LAND USE AND LAND COVER CHANGES, A CASE STUDY FROM NORTHWESTERN UPLANDS OF CAMBODIA

Definition

What is the term "land use" and "land cover" ?

These terms often come together and are often erroneously used interchangeably; however, each term has a very specific meaning.

  • Land cover[1] is commonly defined as the vegetation (natural or planted) or man-made constructions (buildings, etc.) which occur on the earth surface. Water, ice, bare rock, sand and similar surfaces also count as land cover.

  • Land use[2] is commonly defined as a series of operations on land, carried out by humans, with the intention to obtain products and/or benefits through using land resources.

Land use and land cover have some fundamental differences. Land use refers to the purpose the land serves, for example, recreation, wildlife habitat or agriculture, while land cover refers to the surface cover on the ground, whether vegetation, urban infrastructure, water or bare soil. Understanding both give a full comprehension of a particular area.

ComplementExternal links

  1. Land cover

    The term originally referred to the type of vegetation that covered the land surface, but has broadened subsequently to include human structures, such as buildings or pavement, and other aspects of the physical environment, such as soils, biodiversity, and surfaces and groundwater" (Moser, 1996).

  2. Land use

    Land use concerns the function or purpose for which the land is used by the local human population and can be defined as the human activities which are directly related to land, making use of its resources or having an impact on them (FAO, 1995).

PreviousPreviousNextNext
HomepageHomepagePrintPrintCreated with Scenari (new window)