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Purpose
The
Regional Green
Plan identifies and prioritizes land for future
open space preservation and/or acquisition in the five-county
southeastern Pennsylvania area. The report prioritizes open
space for three distinct purposes: agricultural preservation,
conservation of ecological resources, and natural resource-based
recreation. It encourages partnerships among state, federal,
local, and private conservation groups and others to protect
critical open spaces in the region while sustaining beneficial
economic growth.
Need
The Plan notes the need for and benefits
of protecting open space and setting regional priorities,
including the supply and quality of water; flood control;
natural diversity; farm products; quality economic development;
preservation of scenic, historic, and rural characteristics;
recreational amenities; and use of financial resources.
Process
A GIS-based analysis was used,
applying 32 data sources to a 30-meter-square grid network
comprising more than six million cells. After developing
separate analyses and maps for agriculture, ecology, and
recreation, the three components were combined and overlaid
to create two final composite regional databases and maps.
The first composite map overlays the three maps to show where
high priority open space lands occur regardless of which
model generated them. The second composite map combines the
numerical values of the three models to show the highest
overall value open space lands based on the intersection
of agricultural, ecological and recreational priorities.
The process was guided by expert advisors and overseen by
the GreenSpace
Alliance Board.
Findings
The region has tremendous assets
in its open space lands and stream/river corridors. However,
open space is disappearing rapidly. Further, it is not simply
the rate of loss that threatens our region; a further problem
is the fragmented way in which we have chosen to consume
these valuable assets.
Priorities can be set for protection based on two kinds
of lands: "Rural Conservation Lands," where large-scale
regional protection should be focused, and "Urban/Suburban
Lands," where the focus should be on stream corridors
and greenways. Thriving communities require the protection
of lands important to water quality, recreation and wildlife
habitat.
Recommendations
- Preserve open space in both rural and urban/suburban
lands and tailor preservation approach accordingly.
- As a guideline, ensure that at least one acre of undeveloped
land is protected for every acre that is developed.
- In the rural conservation lands, permanently protect
no less than 50% of remaining undeveloped and unprotected
lands.
- Recognize that stream and river corridors integrate
rural lands with urban/suburban lands, and are therefore
a critical resource for the region. Dedicate planning and
funding resources to the permanent protection of these
corridors.
- In the urban/suburban lands, concentrate
on protecting high-resource-value lands for recreational
purposes and, where possible, for ecological resource and
specialty agricultural uses.
- Enact comprehensive plans
and land use ordinances and promote multi-municipal cooperation
to protect open space.
- Develop funding strategies combining
federal, state, county, municipal, and private sources
for financing preservation.
- Focus on attracting new
revenue sources to protect open space.
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