Compact growth and more coordinated land acquisition would ensure that the region’s important open spaces are not lost, and will be joined in a network that stretches across the region. This will allow for corridors of use for animal use and migration, bike and pedestrian trails, and other ecological and recreational uses.

If Current Trends continue, the region would lose the opportunity to create a comprehensive network of greenways, wildlife routes, and trails, as almost 45% of the land along these corridors is developed.

Objectives:

• 139,000 acres of developable land identified as a high priority by the State Land Conservation Plan will be permanently protected from development.
• No more than 5,000 acres of prime and important farmland soils will be lost to development.