THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND CONSERVATION AMONG ELECTED AND APPOINTED COUNTY OFFICIALS
Agricultural Issues
Keith Mickler
County Extension Coordinator
University of Georgia
Rome
Abstract
THE IMPORTANCE OF LAND CONSERVATION AMONG ELECTED AND APPOINTED COUNTY OFFICIALS\r\n\r\nMickler*, K.D.1\r\n\r\n1 Extension Agent, Georgia Cooperative Extension, Floyd County, Rome, GA, 30161\r\n\r\n Land conservation is a way to promote quality of life through integration of community and the natural environment by preserving land and creating and revitalizing neighborhoods. In order to determine the importance of land conservation among elected and appointed county officials in the state of Georgia a survey was conducted on the importance of land conservation and its impact on water quality, personal health, quality of life, economic development, property values and transportation by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and UGA Cooperative Extension. The survey results indicated that 49% of the respondents thought that land conservation was highly important and 57% thought that land conservation has a strong impact on water quality. The survey also indicated that 36% thought that land conservation has a strong impact on personal health and 54% said land conservation has a strong impact on quality of life. Interestingly enough 89% said that land conservation has a positive impact on economic development in their county. Quotes from the survey were as follows: “We need to protect and conserve agricultural farmland to ensure our ability to provide an adequate and efficient food and energy supply for our nation and “Not enough is being done to ensure a clear dimension of sustainability' via land conservation ... including environmental, historical preservation, zoning, etc.” The so what of this survey is that 35.7% of the respondents have less than one year of service, 62.5 were from a rural county and 61.7% was over 55 years of age.
Authors: Mickler, K.
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Mickler, K. Agriculture And Natural Resources Agent, University Of Georgia Cooperative Extension, Georgia, 30161