The Third World Conference of World Association of Soil and Water Conservation
Perceived wisdom in the approach to evaluation, use and management of land resources is changing rapidly and dramatically. Past emphasis on land development focused on maximizing production and return from land use investment and planned against a background belief that suitable lands for expansion could always be found somewhere, is forced to give way to a more cautious approach - one that recognizes the finite extent of fertile land and the seemingly insatiable demands of a growing human population.
Globally, and in many individual countries, there is clear evidence of impending land shortage. Areas in which the combination of land and freshwater resources is moderately or well suited to agriculture are, for the most part, already in use. Efficient use of these lands is becoming a matter of life or death for increasing millions of mankind. In addition of Climate Changes, the main present world problem, makes mankind worried for the Earth’s survival. Future generations in still larger numbers are more seriously at risk. Their livelihood is endangered by present production choices that degrade the different resources on which future agriculture depends. Global production must increase dramatically to meet foreseen demand but the levels and means of production targeted locally must be those that can be maintained on a sustained basis. Global, and even local land use must be sustainable.