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German duke sells B.C. land to Nature Conservancy

MARK HUME

From Friday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 10:08 PM EDT 24/07/08

$125-million for 55,000 hectares is largest purchase of private land for conservation purposes ...Read the full article

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  1. Iain's Opinion from Canada writes: Perhaps the public should not be given access to the land. I'd vote for that.
  2. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Bravo, Nature Conservancy. As I recall - and the article does not offer the details - this matched funding arrangement was one of the CPC's early forays into trying to look green. The taxpayer has been very well served, in my opinion.
  3. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: bob london:-- May I suggest that you pay the Kootenays a visit, perhaps even to take a puff or two in the rarified air. The sky will not fall and in a state of modest relaxation, you might find yourself transported by nature's beauty, whereupon you might perceive that it would be possible to conduct wood-lot operations in such a way as to maintain habitat, watersheds, etc. I recommend Nelson for your sojourn.
  4. John Tomari from Montreal, Canada writes: The only way this touching story could have been better was if the Duke had donated the land for conservation for free.
  5. More CO2 Gas from Canada writes: It would be nice if people gave 5% of their estates to great organization like the Nature Conservancy to assemble precious tracks of lands in strategic locations for animals and birds.
  6. Dennis sinneD from Calgary, Canada writes:

    I just want to own the land under my house...
  7. Lana ** from Canada writes: Wonderful! Could someone now buy back the Nova Scotia shoreline from Americans?
  8. Dave Miller from Montreal, Canada writes: @politeness man: Chill out.

    He didn't do anything to the land while he owned it? What's the problem? It was like it was being preserved all along. Who cares who owns it, the important thing is that a piece of untouched wilderness (home to many animals) has been and now remains, untouched.
  9. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: It isn't who owns it, necessarily, but how it is managed, maintained, or protected. If Canadians have concerns about that, they can always enact laws or regulations to ensure that which they deem important. Oh, but, wouldn't that trample on property rights? Do I perceive a bit of hypocrisy here? It wouldn't be the first time.
  10. Ob Server from Canada writes: 55,000 hectares = 148,500 acres = about $850.00/acre...heck I can get that much land in Northern Ontario for half the price and that would include the Boreal forest. The NCC over-paid...that land wasn't going anywhere, especially these days.
  11. Wir sind das Volk from Mootown, Canada writes: Too bad no Cdn dukes are doing the same...
  12. bill johnson from Quebec, Canada writes: A study in contrasts in today's environmental news: Greenpeace's terrorism vs. the Nature Conservancy's Community-minded Enlightenment.
  13. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: bill johnson:-- Unfortunately, both have their place in the scheme of things. If Emily Davison had not thrown herself under the King's horse (and died from her injuries), women may never have achieved self-government (aka 'the vote'). All the polite tea party lectures could not have achieved what Ms. Davison did by her violent act. Parallels are to be found in the Civil Rights Movement.
  14. The Skipper from Canada writes: Diane Marie of Calgary - deep stuff - I would love to have coffee sometime - you provide interesting backgrounds !
  15. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    Just how does one get to be a Duke in the first place?

    What is a Duke?
  16. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    In the grand scheme of things are Dukes better than Barons?
    How about Knights?

    Higher or lower then a Duke?

    What about a Prince?
    Do Princes have more on the ball than Dukes or Barons?

    Eurotrash.
    I don't get 'em at all.
  17. Politeness man from Canada writes: Ladies and gentlemen;
    I have decided to become a COUNT
    As a polite COUNT I am creating a position for a DUKE.
    Duke Michael Sharp your duties begin tomorrow. I'll let you manage the numeric details of the western herd. Cash only I remind you. You may begin counting now, and report back to me in a fortnight. Please.
    Oh and no extraduke-ary activities please,,, The notwithstanding clause explains further...
  18. Strongarmlouis Rules from Canada writes: I agree with 'The Skipper about Diane Marie'. And she is from the John Bonham or Motor of Canada, Calgary.
  19. diane marie from calgary, Canada writes: Politeness:-- You beat me to it. I was about to suggest that Michael Sharp appoint himself the Duke of Daffodilaria (sp?), but counting cow-pies might be just as interesting as proclaiming (ad nauseum) the merits of Victoria and environs.
  20. Politeness man from Canada writes: Michael google images- duke and there is a Beechcraft airplane Orville and Wilbur could never have even dreamed of...
  21. stand up mimi from Canada writes: Ob Server from Canada writes: '...heck I can get that much land in Northern Ontario for half the price...'

    Yes, but it would be in Northern Ontario.

    Good for the Nature Conservancy. It seems this may be the way to preserve important sections of wilderness, rather than hoping the government will do it on their own. From what I've seen, the government is good at setting aside parkland in basically uninhabited areas of the country, which is necessary, of course. But groups such as the Nature Conservancy and Land Conservancy are doing what they can to preserve natural areas in populated regions as well - working with farmers and other landowners, for example, to ensure wetland conservation.
  22. white wolf from Canada writes: IM not to sure about this nature conservancy, seems they buy up every available piece of land they can

    some places that others seemed to have access to is now decided by a number of souls owning the land and deciding how the public can have access (or maybe not) as its protected land for species etc

    IM all for environmentalism when its properly done and controlled and reviewed

    is this democratic?

    whose canada is this?
  23. M. Mark from Victoria, Canada writes: A good deal for everyone involved.
  24. Shirley Jackson from Oliver, BC, Canada writes: Well done, Nature Conservancy. I hope the public is allowed some use because taxpayers are paying for the land and we need to care about it. In economics, economists debate whether owners of private property -- they care but limit access -- or the public holding commons -- nobody owns it per se so nobody cares -- make better stewards. The German Duke was an excellent steward, especially for an absent landlord.

    British Columbia and the Rockies in western Alberta are the most spectacular places. You ought to vaccation here. Germans do. It's as if the scenery here was painted by God.
  25. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:
    I forgot about Counts.

    All that nonsense behind us, this is a wonderful thing the Baron has done for BC.

    diane marie?
    Edmonton?
    Tell us of the beauty of Edmonton, I've only ever seen the Legislative buildings on a calendar (nowhere as nice as Victoria's which are by far and away the most beautiful in the land) and Commonwealth Stadium when the Eskimos are playing.

    What does one do for kicks in Edmonton?

    Wish they were somewhere else?

    Oh.

    You're in Calgary.
    Same difference.
  26. martha stewart from Canada writes: Excellent! This is a beautiful piece of land. It was logged European style - that is, small cut blocks - in some areas but is in prime shape.

    As for public access, that always was limited there under private ownership. And it was effectively treated as a private game preserve under their management.
  27. martha stewart from Canada writes: Just noticed the photo. That's rather misleading. It shows Kootenay Lake, taken from the south end near Creston. Its not in this area. The Darkwoods land is in the (Selkirk) mountains on the left (west) side and does not come down to the lakeshore.
  28. Robert Stupka from Kelowna, Canada writes: John Baird is such an idiot when it comes to the environment, surprised he didn't have it turned into a mine site.
  29. Some Guy from Canada writes: This is a great deal. For those who compare it to land in Northern Ontario, this is prime recreational land within weekend commute range of Calgary. The duke sold at bargain prices in order to preserve the environmental value of the land. Thank you Herzog von und zu Wurtemberg.
  30. Chilled One from Canada writes: Mostly public money to buy back something that should have never fallen into foreign ownership to begin with. Brilliant!!!`
  31. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: Michael Sharp from Victoria...Well we buy up land in Vancouver Island for kicks. In fact some of us might just be your neighbours...
  32. shizdan clause from vancouver, Canada writes: Keeping canada in canada.. I like how he said that hed rather have it public than townhomes and subdivisions... He knows that foreign investment is eating bc alive.
  33. James P from Spruce Grove, Canada writes: Umm. shizdan clause ..He was foreign investment.
  34. Kevin Chew from Germany writes: Hopefully the way that this land was managed -- and will continue to be managed -- will serve as an example for others when and if the forestry industry recovers. Give the forests back to the communities who have a vested interest in the state of the lands around them and will manage them appropriately and responsibly.
  35. woolly varmint from vancouver, Canada writes: ohhh the humanity of such aristocratic hypocrisy.
    when can we anticipate the purchase of the Nature Conservancy by a Saudi Herzog?
    or even better Oprah?
  36. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    Countess Oprah?
    Baroness Oprah?
    Duchess Oprah?
    Princess Oprah?

    I am so thick in the ways of the elite.
  37. Kim Morton from Canada writes: While I consider parks as largely a waste of natural resourses if people are willing to pay for them it is ok. Just don't expect the taxpayers to fund maintenance.
  38. Doug - from Canada writes: Ob Server from Canada writes: 55,000 hectares = 148,500 acres = about $850.00/acre...heck I can get that much land in Northern Ontario

    If you had ever been there you would know that is cheap. It sounds like it borders Kootaney Lake . Just the lake front lots would be worth 125mil
  39. David Gibson from Canada writes: """""" but the final straw was the regional district decided to increase property taxes by 35 per cent.”"""" Figures. The leeches did the same thing with the Haliburton Forest & Wildlife Reserve, but I don't know how it was finally resolved. [Governments seem to attract losers to employment.] Anyway, this is a good result for B.C..
  40. Jo Blo from Canada writes: "The land ... was bought by His Royal Highness Duke Carl Herzog von Wurttemberg 40 years ago, on the eve of the Soviet takeover of Czechoslovakia that left Europe shaken."

    Mr. Hume, I think you're getting carried away with your deference to this German nobleman. The kingdom of Wurttemberg was abolished in 1918. So why the 'His Royal Highness'? Just because his servants call him so does not mean that the G&M should endorse it. He is the pretender to the throne of what is not recognized and no longer exists..

    Then, Herzog means Duke in German. Appropriating both Duke and Herzog to the same name is redundant, especially with HRH being prefixed. His name is 'Carl, Duke of Wurttemberg', or 'Carl Herzog von Wurttemberg'. An ordinary German citrizen. What you really wrote was 'HRH Duke Carl Duke of Wurttemberg'.

    Lets see how long this comment remains before being expunged again!
  41. martha stewart from Canada writes: Doug - from Canada writes: "It sounds like it borders Kootaney Lake . Just the lake front lots would be worth 125mil"

    No, it doesn't have any lakefront on Kootenay Lake. The photo used for this article is very misleading. See my earlier post.

    BTW, this will not be a "park." The Nature Conservancy has another mandate. I'm guessing that public access will be extremely limited - as it was when it was Darkwoods - to minimize disturbance to the grizzly bears there.

    This article also mentions wolves there. If that is true that is a very recent expansion there. If they are there they are a problem for that tiny struggling mountain caribou herd there.

  42. Hungry Weimaraner from Canada writes: now if we can just work out some oil drilling operations there....
    maybe a nice coal plant while we're at it.
  43. white wolf from Canada writes: Is the nature conservancy starting their own country within this country?
  44. westcoast Groovin from Canada writes: This is an altogether good thing. I chuckle, though, at some of the incongruities like the name..."Dark Woods" sounds a bit Wagnerian for B.C. At least his home was not named "The Wolf's Lair".
    He bought it at the height of the Cold War so his family would have a refuge, but stopped visiting when flights became "no smoking". Three cheers for the duke of wherever!
  45. Randy D from Canada writes: Elitists, you gotta love them.
    Why not put the whole country into a park or conservancy and we can all work at Starbucks
  46. Randal Oulton from Toronto, Canada writes: >> John Tomari from Montreal, Canada writes: The only way this touching story could have been better was if the Duke had donated the land for conservation for free.

    Looking ourselves in the mirror, do you know many Canadians that do anything for free? The more Canadians protest they are slaving away in the public interest, the more you know we're getting a big bill for it, LOL.
  47. Unknown User! from Canada writes: John Tomari from Montreal, Canada writes: The only way this touching story could have been better was if the Duke had donated the land for conservation for free.

    =============

    agreed
  48. Michael Sharp from Victoria, Canada writes:

    The Gothic Forest.

    Home to the Visigoths and other barabarians.
    They'd just as soon storm out of the woods and steal your women as look at them.

    Whose stupid idea was it to let the Teutons into BC?

    I love the Bavarians, they're so meticulous.
  49. Nassar Ben Houdja from Canada writes: For now I shall be "The commentor formerly known as Nassar".
  50. Winston Smith from Canada writes: $125,000,000 for this gem is better than the $1,000,000,000 Gordo is throwing at the new Vancouver convention center that is suppose to be benefit all British Columbians (more like Vancouver hotel owners).
  51. tracy harris from Edmonton, Canada writes: Most in the area have the same appreciation for the land as the duke. I have 2 properties there and can't even imagine what type of backlash I'd face if I even considered cutting down one of my many trees. The area is truly majestic, a Canadian gem to say the least.

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