Environmental planning, also known as urban planning, city planning, urban and regional planning, or human settlements planning, is a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary profession involved in the management of land resources and their accompanying urbanization. 

The very reason for the environmental planning profession is managing land to avoid the so-called “tragedy of the commons”, wherein individual decisions to pursue gains, if left unfettered, will ultimately result in the larger society being worse off. 

Environmental planning seeks to provide regulation and guidance on how land (the “commons”) is used so that public health, safety, and welfare are safeguarded.