Lightening the Tread of Population on the Land: American Examples

The authors search the past century for principles and trends influencing land use in the United States and contemplate the future when Americans might number an additional 100 million. Examples from American cities counties and states suggest that land covered by the built environment increases less than in proportion to population. For example despite the rising use of paper relative to gross national product the declining use of lumber combined with improved forestry kept the area of forest land fairly steady as population rose. Similarly rising yields and changing tastes have countered the impact of rising population and wealth on crop-land area. All told a lightening tread of Americans on the land in the next century could spare for nature over 90 million hectares an area equal to 100 times the size of Yellowstone National Park. (SUMMARY IN FRE AND SPA) (EXCERPT)