The Importance of Land The Importance of Land ConservationConservation

Michele d’HemecourtMichele d’HemecourtThe LandTrust for Central NCThe LandTrust for Central NC

704-647-0302704-647-0302michele@landtrustcnc.orgmichele@landtrustcnc.org

IREDELL

DAVIE

DAVIDSON

ROWANRANDOLPH

CABARRUS

STANLY

MONTGOMERY

ANSON

RICHMOND

…working with private & public landownersto protect special natural areas, family farms,& rural landscapes of the central Piedmont…

What is a Land Trust?What is a Land Trust?

Land trusts are local, Land trusts are local, state or regional state or regional nonprofit organizations nonprofit organizations directly involved in directly involved in protecting land for its protecting land for its natural, recreational, natural, recreational, scenic, historical or scenic, historical or productive value.productive value.

Properties by the NumbersProperties by the Numbers Total of 121 conservation propertiesTotal of 121 conservation properties

80 conservation easement80 conservation easement 14 EEP easements14 EEP easements 27 fee simple properties27 fee simple properties

16,44716,447 acres protected acres protected 2,9432,943 acres owned in fee acres owned in fee

President Theodore Roosevelt, 1900President Theodore Roosevelt, 1900

““I recognize the right and duty of I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use this generation to develop and use out natural resources, but I do not out natural resources, but I do not recognize the right to waste them, recognize the right to waste them, or to rob by wasteful use, the or to rob by wasteful use, the generations that come after us.”generations that come after us.”

History of the land trust movement

First land trust :

Trustees of Reservations, MA (1891)

First N.C. land trust

Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (1974)

2005 N.C. land trusts

23 private non profit organizations

2 Statewide

11 > 3 counties, 7 1-3 counties, 3 less than 1

Umbrella Organizations

State Level – Conservation Trust for NC

National Level – Land Trust Alliance

Methods of Land Conservation

• Donation of Conservation Easement

• Purchase of Development Rights

• Donation/Purchase of Fee Simple Interest

• Assists

Conservation EasementsConservation Easements

voluntary agreement between a voluntary agreement between a landowner & a qualified landowner & a qualified conservation organizationconservation organization

In perpetuityIn perpetuity Bundle of Rights – Certain of Bundle of Rights – Certain of

those rights are given up those rights are given up (development, subdivision, etc.)(development, subdivision, etc.)

““For Conservation For Conservation PurposesPurposes””

1.1. Public outdoor recreation & educationPublic outdoor recreation & education

2.2. Protection of a significant habitat or Protection of a significant habitat or ecosystemecosystem

3.3. Preservation of a historic propertyPreservation of a historic property

4.4. Preservation of open spacePreservation of open space Pursuant to a clearly delineated gov’t policy & will Pursuant to a clearly delineated gov’t policy & will

yield “significant public benefit”yield “significant public benefit” For scenic enjoyment of the general public & will For scenic enjoyment of the general public & will

yield “significant public benefit”yield “significant public benefit”

ProcessProcess1. _____ Initial contact with landowner & Site Visit. 2. _____ Determine whether the property fits in with the LandTrust’s

mission, goals, and long-term plans. Is property potentially acceptable as a conservation property?

3. _____ Advise the landowner to retain legal counsel and work with their accountant / tax advisor.

4. _____ Any potential management issues? Evaluate the risks and benefits of the property.

5. _____ Bring the easement to the appropriate Committee (Priority, Two Rivers, or Uwharrie)

6. _____ Obtain and review title information. Is property owned outright or accompanied by a mortgage?

7. _____ Review boundary surveys or legal descriptions8. _____ Draft the easement9. _____ Appraisal10. _____ Clear title insurance and determine title insurance needs11. _____ Baseline documentation12. _____ Obtain Board approval13. _____ Finalize the easement14. _____ Set a closing date15. _____ Sign and Record the easement

Tax benefitsTax benefits

Estate Tax BenefitsEstate Tax Benefits Federal Income Tax DeductionFederal Income Tax Deduction State Income Tax CreditState Income Tax Credit

Why is Land Why is Land Conservation Important? Conservation Important?

NC agriculture and forestry is a vital NC agriculture and forestry is a vital part of our state’s economypart of our state’s economy

400 year tradition400 year tradition Agriculture & Forest # 1 & and # 2 industries Agriculture & Forest # 1 & and # 2 industries

by cash receipt = > $60 billion (Tourism is #3 by cash receipt = > $60 billion (Tourism is #3 at approximately $15 billion)at approximately $15 billion)

Average farmer is 56 years old and total < 2% Average farmer is 56 years old and total < 2% populationpopulation

20% of work force (1 out of 5)20% of work force (1 out of 5) 25% of our economy is dependent on natural 25% of our economy is dependent on natural

resourcesresources

Economics of ConservationEconomics of Conservation Ecosystems and urban forests offer significant value to Ecosystems and urban forests offer significant value to

communities. Salisbury's tree canopy affects both our communities. Salisbury's tree canopy affects both our quality of life and our pocketbook. Catawba College's 189-quality of life and our pocketbook. Catawba College's 189-acre ecological preserve is a case in point. It is not only a acre ecological preserve is a case in point. It is not only a valuable educational resource; it also saves the city of valuable educational resource; it also saves the city of Salisbury money by helping to purify the air and water. Salisbury money by helping to purify the air and water. The total stormwater savings for the city is $3,479,301, The total stormwater savings for the city is $3,479,301, according to an American Forests analysis. In addition, according to an American Forests analysis. In addition, the preserve improves our air quality. In fact, the analysis the preserve improves our air quality. In fact, the analysis estimates that the preserve removes annually 641 pounds estimates that the preserve removes annually 641 pounds of carbon monoxide, 6,573 pounds of ozone, 1,122 pounds of carbon monoxide, 6,573 pounds of ozone, 1,122 pounds of nitrogen dioxide, 4,809 pounds of particulate matter and of nitrogen dioxide, 4,809 pounds of particulate matter and 2,084 pounds of sulfur dioxide, for a total dollar value of 2,084 pounds of sulfur dioxide, for a total dollar value of $35,343.$35,343.

(Excerpted from an article by Dr. John Wear)(Excerpted from an article by Dr. John Wear)

Major Environmental Issues in NCMajor Environmental Issues in NC

Growth / SprawlGrowth / Sprawl Pollution – Air and Water QualityPollution – Air and Water Quality Global WarmingGlobal Warming Loss of Open Space / Farmlands / ForestsLoss of Open Space / Farmlands / Forests

Rowan CountyRowan County North CarolinaNorth Carolina

A county committed to A county committed to excellence!excellence!

S alisbury

Kannapolis

Landis

S pencer

Rockwell

Faith

C leveland

C hina G rove

G ranite Q uarry

G old H ill

E ast S pencer

C ooleemee

Where does Rowan County Stand?Where does Rowan County Stand?

There are 3,142 counties in the United StatesThere are 3,142 counties in the United States

Rowan County is raked 18Rowan County is raked 18 thth WORSTWORST in Ozone in Ozone Air Quality in the entire United StatesAir Quality in the entire United States

3,124 out of 3,1423,124 out of 3,142

What is Sprawl?What is Sprawl?

Sal isbur y

LexingtonKannapolis

Statesville

Mooresville

Concord

High Point

Char l ot t e

What can you do for the LandTrust?What can you do for the LandTrust?

1.1. Offer to help. Land trusts are notoriously Offer to help. Land trusts are notoriously under staffed and cover broad areas. under staffed and cover broad areas.

2.2. Join you’re the LandTrust. Join you’re the LandTrust. - $35 per individual- $35 per individual- $50 per family- $50 per family- This entitles you to invitations - This entitles you to invitations

to annual meetings, outings, and a to annual meetings, outings, and a guaranteed subscription to newsletters so you guaranteed subscription to newsletters so you can keep up with land trust activities. can keep up with land trust activities.

Saving the places you love

Kannapolis Lands ProjectKannapolis Lands Project

Fox Farm

South Yadkin Wildlife Refuge

The Point Bittinger FarmCrowther Property

Two Rivers PreserveTwo Rivers Preserve

The Blount Farm

Pickler’s Bluff Davis Buffer

Lomax Farm

Hw

y 801

Hw

y 601

H

wy 150

Yadkin

Riv

er

Sout h Yadkin River

Davie Count y

Davidson Count y

Rowan Count y

Legend

Protected Land

Alcoa Property

Bittinger Property

Two River s P r eser ve

µ

Bit t inger Acquisit ion

Cooleemee Plantation

Catawba College Ecological Preserve

Catawba College Ecological Preserve

Eagle Point Park

Gold Hill Rail Trail

Pisgah Covered Bridge

Michael Braun House

Clarke Creek Blue Heron Rookery

John Bunyan Green Farm

Dunn’s Mountain

The Knox Farm