focus onCOMMUNITIES 26


Conserving Lands


horse It not only sustains lifestyle, but also your


community and economy by anna anna gibson / courtesy of elcr.org


O


ur American Landscapes are complex, providing the visual and oſten the


historic backdrop for our com- munities, and supporting our lifestyles, economies and trans- portation routes. We rely upon open land to provide ecosystem services like absorbing water and carbon, providing habitat for wildlife and natural controls for managing waste and pollu- tion. However, we are drawn to particular landscapes for what they represent about us and the lifestyles we choose.


The Importance of Conserving Land for Horses As a nation, we are deplet-


ing the landscape of its ability to support our lifestyle and our economy. According the United States Department of Agriculture, we are a losing 6,000 acres of open land every day. That breaks down to about 250 acres per hour. This num- ber, while alarming, represents only part of the picture. The


character of the land we are los- ing is as important as extent of land lost. We are losing land piecemeal, hindering the continuity of hab- itat corridors that are necessary for species and ecosystems to thrive. We are breaking up sig- nificant tracts of land that are critical to providing the space we need to support our nation’s equestrian heritage and econo- my, carrying a disproportionate


Conservation of land for horses is more important than ever.


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