Contact: Russ Shay
Director of Public Policy
202-638-4725, ext. 305 | rshay@lta.org
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After a year-long lapse that left many important conservation donations in limbo, Congress renewed an enhanced tax incentive for conservation easements that increased private land conservation by a third—to over a million acres a year. The renewed incentive will be in effect through December 31, 2011 and retroactive to January 1, 2010.
Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth gave special credit to the sponsors of legislation to make this incentive permanent, Senators Max Baucus (D-MT) and Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Representatives Mike Thompson (D-CA) and Eric Cantor (R-VA). “These leaders have worked hard to make sure we can continue the success this incentive has already had, protecting special places and productive working lands in hundreds of communities across the country,” Wentworth said. “The land this incentive helps protect is an investment in clean water, fresh, local food, wildlife habitat, and scenic beauty.”
A broad coalition of sportsmen, outdoors enthusiasts, farmers, ranchers and national conservation groups worked together to renew the incentive and will push to make it permanent in the 112th Congress. Bills to do just that (H.R. 1831 and S. 812) have 274 House and 41 Senate co-sponsors from all 50 states, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans in the House.
By helping modest income landowners deduct the full value of their contributions, this enhanced easement incentive has increased the pace of private, voluntary land conservation by about 250,000 acres a year nationwide, and is especially important now that the latest reports show that America is losing land to development at the rate of 1.5 million acres per year.
The enhanced incentive, which applies to a landowner’s federal income tax:
Read more at: www.lta.org/easementincentive. Landowners interested in conserving their land under this provision should contact a land trust in their community: www.findalandtrust.org.
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. It 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.
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NASHVILLE, TN -- The Obama administration’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative comes to Tennessee Friday August 27 in an effort to develop a conservation agenda for the 21st century. Conservation, recreation and business leaders across Tennessee are calling on citizens to speak-up and help shape the initiative aimed at getting kids outside and safeguarding our natural heritage.
The “listening session” will be held in Nashville on August 27, 10:00am at the Downtown Library. The public is encouraged to attend the sessions and to provide feedback at http://www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors/.
“Our parks, forests, and public lands are what make Tennessee great,” said Kathleen Williams, President of the Tennessee Parks and Greenways Foundation. “This initiative is a tremendous opportunity to address critical issues facing our natural treasures and take meaningful steps to restore and protect them.”
“Connecting people, especially children, to Tennessee’s great outdoors has long been a core goal of the Tennessee Wildlife Federation, said Mike Butler, CEO of Tennessee Wildlife Federation. “ As an example, over the past four years the Federation’s Great Outdoors University program has reached over 7,000 economically disadvantaged children by outdoor experiences in Tennessee. We believe that exposing people to the wonders of Tennessee’s natural beauty can and does change lives for the better by improving body, mind and spirit.”
Earlier this month, Tennessee Senators Corker and Alexander introduced the Tennessee Wilderness Act of 2010, which could protect nearly 20,000 acres of wilderness in the Cherokee National Forest. The bipartisan, historic legislation was crafted by collaborative civilian and federal partnerships aiming to provide everlasting protection for eastern Tennessee’s land and wildlife.
“The Tennessee Wilderness Act is a model of local partnerships and bipartisan support that embodies all that America’s Great Outdoors has the potential to do,” said William H. Meadows, a native Tennessean and President of The Wilderness Society. “Protecting, connecting and restoring our lands and waters in Tennessee will enable people to enjoy their favorite outdoor activities.”
Full annual funding of at least $900 million for the Land & Water Conservation Fund is essential to preserve critical land and waters, natural, cultural, and historic resources in Tennessee.
“The knitting together of publicly and privately-protected lands is what makes Tennessee’s landscape so unique,” stated Jeanie Nelson, President and Executive Director of The Land Trust for Tennessee. “Adequate funding of tools available to private landowners- such as tax incentives for donated conservation easements and the Farm and Ranchland Protection Program are essential in building a strong network of privately protected lands. The ongoing protection of all types of land- from public recreation lands to our working farms- is critical to the future of our state.”
“Our membership unanimously endorses the full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, as well as adequate protections for our lands and waters.” Stated Sandra K. Goss, Executive Director of Tennessee Citizens for Wilderness Planning. “Tennessee’s natural beauty is largely responsible for tourism, which is one of the biggest industries in the state. The natural treasures of our state must be looked after and treated well so they can sustain us for years to come.”
“Radnor Lake State Natural Area is an example of the needed and successful partnership among state, federal and local entities that come together to create such valued public lands in the midst of urban areas, said Emmie Thomas, director of Friends Of Radnor State Park. “Vision and funding from the LWCF helped to create what is today a 1200 acre haven for over 1,000,000 visitors a year in addition to the 240 species of birds- including the American Bald Eagles seen recently on the lake, and 400 varieties of wildflowers and plants.”
River protection and restoration is a focus in Tennessee and nationwide, because rivers provide fishing, paddling and other recreation for all ages. They connect our communities to parks and other natural treasures, and they give us clean water – the number one environmental concern among Americans.
“The new Harpeth River Blueway is great example of Tennessee’s leadership in the river trail, or blueway effort that is a terrific economic, cultural, and quality of life benefit to communities,” said Dorene Bolze, Executive Director of the Harpeth River Watershed Association. “The Obama administration can create a National Blueway Initiative to help everyone discover and steward our nation’s rivers and wetlands.”
"Protecting Tennessee's beautiful rivers and streams also protects our treasured landscapes by increasing awareness of impacts to our local streams,” added Renée Victoria Hoyos, Executive Director of the Tennessee Clean Water Network. “Our most favorite rivers are those that flow through our towns."
Conservation leaders in Tennessee are urging the administration to take this opportunity to strengthen the capacity for federal, regional, state, and local agencies and private landowners to work collaboratively in order to protect national parks, and also the wildlife, plants, and rivers beyond park borders.
"Tennessee is home to 14 national park sites, including three national and historic trails, the Natchez Trace Parkway, and the Tennessee Civil War Heritage Area," said Emily Jones, Senior Program Manager at the National Parks Conservation Association.
"Community-centered partnerships like our Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area are proven ways of reconnecting Americans to our compelling national landscapes,” added Carroll Van West, Director of the MTSU Center for Historic Preservation and the Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area.
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Contact: Jay Burgess, Scenic Hudson, 845 473 4440, Ext. 222
Eileen Newman, Hudson River Sloop Clearwater, 845 265 8080, Ext. 7160
Mary Kay Vrba, Hudson Valley Tourism, 845 463 5445
Ethan Winter, Land Trust Alliance, New York Program 518 587 0774
Yancey Roy, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, 518 402 8545
Tina Posterli, Riverkeeper, 914 478 4501, Ext. 239
Valley Among 25 Locations Nationwide Selected for America’s Great Outdoors Initiative
HUDSON VALLEY – Los Angeles, Calif.; Denver, Colo.; Missoula, Mont.; Minneapolis, Minn.; and Charleston, S.C. are among the special places across the U.S. where senior officials from President Obama’s “America’s Great Outdoors Initiative” have been engaging citizens in conversations as the federal government seeks to develop a 21st-century conservation agenda to reconnect Americans with our great outdoors. Comments shared at these sessions will be included in a report to be presented to President Obama on Nov. 15, 2010. Hudson Valley residents are excited about the administration’s visit—and are reaching out to friends and neighbors, encouraging them to step up and speak out for the region’s great outdoors when a group of high-level federal representatives comes to the area for two listening sessions on Thursday, Aug. 5, and Friday, Aug. 6. Pete Seeger, local legendary folk singer and environmentalist, and area youth from Clearwater’s Power of Song program, will open the Aug. 6 general listening session with a song.
Valley land preservation, environmental education, and recreation and tourism groups are asking residents to join senior representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Department of the Interior, Environmental Protection Agency and other agencies for public listening sessions in Hyde Park and Poughkeepsie.
The Hudson Valley offers natural areas, places of beauty unique in the entire country, clean water and safe, fresh food—and these outdoor resources are vital to quality of life and economic opportunity. The Hudson Valley has an important place in conservation history and was one of the first regions in the country designated by Congress as a National Heritage Area. The region also merited a stop by America’s Great Outdoors Initiative because the area has created enterprising, collaborative and progressive programs that are helping revitalize urban and town centers as well as rural communities.
Those interested can find out details and register to participate at www.doi.gov/americasgreatoutdoors.
Ned Sullivan, president of Scenic Hudson, said, “This is a terrific opportunity for Hudson Valley residents to tell why being outdoors in the region is special. It’s a chance to tell top federal decision-makers how we can partner with them, with kayak outfitters, park managers, local government and community groups to improve our outdoor experiences for tourists and residents. People should join the gathering to let the Obama administration officials know we want to work with them. If you care about healthy water, working farms, great parks or other parts of being outdoors—come participate.”
Speak Up for Valley’s Natural Treasures
“The greatest resource that the Hudson Valley has is our youth,” said Jeff Rumpf, executive director of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater. “They are creating a new generation that supports ecology and the economy along the river. Clearwater has gathered a wonderful and diverse group of young people representing our cities and towns for these sessions. A diversity of future leaders, as in nature, creates the strongest opportunity to build a vibrant and sustainable eco-Hudson for tomorrow.”
“We are fortunate that the Hudson Valley has been chosen as a site for this important initiative,” said Paul Gallay, Hudson Riverkeeper and executive director. “The listening session will allow us to foster an important dialogue between government and communities about the serious challenges we face in protecting the integrity of the Hudson River and our watersheds; majestic resources that bind us together and make us proud to live in such a magnificent corner of the world.”
“Our region’s historic sites, cultural landscapes, agricultural heritage and its legacy of environmental activism are part of why the Hudson River Valley has been called the ‘Landscape that Defined America,’” said Mark Castiglione, acting director of the Hudson River Valley Greenway and National Heritage Area. “We are lucky in the Hudson River Valley to have a vibrant network of grassroots, community groups and public-private partnerships that work together to connect people to that landscape. I applaud President Obama for exploring ways our federal partners can help support our region in accomplishing the goals of the America’s Great Outdoors Initiative.”
Mary Kay Vrba, president of Hudson Valley Tourism, said “As one of my colleagues phrased it, ‘the Hudson River Valley was the original great American outdoors’ and the Hudson River Valley continues to draw millions of visitors each year. This forum will give us an opportunity to highlight the great activities from world-class rock climbing to kayaking, hiking and biking. The Hudson River Valley is the gateway to New York State and offers an exceptional outdoor experience close to New York City, and is easily accessible. With additional federal assistance through this program, we can better tell our story to the international and domestic visitor and preserve the great historic landscapes.”
Ethan Winter, New York conservation manager for the Land Trust Alliance, noted that in announcing this initiative President Obama called for “public private partnerships and locally supported conservation strategies.” Mr. Winter added, “The professionalism and success of land trusts in the Hudson Valley and New York State’s innovative Conservation Partnership Program should serve as a national model. This is an exciting opportunity to highlight our region’s collaborative efforts to conserve farms, working forests and community gardens, enhance outdoor recreation and public access, and protect the fragile watersheds that provide our cities with clean drinking water.”
Janet Burnet, co-chair of the New York Committee of the Highlands Coalition, said, “This listening tour will no doubt address many important issues and opportunities. Water quality in the Hudson Valley is vital for drinking supplies and to support rapidly expanding interest in water-borne recreation. We also know that land preservation and management directly relate to the health of our water resources. I look forward to a brisk turnout of residents to speak on these and other vital topics.”
Edward Goodell, executive director of the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference, said: “For 90 years, members of the Trail Conference have been blazing trails and maintaining footpaths throughout the greater New York metropolitan region. We are up to 1,700+ miles of trails maintained by 1,600+ volunteers annually. These trails offer opportunities for people of all abilities to access and enjoy the outdoors. We are very excited by the president’s Great Outdoors Initiative and look forward to working with many new and familiar partners on continuing to expand opportunities for people to connect with nature.”
Patrick Hooker, commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, said, “From apples to angus cattle, the Hudson Valley has long been famous for its fruits, vegetables, wines and livestock. We are very proud to welcome the America’s Great Outdoors program to the nation’s original breadbasket to enjoy the beauty and the bounty of our region.”
Pete Grannis, commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, said, “I applaud Secretary Vilsack for bringing the American Great Outdoors Initiative to the Hudson River Valley, which is in many ways the birthplace of American conservation. We are justly proud of the outdoor legacy we have created in New York through innovative community partnerships like our Hudson River Estuary Program that serve as national models for protecting watersheds and connecting people of all ages to world class outdoor recreational opportunities.”
“At the turn of the last century, New York led the way to protect vast acres of land for the enjoyment of future generations and the protection of wildlife in both the Adirondacks and Palisades. At the turn of this century, the 65,000 protected acres of the New York/New Jersey Highlands stand as our legacy for the next generation to enjoy and protect,” said Carol Ash, commissioner of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation. “The heart of the Highlands is the Hudson Valley. Known for its riverfronts, cultural and historic landmarks and its ability to support rare habitat, the Hudson Valley is a thriving piece of geography worthy of recognition by the president and his Great America Outdoors Initiative. We welcome the opportunity to work with him and our regional and national partners as we redefine our relationship to the natural world for the 21st century.”
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]]>Contact:
Gay Mills
Executive Director
Genesee Land Trust
585-256-2130
gmills@geneseelandtrust.org
Rochester, NY- Genesee Land Trust, the Monroe and Wayne County based land and waterway preservation organization has recently learned that it has been awarded $1,083,707 in grant funding from the Farm and Ranch Protection Program, (FRPP) a United States Department of Agriculture Program, to support the purchase of conservation easements (development rights) on four farms located in Wayne County, NY. The grant application made by the local non-profit was evaluated by the National Resources Conservation Services winning federal funds in what was a highly competitive application process.
The four farms whose development rights will be held by Genesee Land Trust are located in various towns within Wayne County. This grant award will add 1100 acres of preserved land to the 2000 acres of productive farm lands currently protected in perpetuity, by the Trust.
One of the properties, Alasa Farms, is the most ambitious land protection project the Genesee Land Trust has undertaken. Overlooking Sodus Bay, the property has not only scenic and farmland value (crop land, orchards) but is also an important migratory bird stopover and nesting area, with woodlands and tributary creeks of Sodus Bay. Alasa Farms is also home to the Cracker Box Palace, a non-profit no-kill farm animal shelter and rehabilitation center that is greatly loved and appreciated by people throughout the region.
The FRPP grant will help to secure easements on the Albright Farm in the Town of Ontario, the DeMinck Farm in the Town of Walworth and the Mason Farm in the Town of Williamson, all of which have received grant awards from New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, in partnerships with individual towns. Jim Hoffman, Chairman of the Wayne County Board of Supervisors and the Town of Williamson says that the FRPP grant funding which will protect four Wayne County Farms is particularly welcome news.
“This type of funding is crucial for the preservation of our county’s largest industry – agriculture.Alasa Farms is one of the jewels of Wayne County, with its scenic beauty, natural habitats and rich farmland. Cracker Box Palace, which is located there, has long provided a service to our residents by sheltering and rehabilitating animals when they had no place to go.” Hoffman added that “a strong agricultural base positions us favorably within the emerging sustainable global economy. We greatly appreciate the role of the Genesee Land Trust in helping to secure federal funding to protect and preserve irreplaceable farmland in Williamson, Walworth, Ontario and Sodus.”
The FRPP award is a giant first step in securing the preservation of Alasa Farms. Of the $1,083, 707, in grant revenue, $607,000 will be used for the Alasa Farms project. Additional funding is being sought and fundraising by the Genesee Land Trust has begun in earnest. Gay Mills, executive director, is thrilled by the news that all four farms will receive funding. Further, Mills says she is committed to the campaign to preserve Alasa Farms – a North Coast treasure. “The Genesee Land Trust board of directors and staff are energized by the winning of the FRPP grant and welcome the work that lays ahead in completing this major north coast farmland protection project. We are confident of the continued support of our membership, our friends and the greater community.”
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