Natural Resource Management (NRM) connects the economic well being and quality of life of people to surrounding natural areas. Natural Resources include economic resources like oil, minerals, coal, timber, and water, to the wildlife and uncultivated lands which surround a community. Recognizing what value these resources provide for a community is important when considering their management. Natural resources affect the economic, biological, and physical characteristics of GNAR communities long into the future. NRM combines appropriate and well thought out land usage strategies while also incorporating the needs of the local population.
Natural and cultural amenity (NCA) management connects a community’s economic wellbeing, quality of life, culture, and surrounding landscapes. Natural amenities include the physical aspects of a region that provide opportunities for recreation, enjoyment of nature, and other natural elements which influence quality of life. Cultural amenities range from documents, buildings, sites, and other relics that tell stories about a community’s past, to forums that provide cultural experiences, such sports venues, museums, and festivals. How each gateway and natural amenity region (GNAR) community chooses to manage its NCAs reflects what that community values about its people and its unique natural assets.
NCAs often drive tourism to GNAR communities, so effective and thoughtful management of these assets is essential for the economic health of these places. Because NCAs are so often part of the fabric of a community’s identity, however, the most effective management plans help residents examine their needs as part of larger ecological and cultural systems and not focus exclusively on the bottom line. With effective NRCA management, GNAR communities cultivate and maintain aspects of their identity that cannot easily be measured, such as a sense of place, a signature aesthetic, or community values like self reliance, appreciation for diversity, and respect for nature.
Growing populations and rising tourism in GNAR communities put pressure on NCAs and the industries they sustain. Balancing permitted uses with the preservation of these assets can be particularly challenging for sites that lie on private property. To maximize its effectiveness, NCA management should align with other planning and management efforts, such as local zoning codes and transportation plans. Sound management of amenities will help uphold the character and quality of life for GNAR residents and enhance the desirability of GNARs for tourism.
Forthcoming tools and resources to be found in this section:
- Dark skies planning
- Protecting and preserving historic sites and buildings
- Cultural amenity planning for a robust economy
- Living with wildlife
- Managing wildlife-livestock interactions
Is there something you’d like to see on this page? Have you had a successful or challenging experience with natural and cultural amenities in your community? Contact and tell us today!
Natural Amenity Toolkit Pages
Resources & Tools
Institute for Local Government: The Institute for Local Government published a white paper describing effective strategies for public engagement. These strategies are broadly applicable to GNAR communities and can help policymakers better understand how to meet the needs of a diverse group of stakeholders.
Research & Case Studies
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN ALBERMARLE COUNTY CASE STUDY - DOWNLOAD
The Institute for Sustainable Communities on developing an effective public engagement strategy in Albermarle County, Virginia. Included in the case study is a discussion of lessons learned through the development process, and these lessons could prove helpful to GNAR communities initiating a major public engagement effort for the first time.
EPA SUSTAINABILITY STRATEGIES IN STEAMBOAT SPRINGS - DOWNLOAD
Included is a description of far-reaching community engagement efforts, including site tours, community meetings, and technical workshops. Ultimately, the EPA concluded that community engagement in Steamboat Springs is weak. While a core group of people and organizations are engaged, many in the community are disengaged. Accordingly, the case study outlines two strategies for improving community engagement: establishing and publicizing a dashboard of sustainability measures and developing a community engagement plan.