MULTI-TOWN MEETING & Community Conservation

Forum

Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center

Fryeburg Maine

May 11, 2013

Presented by the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust

Who Are We and Who are You?

• Bartlett, Jackson, Harts Location, North

Conway

• Conway, Albany, Center Conway

• South Conway, Eaton, Madison

• Chatham, Fryeburg, Brownfield, Denmark

Housekeeping…

WELCOME

Agenda• 8:30: Introduction: William Abbott and Tom Gross, USVLT

• 8:45 AM: Presentations

– Keynote Address: Promoting Conservation and Economic Growth

on a Regional Scale: Rob Riley, President, Northern Forest Center

– Highlights of the Natural Resources Inventory & Next Steps:

William Abbott, Executive Director, Upper Saco Valley Land Trust

– Presentation of the Build-out Analysis for Conway NH: Forrest Bell,

Principal, FB Environmental Associates

• 9:50 AM: Format for Breakout Groups: Forrest Bell

• 10:00 AM: Break & Refreshments

• 10:20 AM: Breakout sessions

• 11:45 AM: Report Back from breakout groups

• 12:15 PM: Wrap up, next steps (Tom Gross)

• Preaching to the choir

• Coals to Newcastle

• Samovars to Tula

• Ice to Eskimos

What is a Land Trust?

A private, non-profit organization that works with

private landowners and public entities to

voluntarily preserve, in perpetuity, the lands and

waters that define, nourish and sustain human

and natural communities.

- Tom Henderson,

USVLT Boardmember

Examples…

• International:

• National:

• Statewide: (1891)

• Regional:

• Local:

Acceleration of growth…

• Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests:

– 1974: 7,189 acres (fee ownership only)

– 1984: 16,184 acres (fee ownership only)

– 1994: 24,584 acres (total acreage including CEs)

– 2012: 180,779 acres (incl. transfers/ partnerships)

• Nationwide:

– 300 new local and regional trusts were formed in the

period from 1998 to 2003 alone, with the last LTA

Census counting 1,723 operating in the United States (LTA 2005 and 2010 censuses)

Toolkit• Essential tools

– Conservation easements

– Fee acquisition

• Raising funds vs. donations (501(c)(3))

• Land Trusts also serve their communities by

– Running farms

– Restoring habitat

– Building trails

– Teaching environmental

education programs

Conservation Easements: common misconceptions – The fee title of the

land is still held

privately; property is

NOT taken off of local

tax rolls

– Current Use/ Tree

Growth laws not

affected by easements

– Public access issues

typically still under

control of landowner

– If land IS owned in fee by 501(c)(3) that elects

not to pay tax, studies have shown that tax

revenues from neighboring properties increase

beyond the lost revenue value

Conservation Easements:

typical prohibitions

• Subdivision

• Development

• Commercial and industrial activities

(except agricultural- or forestry-related)

• Mining/ excavating

• Filling/ dredging/ disturbance of wetlands

• Disposal of waste/ dumping

Upper Saco Valley Land Trust

“Our mission is to preserve the

ecological systems and cultural values of the Upper Saco River Valley. We will provide for the well-being and availability of land for farming, forestry, recreation, scientific study, and education, as well as for land remaining in its natural state, benefiting natural and human communities.”

= Preserving Land for Community Benefit

12 years old; 45 projects; 7,347 acres to date (!)

Now: Reactive Proactive

Community benefits…

• Open Space…

• Protection of public trust resources

– Water quality

– Air quality

– Rare plants, animals & natural communities

• Enhanced quality of life

• Increased recreational opportunities

• Resilience of local food supplies

• Economic benefits, incl. increased property values

Upper Saco Valley Land Trust

“Our mission is to preserve the

ecological systems and cultural values of the Upper Saco River Valley. We will provide for the well-being and availability of land for farming, forestry, recreation, scientific study, and education, as well as for land remaining in its natural state, benefiting natural and human communities.”

= Preserving Land for Community Benefit

12 years old; 45 projects; 7,347 acres to date (!)

Now: Reactive Proactive

Strategic Conservation Plan

• Phase I: Natural Resource Inventory

– Water resources

– Forestry resources

– Natural communities/ biological resources

– Agricultural resources

• Phase II: Community engagement

– Scenic/ cultural/ human resources

– “can’t be counted”

Next up…

• Phase II: Community

engagement

– Scenic/ cultural/ human

resources

– “Can’t be counted”

– YOUR input/ involvement