Effective Protection of Open Space.pdfVIP

Environmental Management (2009) 44:93–104 DOI 10.1007/s00267-009-9272-1 Effective Protection of Open Space: Does Planning Matter? Toddi A. Steelman Æ George R. Hess Received: 16 August 2008 / Accepted: 6 January 2009 / Published online: 14 February 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2009 Abstract High quality plans are considered a crucial part balance of attention to the entire decision process and of good land use planning and often used as a proxy building relationships might lead to more success in pro- measure for success in plan implementation and goal tecting open space. attainment. We explored the relationship of open space plan quality to the implementation of open space plans and Keywords Land protection Stakeholder involvement attainment of open space protection goals in Research Land use planning Natural resource protection Triangle, North Carolina, USA. To measure plan quality, Implementation North Carolina we used a standard plan evaluation matrix that we modified to focus on open space plans. We evaluated all open space plans in the region that contained a natural resource pro- Introduction tection element. To measure plan implementation and open space protection, we developed an online survey and Open space—land intentionally left as fields and forests administered it to open space planners charged with while the surrounding land is developed into buildings and implementing the plans. The survey elicited each planner’s pavement (Ahern 1991)—provides numerous benefits that perspective on aspects of open space protection in his or include protecting water quality, enhancing air quality, her organization. The empirical results (1) indicate that preserving scenic character, preventing flood