Partners in Conserving America's Resources

Issues

Guideline #13 -- Needs to be Revised

From (name): Input from May 1998 Workshop
This issue or subject is considered to be: Very Important
Date: 07 Jun 1998

Comments

13. The following text will be revised. This program is proposing a change in social behavior, and in public and private perception of the relationships between private landowners and government agencies. Both sides have valid basis for caution and new tools are needed to try to mend some old fences. The wording of this section was not deemed adequate to express what needs to happen. A thoughtful, careful and precise discussion needs to be held. How this relationship is developed is a critical component in the success of this program -- the whole key is the relationship between the private landowner and the government. This relationship must be crafted carefully to make it a good one.

Specific suggestions on how the following text should be reworded are welcome. The text presented at the workshop read:

It must be understood from the onset that "business as usual" will not work. Individuals from land trusts and agencies involved in negotiations with landowners must work to understand the motivations of private landowners -- their desire to to be left alone, to pursue the quiet and peaceable enjoyment of their property, to be given a goal to work toward (maintaining and improving habitat on their property) and to be rewarded for the actions they take in that regard. If the leases are perceived as another layer of regulation, or contain lengthy lists of "do's and don'ts" governing every aspect of a landowner's behavior, and give the impression that every action is going to be watched and measured, they won't be accepted and won't work.

Responses to original text:

Green: 17 -- 10 landowner, 4 government, 1 landowner/government, 2 other

Yellow: 5 -- 4 government, 1 other

Orange: 2 -- 1 government, 1 conservation

Comments Offered:

Orange flag (government): Leave off sentence beginning with "If the leases are perceived ..." Financial remuneration for habitat protection will entail obligations and responsibilities.
This is very much a philosophical element ... but one that is extremely important. In general, there has been a lack of respect for private landowners, especially agricultural landowners, by government agencies that must be remedied.

Please note whether your interest is as a Landowner, Government Agency, Conservation Organization organization or Other Interest

Last changed: October 16, 2003