Economic development interests seek ways to let the rural counties in on the boom. None of this change is occurring with malice aforethought. On the contrary, it doesn't seem to be happening with forethought of any kind. Recently, however, awareness has been increasing that the end result of all this development may not be entirely satisfactory. In response to these challenges, the newly appointed Natural Resources Board declared in August 1999 that habitat protection would be the agency's highest priority.
New perspectives require new approaches.
At this writing, a broad, new habitat initiative is under development, involving many players. Meetings have been held with numerous stakeholders, and from them has emerged the recognition that the most meaningful conservation takes place locally, at the initiative of landowners and other citizens. Government agencies, including Heritage Trust, will play a supporting role, not a primary one. Conservation will be most effective when carried out with broad public support, through a process that brings diverse interests to the table. From the Heritage Trust's inception in 1976, we have recognized that a broader approach would be needed to complement our original narrow concept of protection.