Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Box 16.1 (continued)
landlessness and unemployment. The Department is also involved with the
alienation of state land.
Natural Resources Management Center ( NRMC ), of the Department of
Agriculture . The center optimizes land and water resources use on a
scientific basis for excellence in agriculture.
To achieve this the NRMC is engaged in:
development and dissemination of land conservation and water manage-
ment techniques for sustainable agriculture;
development and maintenance of a database on land and water re-
sources;
soil survey, land suitability evaluation and land use planning;
technical assistance for watershed management, land use planning and
farm development;
implementation of the Soil Conservation Act of 1951, amended in 1996
and training trainers in soil and water conservation.
Land Use Policy Planning Division ( LUPPD ). This Division of the Ministry
of Agriculture and Lands has the responsibility for introducing systematic
land use planning throughout the country, based on scientific criteria. Its
objective is to ensure the utilization of natural resources to the maxi-
mum benefit of society, by the formulation of land use policies and the
preparation of land use plans. These should allocate land resources among
competing users on a rational basis, so that optimal and sustainable land
uses are maintained.
Strategies adopted by the LUPPD in achieving these objectives include:
preparation of land use plans at national and sub-national levels;
preparation of a national land use policy;
establishment of a land information system and a land data bank;
conduct training and awareness programs on land use planning for
agencies.
The National Land Commission under the LUPPD formulates national policy
statements regarding the use of land in the country. To achieve this a
Technical Secretariat attached to the Commission is required to evaluate
physical and socio-economic factors relevant to natural resources manage-
ment.
Urban Development Authority ( UDA ). The Authority is expected to promote
integrated planning and implementation of economic and physical devel-
opment of areas declared by the Minister to be Urban Development Areas.
In any area declared as an Urban Development Area, the UDA is expected
to:
(continued)
Search WWH ::




Custom Search