Land And Its Uses Actual And Potential

During its existence the Ecosciences Panel of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was constantly concerned with (i) the communic ation gap between the generators of ecological/environmental infor mation and those who use it and (ii) the narrow interpretation of 'environmental' which too frequently was taken as being synonymous with pollution. Because of this concern, and because the panel recognised that land-use is perhaps the overriding facet of environmental policy it was decided to arrange the Seminar recorded in this volume :- Land and its Uses : Actual and Potential An Environmental Appraisal The development of this Seminar was chaired by Professor F. T. Last who was enthusiastically supported by B. G. Bell (U.K.), Drs S. Bie (Norway), 0. W. Heal (U.K.), R. Herrmann (Federal Republic of Germany), M.C.B.Hotz (formerly of NATO, Belgium, but now in Canada), L. Munn (Canada) and N. Yassoglou (Greece). Together, they decided that the participants should include (i) planners/decision makers and (ii) scientists generating ecological/environmental infor mation, in the hope that they would gain a better understanding of each others problems and attitudes and as a result identify how information can be prepared in a more usable form.

During its existence the Ecosciences Panel of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation was constantly concerned with (i) the communic ation gap between the generators of ecological/environmental infor mation and those who use it and (ii) the narrow interpretation of 'environmental' which too frequently was taken as being synonymous with pollution. Because of this concern, and because the panel recognised that land-use is perhaps the overriding facet of environmental policy it was decided to arrange the Seminar recorded in this volume :- Land and its Uses : Actual and Potential An Environmental Appraisal The development of this Seminar was chaired by Professor F. T. Last who was enthusiastically supported by B. G. Bell (U.K.), Drs S. Bie (Norway), 0. W. Heal (U.K.), R. Herrmann (Federal Republic of Germany), M.C.B.Hotz (formerly of NATO, Belgium, but now in Canada), L. Munn (Canada) and N. Yassoglou (Greece). Together, they decided that the participants should include (i) planners/decision makers and (ii) scientists generating ecological/environmental infor mation, in the hope that they would gain a better understanding of each others problems and attitudes and as a result identify how information can be prepared in a more usable form.

This book is directly aligned to the NEBOSH Certificate in Environmental Management, which is a qualification aimed primarily at those in business who influence the environmental performance of their organisation by the decisions that they make as managers or the actions that they take as operators. This book aims to provide an introduction to the main areas of concern and how the challenges can be addressed. This new edition takes account of recent changes in international guidance and legislation and the recent update of the International Standard in Environmental Management ISO 14001. The contents are important for businesses that wish to stay within the law and avoid adverse publicity. It explains how the concept of sustainability can be achieved in practice and what benefits – especially financial – that can accrue. Recent developments in the definitions of sustainability and the growing interest in the circular economy are introduced. It pays to be ahead of the game because decisions made now need to reflect an awareness of the coming pressures and there are opportunities available that can bring other benefits. This book is intended for candidates for the NEBOSH qualification, but it will also be useful to anyone who wishes to understand the problems and how they can be tackled within their own organisations, be they industry, public service, voluntary bodies, or even as individuals.

Land resources are one of nature’s most precious gifts. They feed us and help our societies and economies to thrive. Some 2.5 billion agricultural smallholders worldwide manage around 500 million small farms, providing more than 80 per cent of food consumed in Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. These resources are being degraded at an alarming pace. An estimated 33 per cent of soil is moderately to highly-degraded due to erosion, nutrient depletion, acidi?cation, salinization, compaction and chemical pollution. Each year we lose 24 billion tonnes of fertile soil and 15 billion trees, costing the economy around $40 billion. This report focuses on land potential evaluation systems as a critical foundation for land use planning and management. More specifically, land potential evaluation systems are needed to sustain and increase the provision of ecosystem services in the context of climate change, persistent land degradation and increasing global population and per-capita consumption levels.