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Updated: Aug 1, 2025
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Spatial Multiobjective Optimization of Agricultural Conservation Practices using a SWAT Model and an Evolutionary Algorithm
Published on: December 9, 2012
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Distribution of capitalized benefits from land conservation
Corey Lang1, Jarron VanCeylon1, Amy W Ando2,3
1Department of Environmental and Natural Resource Economics, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881.
Summary
Land conservation boosts housing wealth but benefits are unequally distributed. Wealthier and White households disproportionately gain from these conservation investments, highlighting disparities in wealth capitalization.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Economics
- Urban Planning
- Sociology
Background:
- Land conservation offers ecological benefits and housing market wealth.
- Capitalization of amenities into home values is a key economic outcome.
- Understanding the distribution of these benefits across demographics is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the wealth generated by land conservation capitalized into proximate home values.
- To quantify the distribution of these conservation-driven wealth benefits across demographic groups.
- To identify potential regressive and racially disparate impacts of land conservation policy.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of property and household-level data from Massachusetts.
- Estimation of wealth equity generated by new land conservation.
- Extension of analysis to U.S. census data to identify national patterns.
Main Results:
- New land conservation in Massachusetts generated $62 million in housing wealth equity.
- Low-income and minority households are less likely to benefit from proximity to conserved land.
- Nationally, recent land conservation generated an estimated $9.8 billion in housing wealth, disproportionately benefiting wealthier and White households.
Conclusions:
- The wealth benefits of land conservation are unequally distributed.
- Existing conservation policies may exacerbate wealth and racial disparities.
- Policy implications suggest a need for equitable distribution of conservation benefits.
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