Michael J. Cohen: We all benefit when we balance open space preservation and housing

New Hampshire’s open spaces are part of what makes this state feel like home to me. I have lived, worked and played in the state for more than three decades. As a member of the board of directors of the New Hampshire Association of Conservation Commissions, I recently saw a newly published report, "The Benefits of New Hampshire’s Open Space," by the Primrose Research Group. This report uses facts and figures to quantify the importance of our natural areas. Our open spaces, including forests, farms, and surface waters, not only serve as places to recreate, renew and find enjoyment, they also provide important economic benefits to our state.

The NH Association of Conservation Commissions, collaborating with their member commissions, is working alongside other state environmental organizations such as NH Audubon, the Forest Society, the Nature Conservancy, and NH Land Trust Coalition, to assure that the benefits of open spaces are protected and will serve future generations. A common goal for these groups is to protect and preserve open space, town forests and fields, through easement and current use programs, allowing for sustainable timber harvests, as well as the preservation of parks for pedestrian recreation. The same is being done for the protection of towns’ aquifers and waterways, so the next generation has the drinking water it will need. This work benefits towns by preserving open space for businesses, recreation, including hunting and fishing, and improving environmental quality, which helps to maintain property values. In addition, the report notes that green infrastructure, including urban parks and forests, can reduce the energy demand of nearby buildings by 10%.

NH has been experiencing intense floods, droughts, heat waves, and less snow. These factors cause damage to the built infrastructure, the economy, and to human health. Warmer weather results in more ticks, excessive pollens, and an increase in invasive species, which effects human health and the health of the environment. It is incumbent upon all of us, as individuals and as members of the environmental community, to prepare for these extremes by using sound scientific practices to make adaptations, including crop rotation, installing road and culvert structures and monitoring, data collection, and mitigation activities, such as restoring natural habitats, sustainable land management, reducing waste and using alternative energy sources. It is imperative we work to preserve and protect our wetlands, shorelands, streams and aquifers, and protect forests and habitat diversity. Taking action not only protects the natural environment and human health, but also our state’s economy.

The respective missions and programs of the organizations, those which helped to commission the report, have also helped to sustain open spaces, described in the report, which are essential to NH’s infrastructure and economy. Open space provides opportunities to support industry, provide employment, connect individuals and communities, improve health, provide food, build resilience against flooding, and excessive heat, as well as contribute to the tax base.

All the important benefits of open space described in the report needs to be balanced with the ever-growing demand for affordable housing. As the report notes, almost 5,000 acres of forest land in NH is used for development purposes every year. Adequate housing is critically important for our future economy. How we balance the benefits of open space and the revenue it generates, estimated to total almost $3.9 billion from recreation alone, and more than $500 million in economic value from the agricultural industry, with the need for housing, will determine how we continue to build our NH competitive advantage, attracting talent and keeping it here. To get to the best solutions that both preserve the economic benefits of open space and meet the need for housing, the decision-making process must involve all stakeholders.

Social science and land use policy researchers have identified a number of strategies for achieving balance between economic development and land preservation which NH municipalities might consider putting into practice. Conservation commissions, town zoning and planning boards, private developers and interested community members are just a few stakeholders who could review the principles, identify best practices and come to an agreement that can benefit the entire community. Towns can support resource efficiency, create jobs by investing in renewable energy, boost economic growth and reduce environmental impact. Communities can promote reuse, recycling, and remanufacturing to reduce waste and conserve resources. Planners can encourage the design and create incentives for conservation developments which focus homes and buildings on the least sensitive areas of land, preserving the ecologically sensitive ones.

Those involved must recognize the interconnectedness of economic development, housing, and land preservation. By implementing sustainable practices and policies, they can create a future that is both economically prosperous and environmentally sustainable.

We can have both — the economic gains associated with development, and a sustainable environment — if we work together and think creatively. That is how we do things in New Hampshire.

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Michael J. Cohen is a principal consultant at MJC Health Solutions, LLC. He's also been a volunteer with environmental organizations like the Appalachian Mountain Club, and currently serves on the boards of the NH Association of Conservation Commissions, NH Audubon and on the Policy Committee of NH Healthy Climate.