There’s something powerful about time comparison (then and now) photos. They allow us to see slow change instantaneously, and it’s eye-opening.

In “A Decade of Urban Transformation, Seen from Above” The New York Times comparison images tell the story of our continued march across the landscape.  Over the last decade, U.S. exurbs are making a comeback, and cities are getting denser. 

Using Landsat imagery to identify the most-changed urban areas, as determined by impervious surfaces, certain cities and regions jumped out. Maricopa County, Ariz., around Phoenix, has had the most new development.  Other areas of high development are Houston, the western edge of Washington, D.C. and The Villages, a retirement community in Central Florida.

What are we doing to offset the ecological impacts of continued exurban, suburban, and urban development? What will we do to recognize and manage the impacts of of increased spending on U.S. infrastructure?

Mitigation banking is a viable way to protect and restore our critical natural resources ahead of the negative impacts of continued development.  Mitigation banks restore and preserve natural lands in perpetuity, allowing these pristine lands to provide critical natural services like water filtration, freshwater storage, air filtration, carbon sequestration and fish and wildlife habitat.

For more information about how mitigation banks can preserve critical natural areas, while meeting the regulatory needs of development, please contact us today.