It is awfully concerning
that the human race has to be convinced to conserve the finite resource that is
the land we live on. From debate still raging as to whether or not the global
warming is actually happening1, to wasting thousands of acres of
farmland that could create enough food to feed all 7 billion of us, then taking
it and feeding it to cattle to eventually eat them2, or even not
knowing how to properly throw away the hundreds upon thousands of tons of
non-biodegradable plastic, so we decide to dump it in the ocean3.
Just as disturbing, is how quickly humans are taking over land to accommodate
for our constantly growing population. The Wildlife Conservation Society
studied and reported on the landmasses composed on Earth, and found that “17 percent of land is still
virtually untouched”. Now, nearly one fifth of land seems like a sizable
portion, but the study continues saying that this is the case, “…mostly because
it is inhospitable to humans. In areas capable of growing basic crops, and
therefore most able to support people, untouched lands have diminished to 2
percent of the total”. And even that statistic may be too generous. The same
study notes that “Pristine lands, by the strictest definition, no longer exist…
Atmospheric pollution has settled on every earthly surface. Human-induced
climate change is affecting ecosystems across the planet.” Worst of all, this was a study that took
place in 2005. Now that nearly a decade has passed, who knows how small the two
percent of usable land has shrunk to, or how much of the other 15 percent has
been flat leveled to make more space for suburbia (Marsh).
This isn’t an issue being ignored, either. Emphatic efforts are
being made across the U.S. to preserve wildlife, maximize utilization of land,
and maintain environmental needs along with human necessity. The Land Use
Clinic in Georgia have been working on a project known as New Ruralism, a
combination of restructuring the living conditions and homes of Georgia
families, as well as conservation and sustainability of natural fauna and
farmland. Essentially, any new construction would be compacted and created as close-proximity
housing, businesses, and industry, which would usually be farther spread across
the land. By enacting on this, examples like “Serenbe, [Georgia], consisting of
900 acres in total, has planned to maintain 70% of the land as green space”
(Stratton). This change in the way architecture and living space is designed to
truly maximize the area is a step in the right direction. Prebuilt land can
also take part in the New Ruralism, like Chattahoochee Hills, Georgia, which is
taking advancements towards the “conservation of existing green space, promote
land values, and encourage sustainable development”. By building around the
ideologies of protecting the areas green spaces, the town is already saving and
setting a standard for eco and industrial coexistence. These developments have
only been around for the greater part of the last decade, but New Urbanism and
New Realism is taking its hold on the standard for land creation, appearing “up in California,
Maryland, the New England states, and Georgia” (Stratton).
Also attempting to combine
agriculture and urbanity is the SAGE organization (Sustainable Agriculture
Education). SAGE is also taking part in a New Ruralization on the West Coast in
California. As well as covering outreach programs for students to learn of
being eco friendly, as well as what is called an Urban Edge AgParks, which “food production, nature trails, and agricultural learning—all
addressing economic, health-related, educational, and recreational needs—
create multi-functional places that link farmers and urban residents for their
mutual benefit”. Combining a learning process about how urban living benefits
from the sustaining influence of agriculture with the hands on effects, SAGE
attempts to link both ways of life and hopefully cementing a feeling of inseparability.
Despite
these positive outlets, these don’t compare to the destruction we still impede
upon the Earth. Creating restoration space and allowing natural forestation
sadly cannot counteract the problem, it’s a rebuilding process. Humanity needs
to not only try and recover, but also fix the problems still harming the many
ecosystems of the world. Any step towards a healthier earth is a good step, but
more steps need to be taken.
Works Cited:
Marsh, Bill. "Where the Human Footprint Is
Lightest." Nytimes.com. The New York Times Company, 31 July 2005. Web. 23 Sept.
2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/31/weekinreview/31marsh.html>.
"SAGE, Sustainable Agriculture Education." SAGE RSS. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Sept. 2014. <http://www.sagecenter.org/>.
Stratton, Emily M., "New
Ruralism" (2009). . Paper 18. http://digitalcommons.law.uga.edu/landuse/18
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