Conservation Development
A Sustainable Compromise
Conservation developments are real estate developments that prioritize protecting natural areas like wetlands, forests, rivers, prairies, and other open spaces. These initiatives usually allocate part of the total development area to remain as preserved open space.
Although conservation development principles are commonly used in subdivisions, they can also be tailored for different types of projects, including warehouses, commercial properties, and retail environments.
Case Study: Tryon Farm
Tryon Farm is a residential conservation community nestled within protected rolling prairies, dunes, wetlands, and forests in Northwest Indiana, overseen by a land trust called the Tryon Farm Institute.
The Institute is home to a leading example of conservation development in action. Located in northwest Indiana, the Institute protects 120 acres of natural areas that surround a residential development. Residents who live at the Tryon Farm community have access to trails, creeks, ponds, gardens, swimming, meditation areas, and many other amenities. The development pushes the boundaries of what the areas we live in could look like, and it is also a prime example of how development and conservation can exist in harmony.
Additional Resources
Community Toolbox: Conservation Developments – Vermont Natural Resources Council
Conservation Development – CONNECT Our Future
Conservation Development – Chagrin River Watershed Partners
A Framework for Understanding Conservation Development and Its Ecological Implications – BioScience
Conservation Developments – University of Wyoming
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