“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
— Aldo Leopold
Controversy over land use is common, both in our own backyard and on the other side of the world. Because we understand the technical aspects and the competing interests surrounding land use, CDR can help you forge enduring outcomes that reduce ongoing conflict and potential litigation.
We help citizens and their governments handle urban land use controversies on a site-specific, policy level. That may mean negotiating the location and operation of transit-oriented developments, homeless shelters, waste management facilities, and low-income housing. We’ve also stepped in to moderate the clean-up of hazardous sites, such as Rocky Flats.
When it comes to issues involving rural areas and public lands, CDR coordinates the implementation of broad planning initiatives. We can facilitate cooperation between federal agencies on projects under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), plus foster collaboration concerning habitat restoration and conservation for endangered species.
Internationally, our approach has been successfully applied to develop peace parks or natural buffer zones that straddle boundaries between several countries. These conservation areas generate substantial benefits to the environment and wildlife, encourage cooperative management, build trust between countries with strained relations, and promote long-term peace.
