2009 DELAWARE ENVIROTHON “Biodiversity in a Changing World” Presenter Scott C. Blaier, P.G.

Agricultural Lands Preservation How does it Support Biodiversity ?

Nationwide Loss of Farmland 2002 to 2007: 2007 USDA Census of Ag. State Acres LostPercent Acres Lost New Jersey72, % New York486, % Virginia520, % Delaware29, % Maryland25, % Vermont11, % Massachusetts % Florida1,183, % United States16,183, %

Delaware Statistics Total Land Area1,954 sq. miles (1,250,560 acres) Total Water Area536 sq. miles (343,040 acres) Total Preserved Land150,000 acres (12%) Permanent Preserved Land89,682 acres (7%) Permanent Forest Land23,882 acres (1.9%) Permanent Other (i.e. Wetlands) 9,098 acres (0.7%)

Leading the Nation Delaware First in Percentage of Land Permanently Preserved Delaware has almost 150,000 acres enrolled in the Farmland Preservation Program (12%)

Easements by County New Castle –68 farms –11,325 acres Kent (Among Top Five Counties in U.S.) –259 farms –51,868 acres Sussex –178 farms –27,788 acres

Land Types Permanently Preserved Cropland – 56,702 acres (63%) Forestland – 23,882 acres (27%) Other Land – 9,098 acres (10%) Total – 89,682 acres

How Farm Preservation Contributes to Biodiversity Preserves Land Next to Existing Public Lands (i.e. State Parks, Forests, Federal and State Wildlife Preserves, etc.) Especially East Coast of State

How Farm Preservation Contributes to Biodiversity Creates Contiguous, Un- fragmented, Habitat with Open Space, Forests, and Wetlands

How Farm Preservation Contributes to Biodiversity Un-harvested Crop Residue Important Source of Food and Forage (i.e. migrating birds)