Exploring Land Use Planning Options: Experiences and Challenges for Food and Water Security

Abstract Most of THE SoutheastAsian countries have natural and managed ecosystems that HAVE experienced major challenges from a range of technological, environmental, socioeconomic and political forces; and these regions have been subjected to pressure of land use change, environmental degradation, water shortage, and loss of biodiversity. Food production has continued to be threatened by the scarcity of natural resources through conversion of agricultural lands caused by rapid urbanization, exploitation and competition for the use of limited resourcessuch as water. A study was conducted (1) to develop a scientific technical methodology for exploring land use options; and (2) to operationalize such methodology for supporting a network of multi-disciplinary teams and stakeholders in the ecosystem. An exploratory land use planning and analysis system (LUPAS) was developed and its component models is presented here as a case study. Optimization of the model showed a great scope for system-wide water sharing on rice-based cropping systems, generation of labor employment in agriculture, considerable increase in farmers ’ income, and the possibility of reducing soil erosion, biocides and pesticides use without adversely affecting the agricultural production in the area. LUPAS can be applied to other ecosystem areas in China, Japan and elsewhere for strategic land use planning and environmental assessment to attain food and water security.