Urban influences and the protection of natural and agricultural areas

The influence of cities extends over vast areas within which agriculture and semi-natural spaces take on social value. Market mechanisms, particularly those relating to land, do not allow for their preservation. Public regulation must therefore be implemented. Such regulation cannot take the form of zonal measures, as it concerns all ordinary spaces. We demonstrate that it is possible to draw on the tools of spatial economics and landscape ecology to develop a forward-looking approach that enables public urban planning decisions to be made in a more environmentally sound manner