Open spaces provide ecosystem services, support agricultural and forest production, and offer opportunities for recreation.
From clean water and natural flood control to wildlife habitat and biodiversity to recreation opportunities, there are many diverse benefits derived from open space that we must consider and manage sustainably.
This loss is significant, as open spaces provide many benefits and ecosystem services.
Expanding urban and suburban areas often result in a loss of forests, grasslands, and other natural areas.
Each day, an estimated 6,000 acres of open space are converted to other uses.
Between 2010 and 2060, total urban and developed land area is projected to increase by 39 to 69 million acres.
However, open space is being lost to other land uses at an alarming rate.
They provide ecosystem services, support agricultural and forest production, and offer opportunities for recreation.