Agricultural Land Conversion (ALC)

Major Environmental Issues

What is Land use conversion?

Land use conversion is the act or process of

changing the current physical use of a piece of agricultural land into some other use, as approved by DAR.

What are the constitutional basis of Land Conversion?

The relevant provisions in the Philippine

Constitution give a foundation which specifically addresses the issue of industrialization based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform while ensuring the optimal use of the nations limited land resources.
(Article XII, Sec. II, The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines)

What are the constitutional basis of Land Conversion?

The provision is qualified by the declaration that the use of property bears a social function, implying maximum productivity for all lands.
(Article III, Sections I, I5 and I6, The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines)

Why is land use conversion allowed?

Requirements of people for housing to respond the

growing housing needs of the people.

Industrialization. Some agricultural lands need to be

developed for non-agricultural purposes as not to hinder industrialization in urban and rural areas.

Agricultural lands already devoted to nonagricultural

uses prior to effectiveness of CARL but are classified as agricultural lands.

Land Resources maximization. There are programs

that need to be implemented in agricultural but marginal areas.

Agricultural land conversion drivers:

Urban population was identified as the main driver affecting ALC in all the countries. Agricultural land loss was more intensified in developing countries experiencing rapid economic growth and a transition in their economic structure.

 Although urbanization process exists in less developed, developing and developed countries, the developed countries are more successful in managing urban development and ALC. Considering the increasing trend of ALC in the future and its socio-economic and environmental impacts, governments' intervention in land policies is needed to preserve agricultural lands.

Positive effects
Creation of industrial estates, which contribute to the over-all improvement of individuals, community and the local govt Commercial centers Residential subdivisions

Negative Effects land degradation, increased flooding modified climate regime farmers displacement agricultural production food security

 These chaotic and occasionally conflicting changes were largely caused by lack of stability and consistency in agricultural land use policies promulgated.

Land Use Changes Generally Result In More Warming

1) in general land use conversion often results in more warming than cooling; 2) deforestation results in surface warming, with the exception being conversion to agriculture; 3) conversion from agriculture generally results in warming; 4) urbanization and conversion to bare soils have the largest impact on warming surface temperatures.

What is the position of DAR on land use conversion?

Land use conversion is necessary even inevitable/unavoidable in the countrys march to progress. Agricultural lands may have to be given up in favor of industrial estates, commercial centers, residential subdivisions, etc. DAR is against indiscriminate and wasteful land use conversion and wants to preserve productive agricultural lands and other programs implemented in the marginal agricultural areas.

Agriculture could be carried out only in certain types of land. Thus agricultural lands should be rightfully considered a finite natural resource, further depletion of which would threaten national food security. In contrast, housing and industrialization, for example require land merely for space and may therefore be implemented in lands marginal for agriculture.

 Irrigable lands covered by irrigation projects with firm funding commitments. These are lands that have marked characteristics justifying the operation of an irrigation system.

What can we do?

The recommendations include government incentives and support for the famers and the agricultural sector. greater coordination between the different government agencies concerned towards effective land use conversion policy implementation which, in effect, would maximize the benefits of these activities and minimize the problems. This is recommended on the premise that such a coordination will eventually contribute to attracting more agro-based industries which, in turn, will become a value-added factor to the growth of the agricultural sector and enhance agricultural potentials.