Private Land Trusts and the Environment
I have written that many forms of environmental regulation, such as pollution limits, are not in conflict with property rights, but are in fact essential to their preservation.
However, one area where statist environmentalism and property rights do conflict is over "preservations". Whether it be preserving species or habitat or forests or open space or wilderness or whatever, preservation is often used as an excuse for raping property owners.
Which is a shame, since there are very viable free market alternatives open to environmentalists as a substitute for state coercion. I have supported the Nature Conservancy for years, because it (generally) works to bring together private funds to purchase lands for various preservation goals. This organization and other sets up private land trusts, generally using private money but sometimes with a public contribution to buy out landowners. The blog Nature Noted focused on the activities of these trusts, including this recent deal in Michigan. This deal in particular is cool, because we run most of the public campgrounds in this area. Thanks to the Commons for the link to this site.
Pat Burns:
Thanks for the mention. I'm glad you saw something that interested you. Since you have an active business interest in the area, I'll be curious to see what happens there over time. I look forward to hearing more about it.
January 9, 2005, 9:37 pmThanks again,
Pat Burns
Nature Noted