Responsible Land Use
EPA Definition of Land Use
“Land use” is the term used to describe the human use of land. It represents the economic and cultural activities (e.g., agricultural, residential, industrial, mining, and recreational uses) that are practiced at a given place. Public and private lands frequently represent very different uses. For example, urban development seldom occurs on publicly owned lands (e.g., parks, wilderness areas), while privately owned lands are infrequently protected for wilderness uses.
Agricultural Uses
Agricultural land uses can affect the quality of water and watersheds, including:
The types of crops planted, tillage practices, and various irrigation practices can limit the amount of water available for other uses.
Livestock grazing in riparian zones can change landscape conditions by reducing stream bank vegetation and increasing water temperatures, sedimentation, and nutrient levels.
Runoff from pesticides, fertilizers, and nutrients from animal manure can also degrade water quality.
Agricultural land use may also result in the loss of native habitats or increased wind erosion and dust, exposing humans to particulate matter and various chemicals.4
Some land uses can accelerate or exacerbate the spread of invasive species. For example:
Certain agricultural land-use practices, such as overgrazing, land conversion, fertilization, and the use of agricultural chemicals, can enhance the growth of invasive plants.5 These plants can alter fish and wildlife habitats, contribute to decreases in biodiversity, and create health risks to livestock and humans.
Introduction of invasive species on agricultural lands can reduce water quality and water availability for native fish and wildlife species.
Research is beginning to elucidate the connections between land-use changes and infectious disease. For example, some studies indicate that spread of vector-borne disease may be influenced by land use and/or other environmental change.6
Other studies indicate that fragmentation of forest habitat into smaller patches separated by agricultural activities or developed land increases the “edge effect” and promotes the interaction among pathogens, vectors, and hosts.7
In some cases, changes in land use may have positive effects, such as increasing habitat (as a result of deliberate habitat restoration measures) and reclamation of previously contaminated lands for urban/suburban development.
Consider making a pledge to treat the land responsibly it can include:
Implementation of water conservation strategies to reduce waste and encourage reuse
Making farm-to-table dining and local organic produce available for guests to support the environment and deliver a six-star guest experience
Supporting local farmers and organic growers
Purchasing in bulk where necessary to avoid excess packaging
Disposing of biodegradable waste through composting
Following responsible land-use guidelines
GroNorth is committed to responsible land use.
