A Systemic approach to scoping of factors influencing more sustainable land use in Herefordshire

The Open University's repository of research publications and other research outputs A Systemic approach to scoping of factors influencing more sustainable land use in Herefordshire Journal Article (2006). A Systemic approach to scoping of factors influencing more sustainable land use in Herefordshire. Local Environment, 11(6) pp. 683–699. For guidance on citations see FAQs. Copyright and Moral Rights for the articles on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. For more information on Open Research Online's data policy on reuse of materials please consult the policies page. 2 ABSTRACT. Defining and putting into practice sustainable land use is a complex, systemic problem. Systems models and techniques were used in a study of Herefordshire to clarify the situation and identify the potential for a more locally focused, learning-based approach to land use. Issues included: (i) uncertainty about the boundary of a "system of sustainable Herefordshire land use" (ii) the complexity of economic flows in the county and the absence of some critical data (iii) the importance of the Herefordshire landscape to tourism and the role of agriculture as a determinant of the state of that landscape (iv) weakness of the institutional linkage between tourism and agriculture (v) current lack of inclusion of many relevant stakeholders in concerted action. Factors favouring a learning approach included a strong local identity, local food-related developments and educational initiatives. Barriers to such an approach included questions of power and landholding, government policies and attitudes and skills within organisations. These findings are considered in relation to the wider debate over approaches to sustainability.