Knowledge of the Land: Land resource information and its use in rural development

Planners and decision-makers today need to be in command of a broader range of tools and information than ever before. Knowledge of the Land aims to show what is available in the way of natural resources information, and how it has been used (or not used) in planning and policy making. For both methods and applications, the authors have tried to provide enough detail for the reader to judge what data, skills, and procedures are required to meet their particular needs, and the ample references give guidance on where to find further information.There has been a notable shift in planning and rural development over the past decade. Technocratic, top-down approaches are still very much in evidence, but there has been an explosion of participatory initiatives. Many institutions cling to sectoral thinking. There is, however, growing recognition that sustainable development involves balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations, Such a balance requires an interdisciplinary approach, both to the the survey of natural resources, and to the use of the information acquired in land evaluation, planning, environmental impact assessment, and the preparation of coherent strategies and policies for sustainable development.The old ways and the new bring insights crucial to meeting these challenges. Both provide invaluable methods of work. By bringing together the standard methods of resource assessment and planning, and new thinking and emerging techniques, this book will help all practitioners to bridge the gap between the two.

Table of Contents:
1: Introduction 2: Historical Perspective 3: Information Needs and Methods of Resouce Assessment 4: Land Evaluation 5: Land Use Planning 6: Environmental Impact Assessment 7: Sustainable Development Strategies 8: Participatory Planning 9: Planning in Tanzania 10: Planning in Sri Lanka 11: Knowledge at All Levels References Index

Review :
`The use of scientific jargon is reduced to its barest minimum and clearly explained when used. This means that it could be made available to non-specialists of land management, who are mainly found in developing countries. It is also quite factual and informative, as methods and techniques are carefully explained, and could therefore be used by experts and non-experts alike without much reference to specialized books. This issue is particularly important for developing countries, where specialist books are difficult to find.' Journal of Environmental Planning and Management `Techniques and tools available for information gathering are discussed in detail, which could be of immense benefit to most natural resources specialists as well as generalists working mainly on policy issues and supporting decision makers. This book is a very good sustainable development resource for developing countries because of its completeness.' Journal of Environmental Planning and Management