Land development places more emphasis on the expected
economic development as a result of the process; "land conversion" tries to focus on the general physical and biological aspects of the
land use change. "Land improvement" in the economic sense can often lead to
land degradation from the ecological perspective. Land development and the change in land value does not usually take into account changes in the ecology of the developed area. While conversion of (rural) land with a
vegetation carpet to
building land may result in a rise in
economic growth and rising
land prices, the
irreversibility of lost flora and fauna because of
habitat destruction, the loss of
ecosystem services and resulting decline in
environmental value is only considered
a priori in
environmental full-cost accounting.
Conversion to building land Conversion to building land is as a rule associated with
road building, which in itself already brings
topsoil abrasion,
soil compaction and modification of the soil's chemical composition through
soil stabilization, creation of
impervious surfaces and, subsequently, (polluted)
surface runoff water. Construction activity often effectively seals off a larger part of the soil from
rainfall and the
nutrient cycle, so that the soil below buildings and roads is effectively "consumed" and made
infertile. With the notable exception of attempts at
rooftop gardening and hanging gardens in
green buildings (possibly as constituents of
green urbanism),
vegetative cover of higher plants is lost to
concrete and
asphalt surfaces, complementary interspersed
garden and
park areas notwithstanding.
Conversion to farmland thorn forest (A) is being felled at a rate considered among the highest in the world (B), to give way to
soybean cultivation (C). New creation of
farmland (or 'agricultural land conversion') will rely on the conversion and development of previous
forests,
savannas or
grassland. Recreation of farmland from
wasteland,
deserts or previous impervious surfaces is considerably less frequent because of the degraded or missing
fertile soil in the latter. Starting from forests, land is made
arable by assarting or
slash-and-burn.
Agricultural development furthermore includes: • Hydrological measures (land levelling, drainage,
irrigation, sometimes
landslide and
flood control) •
Soil improvement (
fertilization, establishment of a productive chemical balance). • Road construction plantation and rainforest fragment on Borneo Because the newly created farmland is more prone to
erosion than soil stabilized by
tree roots, such a conversion may mean irreversible crossing of an
ecological threshold. The resulting
deforestation is also not easily compensated for by
reforestation or
afforestation. This is because
plantations of other trees as a means for
water conservation and protection against wind
erosion (
shelterbelts), as a rule, lack the
biodiversity of the lost forest, especially when realized as
monocultures. These
deforestation consequences may have lasting effects on the environment, including
soil stabilization and
erosion control measures that may not be as effective in preserving
topsoil as the previous intact
vegetation.
Restoration Massive land conversion without proper consideration of
ecological and
geological consequences may lead to disastrous
results, such as: • General
soil degradation • Catastrophic
soil salination and
solonchak formation, e.g., in
Central Asia, as a consequence of irrigation by saline
groundwater •
Desertification, soil
erosion and ecological shifts due to drainage •
Leaching of saline soils •
Habitat loss for the wildlife. While deleterious effects can be particularly visible when land is developed for industrial or mining usage, agro-industrial and settlement use can also have a massive and sometimes irreversible
impact on the affected ecosystem. Examples of
land restoration/
land rehabilitation counted as land development in the strict sense are still rare. However,
renaturation,
reforestation and
stream restoration may all contribute to a
healthier environment and quality of life, especially in densely populated regions. The same is true for planned vegetation like
parks and
gardens, but restoration plays a particular role, because it reverses previous conversions to
built and agricultural areas.
Environmental issues The environmental impact of
land use and development is a substantial consideration for land development projects. On the local level an environmental impact report (EIR) may be necessary. In the United States, federally funded projects typically require preparation of an
environmental impact statement (EIS). The concerns of private citizens or
political action committees (PACs) can influence the scope, or even cancel, a project based on concerns like the loss of an endangered species’ habitat. In most cases, the land development project will be allowed to proceed if mitigation requirements are met.
Mitigation banking is the most prevalent example, and necessitates that the habitat will have to be replaced at a greater rate than it is removed. This increase in total area helps to establish the new ecosystem, though it will require time to reach maturity.
Biodiversity impacts The extent, and type of land use directly affects
wildlife habitat and thereby impacts local and global
biodiversity. Human alteration of landscapes from natural vegetation (e.g.
wilderness) to any other use can result in
habitat loss,
degradation, and
fragmentation, all of which can have devastating effects on biodiversity. Land conversion is the single greatest cause of
extinction of
terrestrial species. An example of land conversion being a chief cause of the critically endangered status of a
carnivore is the reduction in habitat for the
African wild dog,
Lycaon pictus. Deforestation is also the reason for loss of a
natural habitat, with large numbers of trees being cut down for residential and commercial use.
Urban growth has become a problem for forests and agriculture, the expansion of structures prevents natural resources from producing in their environment. To prevent the loss of wildlife the forests must maintain a stable climate and the land must remain unaffected by development. Furthermore, forests can be sustained by different forest management techniques such as reforestation and preservation.
Reforestation is a reactive approach designed to replant previously logged trees within the forest boundary in attempts to re-stabilize this ecosystem.
Preservation, on the other hand, is a proactive idea that promotes the concept of leaving the forest without using this area for its ecosystem goods and services. Both of these methods to mitigate deforestation are being used throughout the world. The
U.S. Forest Service predicts that urban and developing terrain in the U.S. will expand by 41 percent in 2060. These conditions can cause displacement for the wildlife and limited resources for the environment to maintain a sustainable balance. == See also ==