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Local Government Commission

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Land Conservation

 

Livable communities and healthy economies depend upon careful conservation of critical habitat, scenic landscapes, ecologically valuable land, and recreational open space. Between 1992 and 1997, California paved an average of 138,960 acres annually. The state population is projected to reach 40 million by 2010. 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 yield environmental as well as economic benefits. A New Hampshire study 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 enhance environmental quality through "green infrastructure." In seeking its future drinking water supply, New York City purchased watershed lands to protect upstate drinking water, at a cost of $1.5 billion. Had these lands been developed, a filtration plant would have cost $6 to $8 billion. Similarly, Gastonia, North Carolina relocated its drinking water intake to a lake without surrounding development to save $250,000 annually.

Like watershed conservation, urban forestry conservation also improves environmental quality at less cost. Many cities, including Sacramento, California, are undertaking conservation of urban forests to improve air quality. In Atlanta, Georgia, where tree cover accounts for 27% of total land area, the air quality benefits of the canopy are estimated at $15 million annually.

Increasing the density of new development allows local governments to conserve critical open space and agricultural land. According to the American Farmland Trust, increasing gross residential density from three to six dwelling units per acre would save one and-a-half million acres of open space in California's Central Valley by the year 2040. At six units per acre, the Central Valley would save about $27 billion in direct sales of agricultural commodities.

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