This book pioneers a spatial approach to the problems of land use by bringing together models in economics, ecology and hydrology, and summarizes the results of innovative research funded by the United Kingdom's Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). Ideas of economic value which bring about most changes in land use are linked with the biophysical processes in the environment likely to be affected as a result of these changes.

The book demonstrates, with the aid of case studies, how these models can be combined into a strategic system for guiding decision making and analysing land use policies.