News

What is Land For? - Birds May 07

The UK occupies less than one sixth of one per cent of the world's land surface, yet has over one per cent of its human population and so the pressures on land, particularly in the South East, are high and increasing.

Desicion makers are right to be asking fundamental questions about public policy and land use. Every interest group wants a share of an ever more fragmented resource- new airports, roads, housing developments, power stations and shopping centres are all eating away at a finite countryside.

Different lan uses are emerging - large-scale planting of crops for fuel will soon compete for land with food production. And there is real concern that government calls for streamlining of the planning system are code for weakening it and making it less democratic. In all this clamour for land, it is vital that all voices are heard.