Within the region from New York to Virginia are many rural areas where the natural environment has been destroyed. State, Federal and local funds have been made available to aid in future planning and development designed to protect and conserve the natural resources and environment of these areas. The conclusions and recommendations reported were the result of open-ended interviews with resident planning staffs, planning consultants, state planning administrators, state and Federal agency administrators, university administrators and faculty, farm organization officials, and farm and forest landowners. The interviews were structured around the following objectives of inquiry: (1) effectiveness of planning for urban development in rural areas; (2) natural resource relationships to comprehensive development planning; (3) land-grant university natural resource planning and development curriculums and research programs; and (4) state administration and supervision of the local "701 Planning Assistance Program" matching funds. While some objectives were being met, more cooperative planning and funding will be necessary to fully implement resource allocation and development. (DK)