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• 1. [Article] Cultural and Natural Assets for Willamette Basin, Oregon Sustainability

  In this paper, we consider the transfer of environmental and cultural assets to the next generation as a potential measure of sustainability. We define net assets as the value of renewable and nonrenewable ...

  Citation × Citation Citation Abstract Copy Title: Cultural and Natural Assets for Willamette Basin, Oregon Sustainability Author: Gilden, Jennifer S., Smith, Courtland L. Year: 2001 In this paper, we consider the transfer of environmental and cultural assets to the next generation as a potential measure of sustainability. We define net assets as the value of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources plus humanmade, intellectual, social, and cultural capital, minus any debts. We apply this approach by first reviewing survey data reflecting how cultural capital may yield microbehaviors that add up to the macroresults of environmental protection and restoration. Second, we evaluate how human activities play out on the landscape. Rather than a dollar measure of assets, historical changes in land use are a proxy for asset change. A broad look at the Willamette Valley, Oregon s most urban and industrial area, shows that capital in forest lands has shifted from significant loss to improvement, agricultural lands have decreased only slightly, and urban development has taken a relatively small share of the total landscape. However, sprawl is increasing despite efforts to contain urban growth. Looking at highly valuable ecological features for the future, we find that wetlands continue to be lost, important species are endangered, and the secondary impact of urbanization on the landscape is increasing. Title: Cultural and Natural Assets for Willamette Basin, Oregon Sustainability Author: Gilden, Jennifer S., Smith, Courtland L. Year: 2001 In this paper, we consider the transfer of environmental and cultural assets to the next generation as a potential measure of sustainability. We define net assets as the value of renewable and nonrenewable natural resources plus humanmade, intellectual, social, and cultural capital, minus any debts. We apply this approach by first reviewing survey data reflecting how cultural capital may yield microbehaviors that add up to the macroresults of environmental protection and restoration. Second, we evaluate how human activities play out on the landscape. Rather than a dollar measure of assets, historical changes in land use are a proxy for asset change. A broad look at the Willamette Valley, Oregon s most urban and industrial area, shows that capital in forest lands has shifted from significant loss to improvement, agricultural lands have decreased only slightly, and urban development has taken a relatively small share of the total landscape. However, sprawl is increasing despite efforts to contain urban growth. Looking at highly valuable ecological features for the future, we find that wetlands continue to be lost, important species are endangered, and the secondary impact of urbanization on the landscape is increasing. Close