We know now that abusive conservation easement tax shelters are nothing more than a get-rich-quick scheme.

As much as I wish it wasn't the case, abusive syndicated easement transactions remain a huge concern for the Land Trust Alliance and our entire community. But there is good news!

To ensure our member land trusts do not intentionally or inadvertently participate in abusive syndicated easement transactions, the Land Trust Alliance is publishing today a revised Tax Shelter Advisory. All land trusts should become familiar with the document.

I want to make sure you see an investigative article published recently by ProPublica and Fortune magazine.

Getting legislation passed on Capitol Hill is no easy task. It takes many people — all working together — to build momentum for even the simplest bills.

On November 28, 2017, Congress introduced the bipartisan Charitable Conservation Easement Program Integrity Act of 2017. This crucial legislation addresses an urgent concern for our community and requires your support.

Every year, the IRS publishes the Priority Guidance Plan, a lengthy list outlining upcoming guidance and regulations.

Among its many roles, the Land Trust Alliance works with land trusts to address threats to our community. It is my belief we are facing a serious and urgent threat we all need to work to thwart: promoters using hyper-inflated conservation donations as a tool for selling tax deductions to wealthy investors.

Major changes affecting donations of conservation easements to land trusts are proposed in President Barack Obama’s newest budget, released last week. While these are merely proposals at this time, they’re proposals that could have a significant effect on land conservation.