Environmental Land Use Planning and Integrated Management at the River Basin Scale in Coastal North Carolina

Abstract

At its core environmental management is achieved through the design and control of human behavior. Land use planning provides an excellent tool for the management of a variety of influential human activities by controlling and designing the ways in which we use land and natural resources. In its present state, land use planning falls short of its potential as an environmental and natural resource management tool. This is primarily due to a lack of coordination and the failure of land use planners to consider the environment in their charge holistically. While this situation exists in North Carolina, the state is well positioned to leverage existing environmental management and land use planning programs to create greater effectiveness and efficiency. This is particularly true in the coastal zone where land use planning tools, specifically land use suitability analysis, can be applied through the river basin planning system to improve coastal management for both human and environmental sustainability and success.