FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Russ Shay
Public Policy Director
202-638-4725, ext. 305 | rshay@lta.org

Congressmen Jim Gerlach and Mike Thompson
Champion Bipartisan Measure

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Today, Congressmen Jim Gerlach (R-PA) and Mike Thompson (D-CA), with a remarkable 251 original co-sponsors, introduced the Conservation Easement Incentive Act.  This bill is critical for the protection of millions of acres of the nation’s agricultural lands and natural areas that support the economies, health and cultural fabric of communities throughout the U.S.  It makes permanent an incentive due to expire at the end of this year 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.

“The conservation easement tax credit is a tremendously practical way to provide tax relief to property owners while helping preserve natural resources and open spaces that enhance the quality of life in our communities,” Congressman Gerlach said. “As co-chair of the House Land Conservation Caucus, I will continue working with the Land Trust Alliance and other groups to ensure that the conservation easement tax credit continues to be an option available to family farmers, moderate-income property owners and others.”

“Tax incentives can be a powerful tool to help green our economy and protect our natural resources,” said Congressman Thompson. “Conservation easements have been particularly effective, encouraging landowners to conserve millions of acres of farm lands and scenic open spaces. By making this important conservation tool permanent, this bill would help preserve even more land for future generations.”

When donating a conservation easement, landowners maintain ownership and management of their land and can pass the land on to their heirs, but forego their rights to develop the land in the future.  Congressmen Gerlach and Thompson expect their bill will make it possible for more families to afford to conserve their land.  A survey shows that this incentive boosts the land saved by conservation easements by a third – to over one million acres per year.

The 251 Representatives from 47 states who have signed on as original co-sponsors include the Chairman, Ranking Democrat, and majorities of both parties on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax measures.  A broad coalition of sportsmen, outdoors enthusiasts, farmers, ranchers and national conservation groups are working together to make this incentive permanent in the 112th Congress.  

Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth praised the work of Congressmen Gerlach and Thompson.  “In this era of partisanship and discord, it is encouraging to see these two leaders step up and fight to enact this bill.”  He added: “Their efforts to make this important conservation tool permanent are welcomed by the nation’s 1,700 land trusts, their two million supporters, and the countless local communities seeking to protect the clean air and water, scenic landscapes, recreational places, and wildlife habitat that are central to their lives.”

The enhanced tax incentive allows working family farmers, ranchers and forest owners, 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 twice, this incentive is set to expire on December 31, 2011.  The Conservation Easement Incentive Act will make this valuable conservation tool permanent.

See the list of 251 original co-sponsors here: www.lta.org/easementincentive/cosponsors.

About the Land Trust Alliance

The Land Trust Alliance is a national conservation group that works on behalf of the nation’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 and training land trusts in best practices, and working to ensure the permanence of conservation in the face of continuing threats.

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Contact:
Vanessa Vaughan
The Conservation Fund
(703) 908-5809

Prominent Minnesota Businessman and Conservationist David Hartwell
Receives National Conservation Honor

Washington, DC — David Hartwell, president and founder of Minneapolis-based Bellcomb Technologies Incorporated, was one of four honorees to receive national recognition for outstanding achievement in greenways and open space preservation at the 21st annual Kodak American Greenways Awards, presented at the National Geographic headquarters in Washington, D.C.

“On behalf of the Kodak American Greenways Program, I am particularly pleased to present David Hartwell with an award for his vision of a dedicated source for land and water conservation funding and his tireless leadership in seeing a citizen-led initiative through to success for the benefit of all Minnesotans present and future,” said The Conservation Fund’s president and CEO, Larry Selzer.

Alarmed by Minnesota’s diminishing waters and natural lands, concerned citizens advocated for dedicated funding for land conservation and freshwater protection.  Led by Hartwell, this citizen initiative was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2008 and incorporated into Minnesota’s constitution as the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment.  With Hartwell’s vision now etched into the state’s constitution, the provision is expected to raise over $6 billion over the next 25 years for land and water conservation, cultural heritage protection and park and trail enhancement.

The amendment has already succeeded in preserving miles of trails and river corridors, hundreds of thousands of acres of wildlife habitat and encouraged Minnesota’s residents and visitors to experience the beauty of their natural environment.  Overseen by the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, which Hartwell was appointed to after passage of the amendment, the Outdoor Heritage Fund of the amendment provided 80 percent of the funding needed for the largest Minnesota land conservation effort ever undertaken, the 187,000-acre Upper Mississippi Forest Project.

“In 2001, the perspective of what qualified as conservation success in Minnesota was rooted in the acceptance of the lack of apparent resources to adequately address the pressures from development,” said Hartwell.  “By simply realizing that with a broader and more comprehensive vision of what we could and should accomplish, an alternative future was possible.  That vision was ultimately embraced by the voters of the state but along the way, there were so many people who worked and contributed greatly to this effort.  The conservation community came together and did something amazing that will change the landscape in our state forever and it was an honor to have their confidence and work shoulder to shoulder with so many dedicated and wonderful people along the way.”

Established in 1989 by Eastman Kodak Company, National Geographic Society and The Conservation Fund, the Kodak American Greenways Program honors leading individuals, organizations and corporations whose ingenuity and creativity have made a significant contribution to creating a national network of open space, trails and greenways.

“Kodak values and is pleased to support local community grassroots initiatives in preserving our nation’s great outdoor heritage,” said Charles Ruffing, Kodak’s director of Health, Safety, Environment and Sustainability.  “These local initiatives and individuals recognized in the Kodak American Greenways Awards are visible, valuable and never more vital.”

“Greenways not only improve the nation’s ecological health, these natural corridors provide vital opportunities for all Americans to get out, exercise and improve their physical health,” said Gilbert M. Grosvenor, chairman of the National Geographic Society.  “With the help of companies like Kodak, the greenways network has linked city streets to parklands and other open spaces.  The program still enjoys robust growth as we celebrate 21 years of cooperation.”

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About The Conservation Fund
The Conservation Fund is dedicated to advancing America’s land and water legacy.  With our partners, we conserve land, train leaders and invest in conservation at home.  Since 1985, we have helped protect more than 6.5 million acres, sustaining wild havens, working lands and vibrant communities.  We’re a top-ranked conservation organization, effective and efficient.  www.conservationfund.org

** Note: David Hartwell is an honored member of the Land Trust Alliance Board of Directors.

• View a fact sheet about this exciting legislation
  
  

Press Coverage of the Bill

• Seattle Post-Intelligencer
• Seattle Times
• The Bond Buyer
• Create your own: Newsletter Article Template
  
  

More information or to get involved, contact:

Dan Stonington
Cascade Land Conservancy
(206) 905-6903
dans@cascadeland.org
www.cascadeland.org

Tom Tuchmann
US Forest Capital, LLC
(503) 220-8103
tuchmann@usforestcapital.com
www.usforestcapital.com

April 28, 2009 

Contact: Chris Soto
csoto@lta.org

Association Recognized for Innovation in Media and Publishing

Presented with two 2009 EXCEL Awards

Washington, DC—The Land Trust Alliance is being honored by the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP) at its 29th Annual EXCEL Awards, which recognize the best and the brightest in association media and publishing.

As one of 181 winners selected from nearly 1,000 entries, the Alliance is being presented a Gold Award in the Magazines: Most Improved category and a Gold Award in the Magazines: Redesign category (submitted by Bates Creative Group) for taking bold chances and delivering excellence in the association industry.

“Congratulations to the Land Trust Alliance, one of the recipients of our EXCEL Awards,” said Amy Lestition, CAE, SNAP’s executive director, “These publications demonstrate the importance of conveying content in a variety of formats to our constituents. Bravo to the publication and media association professionals for their mastery of the field.”

“We went through a rigorous redesign process and this is a wonderful affirmation of our success,” said Chris Soto, editor of Saving Land, the winning magazine of the Alliance.

The Land Trust Alliance will be honored and celebrated at the 29th EXCEL Awards Gala on June 4, 2009. Award-winning entries are displayed at the EXCEL Awards Gala and are featured in the July/ August issue of Association Publishing. The Alliance may also be a winner of the distinguished EXTRA! Awards—presented to associations pushing the edge of the envelope further to innovate in an ever-changing publishing environment—which will be announced at the EXCEL Awards Gala in June. For more information on the Association Media and Publishing Conference and the EXCEL Awards Gala, visit www.snaponline.org.

For more information about the Land Trust Alliance, please visit www.landtrustalliance.org.

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.

About SNAP: SNAP is the one non-profit, professional society serving the needs of association publishers and communications professionals. Areas of expertise include: fostering effective relationships among publishers, communications professionals, and industry providers; developing and maintaining high editorial and advertising standards through our Excel Awards and Publications Review Program; providing members with the latest industry movements through bi-annual meetings, Lunch & Learn Seminars, the SNAP listserve, and Association Publishing, our bimonthly magazine; and, connecting professionals with career opportunities in association publishing through our Career Center.