Such healthy components are the building blocks of a sustainable society. The national commitment to private land stewardship rests in the hands of millions of individuals, most of who are inclined to do the right thing. The knowledge, creativity, skill, and commitment to conservation of each landowner determine whether most of America's land is healthy. From a national perspective, then, our land will be healthy not because of broad public policies and programs but because each landowner will make his or her own individual place healthy. Each day, this Nation benefits from the strong commitment to private land conservation that results in sustainable farmland and communities, cleaner water, healthy wildlife, and tranquil landscapes.
Conservation offers an enduring and trusted remedy for many of the challenges ahead.
A sustainable society requires a sustainable environment. One depends on the other. Our nation faces a challenge that will become increasingly important in this millennium. The next great environmental goal is conserving our private land that benefits every one of us. To achieve this goal, we must accept stewardship on private land as a shared responsibility between public and private interests.