Contact:  Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager  
(518) 587-0774 | ewinter@lta.org       

NEW YORK STATE RENEWS MAJOR INVESTMENT IN LAND TRUSTS

Open space and farmland protection secured

Albany, NY  — Governor David Paterson and the New York State Legislature late Friday approved a 2009-2010 Fiscal Year State Budget that includes $222 million for the Environmental Protection Fund and $1.575 million for the New York State Conservation Partnership Program.  In addition, the 2009-10 Environmental Protection Fund will include $60 million for state open space land acquisition and $23 million for farmland protection.

The Conservation Partnership Program is a state-funded, land trust capacity-building program administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Through this public-private partnership, local and regional nonprofit land conservation groups have protected thousands of acres of farmland, natural areas and urban gardens – lands that are vital to public health and the state’s agriculture and tourism industry.

“We applaud the Legislature and Governor Paterson for having the vision to invest in New York’s community-based land trust organizations, which serve the citizens across the state,” said Rand Wentworth, president of the Land Trust Alliance, based in Washington, D.C.  “By investing in the Environmental Protection Fund, more communities will have clean air and water, fresh food, natural beauty and places to play.  In such challenging economic times, this is a wise investment in New York’s future.” 

John Halsey, president of Peconic Land Trust and co-chair of the Alliance’s New York Advisory Board said, “This funding demonstrates New York state’s commitment to furthering the important work of private conservation organizations that protect working farms and open space, often in concert with various levels of government.”  Halsey added, “The Conservation Partnership Program enables the Peconic Land Trust and other land trust organizations to help landowners and public partners permanently protect Long Island’s local aquifers, estuaries, working farms and natural lands for our communities.  Now more than ever, we must work collaboratively to conserve New York’s environment and agricultural resources.” 

Becky Thornton, president of Dutchess Land Conservancy and co-chair of the Alliance’s New York Advisory Board, also praised the announcement. “We wish to especially acknowledge Senator Antoine Thompson (Buffalo) and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (Lindenhurst), the Senate and Assembly chairmen of the Environmental Conservation Committee, for their efforts to preserve the Environmental Protection Fund,” Thornton said. “Thanks to their leadership, the Conservation Partnership Program will continue to be a national model for capacity building and land trust excellence.  We and our partner organizations are very excited about the opportunities this funding will provide to keep the magnificent Hudson Valley landscape intact.”

The New York State Conservation Partnership Program is funded through an annual appropriation from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).  It provides technical assistance and competitive grants to New York’s 90 land trusts, and is a popular funding source for open space conservation in communities around the state, from Harlem to the Adirondacks. 

First funded at $250,000 in the 2002-03 EPF budget, the Alliance’s Conservation Partnership Program has since matured into a nationally recognized model for land trust capacity building. Through the program, the Alliance has awarded more than 200 grants totaling $2,425,000 to over 60 local groups, including Long Island’s North Shore Land Alliance, Bronx Land Trust, Hudson Highlands Land Trust and Western New York Land Conservancy.  These community-based organizations work with local and state government partners and willing landowners to preserve areas identified in the New York State Open Space Plan, New York’s Wildlife Action Plan, and other local and regional strategic conservation plans.  As important, these investments are transforming the capacity and reach of the New York land trust community, helping these organizations be even more effective in implementing best business practices.

New York state has 90 local and regional land trusts, ranking fifth in the nation.  These community-based nonprofit land conservation organizations have conserved more than 625,000 acres, the sixth highest state total.  National organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land have permanently protected an additional 1,100,000 acres in New York.  New York state is also a national leader with seven land trusts accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of Land Trust Alliance.

Antoine M. Thompson, NYS Senator, 60th District (Parts of Erie & Niagara Counties) and Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee addresses more than 50 leaders in the NY land trust community at the Land Trust Alliance’s annual NY Land Trust Lobby Day in Albany. Photo courtesy of Katelyn Homeyer.

About the Land Trust Alliance
The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works on behalf of America’s 1,700 land trusts to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America.  The Alliance works to increase the pace and quality of conservation by advocating favorable tax policies, training land trusts in best practices and working to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats. For additional information about the Land Trust Alliance or the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, please visit www.landtrustalliance.org or contact Ethan Winter, New York conservation manager at the Land Trust Alliance, at (518) 587-0774.

###

               
Contact:  Ethan Winter, New York Conservation Manager  
(518) 587-0774 | ewinter@lta.org       

NEW YORK STATE RENEWS MAJOR INVESTMENT IN LAND TRUSTS

Open space and farmland protection secured

Albany, NY  — Governor David Paterson and the New York State Legislature late Friday approved a 2009-2010 Fiscal Year State Budget that includes $222 million for the Environmental Protection Fund and $1.575 million for the New York State Conservation Partnership Program.  In addition, the 2009-10 Environmental Protection Fund will include $60 million for state open space land acquisition and $23 million for farmland protection.

The Conservation Partnership Program is a state-funded, land trust capacity-building program administered by the Land Trust Alliance in coordination with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation.  Through this public-private partnership, local and regional nonprofit land conservation groups have protected thousands of acres of farmland, natural areas and urban gardens – lands that are vital to public health and the state’s agriculture and tourism industry.

“We applaud the Legislature and Governor Paterson for having the vision to invest in New York’s community-based land trust organizations, which serve the citizens across the state,” said Rand Wentworth, president of the Land Trust Alliance, based in Washington, D.C.  “By investing in the Environmental Protection Fund, more communities will have clean air and water, fresh food, natural beauty and places to play.  In such challenging economic times, this is a wise investment in New York’s future.” 

John Halsey, president of Peconic Land Trust and co-chair of the Alliance’s New York Advisory Board said, “This funding demonstrates New York state’s commitment to furthering the important work of private conservation organizations that protect working farms and open space, often in concert with various levels of government.”  Halsey added, “The Conservation Partnership Program enables the Peconic Land Trust and other land trust organizations to help landowners and public partners permanently protect Long Island’s local aquifers, estuaries, working farms and natural lands for our communities.  Now more than ever, we must work collaboratively to conserve New York’s environment and agricultural resources.” 

Becky Thornton, president of Dutchess Land Conservancy and co-chair of the Alliance’s New York Advisory Board, also praised the announcement. “We wish to especially acknowledge Senator Antoine Thompson (Buffalo) and Assemblyman Robert Sweeney (Lindenhurst), the Senate and Assembly chairmen of the Environmental Conservation Committee, for their efforts to preserve the Environmental Protection Fund,” Thornton said. “Thanks to their leadership, the Conservation Partnership Program will continue to be a national model for capacity building and land trust excellence.  We and our partner organizations are very excited about the opportunities this funding will provide to keep the magnificent Hudson Valley landscape intact.”

The New York State Conservation Partnership Program is funded through an annual appropriation from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF).  It provides technical assistance and competitive grants to New York’s 90 land trusts, and is a popular funding source for open space conservation in communities around the state, from Harlem to the Adirondacks. 

First funded at $250,000 in the 2002-03 EPF budget, the Alliance’s Conservation Partnership Program has since matured into a nationally recognized model for land trust capacity building. Through the program, the Alliance has awarded more than 200 grants totaling $2,425,000 to over 60 local groups, including Long Island’s North Shore Land Alliance, Bronx Land Trust, Hudson Highlands Land Trust and Western New York Land Conservancy.  These community-based organizations work with local and state government partners and willing landowners to preserve areas identified in the New York State Open Space Plan, New York’s Wildlife Action Plan, and other local and regional strategic conservation plans.  As important, these investments are transforming the capacity and reach of the New York land trust community, helping these organizations be even more effective in implementing best business practices.

New York state has 90 local and regional land trusts, ranking fifth in the nation.  These community-based nonprofit land conservation organizations have conserved more than 625,000 acres, the sixth highest state total.  National organizations such as The Nature Conservancy and Trust for Public Land have permanently protected an additional 1,100,000 acres in New York.  New York state is also a national leader with seven land trusts accredited by the Land Trust Accreditation Commission, an independent program of Land Trust Alliance.

Antoine M. Thompson, NYS Senator, 60th District (Parts of Erie & Niagara Counties) and Chair of the Senate Environmental Conservation Committee addresses more than 50 leaders in the NY land trust community at the Land Trust Alliance’s annual NY Land Trust Lobby Day in Albany. Photo courtesy of Katelyn Homeyer.

About the Land Trust Alliance
The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works on behalf of America’s 1,700 land trusts to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America.  The Alliance works to increase the pace and quality of conservation by advocating favorable tax policies, training land trusts in best practices and working to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats. For additional information about the Land Trust Alliance or the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, please visit www.landtrustalliance.org or contact Ethan Winter, New York conservation manager at the Land Trust Alliance, at (518) 587-0774.

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Contact: 
Russ Shay, Director of Public Policy
Phone: 202-638-4725, ext. 305,
E-mail:  rshay@lta.org

Landmark Agriculture and Open Space Conservation Bill Introduced

93 Representatives support making the conservation easement incentive permanent

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressmen Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Eric Cantor (R-VA) introduced the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, H.R. 1831.  This bill will aid in the protection of millions of acres of the nation’s agricultural lands and open spaces.  H.R. 1831 makes permanent an expiring incentive that allows modest-income landowners to receive significant tax deductions for donating conservation easements that permanently protect important natural or historic resources on their lands.

“We’ve seen a 50 percent increase in the number of conservation easement donations since Congress passed my provisions to enhance these tax benefits on a temporary basis in 2006,” said Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA).  “If current development trends continue in California, another two million acres will be paved over by 2050.  It’s time we made these protections permanent.  By making sure that landowners can count on these enhanced tax benefits, we’ll take a big step forward in preserving our agricultural lands and keeping our environment safe from overdevelopment.”

“I have seen firsthand how conservation easements are being used by family farms in my district.  Providing a permanent tax incentive for conservation easements is a great way to encourage conservation efforts while also reducing the tax burden on these hard working families,” said House Republican Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA).

When landowners donate a conservation easement, they maintain ownership and management of their land and can pass the land on to their heirs, while foregoing their rights to develop the land in the future.  Congressmen Thompson and Cantor anticipate that their bill, which allows farmers, ranchers and other landowners to deduct a larger share of their income over a longer period of time, will help more families afford to conserve their land.

The bill enjoys broad support from a national coalition of farmers, ranchers, conservationists, outdoor recreation and sportsmen’s groups and government officials.  A remarkable 93 Representatives from every region of the country have signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill.  Representatives Thompson and Cantor are members of the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over all tax measures in Congress.

John Hoffnagle, Executive Director of the Land Trust of Napa County, has worked with Congressman Mike Thompson for years; his land trust has conserved over 50,000 acres of land.  “I’m thrilled that Congressman Thompson will lead the charge to champion conservation easement legislation again this year.  It’s a blessing to have a leader like Congressman Thompson representing our wildly diverse district.  He has seen firsthand the dramatic impact that the incentive has had in helping landowners permanently conserve farmlands and vineyards, wildlife habitat and open space in Napa and across the nation.”

Christopher G. Miller, President of the Piedmont Environmental Council, which has helped landowners to permanently conserve over 300,000 acres in Virginia, said “Congressman Eric Cantor recognizes the value of protecting Civil War battlefields and other landscapes important to America’s heritage while simultaneously protecting agriculture production, water supplies and healthy, vibrant communities throughout the Commonwealth and the country.  Congressman Cantor’s sponsorship of the Conservation Easement Incentive Act sends a clear message that private land conservation is an important bi-partisan priority.”

The enhanced tax incentive allows working family ranchers and farmers, to deduct up to 100% of their income for as many as 16 years in order to deduct the full value of their generous gift.  First passed in 2006 and extended in the 2008 Farm Bill, this incentive is set to expire on December 31, 2009.  The Conservation Easement Incentive Act will make this valuable conservation tool permanent.

“The Land Trust Alliance deeply thanks Congressmen Thompson and Cantor for their leadership on this incentive, which has helped land trusts across the country conserve 535,000 more acres in 2006 and 2007, than in the two years prior to its enactment,” said Alliance President Rand Wentworth.  “Their efforts to make this important conservation tool permanent in the 111th Congress are welcomed not only by America’s 1,700 land trusts and their two million supporters, but also by local communities seeking to protect their clean air and water, scenic landscapes, recreational places, and wildlife habitat.”

About the Land Trust Alliance

The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works on behalf of America’s 1,700 land trusts to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America.  The Alliance works to increase the pace and quality of conservation by advocating favorable tax policies, training land trusts in best practices and working to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats.

Download printable version of press release >>

Will Shafroth, a former Land Trust Alliance board member, and founder and former executive director of two Colorado conservation groups, has been appointed Interior deputy assistant secretary for fish, wildlife and parks.  Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, a former Colorado senator, announced his choice of Shafroth today. The position does not require Senate confirmation. Read more >>

In all the hoopla surrounding the current stimulus package, it's easy to forget that other stimulus bill -- the one in 2008 that resulted in a good-sized check for many U.S. taxpayers.  Forgetting about that earlier stimulus, and any of the other major tax changes in 2008, could mean missing out on some much-needed cash when you file your tax return this year.  There were six "pretty significant pieces of tax legislation" in 2008, said Mark Luscombe, a principal analyst with CCH, Inc., a Riverwoods, Ill., tax publisher, including bills related to housing, farming, the military, pensions, and two on the economy.  Read full story >>

Despite development pressures, land donations are helping conservation groups gain new ground.  But donating isn't simple.  Here's how to negotiate the legal, financial, and emotional terrain of giving up rights to personal property. More>>

Right now, Vermont has the opportunity to protect 40 high quality farms and thousands of acres of forestland. Protecting family farms and forests means producing local food, creating jobs, and adding cash into our economy. Protecting our farms and forests is key to our energy future, water quality, public health, food security and our quality of life. When the opportunity to protect land comes along, the chance may never come again.

-Watch the Vermont Land Trust “Conservation Can’t Wait” Video Series on YouTube >>

-Visit the Vermont Land Trust website for more information on the campaign >>

Other  Additional news on this subject was featured on GreenMountainDaily.com. Here's an excerpt:

Gov proposes cutting VT's effective conservation program completely
By: Elise
Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 11:28:56 AM EST

Here we go again... last week the Governor proposed a budget eliminating permanently affordable housing development efforts and completely eliminating conservation investments that boost our working land economy.

The Governor proposes a 70% reduction to the Vermont Housing and Conservation Budget on top of a series of cuts over the past seven years that had already meant a more than $30 million loss.

Read more >>

But they'll need to be more creative about how they acquire property in order to take advantage.

After years of trying to keep pace with developers and rising property values, land conservationists like Robert Shafto of Falmouth are finally looking at a buyer's market.

"It's a good time to be buying land," Shafto said, "if you have the money."

That's a big "if" these days.

Maine's 100 or so land trusts are looking for new conservation opportunities amid the turmoil in the economy, and in some cases, they're finding them. But they also are facing the challenges of raising funds in a recession and closing deals in an unsettled real estate market.

The financial climate is expected to lead to more creative conservation projects, such as acquisitions that have economic as well as scenic benefits. It also is sure to encourage more collaboration between groups, and could speed up consolidation of smaller local land trusts into larger regional groups.

"I think all the pieces are there to see some real challenging land conservation times," said Kevin Case, Northeast Program director for the Land Trust Alliance, a national advocacy group. "I don't know if the full impact has been really felt yet."

Read full story >>

Contact:

Ole M. Amundsen III
Visiting Lecturer, Department of City and Regional Planning
Cornell University
Phone: (607) 277-0999
E-mail: oma4@cornell.edu

Gay Mills
Executive Director
Genesee Land Trust
500 East Avenue, Suite 200
Rochester, NY 14607
Phone: (585) 256-2130
E-mail: gmills@geneseelandtrust.org

Rochester, NY - The Upstate New York Chapter of the  American Planning Association has announced that Cornell City and Regional Planning Department’s Genesee Land Trust Conservation Plan has won the 2008 Outstanding Student Project Award for their work with the Genesee Land Trust  in Rochester, NY. The award jury examined projects for their overall quality, originality, transferability, implementation and comprehensive approach to problem solving. The award was presented at the Upstate New York APA conference in Rochester, on October 9th.

During the fall semester of 2007, nine graduate students participated in a client-based workshop taught by visiting lecturer Ole M. Amundsen III with Department of City and Regional Planning (CRP) at Cornell University. The CRP workshops offer technical planning assistance to government agencies and nonprofit organizations while providing students with practical work experience. Workshops bring students out of the class room and into the field. With this project  this was literally true as the Trust has conserved several major farms that students visited during their tour of the region.  In exchange for the real world experience, the client received a high quality product for a fraction of the cost. There have been four workshops hosted by CRP focused on assisting upstate New York land trusts with their planning needs. The workshop was funded in part by a grant from the New York State Conservation Partnership Program, administered by the Land Trust Alliance Northeast Program with support from the State of New York.

The Genesee Land Trust (GLT) is based in the City of Rochester and serves the conservation needs of the residents of the surrounding counties, covering a 1.3 million acre region. As a nonprofit with a small staff and a large service territory, GLT was looking for ways to focus its conservation efforts on the land and landscapes that best match its mission and have the highest resource value. In addition, the greater Rochester region is a prime example of an upstate New York land use phenomenon termed “sprawl without growth” in a 2003 Brookings Institute report, “Sprawl Without Growth: The Upstate Paradox.” This study found that between 1982 and 1997, the urbanized land in the Rochester/Finger Lakes region increased 50,000 acres while the density (population per urbanized acre) declined 14.2 percent.

For this workshop, the Cornell Team drew upon their interdisciplinary backgrounds in planning, landscape architecture, architecture, and public policy to help their client (Genesee Land Trust) tackle the “sprawl with growth phenomenon”.  The Cornell Team placed the GLT territory in context by researching the history, demographics, and natural resources of the region. A comprehensive scenic resource inventory was developed by the Cornell Team to help the land trust document this under valued resource. Using the information from the nature resource and scenic resource inventories, the Cornell Team developed a series suitability models - which are computer aid mapping models, to help decision makers see the overlap of valuable natural resources.  These computer mapping models will be used by the GLT decision makers to evaluate the merits of conservation projects, bring more information to table when projects are reviewed and help the organization become pro-active in approaching willing landowners about conservation opportunities. Finally, the Cornell Team identified methods for measuring success of the planning initiative and made recommendations on financing options.

For final products GLT received an 80-page full-color report, a 30-page technical appendix, PowerPoint slides, four overlay maps, and two posters and CDs with the GIS map layers created for this workshop. According to Gay Mills, GLT Executive Director “This  well-executed plan will serve as a critical tool for guiding the Genesee Land Trust’s GLT’s strategic planning, community outreach, and project implementation for years to come.”

Reference Contact Information

Workshop Websites
http://www.aap.cornell.edu/crp/outreach/workshop.cfm

For Copy of Workshop Report
http://hdl.handle.net/1813/9390