Losing Ground: Targeting Agricultural Land Take by Enabling a Circular Economy in Construction

• DOI: 10.1007/s43615-023-00293-y
• Publication Date: 2023-07-25T02:01:52Z
• Authors: Angeliki Kourmouli; Feja Lesniewska
• Keywords: Circular Economy; Agricultural land

Abstract Among the numerous causes of soil degradation, one most severe and difficult to reverse is land take. Land take results in loss valuable ecosystem services that negatively impact health, especially agricultural areas. The main drivers are increased provision housing, schools, hospitals, industrial commercial sites, transport networks infrastructures, mines, quarries waste dumpsites. Globally, rate scale increasing. Given on such as carbon, hydrological nitrogen cycles, preventing essential if triple planetary ecological crises climate change, biodiversity pollution be addressed. Most countries use sustainable management techniques limit by development projects. In this opinion paper, we argue circular economy concept could help establish an alternative perspective how understand address problem. Law policy need foster a systemic transition throughout entire construction sector’s multiple material life cycles it significantly reduce We England case study show UK government can revise build current enable more sector. provides lessons for other at crossroad fostering maintain soil’s services.