The Governance of the Countryside

An institutional analysis of environmental planning and management of the rural environment and of the delivery of ecosystem services.

This book is carefully developed to meet the needs of anyone studying or interested in agricultural sciences, countryside management, the environment and rural geography. An examination of institutions that determine the delivery of ecosystem services is provided, alongside an institutional analysis of planning and managing land and the rural environment.Conflicts over the conservation of biodiversity, changing patterns in land use, pollution, climate change, public access and increasing demands for food and energy security lead to the creation of policies designed to reconcile interests and promote society's objectives. This book examines the origins and evolution of the institutions that determine the use and management of land and the delivery of ecosystem services, through private property rights, markets and public policies. Divided into five accessible parts, the book provides detailed coverage of the institutions, property and governance of the countryside, historical models, governance under sectoral policies and alternative approaches. It is carefully developed to meet the needs of anyone studying or interested in agricultural sciences, countryside management, rural environment and geography. Students, lecturers, policy makers, managers and consultants in these areas will find this a valuable resource.