EMPOWERING LOCAL COMMUNITIES THROUGH LAND USE EDUCATION: THE NATIONAL NEMO NETWORK

There is growing national and international concern about the environmental impacts of sprawl and unsustainable urban growth. While much has been written about the impacts of these growth pressures on natural resources, a rational approach to land use planning remains a key element in addressing these issues. To affect land use decisions, land use official on the LOCAL level need to better understand basic land use planning principles and the connection between land use and natural resource protection. The University of Connecticut Nonpoint Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) Project is an educational program targeted at land use decision-makers. The project emphasizes natural resource-based planning, a planning approach that prioritizes local natural resources and finds a rational balance between development and conservation. The NEMO educational model is being adapted by a number of states that have tailored the program to their specific geographic and topical needs. The Connecticut program has formed these state NEMO projects into the National NEMO Network, to provide a venue for the sharing of ideas and educational models with peers around the country. Four simple elements are shared by projects in the Network: (1) an educational approach, (2) an emphasis on land use education, (3) a focus on land use decision makers as the target audience, and (4) the use of geospatial technology in the service of education.