Arealbruk

Arealbruk, or land use, refers to how land is allocated and managed for human activities and natural processes. It encompasses the spatial distribution of activities such as agriculture, forestry, settlements, industry, transport infrastructure, recreation, and nature conservation, as well as the processes that modify land for these uses. The concept distinguishes land use from land cover; land use describes human activity on the land, while land cover denotes the physical surface.

In planning contexts, arealbruk is addressed through arealplanlegging (land-use planning) and zoning, with municipal and regional planning, environmental impact assessments, and permitting regulating where different uses can occur. Planning aims to balance economic development, social needs, and environmental protection, often incorporating green infrastructure, climate adaptation, and resilience. Data on arealbruk is produced with GIS, remote sensing, cadastral information, and land-use maps, enabling analysis of changes in hectares and share of total area for each use.

Common land-use categories include agricultural land, forests, urban areas, transport networks, water bodies, and protected areas. Trends in arealbruk reflect urbanization, agricultural consolidation or division, afforestation or deforestation, and regeneration of natural habitats. The concept also emphasizes ecosystem services and multifunctional land use, seeking synergies between food production, biodiversity, and recreation.

Challenges include balancing growth with protection of fertile land, preventing urban sprawl, fragmentation of habitats, soil sealing, and ensuring coherent governance across sectors and municipalities. By providing a common framework for decisions, arealbruk aims for sustainable and adaptable land management.