Ian Hodge – författare

The development of agriculture has caused rapid changes to the rural environment. Today, with growing awareness and concern for environmental issues, there is a movement to stem further damage to the countryside and replace some of the values which have been lost. Voluntary non-profit organisations which own and manage land for countryside conservation are playing an increasingly important role in this movement. These are called CARTs Conservation, Amenity and Recreation Trusts. Countryside in Trust explores the principles behind this movement and investigates the activities of the wide range of organisations involved, both large and small, including the National Trust, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and the Scottish Tree Trust. The origins and experiences of CARTs are traced in a series of chapters which examine the different types of organisation, their land management activities and finances, and their close relationship with government agencies at all levels. Finally, the authors describe the role of public policy towards CARTs and assess the implications for the future. This is the first book to examine the large numbers of landholding environmental and amenity trusts in the UK, and is essential reading for students, voluntary organisations, conservation groups, land owners and local authorities.

Conflicts over the conservation of biodiversity, changing patterns in land use, pollution, climate change, public access and increasing demands for food and energy security lead to the creation of policies designed to reconcile interests and promote society's objectives. This book examines the origins and evolution of the institutions that determine the use and management of land and the delivery of ecosystem services, through private property rights, markets and public policies. Divided into five accessible parts, the book provides detailed coverage of the institutions, property and governance of the countryside, historical models, governance under sectoral policies and alternative approaches. It is carefully developed to meet the needs of anyone studying or interested in agricultural sciences, countryside management, rural environment and geography. Students, lecturers, policy makers, managers and consultants in these areas will find this a valuable resource.

Originally published in 1981, the main thesis of this book is that rural labour markets are at the core of the problem of rural depopulation in development countries. Therefore, the success or failure of policies seeking to moderate the process of population decline is linked to the policy maker’s ability to influence labour markets constructively. Migration in search of work has been a major cause of rural decline, and its reversal to bring about economically viable communities must be related to the availability of employment in rural areas. The authors argue that the emergence of socially viable communities is the highest aim in rural economic policy making. Economic viability is usually a necessary but not a sufficient condition for social survival. This examination of the problems of choosing appropriate policies for rural areas, though written by two applied economists, will also be of interest to geographers, planner and politicians interested or involved in local and central government in the UK, the USA and Australia.

Originally published in 1981, the main thesis of this book is that rural labour markets are at the core of the problem of rural depopulation in development countries. Therefore, the success or failure of policies seeking to moderate the process of population decline is linked to the policy maker’s ability to influence labour markets constructively. Migration in search of work has been a major cause of rural decline, and its reversal to bring about economically viable communities must be related to the availability of employment in rural areas. The authors argue that the emergence of socially viable communities is the highest aim in rural economic policy making. Economic viability is usually a necessary but not a sufficient condition for social survival. This examination of the problems of choosing appropriate policies for rural areas, though written by two applied economists, will also be of interest to geographers, planner and politicians interested or involved in local and central government in the UK, the USA and Australia.