Rural Matters Conservation Matters

Did you know…

97% of America's land area is considered

rural.

Source: Prof. Andrew M. Isserman, University of Illinois, 2007.

20% of Americans live in rural areas.

If rural America were a separate country, it would rank as the world's 23rd

largest nation,

Source: The Center for Rural Strategies, “RURAL REALITY vs. REALITY TV: ANATOMY OF A PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN”

just behindFrance, Great Britain, & Italy.

Of the 250 poorest counties in America,

244 are rural.

The rural poverty rate is 21% higher than in metropolitan areas.

50% of rural Americans consider themselves

"conservatives."

In non-rural communities this figure

is around 40%.

Source: Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research

Rural communities have the highest voter

registration rates in the U.S.

Source: Election Data Services, Inc., 2004 Election Day Survey Report

However, rural areas report the lowest voting

rates in the nation.

So what does "rural" mean?

The federal government defines "rural" as

counties with less than 50,000 residents,

Or any area that is not defined as "urban."

According to the U.S. Census, The Grand Canyon

is classified as “metropolitan,” Same as The Bronx, NY.

Urban & Rural Areas - U.S. Census

A few rural stereotypes…

"Rural Utopia"

Rural life is simple.

Source: Kellogg Foundation, How to Talk Rural Issues , 2005.

Poverty is a virtue.

They take care of themselves.

They chose this lifestyle.

Stereotype:

"Rural Dystopia"

Rural communities are backward.

Source: Kellogg Foundation, How to Talk Rural Issues , 2005.

They are "others," separate and different from the rest of America.

Stereotype:

"Change is the Biggest Problem"

Rural America is a victim of urban encroachment and modernization.

Source: Kellogg Foundation, How to Talk Rural Issues , 2005.

Stereotype:

"Rural Needs Protection"

Rural areas should be treated like museums with a no-touch, no-change policy.

Source: Kellogg Foundation, How to Talk Rural Issues , 2005.

Stereotype:

Rural areas are America's vacation land. Let’s not spoil it.

"Rural Needs Planning"

Source: Kellogg Foundation, How to Talk Rural Issues , 2005.

Stereotype:

Do you agree?

So what's happening in rural America?

Changes Affecting Rural Areas:

• Globalization•Decline of traditional industries & jobs

Source: National Rural Assembly Final Report, 2007.

• Migration•Changing demographics of communities

• Underinvestment•Deterioration of infrastructure, services, & leadership

"Which of these environmental issues have had an effect on your family and community over the past 5 years?”

Source: Carsey Institute, A New Survey of Views from Rural America.

Percentage of Resource Extraction Jobs by County

Source: U.S. Census, County Business Patterns, 2004. (from Sonoran Institute).

For the future of your community, do you think it is more important to use natural resources to create jobs, or to conserve natural resources for future generations?”

Source: Carsey Institute, A New Survey of Views from Rural America.

"Amenity-rich areas are growing and likely to grow more over the next decade."

What about the rural landscape?

The U.S. Forest Service manages over 190 million

acres of forests and grasslands.

The U.S. BLM manages 258 million acres of range, forest, and grasslands.

U.S. Federal Lands &

Indian Reservations

The Forest Service spent $1.5 billion on fire

suppression in 2006.

That's 45% of the total agency budget.

Communities within five-miles of federal lands have higher poverty levels than places

further away.

The closer you live to public lands, the higher your

community’s poverty level.

Are public lands management issues declining in the

American political agenda?

Source: Frank R. Baumgartner, “Social Movements and the Rise of New Issues,” 2002.

Source: Frank R. Baumgartner, “Social Movements and the Rise of New Issues,” 2002.

Some threats to the rural landscape…

Wildfire

During the 2006 wildfire season 9,873,745 acres

burned nationwide.

125% above the 10-year average.

Invasive Species

Over 3.5 million acres of National Forest land are infested with

invasives.

Americans pay more than $138 billion per year to deal with the

problem.

Land Conversion & Fragmentation

Every day, America loses

more than 4,000 acres of

open space to development .

That’s around three acres per minute.

The intersection of rural communities and

environmental health is a complex issue.

But there's hope.

How to get rural Americaon the national agenda,

in four steps…

1. Reframe rural issues around assets, not just needs.

2. Develop a unified voice for rural issues & perspectives.

3. Identify key members of Congress and engage them in rural development initiatives.

4. Develop a national media campaign that

demonstrates rural America's diversity & opportunity.

And above all…