V.E.1 OECD Council Recommendatio...
2014 · 290 cites"] P5["V.H.13 Benelux Convention on Nat...
2014 · 261 cites"] P6["Voluntary Guidelines on the Resp...
2019 · 318 cites"] P0 --> P1 P1 --> P2 P2 --> P3 P3 --> P4 P4 --> P5 P5 --> P6 style P0 fill:#DC5238,stroke:#c4452e,stroke-width:2px
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Most-cited paper highlighted in red. Papers ordered chronologically.

Advanced Directions

Recent emphasis remains on integrating ecological guidelines with governance documents amid ongoing challenges in desertification and erosion, as no new preprints are available. Focus persists on applying 1977-2000 principles to European and African contexts.

Papers at a Glance

Frequently Asked Questions

What principles guide land use management?

Dale et al. (2000) in 'Ecological Principles and Guidelines for Managing the Use of Land' outline 28 principles covering landscape dynamics, disturbance regimes, and biodiversity maintenance. These principles emphasize maintaining habitat connectivity and natural disturbance patterns. They apply to conservation planning and sustainable development.

How is soil erosion risk assessed in Europe?

Van der Knijff et al. (2000) in 'Soil erosion risk assessment in Europe' developed a methodology using climate, soil, and topography data to map erosion potential. The assessment identifies high-risk areas requiring targeted interventions. It supports EU policies on soil protection.

What is the role of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification?

The 'United Nations: Convention to Combat Desertification in those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa' (1994, 274 citations) establishes obligations for affected countries to implement national action programs. It promotes sustainable land management to reverse land degradation. Diallo (2001) in 'The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification' details its negotiation and implementation challenges.

What are Voluntary Guidelines on tenure governance?

The 'Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security' (2019, 318 citations) offer standards for governments and stakeholders to secure land rights. They address tenure security to enhance food production and reduce conflicts. Adoption influences national land policies worldwide.

How does species diversity evolve in land communities?

Whittaker (1977) in 'Evolution of Species Diversity in Land Communities' describes patterns of alpha, beta, and gamma diversity across habitats. Diversity peaks at intermediate disturbance levels and scales with area. These concepts inform biodiversity conservation in land management.

What international agreements address transfrontier pollution?

'V.E.1 OECD Council Recommendation on Principles concerning Transfrontier Pollution (14 Nov 74)' (2014, 290 citations) sets principles for preventing and controlling cross-border pollution from land use activities. It requires prior notification and consultation between states. The framework supports cooperative environmental management.

Open Research Questions

  • ? How can ecological principles from Dale et al. (2000) be integrated with governance guidelines like the Voluntary Guidelines (2019) to address land tenure in degraded areas?
  • ? What methodologies beyond Van der Knijff et al. (2000) can refine soil erosion risk models for climate change scenarios?
  • ? In what ways do desertification conventions (1994) require updates to tackle urban expansion's impact on land communities as described by Whittaker (1977)?
  • ? How do transfrontier pollution principles (1974) apply to modern eutrophication control from agricultural land use, per Vollenweider and Kerekes (1980)?
  • ? What metrics best measure the success of nature conservation conventions like Benelux (1982) in maintaining landscape diversity?

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