>What role do these commissioners have?
Potentially, all encompassing within their scope. Traditionally, the
commissioners major function is to appoint a director of the Department of
Conservation. The director takes it from there with an earmarked pot of
money.
>And what legal obligations does the state have to protect a sensitive area
from development?
Nothing special that I know of.
Missouri has an 1/8 percent sales tax for conservation and its legal uses
are very limited. One of the allowed uses is buying land and sensitive
areas have been bought by the state.
There are instances I recall where government involvement wasn't necessary.
One example would be Greer Springs which the Busch Brewery people wanted to
buy in order to market a brand of bottle spring water. The Nature
Conservancy and this now deceased rich dude ponied up the $$$.
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