Land Preservation Pays in the Long Run

Are you aware that growth normally costs more than land preservation for taxpayers? Many people assume with growth you will spur more revenues in the long run with taxes. However, although this appears logical, it simply isn't true.

When there is more growth in an area, you need more infrastructure built - roads, schools, water, and wastewater treatment plants, fire departments, police departments, and other service support systems. The cost to provide these services increases and typically taxes increase over time rather than go down.
Natural open areas, on the other hand, do provide many financial benefits which are often overlooked and taken for granted.

When it comes to real estate, natural areas increase the value of properties. There are always premiums placed on land that might be up against a forest preserve or a conservation area. Or, how about when you have a beautiful mountain view from your home, do you think the value of your home is worth the same with someone who does not have this type of scenery. The answer is obviously, no. Your value goes up when you are attached to nature.

So, I'd like you to pause and think about some of the benefits we have of nature, especially as we see how our natural resources on our planet are becoming more and more limited yearly. Think about what happens if they are destroyed or exploited for further growth. And in the long run, the cost and quality of life will be compromised.

Here are some of the benefits of nature we take for granted:

Drinking water supplies come from the aquifer which requires large, undeveloped areas for recharge.

Wetlands help purify water which is consumed by people.

Coastal marsh areas provide the spawning and nursery grounds for approximately two-thirds of the shellfish, commercial and sport fish which are available for harvest.

Undisturbed floodplains reduce or prevent flood damage and erosion.

Natural areas help reduce air pollution.

Agricultural lands provide most of the world's food supplies and timberlands produce the raw materials for a wide-range of products utilized in our day to day lives.

Drugs and pharmaceuticals which are derived in some form from plants are valued at more than $20 billion a year in the U.S.

Nature provides a wealth of data that is used for our own technology developments.

Natural areas provide recreational and ecotourism opportunities, which are a source of jobs and revenues for many communities across the U.S.

Ecotourism is the largest growth sector in the $3 trillion worldwide tourism industry, and it is growing at a rate of 30% annually.

So, as you can see, nature plays a big role in our lives. I have been living in Florida now for about 23 years. In that period of time, development has been growing at an alarming pace and the result has been the destruction of natural areas. When I think what it will look like from when I first came here in 1985 to 10 or 20 years from now, it's concerning. However, it's not just Florida, just look around where you live. In 10 or 20 years from now, we could all be living in a different place than the one we are looking at now. A quote that comes to mind is from a Puget Sound Native American, Chief Seattle, who delivered an amazing speech about our environment in 1854, "The Earth does not belong to us - we belong to the Earth."

Be wise and take care of her.

Source: Gulf Coast Conservancy