search our site     home > key topics > natural resources, environment, & conservation   rural amenities & urbanization In addition to producing food, fiber, and timber, rural lands also contribute tangible and intangible amenities such as open space, aesthetic landscapes, wildlife habitats, environmental services, agrarian cultural heritage, rural lifestyles, and recreational opportunities. ERS research evaluates the relative importance of these amenities in various contexts, based on an examination of existing public programs, particularly farmland preservation programs in areas of rapid urban development. related briefing rooms - offer an indepth discussion synthesizing ERS research Infrastructure and Rural Development Policy Measuring Rurality feature Farmland Protection: The Role of Public Preferences for Rural Amenities—To investigate the relative importance of preserving different rural amenities associated with farmland, this report examines the enabling legislation of these programs across the 48 contiguous States, and the implementation of these programs in 5 Northeastern States. The report also assesses how farmland protection programs fit into the broader array of rural land conservation programs. AER-815 (10/02) See a Macromedia Flash introduction to this report... web administration: webadmin@ers.usda.gov updated: November 14, 2002  Also at ERS... latest publications (all) • The Conservation Reserve Program: Economic Implications for Rural America • Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators, 2003 • Agricultural Resources and Environmental Indicators: Wildlife Resources Conservation latest data products (all) • Urban Influence Codes • Rural/Urban Continuum Codes • Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes resources • Contact an ERS Expert • Calendar of Releases services • Receive E-mail Updates • E-mail This Page • Translate This Page

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