Land Use and Society, Third Edition

The intersection between geography and law is a critical yet oftenoverlooked element of land-use decisions, with a widespread impact onhow societies use the land, water, and biodiversity around them. LandUse and Society, Third Edition is a clear and compelling guide to therole of law in shaping patterns of land use and environmentalmanagement. Originally published in 1996 and revised in 2004, thisthird edition has been updated with data from the 2010 U.S. Census andrevised with the input of academics and professors to address thechanging issues in land use, policy, and law today.

Land Use and Society, Third Edition retains the historicalapproach of the original text while providing a more concise andtopical survey of the evolution of urban land use regulation, fromEurope in the Middle Ages through the present day United States.Rutherford Platt examines the “nuts and bolts” of land usedecision-making in the present day and analyzes key players, includingprivate landowners, local and national governments, and the courts.This third edition is enhanced by a discussion of the current trendsand issues in land use, from urban renewal and demographic shifts incities to the growing influence of local governance in land usemanagement.

Land Use and Society, Third Edition is a vital resource forany student seeking to understand the intersection between law,politics, and the natural world. While Platt examines specific rules,doctrines, and practices from an American context, an understanding ofthe role of law in shaping land use decisions will prove vital forstudents, policymakers, and land use managers around the world.