Land quality and planning

Land quality and planning

Case studies showing how important soil is in land quality and planning.

Not all land is equal. Planners, farmers and conservationists need to know which soils are best suited to cultivation, forestry, development or protection. The case study in this theme introduces SOTER — a soils and terrain database that classifies landscapes according to their physical characteristics.

Soil depth, stoniness, slope, drainage and climate together determine land capability. Mapping these factors helps prevent the loss of high-quality agricultural ground to building, guides reforestation and supports environmental assessment before major projects go ahead.

Good planning treats soil as a finite resource rather than an obstacle to be moved or covered. Understanding land quality at a regional scale — as SOTER allows — is an essential step towards using that resource wisely for future generations.