Problems

Clear-Cut Logging

Clearcutting or clearfelling is a method of timber harvest in which all trees in a selected area are cut. There is no agreement upon the minimum area that constitutes a clear cut, but typically, areas smaller than 5 acres would be considered "patch cuts". The reasons for clearcutting can range from optimizing the regeneration of a forest to clearing land for other uses to taking every tree worth any money.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clearcut

Desertification

The transformation of arable or habitable land to desert, as by a change in climate or destructive land use.

Deforestation

Deforestation is the conversion of forested areas to non-forest land use such as arable land, urban use, logged area or wasteland. Historically, this meant conversion to grassland or to its artificial counterpart, grainfields; however, the Industrial Revolution added urbanization. Generally this removal or destruction of significant areas of forest cover has resulted in a degraded environment with reduced biodiversity. In developing countries, massive deforestation is ongoing and is shaping climate and geography. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deforestation

Suburban Encroachment/ Urban sprawl

The unplanned, uncontrolled spreading of urban development into areas adjoining the edge of a city. www.answers.com/topic/urban-sprawl

Super-fund Pollution Sites

Superfund sites, which are uncontrolled or abandoned places where hazardous waste is located, possibly affecting local ecosystems or people. http://www.epa.gov/superfund/sites/

Solutions

Community Land Trust (CLT)

Is a form of common land ownership with a charter based on the principles of sustainable and ecologically-sound stewardship and use. The land in a CLT is held in trust by a democratically-governed non-profit corporation. Through an inheritable and renewable long-term lease, the trust removes land from the speculative market and facilitates multiple uses such as affordable housing, village improvement, commercial space, agriculture, recreation, and open space preservation. Individual leaseholders own the buildings and other improvements on the land created by their labor and investment, but do not own the land itself. Resale agreements on the buildings ensure that the land value of a site is not included in future sales, but rather held in perpetuity on behalf of the regional community.http://www.smallisbeautiful.org/clts.html


Conservation easements

A conservation easement is a voluntary, legally binding agreement that limits certain types of uses or prevents development from taking place on a piece of property now and in the future, while protecting the property’s ecological or open-space values. http://www.nature.org/aboutus/howwework/conservationmethods/privatelands/conservationeasements/


Land Tenure

" There need not be any limit to our tenure. We can learn to live happily, producing all the food and other goods we need, without wasting the resources that are going to be needed by future generations. There, in the concept of the creation of a sustainable way of life, is our next frontier."— Robert RodaleOur Next Frontier


Land Use Planning

"Means the scientific, aesthetic, and orderly disposition of land, resources, facilities and services with a view to securing the physical, economic and social efficiency, health and well-being of urban and rural communities"
http://www.worldhungeryear.org/fslc/faqs2/ria_800.asp?section=18&click=1

Resources

Land Use Planning
Website that covers the importance of land use planning.
http://www.worldhungeryear.org/fslc/faqs2/ria_800.asp?section=18&click=1

Urban Sprawl
The Challenge to Sprawl Campaign works to fight poorly planned runaway development and promotes smart growth communities that increase transportation choices, reduce air and water pollution, and protect our natural places. http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/


Organizations

The Trust for Public Land (TPL)
Is a national, nonprofit, land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, community gardens, historic sites, rural lands, and other natural places, ensuring livable communities for generations to come.
http://www.tpl.org/

The Nature Conservancy
Is the leading conservation organization working to protect the most ecologically important lands and waters around the world for nature and people.
http://www.nature.org/aboutus/

The Land Trust Alliance
The LTA promotes voluntary private land conservation to benefit communities and natural systems.
We are the national convener, strategist and representative of more than 1,600 land trusts across America.
http://www.lta.org/

The Conservation Fund
Is the nation’s foremost environmental nonprofit dedicated to protecting America’s most important landscapes and waterways. Through its partnership-driven approach, the Fund works across all 50 states to preserve each region's unique natural resources, cultural heritage and historic places. Committed to effectiveness, efficiency and environmental and economic balance, the Fund is pioneering a new environmentalism that is results-oriented and sustainable, agile and inclusive, and one that inspires future generations. http://www.conservationfund.org/

Rural Development Institute
RDI is a nonprofit organization of attorneys helping the rural poor in developing countries obtain legal rights to land.
www.rdiland.org