Economic Benefits of Land Conservation
It all adds up. Conserved land increases the value of property near greenbelts, saves tax dollars by encouraging more efficient development, and reduces the need for expensive water filtration facilities.
Many resources are available on the economic benefits of land conservation:
- The Trust for Public Land's 2005 report ""
- The Trust for Public Land published The Economic Benefits of Land Conservation, which includes original research and analysis from eight leading experts on the economic benefits of parks and conservation.
- The American Farmland Trust has compiled a list of cost of community services. "Cost of Community Services Studies (Acrobat PDF)" details the cost in tax dollars for industrial and commercial, open space, and residential areas versus every $1 of tax revenue.
- The National Park Service and RTCA published "The Economic Impact of Protecting Rivers, Trails and Greenways Corridors." There is a good chapter on "Real Property Values."
- "The Economic Benefits of Open Space", May 1992 by Stephen Miller -- Director of the Islesboro Islands Trust in ME.