Agricultural lands status in defiance of urban sprawl in Algeria

Abstract

Regularly, rapid population growth and urban expansion led to urban sprawl. This phenomenon is damaging agricultural land in peripheries and seems to be an uncontrolled process even in countries with an environmental awareness. Obsessive use of peripheral agricultural lands is allowed by authorities themselves to seek urban progress. Public institutions find difficulties to control urban dynamic in capitalism. In Algeria, the lack in urban planification strategies worsen the situation. Urban sprawl is further in defiance of a remarkable agricultural land structure, stamped by ancient authentic occupations and various land reforms. Land ownership guaranties access, use and control overs estates. In peri urban areas, land ownership generates completions between sectors, activities and actors. This research aims to answer the following state: does land status is related to the increase of urban sprawl? We analyze an Algerian case of study to determine legal status of farms already urbanized. We investigate above public instructions involved to find out if there are difficulties in urbanizing agricultural lands with specific legal status. Result shows land status’s implication in urban sprawl progress.