The Land-Use And Land Management Decision-Making Of Exurban Landowners In The Adirondack Park And The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem

Abstract

Exurban development is an increasingly common form of residential sprawl impacting rural areas of North America, consisting of 5-40 acre tracts in deep isolation from other developments. The toll of exurbanization on the landscape may seem insignificant; yet, unique landscapes are altered through these changes. This research project examines exurban landowner decision-making in the Adirondack Park and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Regression analyses of survey data showed that environmental ethics are a weak predictor of land-use and land management practices, while attitudes toward wildlife-friendly behavior were the most significant predictor of intent to engage in such activities. Interview data showed that exurban landowners were free to engage in a broad array of land-use and land management activities on their lands with little direction or oversight from homeowners associations and regional land-use regulatory agencies. This demonstrates that while exurban landowners may possess ethics and attitudes that would lead them towards wildlife and open space conservationoriented behaviors, an implementation gap may exist between their ethics and actions.