Agricultural land use and its climate change vulnerability in Asia: Moving from vulnerability to resilience

This paper highlights significant changes in agricultural land use trends in Asia and discusses
the broad set of measures that are being implemented in the region. The increasing population
and their demands are primary factors driving land use alterations in the Asia region. Intensive
agricultural practices have exerted pressure on ecosystems, resulting in decreased total factor
productivity, land degradation, soil erosion, diminished soil fertility, and increased greenhouse
gas emissions. Efforts to combat unsustainable land transformations through policy have been
limited, and nations have yet to effectively reverse these negative trends. By implementing
coordinated land management and integrated decision support systems, countries can resolve
food–fuel conflicts, mitigate detrimental environmental impacts, and promote rural development.
The policy framework for land management must recognize that land is central to sustainability;
any modifications in land use can significantly heighten pressures from other sectors or
profoundly affect them. This underscores the necessity of moving away from fragmented land
management towards a comprehensive monitoring and management system that is responsive to
climate, societal, and environmental changes.