What is a Land Trust?
A land trust is a nonprofit
organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve
land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition,
or by its stewardship of such land or easements.
Are land trusts government agencies?
No, they are independent, entrepreneurial organizations that work with
landowners who are interested in protecting open space. But land trusts often
work cooperatively with government agencies by acquiring or managing land,
researching open space needs and priorities, or assisting in the development of
open space plans.
So, what are the advantages of working
with a land trust?
Land trusts are very closely tied to the communities in which they operate.
Moreover, land trusts' nonprofit tax status brings them a variety of tax
benefits. Donations of land, conservation easements or money may qualify you
for income or gift tax savings.
Moreover, because they are private organizations, land trusts can be more
flexible and creative than public agencies - and can act more quickly - in
saving land.
UPDATE: In August 2006 legislation was enacted increasing the tax benefit for donations of conservation easements. Learn more!
What does a land trust do?
Local and regional land trusts, organized as charitable organizations under
federal tax laws, are directly involved in conserving land for its natural,
recreational, scenic, historical and productive values. Land trusts can
purchase land for permanent protection, or they may use one of several other
methods: accept
donations of land or the funds to purchase land, accept a bequest, or
accept the donation of a conservation easement,
which permanently limits the type and scope of development that can take place
on the land. In some instances, land trusts also purchase conservation
easements.
I first heard about land trusts just a
few years ago. Are they new?
Not at all! A very few land trusts have already celebrated their centennials,
but most are much younger. In 1950, for example, just 53 land trusts operated
in 26 states. Today, more than 1,600 land trusts operate across the country,
serving every state in the nation. The Northeast, home of the first land trust,
still has the most land trusts - 581, according to the Land Trust Alliance's
most recent National Land Trust Census.
What has contributed to the huge growth
in the number of land trusts?
People are tremendously concerned about the unmitigated loss of open space in
their own communities. They see subdivisions supplanting the open spaces where
they once walked and hiked, and they want to know how they can gain the power
to save the green spaces that make their communities unique. So they turn to
land trusts as the local entities that have been set up to conserve land.
How do I start a land trust in my
community?
Land trusts are extremely effective vehicles for conserving land. But with more
than 1,600 land trusts already in existence, starting a new land trust may not
be necessary, timely, or the best approach to achieving your community's
conservation goals. Given the time and effort it takes to run a land trust and
the long-term commitment needed to protect land in perpetuity, the Land Trust
Alliance encourages you to work with an existing land trust whenever
possible. If you do decide to establish a land trust here is some