You may have heard the term sustainable land management. It has a nice ring to it, but what does it mean? Keep reading for an overview of sustainable land management, best practices, and opportunities arising from this new mentality.
Definition
Sustainable land management is a conscientious practice in farming and using the land. This practice utilized land-based resources with a long-term future and the wellbeing of the planet in mind.
Sustainable land management spans many industries, including agriculture, forestry, the mineral extraction sector, and property and estate management.
Best practices
As researchers and farmers look toward the future, they develop better sustainable land management practices to maintain the land’s integrity and work towards a healthier planet.
These practices include innovative watering tactics, erosion control, and more developments that help preserve the land.
Erosion control
Erosion control is a massive help in maintaining landscapes and ecosystems. By controlling erosion caused by wind or water, the detachment, transportation, and re-deposition of soil can be prevented. When this kind of erosion occurs, it often leaves the earth infertile, turning the land into a dead zone.
Best sustainable practices concerning erosion control are blankets, mulch, and seed planting aids.
Organic fertilizers
Herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilizers have had a detrimental impact on the land. These products contaminate water sources and sometimes ruin the soil. When this destruction happens, the land is considered ‘a dead zone’ where it is unlikely anything will ever grow successfully again, from crops to wild trees.
Farmers are pivoting towards organic fertilizers and gentler products that prevent plant disease and pests. This practice helps crops and prevents harsh chemicals from destroying nearby wildlife. One of the most effective practices in sustainable land management is eliminating harmful agricultural treatment products from use on arable land.
Planting projects
Many companies that have played a part in deforestation are trying to remedy the impact they’ve had on the environment by planting new trees. Some companies have pledged to plant two trees for every tree they cut down, hoping to replenish the forests faster than they harvest them.
Models like this one have a wonderful sentiment behind them. However, if humans continue to use the land resources at the current pace, these planting projects will not come to fruition in time to meet consumer demand.
Opportunities
The opportunities presented by sustainable land management practices can lead to better food security for struggling countries and create a future flourishing in agriculture.
Preventing things like land erosion and tainted water sources will keep the land useful for years to come rather than killing the soil and eventually exhausting the arable land on the planet.
Conclusion
Without efforts to maintain the integrity of the land people need to survive, natural resources will dwindle, and even renewable resources may fall victim to exhaustion.
To preserve the earth and build for humanity, sustainable land management is necessary, including practices like erosion control, planting projects, and more responsible agricultural initiatives.
