Bennett, Andrew J. 1995. "Sustainable Land Use: Interdependence between Forestry and Agriculture." (Working Paper)

Abstract

"Over one-third of the land area of the world is in cropland or pasture, and a third is still covered in forests and woodlands. The two dominant land use activities are forestry and agriculture. While increasing amounts of land have been and will continue to be lost to cities, infrastructure and various forms of permanent degradation brought about through desertification, erosion, salinity, toxic waste and mining, it is successful agriculture and forestry that will ultimately decide whether life on earth can be sustained. This does not exclude the need to better manage the aquatic resources of the planet; however, I shall not discuss land and water interactions in this paper, though many of the issues I shall discuss are equally relevant. What I intend to do is to outline the demands of increasing numbers of people for biological products; which will only be met through more effective cooperation between, and integration of, forestry and agriculture."