For decades, planning and growth around Atlanta has encouraged and abetted sprawl and discouraged land conservation. Conventional wisdom held that land preservation, while offering important social benefits, drained local government finances and did not contribute to economic growth. However, Georgia’s natural heritage is much more than scenery—it is the foundation of a strong economy, providing value for the state and its people in many ways. Protecting our Natural Heritage presents a series of case studies showing that additional tools for land preservation will provide tangible economic returns for communities across the state.