New York Stock Exchange Abandons Plan to Control America’s Natural Resources

‘Very few people understand how close we were to losing control of our property and natural resources through this diabolical NAC scam,’ Margaret Byfield said.

El Capitan and Cathedral Rocks, dusted with snow, are seen from Tunnel View on Feb. 1, 2021, at California's Yosemite National Park, which is one of about 100 national parks coast to coast that charge an entrance fee. Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/TNS

The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Jan. 17 withdrew its proposal to establish and list Natural Asset Companies (NAC), which would pool investors’ money from around the world to buy controlling rights to public and private land throughout the United States.

The NACs would, according to filing documents, manage the lands solely for the purpose of “sustainability.” Critics of the plan charged that wealthy investors and foreign entities would be able to use these vehicles to make decisions to allow or block the public from accessing the publicly owned land that is designated for uses such as hunting, fishing, drilling, mining, hiking, and logging.