Land Use Planning & Biodiversity References

Habitat conversion (whether for agriculture, resource extraction, or settlement) is a primary threat to our amphibian and reptile populations. Although the percentage of land protected as parks or natural areas varies from state to state, most land in the Northeast is privately owned and managed. For this reason, the actions of private landowners and local governments are vital to the successful conservation of amphibians and reptiles, indeed of all biodiversity.

While all development affects biodiversity, carefully planned, compact development can minimize the impacts. There are many ways that municipalities can plan for development or manage land that are less harmful to the natural world and its ecological processes while also encouraging protection of prime agricultural lands and sustained use of productive forest lands. We have compiled the information in this PDF file (Land Use Planning and Biodiversity References) as a resource for those involved in land use decision making and/or land management and who are interested in better conserving nature in their communities.