The document "A Framework for Land Evaluation" is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI). It aims to standardize land evaluation practices and facilitate information exchange among countries. The framework is designed to serve practical purposes, such as land use planning and development projects, and has been applied in various FAO land development initiatives. The preface highlights the need for a standardized framework due to the diverse systems developed by individual countries. The document outlines the evolution of the framework, from initial preparatory work by committees in the Netherlands and FAO, to discussions at an international expert meeting in Wageningen, and subsequent drafts and revisions. The framework is structured around several key principles and concepts: 1. **Land Suitability**: Assessed and classified with respect to specific uses. 2. **Evaluation Methodology**: Involves comparing benefits and inputs for different land types. 3. **Multidisciplinary Approach**: Requires contributions from natural sciences, technology, economics, and sociology. 4. **Contextual Relevance**: Evaluation is based on physical, economic, and social context. 5. **Sustained Use**: Consideration of environmental degradation and long-term impacts. 6. **Multiple Comparisons**: Evaluation involves comparing more than one land use. The document also covers: - **Basic Concepts**: Definitions of land, land use, land characteristics, and land qualities. - **Land Suitability Classifications**: Structure, types, and interpretation of classifications. - **Land Evaluation Procedures**: Initial consultations, land mapping, comparison of land use with land, economic and social analysis, and classification. - **Examples**: Detailed case studies from Brazil, Suriname, and Kenya. The framework is intended for use in rural land evaluation, particularly in planning by national and local governments, but can also be applied to individual projects or the construction of local or national evaluation systems. It is applicable to a wide range of land uses and planning purposes, from national to local scales, and across different economic and social contexts.The document "A Framework for Land Evaluation" is published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations and the International Institute for Land Reclamation and Improvement (ILRI). It aims to standardize land evaluation practices and facilitate information exchange among countries. The framework is designed to serve practical purposes, such as land use planning and development projects, and has been applied in various FAO land development initiatives. The preface highlights the need for a standardized framework due to the diverse systems developed by individual countries. The document outlines the evolution of the framework, from initial preparatory work by committees in the Netherlands and FAO, to discussions at an international expert meeting in Wageningen, and subsequent drafts and revisions. The framework is structured around several key principles and concepts: 1. **Land Suitability**: Assessed and classified with respect to specific uses. 2. **Evaluation Methodology**: Involves comparing benefits and inputs for different land types. 3. **Multidisciplinary Approach**: Requires contributions from natural sciences, technology, economics, and sociology. 4. **Contextual Relevance**: Evaluation is based on physical, economic, and social context. 5. **Sustained Use**: Consideration of environmental degradation and long-term impacts. 6. **Multiple Comparisons**: Evaluation involves comparing more than one land use. The document also covers: - **Basic Concepts**: Definitions of land, land use, land characteristics, and land qualities. - **Land Suitability Classifications**: Structure, types, and interpretation of classifications. - **Land Evaluation Procedures**: Initial consultations, land mapping, comparison of land use with land, economic and social analysis, and classification. - **Examples**: Detailed case studies from Brazil, Suriname, and Kenya. The framework is intended for use in rural land evaluation, particularly in planning by national and local governments, but can also be applied to individual projects or the construction of local or national evaluation systems. It is applicable to a wide range of land uses and planning purposes, from national to local scales, and across different economic and social contexts.