Land evaluation: towards a revised framework (LE_Rev)

This Discussion Paper responds to a perceived need to update the FAO 1976 Framework for Land Evaluation. An update was considered necessary to reflect current concerns related to climate change, biodiversity conservation and land degradation, as well as to address issues of multi-functionality of land, sustainability of use and the role of participatory approaches in land evaluation. The 1976 FAO Framework for Land Evaluation established the principles that (i) land suitability should be evaluated for specified kinds of land use; (ii) the evaluation requires a comparison of the benefits obtained and the inputs needed on different types of land; (iii) the evaluation process requires a multi-disciplinary approach; (iv) it should be in terms of the biophysical, economic, social and political context of the area concerned; (v)suitability refers to use on a sustained basis and (vi) evaluation involves comparison of more than a single kind of use. These six original principles remain largely intact in the proposed revision, although in amended or expanded form. As a basis for a revised framework it is proposed to retain principles iii, iv and vi with minor modifications, expand principles i, ii and v, and add two new principles, one on the stakeholders and one on the multi-scale approach. The revised Framework principles would then become the following: (i) land suitability should be assessed and classified with respect to specified kinds of land use and services; (ii) land evaluation requires a comparison of benefits obtained and the inputs needed on different types of land to assess the productive potential, environmental services and sustainable livelihood; (iii) land evaluation requires a multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral approach; (iv) land evaluation should take into account the biophysical, economic, social and political context as well as the environmental concerns; (v) suitability refers to use or services on a sustained basis, with sustainability understood to incorporate productivity, social equity and environmental concerns; (vi) land evaluation involves a comparison of more than one kind of use or service; (vii) land evaluation needs to consider all stakeholders; and (viii) the scale and the level of decision-making should be clearly defined prior to the land evaluation process. The general outline of the procedures for land evaluation in the 1976 Framework remains valid, but experience has shown the need for greater flexibility in their application. The Discussion Paper also includes a summary of tools that may be used in or for a land evaluation following a revised Framework, some of these illustrated in case studies.