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56 AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST - FARMLAND' INFORMATION CENTE7K WHY SAVE FARMLAND? The Farmland Information Center offers publications, an on -line library and techni- cal assistance. For additional information on farmland protection, Call (800) 370- 4879. Or visit us on the web at www.farmlandinfo.org Of the 78 million people currently added to the world each year, 95 percent live in less developed regions.' The productivity and diversity of American agriculture can ensure food supplies and continuing preeminence in world markets. But this depends upon an investment strategy that preserves valuable assets, including agricultural land, to supply rapidly changing global demand. FISCAL AND ECONOMIC STABILITY Saving farmland is an investment in communi- ty infrastructure and economic development. It supports local government budgets and the ability to create wealth locally. In addition, distinctive agricultural landscapes are often magnets for tourism. People vacation in the state of Vermont or Steamboat Springs, Colo., because they enjoy the scenery created by rural meadows and grazing livestock. In Lancaster, Pa., agriculture is still the leading industry, but with Amish and Mennonites working in the fields, tourism is not far behind. Napa Valley, Calif., is anoth- er place known as a destination for "agro tourism." Tourists have become such a large part of most Napa Valley wineries that many vintners have hired hospitality staff. Both the valley and the wines have gained name recog- nition, and the economy is thriving. Agriculture contributes to local economies directly through sales, job creation, support services and businesses, and also by supplying lucrative secondary markets such as food processing. Planning for agriculture and pro- tecting farmland provide flexibility for growth and development, offering a hedge against fragmented suburban development while supporting a diversified economic base. Development imposes direct costs to commu- nities, as well as indirect costs associated with the loss of rural lands and open space.' Privately owned and managed agricultural land generates more in local tax revenues than it costs in services. Carefully examining local budgets in cost of community services (COCS) studies shows that nationwide farm, forest and open lands more than pay for the munic- ipal services they require, while taxes on residential uses consistently fail to cover costs.' (See COCS fact sheet.) Related studies measuring the effect of all types of develop- ment on municipal tax bills find that tax bills generally go up as communities become more developed. Even those communities with the most taxable commercial and industrial prop- erties have higher- than - average taxes.' Local governments are discovering that they cannot afford to pay the price of unplanned development. Converting productive agricul- tural land to developed uses creates negative economic and environmental impacts. For example, from the mid -1980s to the mid - 1990s, the population of Atlanta, Ga., grew at about the same rate as that of Portland, Ore. Due to its strong growth management law, the size of Portland increased by only 2 percent while Atlanta doubled in size. To accommodate its sprawling growth, Atlanta raised property taxes 22 percent while Portland lowered property taxes by 29 per- cent. Vehicle miles traveled (and related impacts) increased 17 percent in Atlanta but only 2 percent in Portland.10 ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Well- managed agricultural land supplies important non - market goods and services. Farm and ranch lands provide food and cover for wildlife, help control flooding, protect wetlands and watersheds, and maintain air quality. They can absorb and filter waste- water and provide groundwater recharge. New energy crops even have the potential to replace fossil fuels. The federal government owns 402 million acres of forests, parks and wildlife refuges that provide substantial habitat for wildlife.. Most of this land is located in 11 western states. States, municipalities and other non- federal units of government also own land. Yet public agencies alone cannot sustain wildlife populations. Well- managed, privately