As a colorful portrait of a controversial,
charismatic guy who likes horsepower, caffeine and litigation, two
thumbs up to Ray Ring’s “Write-off on the Range” (HCN,
5/30/05: Write-off on the Range). As a piece of investigative
journalism providing a useful, balanced look at conservation
easements, the piece falls far short of
HCN’s usually high standards.
Ring touches on some important issues in passing, but rather than
delve into questions that merit discussion, he indulges his desire
to write a snappy portrait of Rosenthal and raise hot-button class
issues. Rich outsiders have outbid working folks for choice land
and newcomers have locked out traditional users for generations.
These are important topics, but are these really conservation
easement issues?
Ring’s assertion that conservation
“easements still enjoy broad political support because they
don’t impose government regulations, and because the wealthy
people who enjoy the tax benefits give money to both parties” may
be appropriate in an editorial. But even there, the remark deserves
strong rebuke: Conservation easements enjoy tremendous support
because they work, and they offer many communities the best chance
to preserve cherished open lands.
The article would have
served readers far better had Ring dug into loose regulations
regarding easement appraisals and the lack of enforcement or stiff
penalties for those who abuse rules. Similarly, Ring could have
looked at what is being done to prevent sham conservation groups
from springing up. Instead, HCN devotes more ink
to Mr. Rosenthal’s pickup truck and eating habitats than it
does to Rock Ringling, who is the only land trust official quoted
in the story.
Unfortunately, conservation easements are
boring. Watching the process of negotiation, due diligence and
closing is like looking at paint dry. But this is no excuse for
HCN to ignore issues that merit examination.
Rob Bleiberg
Executive
Director, Mesa Land Trust
Grand Junction, Colorado
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Easement story sells readers short.
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