Sustainable resource use: a challenge for agriculture
1990
Reynold, R. | Moore, W. (MAF Corporate Services, Wellington (New Zealand). Policy Services)
The objective of sustainable resource use (development, management) stems from a growing global concern about the impacts of production systems on environmental quality and the ability of these systems to meet rising levels of final demand. The concept has been applied for a number of years in New Zealand forestry and fishing sectors. However, it has not generally been applied to agricultural production systems. In a number of cases, agricultural land use has been characterised by inappropriate development of some marginal land and excessive use of some resources in part due to past development encouragement policies. There is a growing mandate for more enlightened resource use. This has found expression through the inclusion of sustainable resource use as the fundamental goal (purpose) of the Resource Management Law Reform legislation. If passed, this will mean that resource management decisions made by Regional Governments would have to be evaluated in terms of how they will impact on natural resource sustainability. As such, certain patterns of resource use may have to be redressed. This paper analyses the sustainability concept and its implications for resource management policies. The systems view required by this concept is highlighted. An appropriate policy framework is then developed. Challenges posed include the need to develop new market and institutional mechanisms to promote and encourage the sustainable use of resources
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