At a college dedicated to environmental science and forestry in a very liberal state, CFACT Collegian Tatiana Romero brought a message students rarely hear in class: only capitalism can save the environment, not the government.
On April 14, Tatiana hosted a “Free Market Conservation” tabling event at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, engaging students with examples of practical environmental solutions that come from private enterprise rather than government mandates. Her table featured CFACT flyers, stickers, and physical examples of market-driven tools and products, literally putting the truth in the hands of curious students.
Many students were surprised to hear that supposedly “green” energy sources like wind and solar often come with serious environmental costs, including heavy land use, wildlife impacts, and resource-intensive production. Tatiana used the opportunity to explain that nuclear energy produces far more reliable power with a much smaller environmental footprint, challenging the one-sided energy narrative many students are taught on campus.
Driving the point home, Tatiana didn’t just show students free market solutions to environmental problems, she gave them one to take home. Including biodegradable sponges and deer car whistles, Tatiana passed out the eco-goodies while explaining how businesses, entrepreneurs, and consumers can help protect wildlife, reduce waste, and promote stewardship by bettering each other through voluntary exchange without relying on heavy-handed regulation.
Tatiana also took her message beyond the table, walking across campus to hand out flyers, initiate conversations, and change minds face-to-face. She spoke with students about land trusts and other private property conservation efforts, showing how voluntary action can preserve wild spaces while respecting individual liberty and local decision-making. Instead of treating capitalism as the causation behind environmental degradation, her event demonstrated that free markets produce the very tools and incentives needed for better conservation.
By the end of the event, many students walked away with CFACT stickers, flyers, and a better understanding of how free enterprise can serve as a powerful force for environmental progress. Thanks to Tatiana’s leadership, students at SUNY ESF were reminded that conservation does not belong to the left—and that protecting the planet works best when people are free to innovate, build, and steward the land responsibly.
