A land trust is a nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land by undertaking or assisting in land or conservation easement acquisition, or by its stewardship of such land or easements.
No, they are independent, entrepreneurial organizations that work with landowners who are interested in protecting open space. But land trusts often work cooperatively with government agencies by acquiring or managing land, researching open space needs and priorities, or assisting in the development of open space plans.
Land trusts are very closely tied to the communities in which they operate. Moreover, land trusts' nonprofit tax status brings them a variety of tax benefits. Donations of land, conservation easements or money may qualify you for income, estate, or gift tax savings. Moreover, because they are private organizations, land trusts can be more flexible and [...]
Local and regional land trusts, organized as charitable organizations under federal tax laws, are directly involved in conserving land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historical and productive values. Land Trusts can purchase land for permanent protection, or they may use one of several other methods: accept donations of land or the funds to purchase land, accept [...]
There are several strategies available through Land Trusts to landowners who want to preserve their cherished lands. Occasionally, a landowner may donate or sell parcels of land to a Land Trust in order to place the land entirely in the Trust's permanent care. More often, however, a landowner will donate to a Land Trust a conservation [...]
A CONSERVATION EASEMENT is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. With a conservation easement in place, a landowner can realize substantial income and property tax savings, while retaining the rights to sell or bequeath the [...]