§ 9.302. Value.
(a) Natural areas provide scientific sites for the research needs of present and future generations. Many natural areas have the natural quality to serve as baseline study areas for monitoring environmental changes of other ecosystems and for analyzing cause and effect relationships. These sites serve as a basis for assessing the effects of pollutants, measuring the accumulation of pesticides, herbicides, and toxic agents in the environment, and evaluating the effects of timber management practices and the impacts of urban development.
(b) It is becoming increasingly important that a wide range of wild plant and animal species should be preserved for their potential utility as breeding stock to improve the genetic linkage of domestic species, as predators and parasites for biological control, as potential resources for industrial, pharmaceutical, and agricultural purposes, and for other uses yet unknown to man. New improvements in science and technology may some day enable man to tap now undiscovered values that these species possess. Natural areas can provide the environment for the proliferation of natural diversity and protection of gene pools.
(c) Natural areas inherently maintain quality air and water resources, facilitate aquifer recharge, minimize soil erosion and enhance soil fertility, and influence micro-climate extremes. Translated into human benefits, natural areas often can provide limited, but critical, aid in flood control and in reducing flood damages, in conserving soil resources and reducing stream siltation, and in maintaining assimilative capacities of air and water resources.
(d) In recent years, there has been an effort to broaden the scope of educational programs to give added emphasis to the relationship between man and his environment. A key element in achieving this educational goal is to have accurate data gained from natural areas to illustrate the functioning of natural processes in undisturbed ecosystems. Since this learning process is aided by onsite classes, the knowledge of essential elements will enable educators to locate and use for class purposes unprotected sites with similar features adequate for educational purposes.
(e) Those natural areas more tolerant to human disturbances provide an environment for leisure pursuits such as hiking, bird watching and nature study. An uncounted but probably great offsite value accrues to many citizens from the awareness that there exist areas where elements of natural diversity and heritage are preserved.
(f) Natural areas are an important component of the existing land use in this Commonwealth and can be determinants for guiding future growth and development in many areas. The incorporation of natural areas in the decision making process aids in planning for more environmentally sensitive land use patterns.
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