Rufty Senior Center The Importance Of Land Conservation
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Transcript of Rufty Senior Center The Importance Of Land Conservation
The Importance of Land The Importance of Land ConservationConservation
Michele d’HemecourtMichele d’HemecourtThe LandTrust for Central NCThe LandTrust for Central NC
[email protected]@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