Rock & Roll Farm

Sunday! Feb 27 2005 // 4:35 pm //

Piedmont protects 23,790 acres

02/02/2005
Staff
Rappahannock News

“The record-breaking total for 2004 brings the total number of acres protected by easement in the nine counties served by the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) to almost 215,000 acres.”

“[Piedmont Environmental Council’s] Director of Land Conservation, Catherine Scott said, The number of acres preserved last year reflects the growing belief among Piedmont residents that open space is a valuable resource, worthy of protection. In fact, we couldn’t use easements to conserve land if people hadn’t affirmed through their elected officials both at the state level and the local level that rural preservation has real public benefits.”

“According to a 2003 study that was done by the American Farmland Trust in Culpeper County, farms and other open lands use only $0.32 in local services for every dollar of taxes paid, while homes require $1.22 for every dollar paid. Land placed under permanent easement also lowers the value used by the state to determine local ability to pay, which results in increased funding from the Commonwealth for schools and other county services.”

[via American Farmland Trust