Purchasing and restoring land close to urban centers will make it easier for people to see native plants, animals and the ecological processes that support them. Many believe one of the most important roles public lands fill is providing a place for people, particularly children, to better understand and appreciate how our natural world works. Experiences on public lands can help foster a conservation ethic and a public that values natural resources while understanding its management. In addition to being accessible, public lands need to support desired uses. Buffers of open space surrounding public land can help minimize conflicts that result when housing developments are located next to public properties.
Buffers also make a softer visual transition from developed areas to natural lands.
Farmland and industrial forestland can form effective buffers and can benefit from having public property as a neighbor. Think big Typically, larger properties enjoy many advantages over smaller ones. They are more likely to contain all of the habitat needs for a greater number of species, particularly species that require large expanses of habitat. Similarly, they can provide a greater diversity of recreational uses with fewer user conflicts and a greater sense of remoteness and tranquillity. Finally, they are easier and more economical to manage than several smaller parcels.