THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

TNC is by far the richest environmental group in the U.S. with assets of $2.57 Billion and revenues totaling $784,263,611 in 2000. TNC promotes themselves as “working with communities, businesses and people like you to protect more than 98 million acres around the world”. In contrast to that noble self-assessment, an underlying agenda of TNC’s seems to be The Wildlands Project.

Having evolved out of the radical Earth First! group, TWP is favorably described in the United Nations’ ‘Global Biodiversity Assessment’. TWP promotes a “new theory” which claims that ecosystems “crash” when pre-Columbian carnivores are absent. It blames this “crisis” on human activities and intends to put at least half of North America into wildlife habitat where little or no human activity will be allowed. Earth First! and TWP were co-founded by eco-felon, Dave Foreman, editor of TWP’s Wild Earth Journal which reveals that TNC and the Audubon Society were contracted to help develop TWP. Every TNC land acquisition and conservation easment furthers this radical Project.

Additionally, TNC is a member of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In conjunction with the U.N., the IUCN, along with the World Wildlife Fund and the World Resources Institute, are responsible for virtually all of the environmental agenda now being implemented around the world. (freedom.org to eco logic) Unknown to U.S. citizens, these socialist U.N. policies are being disseminated throughout the U.S. by the President’s Council on Sustainable Development (of which TNC is a member) down to the local level through the National Association of Counties. Membership in the IUCN, which includes a number of U.S. government agencies, requires members to declare they will engage in no policy opposed to the policies of the IUCN. (www.iucn.org) This means its members must support all its goals and activities even though they often run counter to the best interests of the American people.

The Wild Earth magazine praises and promotes the fact that, “TNC has combined efforts with wildlife and natural resource management agencies. The Natural Heritage Programs have thereby been formed,...all wildlands groups should contact these programs. The Heritage programs remain the best source of data on the status and locations of rare species.” Ron Arnold and Alan Gottlieb, authors of ‘Trashing the Economy’ (425 454-7009), claim that TNC applies “behind-the-scenes pressure to turn stubborn ranchers and farmers into ‘willing sellers’ through the National Heritage program, the brainchild of TNC vice president Robert Jenkins”. TNC collects data on the habitats of endangered plants and animals, as well as examines real estate records and potential preservation sites for government acquisition in all 50 states. This state-funded, state/TNC partnership essentially compiles a database which facilitates a variety of planning and regulatory functions. It’s unconscionable that TNC, with it’s radical and near treasonous affiliations is allowed to advance TWP through this government program.

WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY ABOUT TNC

It’s a secretive “big money non-profit upper-class real estate firm. TNC buys private land in the United States, sometimes at the request of the federal government, and then sells the bulk of it - about two-thirds - to that federal government at substantial markups. Outside magazine called TNC ‘Century 21 with a built-in buyer’.

“‘TNC is a serious threat to the livestock industry’, said Al Schneberger, executive director of the New Mexico Cattle Growers’ Association. The net loss of grazing land caused by TNC is giving great concern to the livestock economy all across America.” (Trashing the Economy)

“TNC is involved in oil production and receives oil royalties.” “It hides behind phony corporations; serves as a shill for government agencies; and works behind the scenes with more visible environmental groups to intimidate property owners into selling. Its power, wealth, and control is almost beyond comprehension,” says Lee Pitts in the 8/9/02 Agri-News. (406 259-5406).

Compiled by The Alternative View, 406-285-3119, mothrlod@avicom.net