LAND USE, LAND CLASSIFICATION (LULC): A BLESSING 

EXPLORING THE MANY BENEFITS OF LAND USE AND LAND CLASSIFICATION TO THE ENVIRONMENT 4

Introduction 

Globally, over the years, the phenomena of land use and what it is put into use has been a subject of study. This is because many environmental scientists believe that the land use type and it cascadesion can as well be informative if we are living in a green society or there is a need to go back to work on our environmental sustainability approach. 

The various developments of land use land classification over the years starting from the call for land classification to be pronounced in 1973 at the Stockholm Conference have been overwhelming with various techniques advancement and improvisation that have been experienced. Organizations like the United States Geological Survey (UGSG) have been in the forefront in the provision of satellite imageries for land use and land classification analysis.  

For readers know conversant with the concept, land use is the purpose of which a land is put to use. For example, a land can be called agricultural, industrial, recreational, educational, medical etc. While land classification is the segmentation as to what percent is been used for amongst other classes. For example, in an agricultural lands, we can have classes such as impervious surface, untarred road, built up areas and then agricultural area. These classifications are pivotal to understand the dominant land use classification and also to aid planning processes. 

In many developed countries of the world, land use land classification has been employed and incorporated in the planning approaches especially when it comes to environmental planning. This is because, environmental planners or policies makers must ascertain, firstly, what percentage of land is ascribe to who and what planning approach and policies is needed to be incorporated and ascertain if the policies are feasible. In some other developing nations, conscious governments have incorporated land use land classification techniques into their policies which is why some developing countries are growing exponentially in the environmental policies. 

Benefits of land use land classification 

Land use, land classification possess enormous benefits at all the cadre involve. They include

For research purposes: Land use land classification scheme is a great approach for researchers to understand and produced high powered results in their bid to exploring the world and increasing knowledge about a phenomena. 

Government policies: As earlier stated, policies of government, especially environmental, economic, social and medical, need to understand the land use classification scheme of their environment as it will encourage proper planning and sustainable growth. 

Individuals: Also, populace within a locality need to be aware of the different land use and land classification system within their zones. This is to enable them make inform decisions as to ensuring to make the environment sustainable 

Conclusion

Remote sensing technologies as shown to be veritable especially in environmental context and it should be utilized by all and sundry in studying the environment towards making inform decisions. Just like a popular scientist quoted by saying “Except a man rises above the environment to study it, it knowledge about that phenomena is insufficient”. Therefore, we must learn to integrate the land use land classification into our activities, plans, policies and approach in our fight to environmental sustainability