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Regional resource benefits of urban

Alexander Pfaff

[2000]

Abstract: This paper examines the development of New England for an effect of urbanization on forests. Forest area fell during early stages of the region’s development, but later rebounded even as population and output were rising. Historical census data are consistent with these hypotheses: (1) spatial concentration of population can increase forest; (2) such concentration occurs when agriculture declines; and (3) industrial aspects of cities also facilitate spatial concentration. These points can explain why forests might first shrink and then grow as urbanization and concentration proceed. However, in New England the forest increase might not have occurred without food and timber from other regions. For land-use planning and policy, this suggests that such concentration can support but is not sufficient for forest conservation and/or regrowth.