While many rural areas continue to experience depopulation and economic decline, others are facing rapid in-migration, as well as employment and income growth. Much of this growth is due to the presence and use of amenity resources, broadly defined as qualities of a region that make it an attractive place to live and work. Rather than extracting natural resources for external markets, these communities have begun to build economies based on promoting environmental quality. "Amenities and Rural Development" explores the paradigmatic shift in how we view land resources and the potential for development in amenity-rich rural regions. Amenity-based growth can lead to several paths, based largely on proximity to urban areas and the type of development that occurs, whether it be seasonal residents, retirees, or tourism. The distributional implications of amenity-led development are an important consideration for policy, both within and between communities and regions. The contributors conclude that public policy needs to focus on maximizing complementary and supplementary uses while minimizing antagonistic uses of amenities. Scholars and policy-makers concerned with economic development and natural resource preservation will find this comprehensive volume of great interest.
Gary Green is professor in the Department of Community & Environmental Sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a community development specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Extension. Green's applied research, teaching, and outreach interests focus on community, economic, and workforce development. His recent books include Amenities and Rural Development (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2005); Asset Building and Community Development, 3rd Edition (Sage Publications, 2011); Workforce Development Networks in Rural Areas (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2007); Mobilizing Communities: Asset Building as a Community Development Strategy (Temple University Press, 2010); and Introduction to Community Development: Theory, Practice, and Service-Learning (Sage Publications, 2010). In addition to his work in the U.S., he has been involved in community and economic development research and teaching in New Zealand, South Korea, Uganda, China, and Ukraine.
