Implementing Integrated Land Use Planning: A step-by-step guide for rural areas
PRACTITIONER’S GUIDE: STEP 1
PART 2
1.3. ACTIVITIES
The Coordinating Unit must address the key questions discussed above through the following activities:
- Organize consultations with the initiators and stakeholder representatives. The aim is to become familiar with the land, its inhabitants, and the land use problem in the area, and to discuss the desired outcomes. Field visits are strongly recommended.
- Compile readily available information on the planning area. This generally includes—but is not limited to—land resources, land use and land users, infrastructure, population, land tenure, social structure, governance and administrative structures, and legislation affecting land use and management. In most cases, the required information can be found on national topographic maps at an appropriate scale and in statistical abstracts. The identification and use of more specific technical sources (e.g. soils, geology, hydrology, legal aspects, social studies) is not required at this stage. Their proper interpretation and integration require the multidisciplinary expertise of the ad hoc Land Use Planning Task Force (Step 3).
- Prepare terms of reference for the land use planning exercise, covering all major activities, with an indicative time frame and budget.
- Prepare a draft project concept document (see Deliverables), discuss it with initiators and key stakeholders, and finalize the document based on the feedback received.
1.4. DELIVERABLES
The key output of Step 1 is the preparation of a document that defines all components of the land use planning exercise. This document must include:
• Delineation of the planning area and the land use problems to be addressed.
• Basic information on the project area, including land resources, land use and land users, infrastructure, population, land tenure, social structure, presence of indigenous peoples, governance and administrative structures, and relevant legislation.
• Identification of institutions, civil society organizations, indigenous representatives, and private individuals who will be involved in planning, along with their roles and responsibilities.
• Plan goals, outline, estimated duration, a work plan listing major activities and milestones, and the estimated budget.
• Potential service providers (the Land Use Planning Team)—these are individuals or institutions capable of providing the technical expertise that stakeholders may need. Examples include research and academic institutions, private consultancy firms, government agencies, international organizations, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). These providers must be identified, contracted, and introduced to the stakeholders.
1.5. TOOLS
In addition to the DPSIR Framework, the following tools can support the implementation of this step:
• FPIC: Offers guidelines on preparing for subsequent steps in planning areas that include indigenous peoples.
• GreeNTD: Provides practical ideas for setting a problem-solving agenda.
• MRP: Offers advice on how the Coordinating Unit can act as a catalyst, initiating the planning process and ensuring continuous communication between the Land Use Planning Task Force, decision-makers, and stakeholders.
• NTD: Suggests ways to conduct a rapid initial stratification of the planning area into zones with similar economic-ecological characteristics, using readily available data.
• RRA: Provides tips and cautions for effective field visits and interactions with land users.
• SPMLI: A useful guide for facilitators, aiding them in using maps to understand landscapes and the stakeholders involved in their management.
| CHECKLIST | |
| Step 1 Initiate the land use planning process | |
| Responsibility | Initiators => Coordinating Unit |
| Key Questions | What are the specific problems to be addressed? |
| What are the short-term and long-term objectives of the planning exercise? | |
| What are the boundaries of the area where land use needs to be addressed? | |
| Who are the people affected by the planning? | |
| How will the land use planning project be conducted? | |
| Activities | Hold consultation sessions between initiators, the Coordinating Unit and major stakeholders |
| Compile readily available information on the planning area (desk study and field visit) | |
| Establish terms of reference for the planning exercise and develop an order-of-magnitude budget for addressing the problem | |
| Deliverables | Project identification document specifying: |
| 1) Delineation of the planning area and land use problems to be addressed | |
| 2) Basic information on the project area (land resources, land use and land users, infrastructure, population, land tenure,social structure, governance and administrative structure, legislation affecting land use/management) | |
| 3) Identification of institutions, civil society organizations and private individuals involved in the planning and their responsibilities | |
| 4) Plan outline, estimated plan duration, workplan listing major activities and milestones, and the estimated budget. | |
| Tools | DPSIR, FPIC, GreeNTD, MRP, NTD, RRA, SPMLI. |