How Much Land In Conservation Is Enough?

How much land is already "preserved and conserved" in your state? Is it enough or too much?

Your state has a total gross acreage of TGa? For this discussion, you will need to keep track of the following:

• TGa -- total gross acreage in your state
• TNa -- the total net; gross acreage less deductions for water bodies, road and transportation ways, private, public, municipal, state, federal, universities, schools, colleges and other such acreage taken out of the total gross state acreage
• NAa -- net acreage available (TGa-TNa)
• ECa -- land already openly or "hiddenly" in conservation, preservation, land trust, and similar "set aside" restrictive easement designation today; the total acreage already in some form of "conservation"
• TLa -- the target land acreage to be made unavailable and/or similar restricted use. It is a portion of the NAa. Who established TLa and on what basis?
• LOa -- this is the left over land available for all other uses; the public does not own it; it is managed and owned by private individuals or corporations. It is not in conservation or preservation easements or wildlife designation

Let's assume the TLa is the "right" number. It has been fully vetted and agreed to by the public. It has been "properly established as THE number". Yes, we want that set aside and we support doing it." (Can any reader verify what states, if any, have actually done this longer range planning and set such a target?)

Remember, the goal is to measure what has been accomplished for setting the "right number, the enough amount" of acreage into easement restriction and/or conservation. So, how close is the ECa (existing) to the TLa (target)?

If the state were finished, ECa=TLa. If TLa-ECa is greater than zero, that is how much more we should set aside. Simple, right? But few organizations have done the work and even worst these figures either are not available or are not made very public.

So, before we continue to the rush to set aside acreage, all ECa should be noted and openly provide in a very public manner. Then, the TLa needs to be thoroughly evaluated and again, openly agreed upon in a very public manner. Finally, just like the United Way Fund, we need to create our land-equivalent thermometer and post the current status, progress, and yet to go to reach the goal numbers.

Now ask yourself:

1. Why has this not been done?
2. Why are there so many different public non profit organizations?
3. How efficient are these organization?
4. Are they spending our "green" tax support dollars in an efficient, aggregate, and low overhead form?
5. And, what is the agenda and performance history of these organizations?
6. Is it worth looking at "merger & acquisition" to ensure focus, accountability and sustainability of some of these organizations.

We can set aside all the land in the world and it will not "do good" or truly benefit nature unless we educate all the people in the world about the need for conservation and the "right amounts".

So educate yourself too. When asked to donate, know their agenda, why do they even exist, are they "single issue" oriented in saving their own back yard in a piece meal fashion, are they leading us to believe this is good, this is the right way to conserve?

Finally, ask for the facts of the economics. Ask do you really have a substantial say and what is your right to vote in guiding the entity?

Get real, they are pushing their own agendas, so are we and so are you. Except, we might be subsidizing them to push theirs. Know the facts of their agenda -- how many organizations are there, how much money are they spending, and how much single solution acreage have they "conserved"? (remember, an individual may own the land and have tremendous use rights while the organization holds or brokers the actual easement)