Land Use in America by Diamond, Henry L. Diamond, Henry L.

From the Publisher

<p>Over the past two decades, great strides have been made on a wide variety of environmental fronts. Air and water quality have improved significantly, certain endangered species are on the road to recovery, and there is a marked increase in environmental awareness among the general population. Yet at the same time, little has changed in our approach toward how land is used.<p>Henry L. Diamond and Patrick F. Noonan, two preeminent figures in the modern conservation movement, examine that unfortunate circumstance as they provide a broad overview of major land use issues of the past twenty-five years and a ten-point agenda for future action. They look at key trends and patterns of the past two decades, and consider what can be done to help communities throughout the country accomodate growth in better, more environmentally sound, more fiscally responsible ways.<p>Diamond and Noonan base the synthesis and analysis featured in the first part of the book in large part on a series of papers from leading scholars, public officials, and practitioners that are included in their entirety in the second part of the book. The contributors provide and in-depth look at important topic, including: <ul> <li>Howard Dean, governor of Vermont, on Vermont's experience with growth management plan.<p><li>Douglas P. Wheeler, secretary of the California Resources Agency, on the implementation of ecosystem management in Californi.<p><li>Jean W. Hocker, president of the Land Trust Alliance, on what land trusts are and how they wor.<p><li>John A. Georges, chairman and chief executive officer of International Paper Company, on management of forest resource.<p><li>Jerold S. Kayden, professor at Harvard University, on private property rights and the "takings" issue </ul>

Publishers Weekly

Guided by the principle that planning minimizes the destruction of natural resources, the authors and the contributors whose in-depth papers make up the second half of the book offer a measured and encompassing analysis of how land should be used. The issues are varied: deteriorating agricultural land, toxic water sources, suburban sprawl and consequent tax increases for extended services, burgeoning disaster relief resulting from unleashed developments on vulnerable floodplains and hillsides. Citing private property and its associate rights, Diamond and Noonan maintain that "Achieving community land use goals must be done in a way that treats private landowners and those who derive their livelihood from the land fairly." Land trusts, they say, are "one of the most exciting prospects for the 21st century." The 900,000 members of the community land trusts have helped protect more than four million acres of land. Still, although property rights must be addressed, most contributors conclude there is a need for municipal, regional and state coordination and an awareness of ecosystem landscapes beyond mere arbitrary tracts of land. Planning is critical, typified by the disastrous example of L.A., which saw a population increase of 45% between 1970 and 1990 and a geographical bulge (and bilge) of 300%. There are success stories here as well: Fort Collins, Colo., for example, requires the city to identify land use goals but allows the private sector to determine how to meet them. In the authors' view, "planning is not a radical doctrine" and the country should learn to embrace its benefits. This lodestone book fulfills its lofty ambition-it is a great source for understanding this complex, sensitive subject. (Mar.)

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