Public land is capital to be preserved, not squandered. Publicly owned open lands and resources are valuable national assets that should never be divested lightly, and then only if careful analysis shows that they contain little value as public conservation or recreational land. If such lands are sold or traded, the proceeds should be reinvested in conservation of land and resources, either directly or through a dedicated fund that yields continuing income streams devoted to land conservation. Ultimately, it is our duty to be good stewards of this inherited capital so that it can benefit future generations. Respect for property rights is essential to land conservation.
Private owners are the backbone of the land trust movement.
It is they who decide what they want to do with their land. Land trusts typically work with landowners who choose, voluntarily, to protect their land rather than develop it, and exercise that right by dedicating their land to conservation for the public benefit. Land trusts make strong conservation partners. Public policy aimed at stewardship of private lands should include a clear role for land trusts. Because all land is part of a larger ecosystem, watershed or habitat, lasting conservation requires cooperation among landowners, businesses, local, state, or federal agencies, and citizens.