The Nature of Open Space:
Linking Land Protection and Biodiversity Conservation

Although universally recognized as a fundamental component of ecosystem health and integrity, biological diversity, or biodiversity, continues to be lost at an alarming rate. The primary threats to biodiversity in the United States are habitat destruction, degradation, and fragmentation. As a result, land acquisition — both publicly and privately financed — is viewed as the surest and most effective tool in the conservation toolbox.

Almost every state operates at least one land conservation program for one or more purposes, including the protection of hunting and fishing resources, protection of water quality and/or quantity, forestry and ranching, historic and cultural preservation, parks and recreation, and/or agricultural preservation, as well as open space and the protection of biodiversity and wildlife.

Click here to view ELI’s research on linking state land protection and state biodiversity/wildlife protection.

Click here to view proceedings from ELI’s Roundtable Discussion: Making Open Space Dollars Work for Wildlife.

Other links of interest:

• State wildlife action plans: http://www.wildlifeactionplans.org
• Teaming With Wildlife: http://www.teaming.com/
• ELI’s State Biodiversity Program: http://www.eli.org/Program_Areas/state_biodiversity.cfm
• ELI’s Sustainable Land Use Program: http://www.eli.org/Program_Areas/sustainable_land_use.cfm
• Open Space Institute: http://www.osiny.org/home.asp
• Trust for Public Land: http://www.tpl.org/
• Land Trust Alliance: http://www.lta.org/
• The Biodiversity Partnership: http://www.biodiversitypartners.org/
• NatureServe’s Biodiversity Insights: http://www.natureserve.org/consIssues/bioInsights.jsp

** ELI’s research on open space for biodiversity is generously supported **
** by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. **