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r Strategies to Revitalize Rural America Access to a quality environment also offers a base for tourism - related businesses like bed and breakfasts and guest ranches that offer a weekend away within an easy commute of population centers. This is one of the factors where farm and ranch communities have a natural advantage. They are surrounded by land. But often, there is little public access and in some areas, almost every acre is cultivated. Still, almost every community has potential natural assets. Those with small streams could work in partner- ship with landowners to restore the stream corridor to grass and trees and provide public access for hiking, biking, and fishing. Likewise, Conservation Reserve Program acres with farm ponds could be good for hik- ing and fishing. Tyler Sutton of the Conservation Alliance of the Great Plains suggested in the Lincoln Journal Star that re- stored grasslands could draw people to Great Plains communities. He wrote, "Not long ago the Northern Great Plains was one of the most spectacular grasslands on the planet. It was alive with wildlife, rivaled only by Africa's Serengeti. People came from around the world to experience one of the greatest wildlife specta- cles on earth." Sutton proposes changes in management of national grasslands and public - private partnerships to own land, acquire conservation easements, and set wildlife management objectives. These newly created areas would be a natural amenity for local communities — "reasons for people and businesses to stay and to move to the surrounding communities." New public policies can facilitate development of natural amenities. The Conservation Partnerships and Co- operation Program created by the farm bill authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to undertake conservation projects in partnership with communities and make needed adjustments in conservation program rules to make the projects work. For example, landowners could be provided a bonus through the Conservation Reserve Program for restoring land along a stream and providing public access, in concert with a community plan. The federal government is restoring 40 million acres through the Conservation Reserve Program. Why not manage it creatively to also help communities? It may also be necessary to revisit state laws to ensure that cooperating landowners who provide public access are protected from liability for any injuries that occur. Finally, the growing value of a quality environment in community revitalization should give pause to those who would weaken the authority of local zoning boards to control the location of giant livestock facilities. The economic development benefits of mega - livestock operations are often less than anticipated and out- weighed by the negative influence of such facilities on the decisions of families and businesses about whether to locate in the community. People who want to start businesses, farms, and ranches prefer to do it in good places to live. Making our communities better places to live is one of the critical factors in enhancing their future. Page 16