Archive for August 21, 2008
Santa Fe Conservation Trust Presentation On Conservation Easements
by John Weckerle
The Santa Fe Conservation Trust will visit Edgewood to discuss new State funding for conservation easements. The meeting will be held at the Wildlife West Nature Park bean barn on Sunday, September 14 from 3 to 4 p.m. Admission to the presentation is free. For more information, see the event flyer.
Conservation easements are voluntary, legally binding agreements between landowners and a government agency or other entity that limit or prohibit certain uses or restrict development on a given property in order to preserve important resources – for example, habitat, agricultural capacity, and archaeological sites. Landowners may donate the easement, potentially making them eligible for State and federal tax incentives, or they may be paid directly by the entity holding the easement. Tax advantages may include reductions in both income tax and estate taxes, making conservation easements a potential tool for helping to keep estates intact upon bequest. Conservation easements are binding upon future owners of the land.
Since its inception in 1993, the Santa Fe Conservation Trust has protected more than 30,000 acres of land in Santa Fe county and surrounding counties. The organization is a federally recognized, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, meaning that donations are tax-deductible.