Local Land Conservation Provides Glimmer of Hope in the New Trump Era

Land conservation is a critical need in the US as natural lands have been heavily converted for agriculture, suburban and urban development.

Nearly 53% of the total 2.26 billion acre of US land area is used for agriculture, with much of the conversion taking place since 1850. Advancements in agricultural production and yield led to the US population more than doubling since 1950, from 150 million to over 340 million. The daily calories available per person increased steadily, from 2,585 in 1850 to 3,200 by 1950, reaching 3,911 in 2021. The size of homes in the US has also grown significantly since the mid-20th century. In 1949, the average square footage of a single-family home was 909 square feet. That has nearly tripled to 2,480 square feet by 2021.