| The purpose of this thesis entitled "Protecting the Rural Landscape: A Compilation of State Enabling Legislation for Rural Preservation and Open Space Conservation" is to collect and assemble existing state legislation that can be utilized to protect and preserve rural and open space areas in the United States. This effort, the first of its kind to be undertaken regarding this subject, provides preservationists, conservationists, environmentalists and other interested parties with a comprehensive document outlining both general and specific types of legislation that have been adopted in all fifty (50) states. In addition to serving as an index of state enabling legislation on this topic, this thesis provides a basis of comparison which may be utilized in drafting or amending state legislation. |
