Land Management
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In Madagascar, USAID advises local farmers on ways to
improve crop yields while protecting the environment.
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As the world population grows, its escalating resource needs
place ever-increasing pressure on land. This creates conflicts
among competing user groups, and often results in adverse impacts
both to the land and to its living and non-living resources.
Land degradation due to desertification, soil erosion and deforestation
is accelerating at an unprecedented rate, leading to loss of
productivity, increased poverty worldwide and conflict. While
natural disasters can contribute to this degradation, human
exploitation of natural resources is by far the leading contributor.
To successfully meet human needs, competing demands for the
use of the land resources must be resolved, and more effective
and efficient ways of using these resources must be adopted.
The Agency works to alleviate poverty and minimize land use
conflicts by improving agricultural productivity, reclaiming
degraded lands, protecting the environment, conserving soil
and water quality, and enhancing community capabilities to
manage natural resources.
Decisions about land use involve natural resources, land
ownership, political, economic and cultural considerations.
As a result, the Agency approaches planning and management
for the sustainable use and development of lands in an interdisciplinary
way. This includes evaluation of scientific information, analysis
of appropriate technologies, review of land ownership and
management policies and institutions, application of geo-information technologies
within the broad arena of knowledge management, and effective use of
environmental education and advocacy. All factor in to supporting
wise land use choices. This integrated approach makes it possible
to minimize conflicts, make the most efficient trade-offs,
and ensure that social and economic developments do not adversely
impact the natural environment. This holistic process is critical
to successfully meeting USAID’s objectives of reducing
poverty, spurring economic growth, protecting the environment,
and promoting good governance.
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