Yovel, Sefirat HaOmer, and the Mitzvah of Counting

We are in the midst of the period of Sefirat Omer, and Parashat Behar speaks of counting years for the Shemitta (Sabbatical) and Yovel (Jubilee). Counting is abundantly necessary for many commandments in the Torah, such as Shabbat and Brit Mila, but for those and for other mitzvot there is no explicit commandment to count. Why, then, is there an explicit commandment to count in some circumstances, but not for others? Why do we need the mitzva of Sefirat HaOmer, and what is the significance of counting the years leading up until the Yovel?

There is value  in the process itself, even for the 50-year timespan. Freedom and equality do not exist in a vacuum on the 50th year-- they must be part of the leadership's agenda throughout those 50 years. The journey may be just as important as the destination.