The Nature Conservancy

Some charities get a bad rap when their practices don’t meet the public’s expectation.  Time Magazine recently ripped on some small cancer charities that don’t have sufficient size to fund much cancer research after they cover their fundraising cost.  Activist environmental charities are often disparaged for their all-or-none, ‘any development is bad development’ stand on environmental protection.  It’s very difficult to even measure the effectiveness of charities with vague, idealistic mission statements (End Poverty Now!).  On the other hand, there are charities that get it right: lean administrative costs, a specific and clearly defined mission, and spectacular effectiveness in their area of expertise.  For example, The Nature Conservancy.

Established in 1951, The Nature Conservancy is a U.S.-based environmental charity whose stated mission is “to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.”  But unlike many environmental charities that use a confrontational approach (e.g. Green Peace), The Nature Conservancy is extraordinarily effective at protecting natural lands by using a collaborative, business-like strategy:  they buy it.  The Conservancy has over one million members, offices in all 50 states and more than 30 countries, and has protected more than 17 million acres in the U.S. and more than 117 million acres in other countries.   They protect the complete spectrum of ecosystems from grasslands to coral reefs.  As of 2009, The Nature Conservancy had assets of over $5.6 billion.

Páramo photo: Denis Torres

What makes The Nature Conservancy so effective?  First, everything they do is firmly rooted in science.  Their acquisition targets are selected through rigorous scientific study of the land’s environmental importance and sensitivity.  They employ hundreds of scientists to monitor and evaluate sensitive ecosystems for health, deterioration, and outside threats.  For example, the Conservancy is currently working to protect Columbian Páramos, high-altitude grasslands that look like deserts but are important sources of water.   The Páramos are threatened by climate change and encroaching development from downslope. 

Second, the Conservancy looks for non-confrontational, pragmatic solutions to conservation challenges.  In the US, this often involves buying land, land swaps, or the creation of conservation easements, legally binding agreements that protect privately owned land for future generations while allowing owners to retain many private property rights, live on and use their land, and take tax benefits.   As nice as this sounds, detractors claim the Conservancy sometimes uses coercive techniques to secure these land grants and easements.  Internationally, the Conservancy works with governments to find ways to protect their natural treasures.  For example, in 1988, the Conservancy purchased $240,000 in Costa Rican debt in exchange for conservation in Braulio Carillo National Park, the first of many such swaps. 

Third, the Conservancy works with just about anyone who can advance the protection of land for the future: indigenous communities, businesses, governments, multilateral institutions, and other non-profits.   The ‘Development by Design’ strategy, for example, looks for ways to balance the needs of planned development — such as oil and gas, mining, and infrastructure — with those of nature conservation. This approach mitigates the impact of development projects on biodiversity with compensating conservation actions known as “biodiversity offsets.”

Ramona Grasslands Preserve
Photo: B. Perry

For all its global reach, it’s nice to see the Conservancy’s impact in one’s own backyard.  Here in San Diego County, California, where I live, the Conservancy bought 3,500 acres of grasslands near Ramona back in 2007.  Grasslands used to cover much of Southern California but 90% of it has been lost to development.  Weeks after the purchase was complete, the Witch Creek fire burned the entire area.  Fortunately, grasslands recover quickly after fire and, soon, the ecosystem was thriving again.  The Conservancy turned the preserve over to the County of San Diego which planned to open it for passive recreation (e.g. hiking, bird watching, equestrian use).  The County began construction of a trail through the preserve but stopped when several endangered Stephens' Kangaroo Rats were found.  This federally-protected species had not been noticed in the original, pre-fire environmental assessments.   A special area was built for them, the rats along the trail were relocated, and the trail construction resumed.  On June 3rd, 2011, with the special rats happily breeding nearby, the County of San Diego officially opened the four-mile trail through the Ramona Grasslands Preserve.   Thanks, Nature Conservancy.

Question of the Day: What's your favorite well-run charity and why?