Land Conservation

I would like to go on record as against the proposal by John Sawhill of the Nature Conservancy to provide large tax incentives for land conservation (Commentary, April 7). I always thought of the Nature Conservancy as a private-sector alternative for conservation. I am shocked that the conservancy is proposing such a big government subsidy scheme. Shifting conservation funding to off-budget tax incentives only serves to hide the true costs involved. Because preservation activities are often based on emotional appeals and good intentions, funds are wasted and diverted from more important environmental and human risks.

The public wants conservation, but not at any price, not with hidden budget outlays and not with unnecessary impacts on the economy. Finding a way to buy out landowners is a nonsolution that only circumvents democratic priority setting. But that is probably why Sawhill is proposing it.

WAYNE C. LUSVARDI

Pasadena