Land Donations
Donating
land to a land trust is one of the finest legacies anyone can leave
their community. Landowners who donate land to a land trust receive an
income tax deduction for the full market value of the land. The donation
may reduce federal estate tax liabilities and will eliminate the
responsibility of property taxes.
Conservation Easements
A
voluntary legal agreement between the landowner and land trust or
government agency. It protects the conservation values of a piece of
land by permanently limiting its present and future uses. This allows
the landowner to retain ownership and use of his/her property and can be
established to protect all or part of a property that has significant
agricultural, historic, scenic or wildlife habitat resources.
Land Purchases
Sometimes,
land trusts pay full value for land they consider highly significant
and extremely threatened by development. Conservation-minded landowners
who use this method to sell their land gain peace of mind knowing it
will be protected.