Measuring What Matters: An Integrated Framework for Assessing Land Use Outcomes

Abstract

Land is a multifunctional resource critical to agriculture, forestry, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, bioenergy production, and cultural and recreational uses. However, achieving optimal land use outcomes requires policy frameworks grounded in robust evidence. This study reviews existing land use assessment models to inform the development of an integrated framework for evaluating policy-driven land use outcomes. We arrive at a list of 36 priority indicators to support strategic governance, rural development, and long-term environmental resilience. We use Ireland as a case study which reveals critical data gaps and underscores the importance of investment in data infrastructure to support evidence-based decision-making.