Continuing land degradation and increasing numbers of people living in poverty are among the symptoms of
the current pressure on land resources. To date, the world’s response to the two challenges of satisfying human
needs and maintaining the integrity of global ecosystems has been less than successful. The lack of an
integrated planning framework for land has historically been compounded by poor management strategies,
failure to identify stakeholders and involve and empower them in the planning and management process, and
weak institutional structures.This document is targeted primarily at professional and technical practitioners of land-use planning and land resource management at the national, sub-national and community level who want to implement an integrated approach to land resources management. Based on experience using these guidelines, practical manuals on
integrated land resources management (ILRM) should be prepared for regions or individual countries.