How
a land trust offering private conservation options may be
...
Each situation is unique. Every
decision is a personal one. Financial consideration, tax circumstances,
the land resource itself, and the goal of the conservation
measure - all must be considered when choosing a solution.
There are conservation methods to accommodate all visions
for the future use of land.
A first step is contacting a land trust. A land trust seeks
to preserve the rural character of our landscape in a variety
of ways. Methods include purchasing property and accepting
land donations. One of the most common methods is the conservation
easement.
How does a land trust work? Many rural landowners wish to
maintain their property in its natural or agricultural state.
A land trust provides a landowner with a number of conservation
options without necessarily having to give up control of his
or her land. In many cases, a property owner will donate or
sell development rights (a conservation easement) to the land
trust.
The land trust will protect the property from development
while the landowner continues to use the land, sell the property
or deed it to his or her heirs. The property remains privately
owned and subject to county property taxes. The conservation
easement remains in effect after the original owner disposes
of the land - in other words forever. Landowners who donate
an easement or property typically realize significant state
and federal income tax benefits.
Ensuring
that the land you love is protected forever is ...
Conservation options are strictly
voluntary and tailored to each landowner's needs. For example,
many individuals donate a conservation easement but retain
certain specified uses of the property. Land trusts help landowners
exercise their ultimate property right - controlling the future
use of their land while meeting their financial goals.
As a private, non-profit organization dedicated to conserving
and protecting natural resources, the Blue Ridge Rural Land
Trust relies on voluntary methods. Explore the protection
options available. Take time to consider what it is that you
want to protect. Rely on us to help with questions and preparation
of your conservation plan.
But begin the process today. Don't allow the absence of land-use
planning, currently depressed farm prices, rapidly escalating
land values, or IRS inheritance tax rates to pressure you
into selling out to speculators or developers who have entirely
different thoughts concerning the stewardship of land.
If you seek the security of knowing that the land you love
is protected forever, you are ready to take the next step.
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Retaining
our strong tradition of private property rights and responsibility
as ...
Most landowners in northwestern
North Carolina are true stewards of the land. They take pride
in protecting their farms to ensure the future development
and quality of rural life they revere.
Escalating land values, however, combined with IRS inheritance
tax rates are threatening many traditional farm families'
dreams of keeping their families on the land that they have
owned for generations. Your neighbors and ours take pride
in managing their properties without governmental land use
controls and regulations. But these ideals may increasingly
put intense economic and development pressures on the very
people who depend on the land.
In the end, it is the action of private landowners which will
determine how our rural communities and culture are protected.
The
right team, at the right time and in the right location...
The Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust has completed
an impressive body of work as a volunteer organization since
its inception in 1998. The members of this private, nonprofit,
nongovernmental organization are your neighbors ... a dedicated,
enthusiastic, competent and knowledgable team that has proven
that it can work together to achieve its goals.
Dedicated to developing respect and credibility in our community,
we are successfullt building a network of trained volunteers
in all counties of our service area. It is this approach of
"neighbor talking to neighbor," with locally respected
landowners making the initial approach to those of their neighbors
who may be interested in protecting their farms and land through
conservation easements, that is most successful.
The Blue Ridge Rural Land Trust has set for itself the goal
of preserving our rural communities and culture in northwest
North Carolina through the protection of the land resource
upon which we all depend.
"
Neighbors helping neighbors work to preserve rural communities
and culture in northwestern North Carolina through the protection
of the land resource upon which they depend."
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