Without legal protections, Sussex County has lost at least 43,000 acres of forest in 25 years

Population Growth and Forest Loss in Sussex County, Delaware

Introduction

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Population Growth and Development

Over the last quarter-century, the population of Sussex County, the most rural and southernmost in Delaware, has nearly doubled — up to 250,000 from 130,000. The county’s historic, explosive era of growth has largely been fueled by retirees from nearby states who are attracted to the area’s natural charm, laid-back lifestyle, and low property tax rates. But the boom has come with a price.

• Hundreds of farms have been sold and cleared to make way for the construction of more than 55,000 homes and the businesses to serve new residents.

Increased Congestion and Forest Loss

The roads also have become far more congested, especially during the summer, when upwards of 100,000 visitors descend each weekend to the beach towns of Rehoboth, Lewes, Dewey, Bethany, and Fenwick Island. U.S. 1, and several secondary roads have had to be widened to accommodate the flood of traffic and stave off gridlock. Yet one overlooked cost in a county with several large tracts of protected woodlands and nature preserves — among them Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Great Cypress Swamp and Redden State Forest — is the massive loss of forestland.

• From 1998 to 2021, the last year for which figures are available, 43,000 acres of forestland have disappeared in Sussex County, according to the Delaware Forest Service.

Lack of Forest Protection Standards

Environmental protection advocates in Sussex County have been increasingly distressed by the clear-cutting of woodlands, which purify air, filter water, prevent erosion, provide habitat for wildlife, and buffer the planet against climate change. They blame what they call a permissive land use code in Sussex County, which unlike Delaware’s other two counties and the neighboring state of Maryland, does not mandate preservation of a certain percentage of woodlands when approving housing development.

• Jane Gruenebaum, who heads the Sussex Preservation Coalition, says that without protection standards, tens of thousands of the roughly 190,000 remaining forested acres are also vulnerable to being leveled.
• In neighboring Kent County, for example, developments in the designated “growth zone” built on more than 50 acres must include preservation of at least 50% of woodlands.

Efforts to Protect Woodlands

Gruenebaum’s group and others have been urging the county to make forest protection a priority and want like-minded preservationists to attend a public workshop on Sept. 21. The meeting to explore and discuss various areas for changing the county’s land use and housing codes will be at 12:30 p.m. in the county’s Emergency Operations Center in Georgetown.

Todd Lawson, the county’s chief administrator, said ideas about how to better protect woodlands will be one of several topics likely to be aired that afternoon.

Gruenebaum says surveys her group has conducted with residents show support for woodland protection, so she’s guardedly optimistic that eventually changes will be made.

Conclusion

Former state forestry administrator Mike Valenti noted that Delaware’s lack of a strong forest products industry has led many private owners of forest lands in Sussex to sell to developers. He said the depletion will continue without any change to the county law because agricultural land is very costly now, and it’s almost possible to build around wetlands. “So forests have become the path of least resistance, unfortunately, and a lot of them get plowed under,” Valenti said. “So if we really want to take a serious step at protecting our forest, there have to be some kind of regulations or laws passed.”

Gruenebaum acknowledges that changing the code to better protect trees could take several months or perhaps years, should County Council decide to move in that direction. She is hopeful that citizen pressure and support will influence County Council to make the necessary changes.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The issue of population growth and the construction of new homes and businesses in Sussex County is connected to SDG 11, which focuses on creating sustainable cities and communities.

SDG 15: Life on Land

The loss of forestland in Sussex County is directly related to SDG 15, which aims to ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

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

Target 11.7: By 2030, provide universal access to safe, inclusive, and accessible, green and public spaces, in particular for women and children, older persons, and persons with disabilities

This target is relevant to the issue of population growth and the need for sustainable development in Sussex County. It emphasizes the importance of creating green and public spaces that are accessible to all members of the community.

Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

This target directly addresses the loss of forestland in Sussex County. It highlights the need to conserve and sustainably use terrestrial ecosystems, including forests.

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

The article mentions the loss of forestland in Sussex County as a specific indicator that can be used to measure progress towards Target 15.1. According to the Delaware Forest Service, 43,000 acres of forestland have disappeared from 1998 to 2021.

4. SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

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Source: whyy.org

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