The Rancho Mission Viejo community in Orange County, Calif., dedicated around 75 percent of the site’s 23,000 acres as a nature reserve. The move by the builders of what’s billed as California’s largest new community, with some 35,000 anticipated residents in 14,000 homes surrounded by retail and other commercial space, not only provided a major sales draw — it also satisfied local wildfire resiliency requirements.
Call it an example of the stars aligning for conservation goals and financial investment. While the U.S. real estate industry has yet to get behind such biodiversity at a level similar to its push on decarbonization, future government mandates may change that.
From Commercial Observer
