Sheboygan County Board Action on Agricultural Land Preservation Aligned with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

On September 16, the Sheboygan County Board passed an ordinance supporting the establishment of an Agricultural Enterprise Area (AEA) within the town of Plymouth. This legislative action provides a critical mechanism for preserving productive agricultural land, directly contributing to the achievement of several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Zero Hunger (SDG 2), Sustainable Cities and Communities (SDG 11), and Life on Land (SDG 15).

Ordinance Details and Strategic Purpose

The creation of an AEA is a state-level designation managed by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. The primary objectives of this initiative are:

• To protect productive agricultural lands from development pressures.
• To support the long-term viability of the local agricultural economy.
• To encourage the continuation of farming and food production activities within a designated geographical area.

Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The board’s approval of the AEA ordinance represents a significant local commitment to global sustainability targets. The initiative’s impact can be mapped to the following SDGs:

1. SDG 2: Zero Hunger: By safeguarding productive farmland, the county ensures the continued capacity for local food production. This measure is fundamental to promoting sustainable agriculture and enhancing long-term food security for the region.
2. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The AEA serves as a strategic land-use tool that helps manage urban sprawl and protects the natural heritage of the community. Preserving agricultural landscapes is essential for creating inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable communities.
3. SDG 15: Life on Land: This action directly addresses the goal of halting land degradation. By designating areas for agricultural preservation, the ordinance helps protect terrestrial ecosystems from conversion to other uses, thereby supporting the sustainable management of land resources.
4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: Securing the land base for agriculture is a foundational step toward ensuring sustainable production patterns. The AEA promotes a stable and sustainable local food system, which is a key component of responsible resource management.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   The article highlights issues directly connected to the following Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

   • SDG 2: Zero Hunger

     This goal aims to end hunger, achieve food security, improve nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture. The article’s central theme of “preserv[ing] precious agricultural land” is fundamental to ensuring long-term food production and security, which is a core component of sustainable agriculture.

   • SDG 15: Life on Land

     This goal focuses on protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The action of creating an “agricultural enterprise area” is a land management tool designed to protect a specific type of terrestrial ecosystem—productive farmland—from conversion and degradation, thereby promoting its sustainable use.

   • SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

     This goal includes targets related to sustainable land-use planning. The County Board’s approval of an “ordinance” to create an agricultural preservation area is an act of local and regional planning. It manages development pressures and ensures a sustainable balance between urban/suburban growth and the preservation of rural, agricultural areas.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Based on the actions described, the following specific targets can be identified:

   • Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices… that progressively improve land and soil quality.

     The article’s focus on preserving “productive” agricultural land directly supports this target. By legally protecting this land through an “agricultural enterprise area,” the community is taking steps to ensure the foundation for sustainable food production systems remains intact for the future.

   • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil… and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.

     Preventing the conversion of productive agricultural land to other uses (like urban sprawl) is a key strategy to combat land degradation. The ordinance mentioned in the article is a proactive measure to prevent the loss of fertile land, contributing to the goal of a land degradation-neutral world.

   • Target 11.a: Support positive economic, social and environmental links between urban, peri-urban and rural areas by strengthening national and regional development planning.

     The creation of an agricultural enterprise area through a county ordinance is a clear example of regional development planning. This action strengthens the environmental and economic links between rural agricultural areas and the wider region by formally recognizing and protecting the value of farmland.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   While the article does not mention explicit quantitative indicators, it implies several that can be used to measure progress:

   • Implied Indicator for Target 2.4: Area of agricultural land under sustainable management practices.

     The creation of the “agricultural enterprise area” directly contributes to this. The primary indicator of progress, based on the article, would be the total acreage of land officially included within this designated area.

   • Implied Indicator for Target 15.3: Reduction in the rate of conversion of agricultural land to other uses.

     The success of the ordinance can be measured by tracking the change in the amount of agricultural land lost to development within the town of Plymouth before and after the implementation of the agricultural enterprise area.

   • Implied Indicator for Target 11.a: Existence and implementation of a local or regional land-use plan.

     The “ordinance supporting the creation of an agricultural enterprise area” is itself an indicator. The approval and establishment of this ordinance demonstrate that a regional development plan that integrates agricultural preservation is being actively implemented.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: plymouth-review.com