Policy options for applying land potential evaluation to land use planning and management

Land potential can be applied to partially decouple economic growth from (1) land degradation, (2) conversion of natural ecosystems to agriculture, and (3) conversion of natural and agricultural systems to biologically non-productive uses including urban, infrastructure, and many forms of energy production. It can be used to decouple economic growth from land degradation by limiting land management systems to those that are sustainable for each type of land. Conversion of natural systems to agriculture can be reduced using a knowledge of land potential to maintain and increase production on existing agricultural lands in three ways: (1) limitation of productivity declines caused by degradation, and (2) close yield gaps by better matching of production systems with land potential, and (3) targeting inputs to where they will result in the greatest return on investment and least harm to other ecosystem services.

Sustainable Development Goals:

Zero Hunger