Re: NANFA-L-- The myth of restoration?

Mysteryman (bestfish-in-alaweb.com)
Sat, 07 May 2005 13:30:58 -0700

Bruce Stallsmith wrote:

> One obvious example of what needs to be done more often comes from the
> Ivory Billed woodpecker story. They delayed release of the news of
> confirmed sightings so that the Nature Conservancy (and others?) could
> buy land around that area of the White & Cache Rivers in Arkansas to
> preserve habitat. This won't work in every township in Ohio, etc.,
> but it's a key part of any solution.
>
That's probably a good thing, but I have some problems with the Nature
Conservancy. It is my theory that this organization is not all it claims
to be. Case in point, a bunch of land it bought in Bibb County, AL. Now,
this area is chock full of threatened and endangered species, so it's
nice that someone would go to the effort to ensure that it was
protected. HOWEVER, that's all they do. They buy up lots of land, usuing
other people's money, and then they do nothing else but use the leftover
money to raise more money.
Just what do I mean?
On that Bibb County land grow the last two specimens of a rather
spectacular flowering plant once thought extinct. This plant would be a
highly prized specimen for any home garden, and it would sell
exceptionally well. These two specimens are too far apart to allow for
fetilization, so the species is doomed. Ah, well, no problem, you think;
all the Nature Conservancy has to do is artificially cross-pollinate the
flowers and VIOLA! Not only is the species saved, but the organization
could raise a bundle of bucks by selling seeds once the threat was averted.
Nope, sorry, that would be too easy and make too much sense. Instead,
the NC has simply closed off the areas near the plants and put up a
little plaque telling the story about how the NC needs more money to
keep other species from becoming extinct like this one. The insincere
scumbags! Instead of saving this perfectly savable species, they are
instead exploiting it for money while also keeping anyone else from
saving it.
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