The Governance of the Countryside: Property, Planning and Policy

Conflicts over the conservation of biodiversity, changing patterns in land use, pollution, climate change, public access and increasing demands for food and energy security lead to the creation of policies designed to reconcile interests and promote society’s objectives. This book examines the origins and evolution of the institutions that determine the use and management of land and the delivery of ecosystem services, through private property rights, markets and public policies. Divided into five accessible parts, the book provides detailed coverage of the institutions, property and governance of the countryside, historical models, governance under sectoral policies and alternative approaches. It is carefully developed to meet the needs of anyone studying or interested in agricultural sciences, countryside management, rural environment and geography. Students, lecturers, policy makers, managers and consultants in these areas will find this a valuable resource.

– Offers a unique institutional governance approach to the countryside and rural environment, focusing on the environmental aspects of rural areas
– Highlights the challenges and pressures faced in the governance of rural land, reviewing conflicts over the conservation of biodiversity, changing patterns in land use, public access, pollution, climate change and increasing demands for food and energy security
– Sets out the background and historical context to contemporary debates, examining the institutions and policies that have led to the present situation, their historical development and options for the future