Comprehensive Planning for Sustainable Rural Development1

Comprehensive Planning for Sustainable Rural Development1

1. The Farmlands should be conserved not preserved

   • preserve means to maintain in a given state
     • To latter is a better foundation for farmland policy.the opportunity cost of farmland is high. Market signals suggest that farmland has considerably higher value in urban use, if such were demanded.
   • conserve is to use parsimoniously.
     • Rising farmland productivity and opportunity costs suggests that we should preserve the option to farm while at the same time encouraging land owners to provide environmental services

2. Urban development is Not the Greatest threat to rural well being

   • eroding farm profitability, soil erosion, environmental degradation, and loss of public services represent far greater threats to rural health than urban growth.

3. Rural sustainability and revitalization require a comprehensive approach

   • Rural reas development is complex,and the development process could be improved through careful analysis, foresight, and planning
     • Rural communities perhaps do not control their own destinies, but states can do much to enable communities to help themselves.