Sponsor: Readiness and Environmental Protection Initiative (REPI) for U.S. Department of Defense
This webinar is designed to educate you and your land conservation partners about tapping into “other people’s money” to potentially overcome the common hurdles you may face from gaps in funding or funding requests not being processed fast enough to meet a closing deadline. Logan Yonavjak, from the Conservation Private Capital Group, and Reggie Hall, from The Conservation Fund, will discuss conservation loans and investments that can help you focus on the project and not worry whether you will have the funds to move on it when the time is right.
Instructions on How to Join the Webinar:
Contact: Albert Joerger, Founder/President
Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast
(941) 918-2100
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To amend or not to amend? That is the question we will tackle on this conference call. It is an important matter for land trusts to consider, and there are no easy answers.
Conservation easements are intended to protect land in perpetuity. But sometimes conditions change or mistakes were made in drafting. Crafting an amendment can be a good way to strengthen an easement, clarify provisions or improve enforceability. Amendments involve risk, and some amendments are riskier than others. It's important to understand how to weigh the costs and benefits before your land trust and landowner decide whether an easement amendment is appropriate or necessary to meet conservation goals.
Please join us to discuss evolving practices, legal principles and risk management regarding easement amendments, including:
Sylvia Bates and Leslie Ratley-Beach will lead the discussion. Sylvia is the director of standards and research and, since 2006, leads the Alliance's work on Land Trust Standards and Practices, land trust assessments, the Standards and Practices Curriculum and other cutting-edge issues. Leslie joined the Land Trust Alliance as conservation defense director in August 2007. Prior to joining the Alliance, she worked at the Vermont Land Trust for 13 years, where she led teams of professionals delivering conservation services to landowners, partners and staff. She has drafted and helped negotiate more than 500 conservation easements.
To register email to southeast@lta.org, with the subject line "Conservation Professional Conference Call." Prior to the call, we’ll provide registrants with the call-in number.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Cheryl Fowler
Membership Director, Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy
828-253-0095 | cheryl@appalachian.org
ASHEVILLE, NC -- Just a few years ago, much of Little Yellow Mountain in Mitchell and Avery counties was slated for development. Today the summit of that 5,504-foot peak is totally protected thanks to the efforts of The Nature Conservancy and the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (SAHC). The two organizations recently closed on a 207-acre tract rising to the summit from the west side of the mountain, ensuring that the entire mountain top will remain free of development. Eventually, all of the property will become part of Yellow Mountain State Natural Area allowing future generations to enjoy this amazing place.
Little Yellow Mountain is an important piece of the nationally significant Roan Mountain Massif natural heritage area, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the Southern Appalachians. Seventy-six rare species of plants and animals are found there. The Roan contains an incredible mix of habitats – spruce-fir forest, grassy balds, high elevation rocky summits, and rich coves.
The Little Yellow Mountain summit conservation began in 2007 when SAHC purchased 430 acres. Since then both conservancies have bought tracts on the mountain top.
“We went from zero to more than 1,300 acres of protected land in just four years," says TNC Mountains Program Director David Ray.
“This just shows what you can accomplish when you work together," says SAHC Board member Jay Leutze, who helped negotiate the deal. “In tough economic times, we have to marshal our forces to make conservation happen.”
The land purchase required private fundraising, internal loans and a loan from The Conservation Fund. "No project is truly complete until the loans are paid off," adds Carl Silverstein, SAHC Executive Director, "but getting the top of the mountain secured for protection is worthy of a big celebration."
The mission of the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (a land trust) is to conserve the unique plant and animal habitat, clean water, local farmland and scenic beauty of the mountains of North Carolina and east Tennessee for the benefit of present and future generations.
We achieve this by forging and maintaining conservation relationships with landowners and public agencies, owning and managing land, and working with communities to accomplish their conservation objectives.
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