The territory to the west of the Parkland REDI region is very rural with large tracts of land managed by the US Forest Service. Nearly 75 percent of the region is forested. Nearly 16 percent of the land area is managed by federal and state agencies. State Parks and National Forest campgrounds attract a significant number of visitors that spend money in the local economy.

The region has a very unique bedrock geology that includes the only exposed igneous rock in Missouri. The igneous intrusion that produced a dramatic landscape also created one of the world’s largest deposits of lead. This natural resource has been a primary driver of economic activity for over a century.

Farmland is scarce in the region except in the alluvial plains of the Mississippi River in Ste. Genevieve County (85 percent of cropland is in this county).

The rugged landscape includes Taum Sauk Mountain, the highest point Missouri, and many other outdoor recreation resources. There are eight state parks and historic sites that attracted 1.4 million visitors in 2015.

The 17 percent that is covered in grassland supports nearly 1,900 farms that are primarily operated part-time by owners with off farm equipment. Livestock production accounts for 65 percent of the market value of agricultural products--$42 million in 2014.