Real Open Reasons
As I was looking around on the web today I came across this article on the Economics of Open Space Conservation. There are so many reasons to have open spaces beyond just the great "view." We have to make sure that we keep open spaces to allow for a continued supply of ground water. I live in Chile for 2 years and it was amazing to see the water problems they would have in Santiago(the capital). Due to over-urbanization, when rain storms would come, the entire city would flood. In two days there could be over a foot of water in the streets. Then during the summer, the water prices skyrocked because water had to be pumped in. It's important that we try to create some types of open spaces rather than confine ourselves to the "concrete jungle."
posted by Nicole and Andy @ 3:10 PM
3 Comments:
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Andy, how do "we" preserve sensitive lands for such purposes. If the lands are privately owned the owners are providing positive externalities that no one want to pay for. Should the owners have to be free ridden on by the rest of the community? Should the citizens have to take a "forced ride" by being taxed?
I feel like there are many approaches to do so. Ideally, the land would have some sort of open space requirement in it's property rights. These can be determined by mapping resources such as input to ground water, and other viable reasons that go beyond just the great view. Since ideal conditions rarely exist, we could certainly try a Cosean approach. Since the property rights and development rights are owned, concerned groups, or the government could pay for the owner to relinquish some of those rights, thus coming to a best solution.
Post a Comment
<< Home