We believed that a disproportionate amount of managed land was in
the higher
elevation zones, areas with poor soil quality, and steep slopes due to
the idea that the low lying, low slope, high soil quality areas have
traditionally been preserved for human interests. For these reasons, we
undertook an analysis overlaying MAD with a DEM of a similar
scale for the conterminous United States. We also studied MAD in
relation to soil quality and produced statistics of the amounts and
types of
managed areas located in these various land quality zones.
Just for a taste, look at the similarities in this United States shaded relief map and the managed areas polygons from MAD-