Unfortunately, in some environmental circles it is assumed that the best thing we can do for the environment is for the federal government to set aside the maximum amount of land and regulate it or lock it up from any human influence. But it is a mistake to assume that private landowners are inherently hostile to wetlands or to wildlife or other aspects of good stewardship of their land and natural resources. The current policy pits wetlands against people and as a result, they both loose. At NWI we believe protecting property rights is the single most important step we could now take to improve our nation's conservation efforts. Current programs create perverse disincentives that devalue land if it contains rare wildlife or habitat which is the last thing you should do to make something more plentiful.
Successful conservation is dependent upon protected private property.