Issues and emerging concepts relating to an integrated and holistic approach to land use planning are clarified in this publication. Definitions of land, neutral resources and the various types of planning are presented and discussed. The paper introduces elements such as land tenure issues, stakeholders, land qualities and sustainability indicators, together with the relationship between rural and urban planning. A planning sequence is briefly outlined, beginning with a definition of objectives, and the development of a framework for decision-making, information databases and tools and multiple goal analysis. The institutional aspects of planning and implementation are also briefly discussed.