Good Dirt: Confessions of a Conservationist

A cardinal rule for the Nature Conservancy, says the author, for 16 years director of land acquisition for that respected conservation organization, is not to mix nature with business. In his efforts to garner donations of land, Morine has tallied up notable successes and a few failures, but never at the expense of his sense of humor. On one occasion he lost a major donation when he declined to capture a blacksnake; another deal was thwarted by a miniature poodle. Embarrassing moments included a skinny-dipping expedition off Santa Cruz Island with a potential donor (an heiress) and a trustee (a retired diplomat), and his grounding a boat during a tour down the Suwanneesp ok,db River, requiring everyone on board, including the dignitaries, to push it afloat. Lighthearted and upbeat, these stories, offering glimpses of the deals and trade-offs that have saved valuable land, will delight conservation-minded readers. (Dec.)