Implementing Integrated Land Use Planning: A step-by-step guide for rural areas
INTRODUCTORY GUIDE: CHAPTER 2. OVERVIEW OF THE LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS
2.2. QUICK GUIDE TO THE NINE STEPS
This section offers a concise overview of each step, presented in a standardized one-page format that includes ‘Short Answers to ‘Key Questions’:
• What are the objectives?
• Who is responsible?
• How is this step carried out?
• What outcomes are expected?
Following this summary, a list of relevant topics is provided for each step, with links to more detailed explanations in the Practitioner’s Guide.
| STEP 1. INITIATE THE LAND USE PLANNING PROCESS | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Clearly define the land use issue and articulate a desirable outcome. |
| Who is responsible? | National or sub-national decision-makers, local authorities |
| How to carry out this step? | • Initiate the process once a land use problem has been adequately recognized (e.g., through international bodies, national technical agencies, media, land users, NGOs, extension workers, etc.). • Delegate the issue to a coordinating entity, such as a planning unit, village/town council committee, dedicated NGO, or land user association. |
| What outcomes are expected? | The coordinating entity has: • identified the planning area and land use issue. • compiled basic information on the planning area. • identified relevant institutions, individuals, NGOs for involvement in the land use planning process. • drafted an initial plan outline and estimated budget. |
Box 5. Topics for Step 1 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 1.1: Who can initiate the process?
Topic 1.2: Understanding the land use issue – key questions
• What specific problems need to be addressed?
• What are short-term and long-term objectives of the planning exercise?
• What are the boundaries of the area under consideration?
• What are its biophysical and social characteristics?
• Who will be the people affected by the planning?
• How will the land use planning project be carried out?
Topic 1.3: The DPSIR Framework – a tool for understanding cause-effect relationships and identifying responses
Topic 1.4: Key activities in this step
Topic 1.5: Documenting the outcomes
Other useful tools
Checklist
| STEP 2. IDENTIFY THE PEOPLE WITH AN INTEREST IN THE LAND USE QUESTION | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Identify stakeholder groups, understand their main interests and concerns, and inform them about the planning process. |
| Who is responsible? | The coordinating entity and stakeholders |
| How to carry out this step? | • Organize a meeting with all identified stakeholders. • Gather initial opinions from land users and conduct interviews with relevant governance levels, local authorities, and key informants. • Identify potential contributors to human, financial, and technical resource needs. |
| What outcomes are expected? | • A comprehensive inventory of direct and indirect stakeholders, including their activities, land use rights, views, and concerns regarding proposed changes. • Identification of potential contributors for human, financial, and technical resources. |
Box 6. Topics for Step 2 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 2.1: Initiating stakeholder analysis
Topic 2.2: Identifying key stakeholders
Topic 2.3: Assessing potential winners and losers of the proposed land use change
Topic 2.4: Identifying agents who can mobilize resources for implementation
Topic 2.5: Key activities in this step
Topic 2.6: Using a Venn diagram as a tool for stakeholder meetings
Topic 2.7: Documenting the outcomes
Other useful tools
Checklist
| STEP 3. ESTABLISH A LAND USE PLANNING TASK FORCE | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Form a multidisciplinary Task Force to coordinate, supervise, and provide technical oversight for the land use planning process. |
| Who is responsible? | The coordinating entity transfers responsibility to the Land Use Planning Task Force. |
| How to carry out this step? | Determine the composition of the Task Force based on: • the specific land use issue to be addressed. • the planning level (national, district, local). At all planning levels the Task Force should include: • stakeholder representatives • experts with the technical knowledge to oversee specialized studies • a representative from the Coordinating Unit • a representative from the initiators and/or funders of the planning exercise. |
| What outcomes are expected? | A fully operational Task Force that represents key stakeholder groups and possesses the professional expertise to supervise Steps 4–9. |
Box 7. Topics for Step 3 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 3.1: General principles for Task Force composition
Topic 3.2: Task Force composition at the local/community level
Topic 3.3: Task Force composition at the sub-national level
Topic 3.4: Task Force composition at the national level
Topic 3.5: Key questions to consider
• Is the institution managing the Task Force the most appropriate one?
• Is the Task Force fully informed?
• Are stakeholders adequately represented?
Topic 3.6: Key elements of Task Force work planning
Topic 3.7: Expected deliverables
Further reading
Checklist
| STEP 4. CHARACTERIZE THE LAND, ITS USES AND USERS | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Delineate areas with similar biophysical and stakeholder characteristics |
| Who is responsible? | The Land Use Planning Task Force |
| How to carry out this step? | • Gather relevant data for the biophysical characterization of the land (e.g., thematic reports, station data, time series, maps, GIS data, satellite imagery, aerial photographs). • Collect data on land users and stakeholders (e.g., categories, functions, livelihoods, interests, socio-economic status, power dynamics, poverty levels). • Evaluate whether existing data is sufficient for planning or if additional thematic surveys are required. – If new surveys are needed, define technical requirements, expertise, and budget. • Identify potential institutions or private sector actors to conduct studies or provide data/equipment. • Oversee and finalize a comprehensive characterization of land and land users, ensuring the necessary level of detail for planning. |
| What outcomes are expected? | A technical characterization report providing detailed biophysical and socio-economic information, aligned with the requirements of the planning exercise. |
Box 8. Topics for Step 4 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 4.1: Recommended map scales and spatial resolutions for different planning levels
Topic 4.2: Typical data requirements for Task Forces at national level
Topic 4.3: Typical data requirements for Task Forces at sub-national level
Topic 4.4: Typical data requirements for Task Forces at local level
• Topic 4.5: Using PRA tools: Participatory Mapping and village boundary delineation
• Topic 4.6: Using PRA tools: Stakeholder Analysis
Topic 4.7: Conducting an Initial situation assessment:
• Topic 4.8: Economic-Ecological Zones approach
• Topic 4.9: Livelihood Zones approach
Topic 4.10: Key questions to consider
• What data are actually needed, and where can they be found?
• How to address data gaps?
Topic 4.11: Essential activities for this step
Topic 4.12: Key topics to include in the characterization report
Useful data and guideline tools
Checklist
| STEP 5. UNDERTAKE INTEGRATED ANALYSES OF LAND USE CHANGE | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Assess the implications of land use change by evaluating biophysical potential, environmental and social impacts, economic viability, and legal acceptability. |
| Who is responsible? | The Land Use Planning Task Force |
| How to carry out this step? | • Analyze and map land suitability for relevant land use options • Conduct an economic analysis, comparing the costs and benefits of proposed land use changes with the current situation and identifying potential support measures (e.g., loans, subsidies, compensation). • Perform an environmental impact assessment to evaluate potential risks and sustainability. • Assess the social impacts of the proposed land use /management change on different groups, including women, ethnic minorities, and landless persons |
| What outcomes are expected? | A refined set of development options to be presented to stakeholders in Step 6, ensuring that they are: • Biophysically suitable • Economically viable • Minimizing adverse environmental and social impacts • Legally acceptable. |
Box 9. Topics for Step 5 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 5.1: Key studies to considered before implementing land use changes
1.Biophysical suitability assessment
Topic 5.2: Evaluating biophysical suitability
• Topic 5.3: Principles of land evaluation
• Topic 5.4: Qualitative land suitability assessment
• Topic 5.5: Semi-quantitative land suitability assessment
• Topic 5.6: Quantitative crop simulation models
• Topic 5.7: Assessing sustainable land management
2.Economic suitability assessment
Topic 5.8: Gross margin analysis
Topic 5.9: Discounted cash flow analysis
3.Impact assessments
Topic 5.10: Assessing environmental impact
Topic 5.11: Assessing social impact
Topic 5.12: Legal analysis
Activities
4.Reporting guidelines and decision-making
Topic 5.13: General guidelines
Topic 5.14: Land suitability reports
Topic 5.15: Impact assessment reports
Topic 5.16: Identifying optimal development options
| STEP 6. NEGOTIATE SUITABLE AND ACCEPTABLE LAND USE OPTIONS | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Secure a negotiated agreement among stakeholders on which land use options to implement in specific areas and formalize this agreement in a ‘Territorial Pact.’ |
| Who is responsible? | Land Use Planning Task Force ⇄ Stakeholders |
| How to carry out this step? | • Ensure clear communication of planning findings to stakeholders. • Organize a negotiation forum. • Facilitate the negotiation process by: 1. Planning for conflict management. 2. Focusing on stakeholder interests rather than fixed positions. 3. Establishing ground rules to ensure a fair and transparent negotiation process. 4. Promoting consensus building through mediation and working groups. |
| What outcomes are expected? | • Documented evidence of public communication and consultation (e.g., public meetings, workshop proceedings, published technical summaries, surveys) • A formal statement from stakeholders expressing agreement and commitment to the negotiated land use plan (the ‘Territorial Pact’). |
Box 10. Topics for Step 6 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 6.1: The importance of negotiations
Topic 6.2: Planning for succesful negotiations
• Topic 6.3: Strategies for managing potential conflicts
• Topic 6.4: Prioritizing interests over positions
Topic 6.5: Conducting effective negotiations
• Topic 6.6: Ensuring a fair and transparent process
• Topic 6.7: Facilitating consensus building
• Topic 6.8: Organizing and structuring negotiations
• Topic 6.9: Defining the desired outcome
Topic 6.10: Communication, public participation and forum organization
Essential activities
Deliverables
Useful tools
Checklist
| STEP 7. PREPARE THE LAND USE PLAN | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Develop a comprehensive action and implementation plan that outlines the activities needed to execute the Territorial Pact, including timelines, resource allocation, and responsibilities. |
| Who is responsible? | The Land Use Planning Task Force |
| How to carry out this step? | • Securely store all documentation in a database. • Define recommended and prohibited land uses or management practices for each land unit based on the options selected in Step 6. • If infrastructure works are required, plan logistics, specifying input needs, responsible agents, and implementation roles. • Establish budgets and identify funding sources. • Set clear timelines for achieving change targets across the planning area. • Ensure coordination and communication mechanisms are in place if multiple institutions are involved. • Verify alignment with existing legislation and land use regulations. • Maintain transparency by documenting all stages of plan implementation. |
| What outcomes are expected? | A fully documented land use action plan, including a detailed report, maps, implementation timelines, and budgets. |
Box 11. Topics for Step 7 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 7.1: Difference between a structure/framework plan and an action/implementation plan
Topic 7.2: Key considerations for writing the land use plan
Topic 7.3: Recommended format and content outline for a land use planning action plan
Topic 7.4: Essential steps in preparing the land use plan
Useful tools
Checklist
| STEP 8. IMPLEMENT THE LAND USE PLAN | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Ensure the effective implementation of the land use plan. |
| Who is responsible? | The Land Use Planning Task Force and implementing agents |
| How to carry out this step? | Follow best implementation practices: • Secure a legal mandate • Establish rules, regulations and enforcement mechanisms (permits, penalties for non-compliance) • Develop implementation guidelines through an open, collaborative process • Maintain active stakeholder engagement • Ensure sufficient funding and resource allocation |
| What outcomes are expected? | The land use plan is actively being implemented |
Box 12. Topics for Step 8 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 8.1: Key aspects of plan implementation at different levels
Topic 8.2: Best practices for effective implementation
Topic 8.3: Strategies for successful land use plan implementation
Key questions
Essential activities
Deliverables
Useful tools
Checklist
| STEP 9. MONITOR, EVALUATE AND REVISE THE LAND USE PLAN | |
| Key questions | Short answers |
| What are the objectives? | Monitoring: ensure the plan is being implemented as intended. Evaluation: assess whether the plan is achieving its intended outcomes |
| Who is responsible? | An independent monitoring/evaluation entity, the Land Use Planning Task Force, and relevant stakeholders. |
| How to carry out this step? | • Conduct regular monitoring through physical inspections, stakeholder discussions, and data analysis. • Perform evaluations using either independent external assessors or a participatory monitoring and evaluation process. • Focus on plan quality, institutional capacity, political support, and stakeholder engagement. • Revise the plan if implementation does not proceed as intended. |
| What outcomes are expected? | A decision to either: • Continue implementing the plan as intended. • Modify the plan by adjusting timelines, budgets, or implementing agents. • Propose a major revision and refer the issue back to decision-makers |
Box 13. Topics for Step 9 in the Practitioner’s Guide
Topic 9.1: Distinguishing between monitoring and evaluation
Topic 9.2: Assessing plan conformance and performance
Topic 9.3: Participatory approaches to monitoring and evaluation
Topic 9.4: Revising and updating the plan
Key questions
Essential activities
Deliverables
Useful tools
Checklist