The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths

Common understanding of the causes of land-use and land-cover change is dominated by simplifications which, in turn, underlie many environment-development policies. This article tracks some of the major myths on driving forces of land-cover change and proposes alternative pathways of change that are...

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Main Authors: Lambin, E.F., Turner, B.L., Geist, H.J., Agbola, S.J., Angelsen, A., Bruce, J.W., Coomes, O.T., Dirzo, R., Fischer, Gundula, Folke, C.
Format: Journal Article
Language:Inglés
Published: 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18796
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author Lambin, E.F.
Turner, B.L.
Geist, H.J.
Agbola, S.J.
Angelsen, A.
Bruce, J.W.
Coomes, O.T.
Dirzo, R.
Fischer, Gundula
Folke, C.
author_browse Agbola, S.J.
Angelsen, A.
Bruce, J.W.
Coomes, O.T.
Dirzo, R.
Fischer, Gundula
Folke, C.
Geist, H.J.
Lambin, E.F.
Turner, B.L.
author_facet Lambin, E.F.
Turner, B.L.
Geist, H.J.
Agbola, S.J.
Angelsen, A.
Bruce, J.W.
Coomes, O.T.
Dirzo, R.
Fischer, Gundula
Folke, C.
author_sort Lambin, E.F.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Common understanding of the causes of land-use and land-cover change is dominated by simplifications which, in turn, underlie many environment-development policies. This article tracks some of the major myths on driving forces of land-cover change and proposes alternative pathways of change that are better supported by case study evidence. Cases reviewed support the conclusion that neither population nor poverty alone constitute the sole and major underlying causes of land-cover change worldwide. Rather, peoples' responses to economic opportunities, as mediated by institutional factors, drive land-cover changes. Opportunities and constraints for new land uses are created by local as well as national markets and policies. Global forces become the main determinants of land-use change, as they amplify or attenuate local factors.
format Journal Article
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institution CGIAR Consortium
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spelling CGSpace187962025-01-24T14:12:43Z The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths Lambin, E.F. Turner, B.L. Geist, H.J. Agbola, S.J. Angelsen, A. Bruce, J.W. Coomes, O.T. Dirzo, R. Fischer, Gundula Folke, C. land use case studies causes economic situation markets land policy Common understanding of the causes of land-use and land-cover change is dominated by simplifications which, in turn, underlie many environment-development policies. This article tracks some of the major myths on driving forces of land-cover change and proposes alternative pathways of change that are better supported by case study evidence. Cases reviewed support the conclusion that neither population nor poverty alone constitute the sole and major underlying causes of land-cover change worldwide. Rather, peoples' responses to economic opportunities, as mediated by institutional factors, drive land-cover changes. Opportunities and constraints for new land uses are created by local as well as national markets and policies. Global forces become the main determinants of land-use change, as they amplify or attenuate local factors. 2003 2012-06-04T09:08:50Z 2012-06-04T09:08:50Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18796 en Lambin, E.F., Turner, B.L., Geist, H.J., Agbola, S.J., Angelsen, A., Bruce, J.W., Coomes, O.T., Dirzo, R., Fischer, G., Folke, C. 2003. The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths . Global Environmental Change 11 (4) :261-269.
spellingShingle land use
case studies
causes
economic situation
markets
land policy
Lambin, E.F.
Turner, B.L.
Geist, H.J.
Agbola, S.J.
Angelsen, A.
Bruce, J.W.
Coomes, O.T.
Dirzo, R.
Fischer, Gundula
Folke, C.
The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths
title The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths
title_full The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths
title_fullStr The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths
title_full_unstemmed The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths
title_short The causes of land-use and land-cover change: moving beyond the myths
title_sort causes of land use and land cover change moving beyond the myths
topic land use
case studies
causes
economic situation
markets
land policy
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/18796
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