Common Ground - Western Reserve Land Conservancy

© DAVID LIAM KYLE
At A Glance
* Since land is a finite resource, preserving it
* 95% of the region’s farmland remains
* Our region has more than 400 unique
* The net cost to taxpayers – revenue vs.
* Open space contributes to a person’s
is vital. Cuyahoga County went from being
semi-rural in 1950 to completely developed
in 2000 – while its population remained
unchanged.
unprotected, so the rich soils on these
properties could one day be underneath
houses or shopping centers.
species, including 16 known federally
endangered species and 41 known federally
threatened species.
the tab for providing services – is less
for preserved land than for residential
developments.
physical, psychological and emotional health.
66 CHAPTER CHAPTER 1 1 WHY PRESERVE PRESERVE OUR OUR LAND LAND
CHAPTER 1
Why preserve our land?
S ince land is so plentiful, why all the fuss about
preserving it?
It is a fair question. In a survey, we asked those who do
conservation work in northern Ohio what they felt were the
most important reasons to protect or restore land.
“Once the land is developed,” one respondent wrote, “it is
incredibly difficult to ‘un-develop’ it.”
Another noted, “Conserving land allows us to have a
special place to retreat to enjoy the outdoors and explore
nature. For health reasons, it is imperative that we have a
place where we can relieve stress, walk and hike with our
families, and understand the importance of the abundant
natural resources we have in our communities.”
Others viewed land preservation as a way to combat urban
sprawl, to maintain biodiversity, to protect watersheds
and to stem the loss of valuable farmland. One respondent
stated, “If we do not conserve land, it will be fully
developed and paved over. Look at Cuyahoga County. It is
the first county in Ohio to be 100% developed. Everything
not protected or in parks was paved over.” Another
person concluded: “There is no such thing as ‘too much’
conservation of the natural environment.”
Turns out there are plenty of reasons to preserve our land.
This is the only land we have
It seems obvious, but it bears repeating: Land is a finite
resource – they aren’t making it any more. Look no further
than Cuyahoga County, which went from being semi-rural
in 1950 to completely developed in 2000 – while its
population remained unchanged.
There are more than four million acres in the 14-county
region we studied for this report. That seems like a lot of
land. But only 7% of that land – roughly 300,000 acres
– is currently protected. Local conservation professionals
we surveyed consider 10% a minimum level for land
preservation, with most favoring a 15% standard. “It is the
only land that we have,” one respondent noted. “We can’t
create more land when it is all used up.”
A healthy place for plants
and wildlife
By preserving land, we also protect the plants and wildlife
of our region. If we do not protect the very best of our
region’s natural areas, important habitats will be lost
forever.
In northern Ohio, we sometimes take for granted the
extraordinary variety of plants, fish and animals living
in our back yard. The most important step we can take
toward maintaining this diversity is preserving the lands
where plants and wildlife thrive. Locally, we have seen
how protecting habitats have helped save species such as
the bald eagle, the Lake Erie water snake and the Eastern
massasauga rattlesnake. And we are fortunate that groups
like the Cleveland Museum of Natural History and the Lake
Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity are leading
efforts to protect sensitive areas. Land preservation remains
the most significant step we can take to protect our plants
and animals.
The Natural Heritage Database for our region lists more
than 400 unique species, including 16 known federally
endangered species and 41 known federally threatened
species.