1. Chapter 7 Land Supply
Reasons for land constraint
Reasons demand for land
o Population growth
 Due to the rapid population growth in the last few years, more land is
needed for human activities.
o Increasing demand for housing
 A growing population will lead to an increase in demand for housing.
o Growth of industries
 The need to provide jobs for a growing population is an important
concern.
o Development of transport system
 As a country develops, more roads and railways have to be built.
 A good transport network is important for the movement of goods and
raw materials, as well as to enable workers to travel between their
homes and workplace
 E.g. In some cities, over 20% of the total land area is set aside for the
transport facilities such as roads, railways, and car parks
o Increasing demand for arable land
 To produce food to feed their increasing populations, countries have to
look for more arable land.
o Increasing demand for recreational spaces
 With more people, more recreational spaces will have to be provided.
 E.g. swimming pool, public golf courses, theatres, parks and nature
reserves
P-T.H.R.I.F.
Limited supply of land
o Though land makes up 30% of the Earth’s surfaces, not all are usable.
o Swamps, marshes and low-lying coastal areas are not usable.
o Other uses of land are needed
 E.g. water catchment areas, military purposes
Responses to rising demand for land
Increasing the price of land
o Due to more users willing to pay a higher price for the available land,
hence pushing up the price of the land.
o Discourages some people from using the land, reducing demand.

2. Increasing the supply of land
o Land Clearance
 Increase the amount of land available for development
Demolishing old buildings or through deforestation
May have a negative impact on the environment
o E.g. Deforestation cause many plants and animals to
die or become extinct →affecting food chain
o Land reclamation
 Landfill
Creating dry land from swampy areas, marshes and shallow
parts of the sea.
These areas are drained and filled with material like sand to
from dry land.
o E.g. Singapore Boat Quay and Marina Bay Area
 Empoldering
A method of reclaiming land from sea
Though Empoldering is usually carried out in low-lying
coastal areas, it can also be applied to areas that are further
inland.
 Reclaiming derelict land
Usually caused by natural disasters, forest fires or human
activities
o Improper farming activities
 Fertility of arable land may be lost due to
improper farming practice.
o Mining Activities
 Mineral ores, vegetation and soil have to be
removed
 Heaps of mining wastes are left behind deep
holes cause by mining, causing poisonous
substance to contaminate the soil.
Maximizing use of existing land
o Maximizing urban land use
o Mixed land use
High Density Building
Maximizing Agricultural land use
Terracing
Soil-less farming
Conserving Land
o As a country develops, demand for land increases for industries and housing and other
facilities.
o A country’s forests and other nature features should be protected