Cooperative Extension’s Role in Land Use Planning

and Conservation

Sabrina DrillUCCE- Los Angeles/VenturaIntegrated Hardwood Range

Mgmt. Program

Cooperative ExtensionLand Grant Universities: 1862

Agricultural Experiment Stations

CE established 1914Cooperation between USDA, Land-Grant Universities, CountiesOutreach arm, out in the community

Agriculture and extractive natural resources (timber, range, fisheries, etc.)

CE in Land Use PlanningChallenge now: serve areas with rapid land use change

SprawlLoss of productive landsUrban/Rural/Wildland Interface

StrengthsCounty-baseResearch based informationFacilitation and outreach skillsObjectivity, ability to work with many sectors

CE Land Use programsFocal areas

Preserving working landscapesFarms, ranches, private land

Water qualityBMP’s

Ecosystem conservationNCCPs/HCP’sRegional Conservation PlansRiparian or tree ordinances

Sustainable development/smart growthEffectiveness of regional planning

CE Land Use programsUConn

NEMO: Non-point Source Education for Municipal Officials

Land use planning and water quality, expanded to other natural resource issues since 1991

CLEAR: Center for Land Use Education and Research

Research, technical tool development, and education

Penn StateEffect of new planning laws on ag, forestry, miningAssessment of regulations, economics

UNH (incipient program)Dollars and Sense of Saving Special Places

Economic benefits of land conservation

CE Land Use programsPurdue

General planning, ag land protection, water quality, easements

Ohio StateSustainable growth and general planning, ag easements

U Wisc (Stevens Point)Support new comprehensive planning law, general planning, guide for natural resources

Michigan StateGeneral planning, Smart Growth

CE Land Use programsUtah State

Rural community planning, wildlife and green space

U WyomingWyoming Open Spaces Initiative

Growth, water quality, ag land preservation, wildlife, easements

Colorado StateIncipient program examining needs and resources

OregonFarmland conservation at urban growth boundaries

UCCE Land Use

Working landscapes preservationFarms, ranchesAlternative income

Conservation ToolsEasmentsHCP’s/NCCP’sNew Tools

Evaluating land use changeOak Woodlands

Working LandscapesEducating landowners about how to get involved in planning processes Educating decision makers and rural residents about importance of working landscapesPolicy reviewAg + urban good neighborsAlternative income: Ag tourismHabitat on farms and ranchesCompensation and easements

Conservation ToolsEasements

Farmland conservationAssessing adoption Tracking and evaluationEducating decision makers and land ownersAssistance in establishing and monitoring

Conservation of forests and oak woodlands

Evaluation of conservation easementsAssistance in monitoring

Conservation ToolsHabitat Conservation Plans

Analysis and Assistance

New ToolsOpen Space DistrictsSetbacks and special districtsSubdivision for conservationLocally Important SpeciesFunding and Acquisition plans

Evaluating Land Use ChangeWoodland Conversion

VineyardsUrban/Suburban/Residential Development in Oak Woodlands

Agricultural and Natural Resource Loss/ChangeEconomic resource valuation

Tools for oak woodland conservationAssessment, pest management, regeneration

Management information for landownersInformation and guidelines for planners

Assessment of county general and oak conservation policies and Oak Woodland Management PlansAssistance with SB 1334: Oak Woodlands and Environmental Quality

Determination of “significant effect”

Integrated Hardwood Range Management Program (IHRMP)

Planner’s Guide to Oak Woodlands

Ecology of oak woodlandsWatershed managementRegional planning and ordinances for woodland conservationHow to map and model resourcesProduction and conservation values

Supported by regional workshops: Coming Soon to a County Near You!!!

UCD Centers

Center for the Study of Regional Change: Regional Change in California, May 5&6 (with Great Valley Conference)

UCD Extension Center for Water and Land Use

Road Ecology Center

ANR Land Use SurveyAg, natural resources, pest managementCounty supervisors, planner, landowners, ngo’sWater quality, soils, natural resource conservation, general plan updates, ag land trusts, inheriting the family farm, how to do community-based land use planning. oak woodlands, water and food safetyGIS, weather data, soils data, Great Valley Center, AFT, American ag land trust, Pacific Research Foundation, Cato Institute, Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, State office of planning and research, Environmental Law Institute, American Planning Association, Planning for Healthy Places (Public Health, Law, and Policy)

Next StepsCoordinate UCCE’s existing resourcesCoordinate with other UC ResourcesCoordinate at the national level: CSREES

Needs assessment of planners and decision makers

ResourcesUCCE:

UC Agriculture and Natural Resources: http://www.ucanr.org/IHRMP: http://danr.ucop.edu/ihrmp/Sabrina Drill, sldrill@ucdavis.edu

Connecticuthttp://nemo.uconn.edu/http://clear.uconn.edu/

Penn State: http://cax.agsci.win.psu.edu/CAXPubLndUse.aspNew Hampshire: http://extension.unh.edu/CommDev/CCAP.htmPurdue: http://www.ces.purdue.edu/landuse/Ohio

http://landuse.osu.edu/http://extension.osu.edu/community/land_use_issues.php

Wisconsin: http://www.uwex.edu/ces/about/cnred.cfmMichigan: http://ntweb11.ais.msu.edu/luaoe/index.aspUtah:

http://extension.usu.edu/cooperative/index.cfm/cid.247/tid.332/http://extension.usu.edu/ripp/about/about.htm

Wyoming: http://www.uwyo.edu/openspaces