Population growth, economic security, and cultural change in wilderness counties

Abstract

A familiar version of the “jobs versus the environment” argument asserts that wilderness areas limit economic growth by locking up potentially productive natural resources. Analysis of the development paths of rural Western counties shows that this is unlikely: the presence of Wilderness is correlated with income, employment and population growth. Similarly, Wilderness seems to be a catalyst promoting the transition from stagnating extractive economies to relatively competitive amenity economies. As the relationship between local economies and the environment shifts from a reliance on extraction to a reliance on amenities, many local communities struggle to deal with the resulting cultural change.

Parent Publication

• Wilderness science in a time of change conference-Volume 2: Wilderness within the context of larger systems; 1999 May 23-27; Missoula, MT

Citation

Lorah, Paul A. 2000. Population growth, economic security, and cultural change in wilderness counties. In: McCool, Stephen F.; Cole, David N.; Borrie, William T.; O’Loughlin, Jennifer, comps. 2000. Wilderness science in a time of change conference—Volume 2: Wilderness within the context of larger systems; 1999 May 23–27; Missoula, MT. Proceedings RMRS-P-15-VOL-2. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. p. 230-237