The KUSP Land Use Report #50: What Land Trusts Do

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The following Land Use Report is presented by Gary Patton, Executive Director of LandWatch Monterey County. The opinions expressed by Mr. Patton are not necessarily those of KUSP Radio, nor of any of our sponsors.

Beginning in 1978, the Big Sur Land Trust has dedicated itself to the goal of safeguarding the Big Sur Coast and the Monterey Peninsula. It has been involved in ninety-two transactions and has helped preserve over 20,000 acres. Like other land trusts, the Big Sur Land Trust serves as a bridge between the private and public sectors.

The acquisition of the Palo Corona Ranch in Monterey County is an example of what private and public cooperation really means. As I reported last time, the people of the state put up $32 million dollars to help acquire the Palo Corona Ranch. This is a stunningly beautiful property, almost 10,000 acres in size. If public funds had not been available, or at least potentially available, the purchase would probably never have happened. The public role (and public funding) was vital.

On the other hand, someone had to negotiate with the private property owner to get the owner to agree to sell the ranch. That's what land trusts do. Government regulates property, and property owners who are regulated often don’t have friendly feelings for the government. As private, non-profit organizations, land trusts are often in a much better position to work with private property owners, and to persuade them that a sale of their property, and its permanent protection for its resource values, is really the best course.

We'll talk more about land trusts during the next Land Use Report.

For KUSP, this is Gary Patton.

More Information:
Big Sur Land Trust Website: http://www.bigsurlandtrust.org/
Nature Conservancy Website: http://nature.org/

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