The natural capital in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, provides a robust flow of essential economic goods and services benefits, including food, water, clean air, natural beauty, climatic stability, storm and flood protection, and recreation. Agricultural lands make up over 65% of the ecosystems in Lancaster County, which is the first county in the nation to reach 100,000 acres of preserved farmland. This analysis identified the natural capital from farmland preservation at $676 million in annual economic benefits. If treated like an asset, Lancaster County ecosystems value at $17.5 billion.
Publications
Beyond Food: The Environmental Benefits of Agriculture in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Downloadable Documents
Author
Aaron Schwartz, Maya Kocian
Publisher
Tacoma, WA: Earth Economics
Page Numbers
48
Publication Date
July 01, 2014
Publication Type
Reports and Guides
State
Pennsylvania
Keywords
Conservation Policies and Programs, Environmental Benefits, Why Save Farmland