in these ecosystems can easily result in widespread and severe land degradation and thus desertification.
Combined with global issues such as climate change, economic disparities, migration, and competing claims
on land, this often leads to a vicious cycle of aridity, land degradation, and productivity loss. In addition to
the harsh environmental conditions limiting land productivity, the socio-economic situation in drylands can
pose challenges as well, given that these regions are often characterised by remoteness, marginality, lowproductivity

This book is about sustainable land management, the development of water buffers and the business case underneath it. It is part of the discussion on the green economy: investment in natural resource management makes business sense. This also applies for investment in land, water and vegetative cover. Some of the parameters may be different – returns may not always be immediate – but essentially both the financial payback and the economic dividend of investing in integrated landscapes – if done properly – are rewarding.

In zijn afscheidscollege stelt Jaarsma drie aspecten aan de orde, zoals hij die zelf, eerst als student en vanaf 1970 als docent heeft ervaren: de opeenvolgende onderwijs-programma’s voor de opleiding Cultuurtechniek – Landinrichtingswetenschappen – Landschapsarchitectuur & Ruimtelijke Planning aan de Landbouwhogeschool, de Landbouwuniversiteit en Wageningen Universiteit; het onderwijs rond verkeer, vervoer en infrastructuur in die jaren en de relatie tussen onderwijs en onderzoek daarbij, en de rol van afstudeervakken (scripties) en projecten derde geldstroom; en het andere onderwijs i

The state of Mato Grosso in Brasil faces environmental challenges since agricultural developments threaten biodiversity and other environmental values. The mission of the state university of Mato Grosso (UNEMAT) is to contribute to the knowledge needed for the sustainable development of the state. However, there is a need for academic capacity building. Collaboration with Wageningen University intends to improve the quality of the education and science especially concerning landscape ecological research.

The study focused on the nature and scale of public goods and services which land managers (farmers and foresters) currently provide. Using the available evidence on the range of environmental and man-made landscape services which multi-functional land management can offer, the report presents a series of mechanisms which could be used to deliver services not provided for by the market.

This Tool Kit has been prepared to support the design and implementation of sustainable land management (SLM) programs.The specific purpose of the Tool Kit is: to inform the user of the approaches that can be followed to analyze and value the economic costs of land degradation and the benefits of sustainable land management. ‘Land’ is interpreted broadly in the Tool Kit, also including wetlands and coastal zones.

This thesis presents three case studies about private actors aspiring to realize their innovative ideas on land management and design in three different areas in the Netherlands. In appearance, these three areas are very different but they are all dynamic and are all located near cities. In size, the areas range from seventy to a few hundred hectares. Socially, they are highly dynamic as well, with various groups and organizations seeking either to make changes or to conserve what they value, and taking action to promote their ideas.

De agrarische grondprijs in verstedelijkte gebieden wordt gedomineerd door de mate van stedelijke druk. In de meer afgelegen landbouwgebieden wordt de hoogte van diezelfde agrarische grondprijs in belangrijke mate bepaald door de verhouding tussen het aantal kopers en verkopers op lokale agrarische grondmarkten. Dit blijkt uit een recente studie van het LEI en de Leerstoelgroep Agrarische Economie en Plattelandsbeleid van Wageningen Universiteit.

Key words: Qanat, land and water, sustainability, Industrial and reflexive modernity