Determinants of agriculture land use change in Palestinian urban environment: urban planners at local governments perspective

Type Journal Article - American-Eurasian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture
Title Determinants of agriculture land use change in Palestinian urban environment: urban planners at local governments perspective
Author(s)
Volume 4
Issue 1
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2010
Page numbers 30-38
URL http://www.aensiweb.com/old/aejsa/2010/30-38.pdf
Abstract
Agriculture land use in the urban environment is one of hot topic in the urban sustainable development issues in the world. But most of the world cities are losing the agriculture areas. In order to protect and manage the agriculture land use at urban environments, we need to have more understanding of agriculture land use change drivers at the urban environment. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to determine the main factors affecting agriculture land use changes in the Palestinian urban environment, which is under political instability condition. This study presented views of the urban planners, managers and policy makers at Palestinian urban governments (municipalities) regarding the main factors affected agriculture land use change in their cities. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used in this study where questionnaire was sent to all Palestinian municipalities and interview were undertaken with policy makers at Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) respectively. Political instability, low income of farmer, scarcity of water for agriculture, and lack of urban planners and mangers interest in protecting agriculture lands use and activity, and development of housing sector were found to be the main factors that affected the agriculture land use change in the Palestinian urban environments. Impact of political instability conditions is evident on the agriculture land use changes in the Palestinian urban environments. There are two types of impacts; first one is direct impact through direct changes of the agriculture lands into geopolitical factors and uses such as Israel settlements, military campus, bypass roads, and finally separation wall. Second type is indirect impact of geopolitical factors on existing and future urban expansion trends of the Palestinian cities which will lead to losing more of the agriculture lands in these cities. It is because the Palestinian local governments have no control on the urban expansion directions and process. Furthermore, lack of urban planners awareness and interests in the urban agriculture lands and issues also significantly affected on agriculture land use changes in the Palestinian cities. Consequently, more studies needed in Palestinian urban environments in order to monitor and model land use changes under political factor to reduce the negative effects. The Palestinian cities needs to give more attention to the agriculture land use and integrate it in the future urban development projects and plans.

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