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 Monthly
message from
NPT President, Paul Pritchard
October 2004
We
have been involved in over 100 projects
- that's about 4 projects a year - and
considering how long they can take to
complete, I consider that to be a huge
victory.
In my last letter, I spoke about one of
our current projects, a 10 plus year
land management in Florida, and I'd like
to update you on its progress. To make a
long story short, the state owns over
12,000 acres inside Big Cypress National
Preserve including wetlands and fragile
habitat lands.
Because these lands produce minimal
funds for the state school program, they
were being donated to the park agency.
The problem is that while other lands
were released, these were overlooked,
forgotten. However, after years of
meetings, we believe that the issue is
about to be resolved, and that the lands
- finally - are going to be transferred.
This project reminds me of another land
dispute that we helped settle a few
years back. Back then, the issue
centered on a 900 acre tract of land,
right in the heart of Wrangell-St. Elias
National Park. It was owned by one of
the richest foundations in America which
had agreed to sell the lands to the park
service. However, the two parties could
not agree on a price.
The problem was that the Foundation
thought that they were giving the park
service a bargain price for the land.
The park service, however, was under
tight control from senators who did not
want to acquire any land at all.
Just like in Florida, NPT was asked to
help initiate discussions between both
parties to facilitate an agreement that
worked for everyone, and after a few
months - and a few near misses - we had
a deal.
So, I guess the old adage is
true - history does repeat itself. The
good part is that it helps us better
understand the challenges that can
accompany the transferring of land. We
are then able to identify the best ways
to negotiate park protection projects
that benefit everyone involved. I'll let
you know as soon as the Florida
situation is settled...let's hope
another very special 12,000 acres will
be protected.
If you would like me to discuss any
particular park issue, please email me
at
paul@parktrust.org . Until then . .
.
Best regards,
Paul
C. Pritchard
National Park Trust (NPT)
(202) 548-0500
npt@parktrust.org
http://www.parktrust.org
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