Most of us are aware of the changing western landscapes that have accompanied the growing population and the expansion of development onto lands that were once open space. Recent articles in several newspapers and magazines have profiled the population pressures and the conflicting concerns about preserving rural communities, agricultural open space, wildlife habitat, and clean air and water, as well as the concerns of private property owners who are wary of restrictions on how they use the land.

In Wyoming, many people have become increasingly alarmed over the past decade about urban and rural sprawl, the associated loss of open spaces, and changes in the tangible and intangible values that Wyoming's wide open spaces provide. Early on, concerns were triggered by observing the explosive growth in neighboring states, particularly the developments along Colorado's front range and those around Salt Lake City. But more recently the causes for concern have been closer to home, extending from the proliferation of 40-acre ranchettes around our southeastern communities to the skyrocketing real estate values and trophy homes in northwestern Wyoming.

To help address the growing concerns in Wyoming about open space loss, one of former Governor Jim Geringer's priorities was to provide information to citizens on available tools and resources for open space conservation. Under Geringer's Open Lands Initiative, a guidebook entitled Ways to Conserve Wyoming's Wonderful Open Lands was completed in 1997 and made available throughout the state.

These issues were the focus of a one-day forum held at the University of Wyoming on September 28, 2000 entitled Wide Open Spaces: Conserving Working Landscapes and Wildlife Habitat in Wyoming and the West. The forum agenda included discussion on private initiatives to promote open space conservation; local, state, and federal land use policy; and private and public mechanisms to pay for open space conservation.

Following the forum, the Institute Board discussed potential ways for the Institute and the University to contribute to informing the debate and to assisting individuals and communities working on open space conservation issues. As a next step, we have compiled a bibliography of resources and selected references for open space initiatives. Over the next several months, Institute staff will be working with UW faculty and others to support research, provide baseline data and related information to the public, and develop partnerships with communities upon request.

Publications

The Wyoming Open Spaces Initiative and the UW Cooperative Extension Service are producing a series of publications related to open space issues.  Copies can be obtained for no charge by calling 307-766-5080, by sending an email to ienr@uwyo.edu, or online by following these links:

   Wyoming Public Opinion on Natural Resource Conservation and Development           NEW, February 2008

  Population Change in Wyoming:  2000-2005  ---- NEW, August 2007

  Conservation Easements:  Wyoming Update
[Note:  the two above publications are not available in print yet]

 "Perpetuity" -- What Does It Mean for Conservation Easements and the Wyoming Constitution?