Livability is…

“…the sum of the factors that add up to a community’s quality of life” (Partners for Livable Communities)

 

Who we are 

Conserve Southwest Utah’s Desert Livability Program is an umbrella for efforts that sustain and improve our region’s quality of life through initiatives that foster environmental conservation.

 

Our Mission

Our mission is to ​support all Southwest Utah​ communities in creating a comprehensive quality of life that fosters environmental conservation.

The foundation of a healthy environment requires us to recognize and act within Southwest Utah’s natural limits. A livable community includes safe, eco-friendly, and accessible transportation options and infrastructure, access to outdoor recreation opportunities, social and economic opportunity, and natural spaces. It further includes land use patterns that encourage social connections, preserve cultural resources and protect native ecologies while supporting equitable economic development.

 

Our Values and our Vision

Sustaining our environment is a necessity for us to live and thrive in this region. Regeneration, giving back, and honoring our symbiotic relationship with life and with the land around us are crucial elements of a resilient desert community that offers a high quality of life to all its residents now and for generations to come.

Our team embraces the need to be realistic as well as visionary in advocacy. We strive to find common ground in the desire to preserve the unique beauty of our region. By having open-minded conversations, we can build bridges, change narratives, and find solutions that benefit everyone.

 

Livable communities are PEECHY: Prosperous, Equitable, Eco-conscious, Connected, and Healthy!

PROSPEROUS

  •   Southern Utah offers equitable economic and educational opportunities.
  •   Our local economy is resilient and sustainable.
  •   Housing is affordable.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EQUITABLE

  •   All people in Southern Utah have equitable access to livable communities.
  •   Resources and opportunities are allocated by need.
  •   Local cultural heritage is preserved and honored.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ECO-CONSCIOUS

  • Natural and cultural resources are protected.
  • Ecosystems and watersheds are healthy. 
  • Native species are rehabilitated and protected.
  • Wildfires are controlled and prevented. 
  • Our infrastructure supports water conservation and carbon reduction, e.g. through rainwater harvesting and a focus on alternative transportation. 
  • We are on track to become carbon neutral.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONNECTED

  • All residents have access to community amenities and jobs, regardless of their mode of transportation and abilities. This includes safe, convenient access for people walking, biking, using mobility aids, and using public transit.
  • Urban sprawl is vastly reduced through higher density building & mixed-use development.
  • Our streets are safe, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly.
  • Our region offers useful, accessible, and affordable public transit options for residents and visitors.

Photo credit: Susan Crook

HEALTHY

  • Our neighborhoods and streets are quiet and safe.
  • Neighborhoods have ample trees, green spaces that incorporate native species, and community gardens.
  • Open spaces, public lands, parks, and trails are accessible to all, regardless of mode of transportation. 
  • Our cities offer recreation, entertainment, and social opportunities.
  • Our infrastructure supports and incentivizes healthy lifestyles such as walking and biking. 
  • Residents have a strong sense of community identity and pride.
  • We can express our opinions safely.
  • All residents have secure access to healthy food, clean air, water, and energy.
  • Our communities are resilient in facing the effects of climate change, such as hotter temperatures, water shortages, more intense wildfires, and more intense and less frequent precipitation.
  • Our skies are dark.

 

 

Links and Resources:

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State:

National:

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