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Rapid expansion of settlements and related infrastructures is a global trend that comes with severe environmental, economic, and social costs. Steering urbanization toward well-balanced compactness is thus acknowledged as an important strategic orientation in UN Sustainable Development Goal 11 (SDG-11) via the SDG-indicator “Ratio of land consumption rate to population growth rate.” The EU’s simultaneous commitment to being “a frontrunner in implementing […] the SDGs” and to striving for “no net land take until 2050” calls for relating the concepts of land consumption and land take to each other. Drawing on an EU-centred questionnaire study, a focus group and a literature review, we scrutinize definitions of land consumption and land take, seeking to show how they are interrelated, and questioning the comparability of respective indicators. We argue that conceptual clarifications and a bridging of the two notions are much needed, and that the precision required for definitions and applications is context-dependent. While approximate understandings may suffice for general communication and dissemination objectives, accurate and consistent interpretations of the discussed concepts seem indispensable for monitoring and reporting purposes. We propose ways of addressing existing ambiguities and suggest prioritizing the term land take in the EU context. Thereby, we aim to enhance conceptual clarity around land consumption and land take—a precondition for solidly informing respective policies and decisions.
Elisabeth Marquard; Stephan Bartke; Judith Gifreu I Font; Alois Humer; Arend Jonkman; Evelin Jürgenson; Naja Marot; Lien Poelmans; Blaž Repe; Robert Rybski; Christoph Schröter-Schlaack; Jaroslava Sobocká; Michael Tophøj Sørensen; Eliška Vejchodská; Athena Yiannakou; Jana Bovet. Land Consumption and Land Take: Enhancing Conceptual Clarity for Evaluating Spatial Governance in the EU Context. Sustainability 2020, 12, 8269 .
AMA StyleElisabeth Marquard, Stephan Bartke, Judith Gifreu I Font, Alois Humer, Arend Jonkman, Evelin Jürgenson, Naja Marot, Lien Poelmans, Blaž Repe, Robert Rybski, Christoph Schröter-Schlaack, Jaroslava Sobocká, Michael Tophøj Sørensen, Eliška Vejchodská, Athena Yiannakou, Jana Bovet. Land Consumption and Land Take: Enhancing Conceptual Clarity for Evaluating Spatial Governance in the EU Context. Sustainability. 2020; 12 (19):8269.
Chicago/Turabian StyleElisabeth Marquard; Stephan Bartke; Judith Gifreu I Font; Alois Humer; Arend Jonkman; Evelin Jürgenson; Naja Marot; Lien Poelmans; Blaž Repe; Robert Rybski; Christoph Schröter-Schlaack; Jaroslava Sobocká; Michael Tophøj Sørensen; Eliška Vejchodská; Athena Yiannakou; Jana Bovet. 2020. "Land Consumption and Land Take: Enhancing Conceptual Clarity for Evaluating Spatial Governance in the EU Context." Sustainability 12, no. 19: 8269.
In most European countries, there has been a decrease in the number of farms, while the area of agricultural land has remained almost the same. This ongoing process of land concentration can affect Europe’s small farms and rural areas. The EU has acknowledged that the problem is serious and that, to solve it, it must be studied more closely. Accordingly, the aim of this study is to discuss changes in the agricultural sector from the aspect of land use, with emphasis on land concentration in Estonia, further scientific discussion about the effects of changes in land use on rural areas is encouraged. The study is carried out using two kinds of data sources: (1) statistical data from Eurostat, FAOSTAT and Statistics Estonia, (2) data from the Estonian Agricultural Registers and Information Board. The conclusion of the paper is that while the number of farms is going down, the average area of agricultural land use per farm is on the rise in Estonia. Agricultural land has been increasingly concentrated into the hands of corporate bodies. This study shows that there is a status of land concentration in Estonia that needs ongoing studies and a proper policy should be established to mitigate the impact of land concentration.
Evelin Jürgenson; Marii Rasva. The Changing Structure and Concentration of Agricultural Land Holdings in Estonia and Possible Threat for Rural Areas. Land 2020, 9, 41 .
AMA StyleEvelin Jürgenson, Marii Rasva. The Changing Structure and Concentration of Agricultural Land Holdings in Estonia and Possible Threat for Rural Areas. Land. 2020; 9 (2):41.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEvelin Jürgenson; Marii Rasva. 2020. "The Changing Structure and Concentration of Agricultural Land Holdings in Estonia and Possible Threat for Rural Areas." Land 9, no. 2: 41.
The rising population of the world increases the need for raw materials and food. The more efficient production methods help to reduce the shortage of production and to mitigate climate change. This paper analyses the relationship between land fragmentation and farm productivity. The results show that land fragmentation measured using the Januszewski index has U-shape relationship to farm productivity: there are larger farms with many parcels which are productive, but their parcels are scattered and smaller farms, with few parcels that are also productive. We found an indicator which describes the differences in farms’ productivity based on their land use – the area-weighted mean size of the parcels of one farm. This indicator is a statistically significant determinant of farm productivity. Other significant variables that are related to higher productivity are farm owners’ education, farm size, farming system and production type. Agricultural land policies should consider multiple indicators and analyse different production types to intervene more effectively.
J. Looga; E. Jürgenson; K. Sikk; E. Matveev; S. Maasikamäe. Land fragmentation and other determinants of agricultural farm productivity: The case of Estonia. Land Use Policy 2018, 79, 285 -292.
AMA StyleJ. Looga, E. Jürgenson, K. Sikk, E. Matveev, S. Maasikamäe. Land fragmentation and other determinants of agricultural farm productivity: The case of Estonia. Land Use Policy. 2018; 79 ():285-292.
Chicago/Turabian StyleJ. Looga; E. Jürgenson; K. Sikk; E. Matveev; S. Maasikamäe. 2018. "Land fragmentation and other determinants of agricultural farm productivity: The case of Estonia." Land Use Policy 79, no. : 285-292.
Velta Parsova; Armands Celms; Virginija Gurskienė; Evelin Jürgenson. Application of remote-sensing technologies for determination of types of land use. 17th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development 2018, 1 .
AMA StyleVelta Parsova, Armands Celms, Virginija Gurskienė, Evelin Jürgenson. Application of remote-sensing technologies for determination of types of land use. 17th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development. 2018; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleVelta Parsova; Armands Celms; Virginija Gurskienė; Evelin Jürgenson. 2018. "Application of remote-sensing technologies for determination of types of land use." 17th International Scientific Conference Engineering for Rural Development , no. : 1.
By capturing value increase, it should be used for specific purposes in the way that would support implementation of infrastructure projects and promote local development. Accordingly, the stakeholders’ interests have to be balanced and fair decision-making promoted. The research emphasises on comparative analysis of Estonian, Latvian and Lithuanian experiences in covering development costs and absorbing value increase. The purpose of the study is to give an overview of the land value capture as well as to discuss how it promotes local development and what is an institutional environment supporting it in three Baltic countries with similar historical evolution during last two decades. The functions of local authorities and spatial planning systems have been analysed in the study. The comparative analysis and synthesis, the logical-constructive and graphical methods mainly are used for the research. Direct and indirect models, which are used for the absorption of the surplus value of developed land, have been observed in the study. The outcome of the research shows an interim conclusion for Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and it may contribute to comparative analysis in larger – European context – in order to get an overview of land value capture across Europe.
Evelin Jürgenson; Armands Auziņš; Marija Burinskienė. Land Value Capture to Promote Local Development in Baltics: a Comparative study of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Proccedings of 10th International Conference "Environmental Engineering" 2017, 1 .
AMA StyleEvelin Jürgenson, Armands Auziņš, Marija Burinskienė. Land Value Capture to Promote Local Development in Baltics: a Comparative study of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Proccedings of 10th International Conference "Environmental Engineering". 2017; ():1.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEvelin Jürgenson; Armands Auziņš; Marija Burinskienė. 2017. "Land Value Capture to Promote Local Development in Baltics: a Comparative study of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania." Proccedings of 10th International Conference "Environmental Engineering" , no. : 1.
Land fragmentation has been shown to limit agricultural production and more broadly rural development in many countries across the world. In the Central and Eastern European countries that gained independence during the early 1990s, land fragmentation has often occurred as a side-effect of land reforms aimed at restoring land ownership to the pre-WWII situation. This article provides an overview of the Estonian approach to land reform, an analysis of how this has led to more fragmented land tenure compared to 1940 and a discussion of the prospects for land consolidation in Estonia. The analysis was based on archival records, legal acts, and a comparison of two study areas using a GIS. In both study areas, post-1990 land reform had led to: (i) an increase in the number of land plots; (ii) a reduction in the average area of land plots. Most Western European and some Central and Eastern European countries have long traditions of land consolidation with the main objective being reducing the disadvantages caused by land fragmentation. In Estonia land consolidation projects were implemented after independence in 1919 and again during the 1990s. Unfortunately this activity has stopped and land consolidation tools have not been developed further. To develop a modern land consolidation tool, political will is required, as is the awareness of politicians, government institutions, land owners and land users and there is a need to amend the existing legal framework to make it fit for purpose.
Evelin Jürgenson. Land reform, land fragmentation and perspectives for future land consolidation in Estonia. Land Use Policy 2016, 57, 34 -43.
AMA StyleEvelin Jürgenson. Land reform, land fragmentation and perspectives for future land consolidation in Estonia. Land Use Policy. 2016; 57 ():34-43.
Chicago/Turabian StyleEvelin Jürgenson. 2016. "Land reform, land fragmentation and perspectives for future land consolidation in Estonia." Land Use Policy 57, no. : 34-43.