Conservation Easements: A program designed by the UN's IUCN

commentary by Sharon Shumate

The IUCN's (International Union For The Conservation Of Nature) book entitled "The Easement As A Conservation Technique" (IUCN Environmental Law Paper No. 1 by David D. Gregory (1972), pg. 10) states, the objective of conservation easements is land-use control on non-federal land – (your land), the achievement of which does not require assumption of full proprietary ownership of the land.   The program was intended to avoid paying just compensation to landowners for losses or takings.

   The United States federal and state constitutions require 'just compensation' to be paid to a landowner whose property has been expropriated or condemned for public purposes.  However, we are being manipulated to comply with Forest Practices Rules and the new Shoreline Master Program Guidelines that dictate land use on more than sixty thousand miles of stream in the state of Washington.  All in the name of providing compliance with the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act for aquatic and riparian dependent species on non-federal forest lands. (State of Washington Forest Practices Board June 8, 2001 "Concise Explanatory Statement for the Permanent Forest Practices Rules Effective July 1, 2001")

   Within the United States the United Nations IUCN has 56 members including the Department of Agriculture (Forest Service), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Department of Interior (Fish & Wildlife), The Nature Conservancy, and The National Wildlife Federation. (Membership List – June 1, 1996 by IUCN, Suise, Switzerland, pgs. 33-34)  Is this what is driving the rules and regulations pertaining to land-use control on non-federal land?

Sharon Shumate is a researcher and writer who resides  in Republic, WA