Conservation areas can provide a variety of benefits to localities, including improving public health, raising property values, and sustaining ecosystems. Proactive conservation strategies are the best way to ensure those benefits accrue.
"Instead of thinking about conservation areas as 'the leftover' areas that have not been accommodated for other purposes, planners were encouraged to integrate conservation into their planning processes," at a recent Tuesdays at APA-DC event, reports Erin Musiol.
"Conservation areas set out to protect the most biologically diverse areas of a community. They contain rare and imperiled species and their habitat and protect and enhance ecosystem processes and services," she explains. "To be viable, conservation areas need to be large in size and well connected to other conservation areas. As communities face issues of population growth, fragmentation, pollution, and climate change, finding and protecting suitable conservation areas becomes more challenging."
However, marshalling the political and economic resources to proactively designate properties for conservation is a challenge. "Despite these challenges, strategically planning for conservation is easier (and less expensive and more successful) than trying to reconstruct or restore conservation value after the land has been degraded."
Musiol goes on to describe some of the resources and tools available to planners to help in conservation planning efforts.
FULL STORY: Conservation as a Land Use
Trump Golf Course Destroyed Protected Scottish Ecosystem
The president promised to protect the unique natural area when he received permission to develop a resort there.
New Ruralism: Sustainability Matters in Rural New England
New Ruralism is about rural communities finding new and sustainable approaches to create economic opportunities, provide livable-wage jobs, improve access to local foods, and offer better aging-in-place options.
Can Conservation and Drilling Coexist?
That's the question facing the nation's largest environmental organization (not the Sierra Club but The Nature Conservancy) regarding the management of its preserve in Texas. There is no question for Naomi Klein, who writes about it in her new book.
Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
In Urban Planning, AI Prompting Could be the New Design Thinking
Creativity has long been key to great urban design. What if we see AI as our new creative partner?
King County Supportive Housing Program Offers Hope for Unhoused Residents
The county is taking a ‘Housing First’ approach that prioritizes getting people into housing, then offering wraparound supportive services.
Researchers Use AI to Get Clearer Picture of US Housing
Analysts are using artificial intelligence to supercharge their research by allowing them to comb through data faster. Though these AI tools can be error prone, they save time and housing researchers are optimistic about the future.
Making Shared Micromobility More Inclusive
Cities and shared mobility system operators can do more to include people with disabilities in planning and operations, per a new report.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
planning NEXT
Appalachian Highlands Housing Partners
Gallatin County Department of Planning & Community Development
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie