Land Use Transitions
San Juan Mountain communities are in various stages of transition from mining, agriculture, and forestry to industries based upon tourism, recreation, oil and gas extraction, and amenity-led migration. The region will experience tremendous change over the next 50 years as human population continues to grow and demand for natural resources increases. Community and land managers will be faced with increasingly difficult planning and development decisions. MSI studies land use change, and effects on communities, natural resources, and ecosystems. The Institute also provides expertise to community projects that combine ecological, cultural, and economic sustainability goals.