Cultural Models – Statements
Quality of Life Model
Statements making up the basis of the Quality of Life Model are presented in descending order of level of agreement. Note that Only Quality of Life had a high level of agreement with these statements.
• Land conservation is important to maintain quality of life.
• Land conservation helps preserve the continuity of local communities.
• Land conservation can preserve a landowner’s equity and open spaces for environmental purposes.
• Land conservation provides environmental benefits such as clean air and water.
• Land conservation helps preserve a "sense of place."
• Land conservation helps to preserve rural identity and character.
• We should conserve lands that most people would agree are beautiful, uplifting, or unique.
• Conserving land helps to maintain healthy ecosystems.
• Land conservation helps to sustain native plants and local wildlife.
• It is a moral imperative to conserve land.
• Land conservation efforts should prioritize land that is threatened by development.
• Land is finite and damage to it can be irreversible, therefore we must protect it from over-use and abuse.
• Local governments are integral to the success of land conservation efforts.
• Development should occur in areas designated for growth.
• Land conservation can stem unwanted growth.
• People should use the land to meet their livelihood needs as long as it does not adversely affect the environment.
Producers Conserve Model
Statements making up the basis of the Producers Conserve cultural model are presented in descending order of level of agreement. Only Producers Conserve had a high level of agreement with these statements.
• Natural resource producers of food, fiber, and timber are the best land conservationists.
• The profitable production of natural resources (food, fiber, timb
er) is the best way to conserve land. • Land is an economic resource, like other financial assets, that can be used to meet the short- and long-term financial needs of its owners.
• If land conservation efforts are to be successful, voluntary approaches should be pursued over regulatory ones.
• More land would be preserved through profitable farming than through the purchase and donation of land conservation easements.
• The purpose of land conservation is to maintain the land’s ability to provide a secure livelihood for communities now and in the future.
• It is unfair to take away a landowner’s development rights without adequate compensation.
• More land could be conserved if land conservation programs did not require land to be preserved in perpetuity.
• Preserving environmental resources is more important than preserving working lands (i.e., lands used to produce grain, livestock, timber, etc.).
• Mother Nature is pretty tough and if we let her alone, she will come back even after disturbances such as clear cutting, over grazing, or hurricanes.
Growing Communities Model
Statements comprising the basis of the growing communities’ perspective are presented in descending order of level of agreement. Only growing communities had a high level of agreement with these statements.
• Land is a resource to allow communities to grow to meet economic and housing needs.
• Development can be a net positive for the environment, if planning is adequate and appropriate technologies are used.
• Wise use of land requires us to balance human needs and nature's needs.
• Successful land conservation efforts cannot be accomplished unless all interested stakeholder groups are able to play an active role and participate in the decision-making process.