The Nature Coservancy Infiltration.....ForestDefenders in Flesh and Blood
As many of you probably already know, The Nature Conservancy launched a widespread attack on caches located on property they claim to own.
The attack was launched by a Premium Geocaching Member named Daniel Grenier (dj_grenier is his Geocaching user name). The attacks have been in the polite form of an e-mail threatening the archiving of certain caches which The Nature Conservancy seems to think they own the land of. Their claims are rather dubious at best, as their own maps seem to be ambiguous at best to their property. The maps that I based the placement of several caches on, clearly determine a corridor through the properties made by the Power Line companies, which are openly and publically used for ATVing, Snowmobiling, and other activities, not to mention Geocaching.
After an e-mail exchange and a phone call (phone call was never returned) to The Nature Conservancy, and their CCing of emails to MainePublisher, and several highly placed Groundspeak officials, I decided to take the high road and self-Archive the two caches that TNC targeted of mine. However MainePublisher has already begun his list of archives based upon the TNC. I wish to avoid any issues with Groundspeak, and frankly, not give them, MainePublisher, or TNC the satisfaction of archiving my caches.
I'd like to see a good discussion on this issue, and offer if any of you are interested, copies of the emails exchanged with TNC and myself.
Begin!
It's all in the presentation
I hunt almost exclusively on posted property. How can that be you ask? It's easy, I go to the town office, get the owner info, call the landowner and try to arrange a face to face if it appears they may be inclined to let me use their property. This works EVERY time! Dropping off a field dressed grouse doesn't hurt either.
Tat is right that a positive relationship with TNC may be forged but it won't happen by threats or any other negative actions. ( Like me telling a landowner I'll sneak on their property when they aren't around )
The example of the Androscogging Land Trust and the CITO event would be our ticket to getting a more favorable response to our game. I agree that their current posture is just plain wrong and have written to them to voice this, and I am a member for what that's worth.
Perhaps a meeting could be arranged with Mr. Grenier. I would be happy to attend.