Access to open space and conservation of critical habitat, scenic landscapes, ecologically valuable land, and recreational lands is a critical component of livable communities and healthy economies. According to a recent survey from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, between 1992 and 1997, California paved over an average of 138,960 acres a year. According to moderate growth projections, by 2010, California will add nearly 6 million residents, totaling 40 million. Without proactive land conservation efforts, much of our valued land - including agricultural lands - could be lost to more pavement.

Land conservation and agricultural land preservation benefit communities environmentally as well as economically. A study of the economic impact of open space in the State of New Hampshire revealed that 25% of that state's economic activity is generated by undeveloped lands. In 1996 - 97, state and local governments collected more than one-third of their revenues from these activities. Forestry and tourism / recreation created about $3 billion each, with agriculture contributing $377 million. In California's Central Valley, agriculture produces 250 different commodities worth more than $13 billion each year.

Conserving land is an economical way to provide urban services and to promote environmental quality through "green infrastructure." In determining the best route to ensure a future drinking water supply for New York City, the City purchased watershed lands to protect upstate drinking water. Estimated cost for purchase of watershed lands was $1.5 billion, while estimated cost for construction of a filtration plant if those lands were developed totaled between $6 and $8 billion. Similarly, Gastonia, North Carolina relocated its drinking water intake to a lake without surrounding development to save $250,000 annually.

In addition to watershed conservation, urban forestry conservation is an economical means of improving environmental quality. Many cities, including Sacramento, California, are focusing on the conservation of urban forests to improve air quality. In Atlanta, Georgia, where tree cover accounts for 27% of total land area, the estimated annual value — in terms of air quality — of the canopy is $15 million.

For urban decision-makers and local governments, conservation of open space and agricultural lands can be achieved through increasing the densities of new developments. According to the American Farmland Trust, increasing the gross residential density from three to six dwelling units per acre would preserve one and a half million acres of open space in California's Central Valley alone by the year 2040. At six units per acre, the Central Valley would save about $27 billion in direct sales of agricultural commodities.

Resources

• Livable Places Update — Archived Issues
• Publications

Web Links

• American Farmland Trust (http://www.farmland.org/)
• Greenbelt Alliance (http://www.greenbelt.org/)
• Michigan Land Use Institute (http://www.mlui.org/)
• Planning and Conservation League (http://www.pcl.org/)
• Scenic America (http://www.scenic.org/)
• Sierra Club Anti-Sprawl Campaign (http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/)
• Sprawl Watch (http://www.sprawlwatch.org/)
• Sustainable Communities Network (http://www.sustainable.org/)
• The Trust for Public Land (http://www.tpl.org/)

Related Topics

• Housing
• Open Space

Back to Top

Copyright © 2004-2007 Local Government Commission. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy
1303 J St., Ste 250, Sacramento CA, 95814 | 916-448-1198 voice | 916-448-8246 fax