Urbanization process and the changing agricultural landscape pattern in the urban fringe of Metro Manila, Philippines

Abstract

This paper discusses physical changes in the urban fringe agricultural landscape of Metro Manila and the socioeconomic factors and other pressures underlying these changes. In 1982, agricultural land use dominated in both of the two study areas, but the area under cultivation had decreased by 1997. The changing pattern in the northwest study area was one of phased transition towards a more urban land use. In contrast, in the southeast study area, there was a sudden change from an agricultural to an urban landscape. The paper explores the reasons for this difference and recommends the conservation of green open spaces through the adoption of an ecological planning approach involving a mixture of urban and agricultural land uses.