Conservation Almanac

Mid-Atlantic:

From 1998 through 2005, 2.1 million acres of land were conserved in the Mid-Atlantic region; by both states and the federal government. The states acquired approximately 87 percent of the total.  Forty four percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The Mid-Atlantic region state government expended almost $3 billion in this time period for land conservation (90 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $308 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $366 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of $1,600 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $38.4 million a year (at an average cost of $1,100 per acre).

Midwest: 

From 1998 through 2005, almost 2.4 million acres of land were conserved in the Midwest region; by both states and the federal government. The state acquired approximately 46 percent of the total. Almost 45 percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The Midwest region state government expended over $1.2 billion in this time period for land conservation (80 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $321 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $155 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of $1,100 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $40 million a year (at an average cost of $247 per acre).

New England:

From 1998 through 2005, 1.3 million acres of land were conserved in the New England region; by both states and the federal government. The state acquired approximately 63 percent of the total.  Almost 46 percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The New England region state government expended about $717 million in this time period for land conservation (73 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $268 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $90 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of $903 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $33.5 million a year (at an average cost of $56 per acre).

Southeast 

From 1998 through 2005, almost 4 million acres of land were conserved in the Southeast region; by both states and the federal government. The state acquired approximately 66 percent of the total.  Almost 85 percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The Southeast region state government expended almost $5 billion in this time period for land conservation (89 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent almost $609 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $605 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of approximately $2,000 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $76 million a year (at an average cost of $472 per acre).

Southwest 

From 1998 through 2005, almost 2 million acres of land were conserved in the Southwest region; by both states and the federal government. The state acquired approximately 6 percent of the total. Almost 98 percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The Southwest region state government expended over $143 million in this time period for land conservation (36 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $251 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of about $18 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of $1,300 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $31.3 million a year (at an average cost of $140 per acre).

Rocky Mountain: 

From 1998 through 2005, almost 5 million acres of land were conserved in the Rocky Mountain region; by both states and the federal government. The state acquired approximately 22 percent of the total.  Eighty percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The Rocky Mountain region state government expended about $489 million in this time period for land conservation (59 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $345 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $61 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of $452 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $43 million a year (at an average cost of $90 per acre).

West:

From 1998 through 2005, 3.4 million acres of land were conserved in the West region; by both states and the federal government. The state acquired approximately 45 percent of the total. Almost 86 percent of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. The West region state government expended over $3.1 billion in this time period for land conservation (80 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $792 million. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $384 million to conserve lands (at an average cost of about $2,000 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $99 million a year (at an average cost of $414 per acre).

National Overview:

As of 2005, state and federal agencies conserved approximately 21 percent of the total land base, or over 473.6 million acres, which averages to approximately 1.6 acres of land, conserved for each resident. However, in the face of unprecedented population growth, the number of acres per capita is bound to decrease significantly in the coming years.

From 1998 through 2005, 18.4 million acres of land were conserved in the United States; by both states and the federal government in approximately equal proportions (about 9 million acres each). Almost two-thirds (72 percent) of these lands were purchased in fee title, while the remainder was protected through conservation easements. States expended over $13 billion in this time period for land conservation (89 percent of total expenditures), while the federal government spent $1.5 billion. In other words, on an annual basis, the states spent an average of $1.6 billion to conserve lands (at an average cost of $1,500 an acre) while the federal government expended an average of $136.5 million a year (at an average cost of $750 per acre).

Within the Conservation Almanac, conservation lands or acreage constitutes lands removed from the inventory of developable lands and, as much as possible, lands removed from the inventory of lands available for commercial and/or intensive use. The acreage and cost data included in the Conservation Almanac is through the end of 2005.