Experiential Conservation - New Model

Do You Know What is Under The Conservation Bed Covers?

Open and transparent may be highly unusual in today's non-profit green & conservation world where certain elite board and management teams of generally non-profit conservation areas might not have adequately:

• disclosed the terms of the conservation easement fully
• identified which individuals and corporations benefited
• articulated how individuals, corporations and the non-profit benefited
• provided updated and modified details of the annual management and operation plan of the area (i.e. is the real day-to-day activities aligned with the words of the easement?)
• made public any thing of substance

In the name of conservation and environmental "righteousness" several conservation organizations efforts may have failed due to single objective thinking -- stop all activity and "set the land aside for nature". With single line thinking, they may have conserved large tracts of land in S. America, purposely displaced indigenous natives and then found the poachers and timber thieves took over. The land became decimated and the end result was not good and actually created a worst "nature-friendly" condition. Do members that contributed to these organizations get to vote, voice their desires for action? Do they even know that their favored conservation organization has even done these things?

Many groups have formed Land Trusts and Conservatories just for their own benefit yet gain active tax benefits. You paid, but actually gained nothing. Some say all the documents are available but they decline to give them to you upon request even if you offer to cover the costs. Some may say 'they are confidential'. Of course they are -- for a reason you may not fully appreciate.

If you have a favorite Land Trust, Nature Conservation, or Wildlife Fund organization please demand to see the written details of at least the conservation easement and the management operating plan. You might see some in which individuals gained significant tax benefits (funded by you) yet they continue to manage and harvest resources the same way they did before placing land into conservation. Nothing changed except the improvement of their own bottom line. Or, you may see a "McMansion" situation in which only the family members and not the public are allowed access and use.

As we say in Maine, "ain't that odd" -- we pay individuals and corporations our tax money and they maintain a very secretive and closed set of documents. Go Figure - that numerous non-profits are in closed and confidential meetings pushing their own special interest to require developers to give up their land so the non-profit can impose their some times narrow and restrictive "environmental agenda". At times, it is even a personal agenda.

It is good for them and they tell you it is good for you too. But, it may not be that good or best for you or best for nature, the community or best for the public benefit. But of course, it is "always good"! It is motherhood and apple pie. Of course we want to conserve land. Of course the non-profit approach is good, pristine, and infallible. Of course because that is what every one has been taught through the press and we all believe -- we just have not taken the time to know better.

You may not fully appreciate the "hidden agendas" that may be too single focused, restrictive or simply closed to uses you would like to see or expect. If you are "in bed" with an organization you freely contribute to, simply make sure you also have the benefit of seeing under the bed covers too. It is your right; ask for it!

Maine is our first pilot. Currently, there is a major change being proposed by a large land owner -- well it is a land owner with a very large holding in Maine. It is historic and unprecedented.

Psychological and emotional games are being played by many "conservation" non-profit organizations, all vying for their own piece of the pie. Same situation on business and the land owner side too.

In the name of "conservation organizations", many are not all being forthright nor directly honest in their proposals to place land in conservation easement. It is similar to the Pope. Of course when he speaks, we listen and can not conceive of him not telling the truth. We just accept it.

Blind acceptance is no longer working. Despite conservation motherhood and apple pie perceptions, full disclosure, accountability and integrity reinforcing must occur now.

Conservation non-profits are suppose to serve the public, but they do not always do so. So, question and demand "show me" facts. Let us review the facts, actions and see if we come to the same conclusion as a few groups of board members, scientist, green extremist, moderate green and environmental individuals. Right now, I can not say I fully trust them nor are they fully representing a broader perspective -- just their own. Are they protecting the political, economic, and philosophical agendas? There are so many competing entities negotiating, threatening and positioning their agendas behind closed doors -- it is ridiculous!

If only the average person demanded accountability from each of them and demanded to see full disclosure of all parts of "the dealings" -- they might be surprised at a few things both the land owner and the conservation organizations are doing, funding and hope to do. Not all "good".
 
Maine needs to be saved! Or at least the motorist, deer and moose do! According to this Maine Department of Transportation crash map, 10,429 car-deer crashes and 2,009 car-moose crashes occurred in 2002-2004. And, it appears the deer and moose use the same, but few major roads in Maine. Are there less car-car crashes in Maine? -- yep. Go Figure!

Can we aggregate all the various conservation, wildlife and nature group easements, agreements, and organization structure? Yes -- just send us the documents, links and other information and we will begin to create a master list for all individuals to see. We all might be surprised what is under the covers!