Command-and-control regulation has been the traditional way of dealing with land use and nature protection. However, the complex relations of land use and nature protection require new approaches that go beyond the traditional protection of designated species, habitats and areas. Still, legal traditions that very often restrict the regulation of land use must be kept in mind.
This book contains a number of articles on the tendencies characterizing modern environmental regulation of land use. It addresses the problems of actually understanding the nature of legal aspects associated with land use and nature protection.
The use of new approaches and new means (for example, environmental impact assessment agreements and liability) to meet the need for general protection of common interest is a central theme. The importance of decision-making structures and processes is in particular illustrated in relation to transport. Some fear that part of the environmental law will be unenforceable and ineffective.
The articles draw attention to the legal weaknesses and the legal barriers in the EU, and in the international and national systems.
