Analysis and ramifications of the Plum Creek land deal  

What does this massive 320,000-acre Plum Creek Forestland sale actually mean? It is claimed that the deal between the nation’s largest private property owner, The Nature Conservancy (the world’s largest land trust), and The Trust for Public Land, will set a precedent, an example for land transfers throughout the country. 

 A deal it is, but is it ideal? Who are the winners; who are the losers? “Land Grabs” of all types are gaining momentum throughout the country, consuming billions of dollars. Our government is buying out the people’s land with our own money. As land is acquired by, supposedly, non-profit governmental agencies, there goes the County tax base. Also that portion of this Plum Creek sale going to the U.S. Forest Service will be subject to the same roadless, no access gate-closures, no timber harvest and “just let it let burn” federal policies that their 193 million acres are experiencing nation-wide. 

 There went our jobs; our livelihoods. Federal “Secure Schools” funding compensating for lost timber revenues expired this year leaving supposedly “secure” education dangling in forested communities. State School Trust lands provide revenues to communities only when productive: providing resources, industry and jobs. When the U.S. Forest Service absorbs State land, there goes school funding resources.  Conservation-easement encumbered land, if saleable, experiences severely reduced taxable value and restricted, limited use potential.

Conservation easements ban mineral, oil and gas extraction on both private and public lands. Non-tax-paying agencies, placing both private and public lands under conservation easements, eventually make this country dependent upon foreign countries for finished goods. Regulations and restrictions, on use of our own natural resources and raw materials, discourage investment in reactivation of our own manufacturing capability. 

Is our government setting us up for a “sellout” of land and natural resources to other countries, or are we already collateralized with imminent take-over by foreign countries, our Federal Reserve and/or global financial institutions? We cannot continue to be the world's best, most lucrative market place while continuing the loss of our own capability to produce, provide jobs, incomes and national revenues. 

Is this situation evolving through ignorance or through a massive plan fed by greed of a few ruthless benefactors at top levels? I sense that this expansive, complex real estate sale is far more about acquisition of land, wealth and power, than about the highly clouted protection of our environment, wildlife, recreation and enjoyment of the ordinary citizen.

The rest of the story is yet to be revealed, especially if this becomes an established procedure for land transfers to compliment the other assorted agency-driven and legislative programs underway. We simply must protect private property and rights of the property owner, the very foundation of our form of government and its success. This event urgently deserves very serious consideration by our entire Congress, not just one U.S. Senator seeking re-election recognition and notoriety.

The land and its natural resources is the source of all wealth, security, comfort and freedom for citizens. Totalitarianism involves property ownership by rulers of the state with control over all aspects of citizen life and productive capacity. The people become serfs on the land while paying all the bills. 

Clarice Ryan

Bigfork, MT