What exactly are you surprised at? All land is owned by someone, private or public. There is nothing much "we" can do other than support the organizations and agencies that have been aquiring and assembling tracts of public and private preserved land for a long time. The importance of this piece is nothing new and is well known to many. It is often a long and difficult process, much like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. The willing sellers have already been dealt with, for the most part, and the rest take time, patience and the right circumstances. As Glen said, environmnetal laws are nice but are far from carved in stone. Aquisition is the best and safest way to preserve a piece of property.
