Sustainability in America's Northeastern Northern Forest

ABSTRACT The Northern Forest remains one of the last intact, mostly private forests in the Unit -ed States. Rural areas of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York struggle to prosper in an economy driven by timber, eco-tourism, and a propensity for rural residential sprawl. This paper examines the correlation between preservation of the forest and sustainability characteristics. Specifically, counties with higher percentages of preserved land will exhibit a stronger positive correlation with economic, envi-ronmental, and social sustainability characteristics. Findings indicate surprising con -nections between land preservation and sustainability. Recommendations include additional research and planning measures to stem high levels of fragmentation and parcelization. Based on the limited federal protection, varied state systems, and grow -ing role of land trusts, a regional planning initiative is proposed to prioritize future preservation efforts. Keywords: environmental planning; natural resource manage-ment; regional planning; land preservation.