Sustainable land use management

Definition, Objectives, Principles OF SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT

1. - M.CHANDRAKUMARI Sustainable land use management

2. INTRODUCTION Land provides an environment for agricultural production, but it is also an essential condition for improved environmental management, including source functions for greenhouse gasses, recycling of nutrients, amelioration and filtering of pollutants and transmission and purification of water as a part of hydrological cycle. The objective of sustainable land management is to harmonise the complimentary goals of providing environmental, economic and social opportunities for the benefit of present and future generations, while maintaining and enhancing the quality of the land (soil, water and air) resource . - S myth and Dumanski,1993

3. DEFINITION Sustainable L and Management(SLM) is defined as a knowledge based procedure that helps integrate land, water , biodiversity and environmental management (including input and output externalities) to meet rising food and fibre demands while sustaining ecosystem services and livelihoods. SLM is necessary to met the requirements of a growing population. Improper land management can lead to land degradation and a significant reduction in the productive and service (biodiversity niches, hydrology, carbon sequestration) functions of watersheds and landscapes. - The Wor ld Bank

4. The adoption of land use systems that through appropriate management practices enable land users to maximize the economic and social benefits from the land while maintaining or enhancing the ecological support functions of the land resources. -Terra Africa(2005)

5. SUSTAINABLE LAND USE MANAGEMENT The productivity and sustainability of a land use system determined by the interaction between land resources , climate and human activities. Especially in the face of climate change and variability, selecting the right land uses for given biophysical and socio economic conditions, and implementing SLM are essential for land degradation, rehabilitating degraded land, ensuring the sustainable use of land resources (i.e. soil, water and biodiversity) and maximizing resilience. SLM encompasses established approaches such as soil and water conservation, natural resource management and Integrated Landscape Management(ILM) It involves a holistic approach to achieving productive and healthy ecosystems by integrating social, economic, physical and biological needs and values, and it contributes to sustainable and rural development.

6. PRINCIPLES OF SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT Sustainable Land M anagement (SLM) is crucial to minimizing land degradation, rehabilitating degraded areas and ensuring the optimal use of land resources for the benefit of present and future generations. SLM is based on four common principles Land-user-driven and participatory approaches. Integrated use of natural resources at ecosystem and farming system levels. Multilevel and multi stake holder involvement and Targeted policy and institutional support, including development of incentive mechanisms for SLM adoption and income generation at local level

7. OBJECTIVES The objectives of the sustainable land management project is to reduce land degradation in agricultural landscapes and to improve the agricultural productivity of small holder farmers. Aimed at supporting scaling up of best management practices and technologies for small holder farmers in the high potential/ food secure areas that are increasingly becoming vulnerable to land degradation and food insecurity. To enhance the government’s land certification project, with the aim of strengthening land tenure security for small holder farmers. To provide financial and technical assistance to the federal ministry of agricultural and rural development and local government units responsible for sustainable land management to effectively support coordinate and implementation of SLM projects.

8. MULTIPLE BENEFITS THROUGH SLM Ecosystem services in production system Soil health improvement Land and water conservation Biodiversity conservation- above and below ground Reduced GHG emissions and carbon sequestration Development Climate-resilient production systems. Options for household food security and income

9. CONCLUSION Leverage investments in SLM helps to manage soils for food security. Investments contribute multiple benefits and create opportunities for cross focal area synergy. Soil management options  present challenges for managing trade offs. Demonstrating environment benefits requires tools for monitoring and measuring carbon.