Should Wal-Mart and Other Public Companies Be Involved In Nature Preservation?

In early December, Wal-Mart announced that they would be helping preserve an additional 218,000 acres in four states this year for wildlife habitat, recreation, and to maintain a sustainable forestry operation.

Now this is all part of Wal-Mart’s Acres for America program that was a pledge to protect one acre of conservation land for every acre occupied by Wal-Mart’s U.S. facilities.  Initially, they had promised a $35,000,000 commitment and have so far acquired 625,000 acres including 1,120 acres in Central Oregon (Rimrock Ranch).

What Wal-Mart is doing is a wonderful thing for those of us that believe nature needs to be preserved.  However, two things trouble me about this very generous campaign, Acres for America.

First, I am afraid when the general public sees such large tracts of land being bought by such deep pockets that will get lazy about nature preservation.  It is probably natural to think that their individual contributions don’t mean a lot or worse yet they are not needed at all.  This, obviously, is not the case.   I personally know of several local organizations that are looking for funds to increase their acreage.  Even if lands are purchased by large endowment type money…it takes a lot of resources (money and volunteers) to maintain such properties.

Second, I question the soundness of a publicly traded company giving any money to charity.  If you really think about it, the earnings and future earnings of a publically traded company belong to the shareholders.  Now most of us have some type of investment account (IRA, 401k, etc.), which makes us shareholders.  Therefore, you have CEOs that rarely built the company they’re managing; giving away your money to places you don’t care about.  Wouldn’t you rather get the dividends from the stock and give it to your favorite local nature organization?

A case in point, Wal-Mart helped purchase the Rimrock Ranch in Central Oregon for a price tag of $400,000.  Now if everyone that lives in Oregon donated $.11 each, we could have done the same thing as a group (400,000 / 3,600,000).

It is great when large donations help carry the heavy load of mass land acquisition for preservation purposes.  However, let’s not forget about the local organizations that are in great need of our help.