Is anyone familiar with "The Nature Conservancy"?

This is one of those things that sounds "too good to be true" to happen during this administration. Is it just another "up is down""black is white" type scenarios?
I hate being so cynical.

IP sells land to conservation groups
Wednesday, March 29, 2006 8:54 AM CST

More than 200,000 acres of forests will be protected, including 8,123 in SW Arkansas

>>>>>>>>>snip
Described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect ecologically important forests, rivers and streams, about 8,123 acres of Southwest Arkansas land will be acquired by The Nature Conservancy from International Paper.

“This announcement is extraordinary in every sense of the word—from its scope and scale to its tremendous conservation outcomes,” said the Conservation Fund’s president, Larry Selzer.

The agreement represents the largest financial commitment in the 55-year history of The Nature Conservancy.

To secure the necessary funding to complete this project, The Nature Conservancy contracted with Conservation Forestry LLC and its consortium partner, Forest Investment Associates.


edited to add link:
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2006/03/29/local_news/news/news03.txt

back - can't recall the details...

It's a wonderful organization.

They are the good guys, though I don't know any of the details about this deal. Check them out at http://www.nature.org/

sometimes with good results.

They're one of the best organizations doing this in the U.S., if not the best. I've worked with TNC folks in the past-- they've been uniformly great. One of my former students worked for them for several years.

i've not heard any scandal around here in louisiana, they've assisted w. some great things

they purchased cypress island and helped protect the great lake martin rookery

a recent triumph -- as of january -- is their assistance in the purchase of the sureway woods at grand isle louisiana, this is the wonderful area behind the grocery store at grand isle, where migrating birds "fall out" after crossing the gulf of mexico on migration, it is louisiana's own "high island"

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/louisiana/preserves/art16540.html

these cheniers are absolutely essential to give migrating birds including warblers, tanagers, orioles, and hummingbirds a place to rest and feed after a long flight

i have witnessed myself an amazing "fall out" there of hundreds of warblers, but even hummingbirds were in the mix dropping down beside me, tanagers, orioles, an absolutely amazing and not to be forgotten site

if there is some scandal elsewhere -- and i'm not saying there is, i'm saying IF -- you can always give to the louisiana branch or put specific instructions that your donation is to go help with grand isle/sureway woods -- more money is still needed to pay off the note for this property, about $200,000 is still needed, if anyone is interested, give me a PM in case i don't find this thread again, and i can give you a specific address

i have put my money where my mouth is, they have the pitohui seal of good housekeeping

there is always someone to spread gossip to make an excuse not to give but at some point you have to judge an organization by results

keep in mind they may sell it to the highest bidder (even to a developer) in order to use that money to buy something they see as more important. That happened to some land on an island in Florida I used to go to when a child. Some rich guy who owned almost half the island donated it to N.C. to preserve it, except, after they officially had the land, they sold it to some developers who started building condo's. Donor-beware with them.

The nature conservancy turns one kind of private land into another kind of private land.

The result? You still can't go there, and they can sell it if some future board of directors sees fit.

Conservation land in the US should be public land, imho.

There is less guarantee with them than our own forest service, as precarious as it is.

strong ties to corporations ?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/nation/specials/natureconservancy/

"conservation buyer" real estate transactions ......This involved selling real estate to current and former Conservancy state trustees at greatly reduced prices. Buyers give the Conservancy cash payments for roughly the amount of the discount, a sum that is then written off the buyers' federal income taxes. The Conservancy's board and leadership council include executives and directors from corporations that have paid millions in environmental fines. These sales were designed to limit intrusive development but generally allow buyers to construct houses.

"resource extraction activities" on its nature preserves.....This included logging and drilling. In Texas City, Tex., the organization had drilled for oil and natural gas under the last native breeding ground of a highly endangered species of grouse known as the Attwater's prairie chicken.


"cause-related marketing partnerships"........ The Conservancy had sold its name and logo for use on consumer goods, including toilet cleaner and other products made by corporations whose executives and directors had sat on the Conservancy's governing board and advisory council.

loans to employees......The Conservancy had extended a $1.55 million loan to its president, Steven J. McCormick, and then misidentified the interest rate. After being questioned by reporters, McCormick repaid the loan.