What does a land trust do?
A land trust is a non-profit
organization that conserves land by holding conservation easements or by
owning land.
What is a conservation easement?
A conservation easement is a legal
agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that
permanently limits the uses of the land to protect its conservation
values. It allows you to continue to own and use your land as well
as sell it or pass it on to heirs.
What kind of limitations would a
conservation easement place on my land?
Conservation easements are tailored
according to the wishes of individual landowners. Conservation
easements can range from restricting any development or extractive uses
of the land to allowing farming/sustainable logging and/or additional
house building for heirs.
Why should I be interested in
placing a conservation easement on my land?
A conservation easement enables you to
insure that your land is protected beyond your lifetime.
Additionally, a conservation easement can guarantee you a significant
tax savings for you and your heirs. For example, under current
federal law, a landowner who had donated a conservation easement can
deduct between 50-70% of his/her adjusted gross income for 10-15 years.
Lower estate taxes because of conservation easements can make a critical
difference in your heirs' ability to keep the land intact.
What do I have to do to put a
conservation easement on my land?
There are some up-front costs in
placing your land in trust. Your land must be surveyed and
appraised and you must consult with family members and your lawyer about
the terms of the conservation easement. In addition, you will be
asked to contribute a small percentage of your tax savings to an
endowment for the land trust to assist in the long-term stewardship of
your conservation easement.
What are a land trust's
responsibilities?
Land trusts assist landowners in the
process of establishing a conservation easement. A land trust is
responsible for enforcing the restrictions that the conservation
easement stipulates in perpetuity. Therefore, the land trust
monitors the property on a regular basis, typically once a year, to
determine that the property remains in the condition prescribed by the
easement document. The trust maintains written records of these
monitoring records. Land trusts take legal action in the event
that the terms of a conservation easement are not honored.
What is the lower Kentucky River
watershed?
The Kentucky River corridor through
Franklin, Owen, and Henry counties provides the ecological backdrop to
the character of this part of the Bluegrass. This important
waterway including the surrounding landscape, has had cultural,
economic, and environmental significance for as long as people have
lived in the area. The health of these waters are directly tied to
that of the health of the people who live here, not only for recreation
and scenic beauty, but drinking water resources. The continuity
and quality of the forest and riparian communities are essential to the
conservation of water quality and the natural heritage unique to this
river system.
How does a local land trust benefit
the community?
A local land trust provides landowners
with more options in planning for the future of their land. By
protecting natural lands in the area, Woods and Waters Land Trust can
also facilitate historic preservation, green space preservation, scenic
viewsheds, and habitat connectivity. Currently, no other land
trust covers this area.