Consequences of Improper Land Use
Land usage has risen to be a contentious subject not only at the country level but also at the community tiers. Flawed urban development has spurred numerous debates currently in all urban settlements. Unsound land usage has resulted in inevitable problems whereby there is no balance between ecology and economic issues. Since the ecology-economy balance is not put into consideration, the economic endeavors have always won (Cengiz 2). The population in my community has been increasing tremendously in the past few years. Extensive settlement in one area amounts to improper land use. The continued over settlement in the area has consequently led to the vanishing of the limited natural resources. Urban population growth impairs agricultural development in urban areas. Increased population density implies that no land will be spared for planting crops (Gelder 22). People have been constructing industries, roads and other infrastructural establishments on fertile agricultural lands. The limited land which is utilized for agricultural purposes is not also managed properly. The farmers lack the initiative to conserve the soils, use higher amounts of herbicides and pesticides and depend on inorganic manures.
Critically, the economic earnings that accrue from improper land use though a bit higher are risky and short-lived. Urbanization, for instance, is a great threat to the ecological biodiversity in our community. With the increased development of industries and infrastructural facilities, some animal and plant species have been misplaced threatening their extinction in the future. While the economy in our community might appear lucrative in the present, the uncontrolled land development could cost us heavily in the future. Proper land use increases its value (Cengiz 3). Additionally, the over-reliance on processed products from the industries is a threat to human life. Processed products have been for long linked to decreased life expectancy. Generally, improper land use not only destroys our farmland but also destroys our water quality and wildlife habitat.
Although most of the land in our community has already been put under inappropriate use, there is still hope of restoring our land. Realistically, my community cannot afford to demolish the existing structures as they have cost their developers a fortune. The remaining land which is being utilized for agriculture can be made more productive. The farmers should be discouraged from using inorganic manure and all chemical products. The administration and other stakeholders within the community should take the initiative to ensure that the community applies the best farm practices to avoid more damage. Soil conservation measures should be put in place to increase the value of the land. The individuals who still have unused land should be guided on how to utilize it in order to gain the maximum out of it. Further settlements, as well as over-development of land, should also be discouraged. The forests that have not been cleared should be placed under the management of the administration system to ensure that they are not destroyed. Keeping the existing forests will help preserve ecological biodiversity in our community. Lastly, if any land has to be put under development for any purposes, it should be used maximally. Developers ought to be encouraged to build more useful and multipurpose facilities to avoid misusing the minimal land left for agricultural purposes.