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Farmland conversion and residential development in North Central Massachusetts
Author(s) -
Levia D. F.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
land degradation and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.403
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1099-145X
pISSN - 1085-3278
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-145x(199803/04)9:2<123::aid-ldr282>3.0.co;2-o
Subject(s) - urban sprawl , land use , urban planning , environmental science , geography , environmental protection , agricultural economics , environmental planning , civil engineering , economics , engineering
The conversion of farmland for residential development is a serious environmental concern which results in land degradation. The factors responsible for farmland conversion in Leominster, Massachusetts, were found using simultaneous discriminant analysis. The statistically significant factors determining farmland conversion were relief, distance from the city center and route 190, and farm size. These factors were employed to develop a model for farmland preservation. This model should be used by planning offices to identify the farms likely to be converted to non‐farm activities to control urban sprawl. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.