Natural Areas
A Review of Benefits to CommunitiesSTOREHOUSES OF BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY
Natural areas are irreplaceable storehouses of biological diversity, supporting elements and processes that literally make life on earth possible. Sharing the planet with a diversity of species enriches our lives, and safeguards important genetic material that may be vital to future advances in medical research and our culture's ability to confront diseases that threaten essential food crops.
COMMUNITY APPEAL TO NEW RESIDENTS, FAMILIES AND TOURISM
Protection of natural areas promotes the overall livability and vitality of communities, offering not only quality air and drinking water, but also scenic beauty and opportunities for low-impact recreation (bird watching, hiking) enjoyed by residents and tourists alike. Communities with ample natural areas and open space are considered good places for children, and offer high quality of life to all residents.
LOW-COST STORMWATER MANAGEMENT AND FLOOD CONTROL
Natural areas reduce the rate and volume of stormwater runoff, thereby reducing the incidence and severity of flooding and erosion. When development replaces natural areas and other areas of vegetated groundcover, communities either must undertake the great expense of installing and maintaining elaborate stormwater management systems or will sustain repeated episodes of property damage related to flooding and loss of agricultural production due to topsoil erosion.
PURIFICATION SYSTEM FOR DRINKING WATER AND SURFACE WATERS
Vegetated natural areas safeguard the quality of surface and groundwater (drinking water sources) by reducing the sediment load that enters waterways and by filtering out toxins and excess nutrients. When natural areas are lost to development — especially when vegetation is replaced by impervious surfaces (such as pavement) or when an area is subjected to chemical-intensive land uses — groundwater may become increasingly compromised over time, creating a public health concern for communities reliant upon wells for drinking water, and/or necessitating expenditure for purification systems to meet drinking water standards. Decreases in surface water quality have a negative impact on resource-related economic activities such as fishing, boating, and tourism.
CONTRIBUTION TO AIR PURITY
As is true of vegetated landscapes in general, natural areas promote air purity by utilizing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen. Air quality has direct implications for human health, in particular as regards the incidence and severity of respiratory diseases. Protection of natural areas can be part of a communitys overall plan to promote a healthy living environment for its citizens.
INCREASED PROPERTY VALUES
While protected natural areas on public or private land may in some cases be subject to a reduced property tax rate, the designation of a site as a natural area is commonly viewed as an amenity that commands a premium for adjacent lands in the real estate market that results in an increase in the property value — and thus, the property tax contribution — of adjacent lands.
Source: Natural Areas: Protecting a Vital Community Asset, written and designed by Laurie Allmann, 1997, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.