Land use considerations in urban environmental management

Abstract

In rapidly growing developing country cities, distorted land markets and ineffective urban land management often have resulted in the degradation of environmentally fragile land; occupation of hazard-prone areas; loss of cultural resources, open space, and prime agricultural land; and excessive urban sprawl. To prevent further degradation, governments should exert some degree of control over urban land use and development, but not unnecessarily constrain the supply of land for housing or discourage the private sector from providing affordable housing in safe locations. An important challenge is to achieve a balance between urban development and environmental protection, taking into account linkages among land use, poverty, and the environment. Balancing environmental and economic objectives requires a land management strategy that facilitates the land market and protects sensitive land and cultural resources. Implementing such a strategy requires a mix of policies and locally appropriate instruments (regulatory, economic, property rights, acquisition, government provision of infrastructure, and information and education) to guide and motivate the behavior of actors causing land degradation problems and those responsible for managing urban land to avoid these problems.