The document summarizes the importance of land conservation efforts by the Land Trust for Central NC. It discusses how land trusts work to protect natural areas, farms, and rural landscapes. The Land Trust for Central NC has protected over 16,000 acres across 12 counties through conservation easements and land ownership. The document outlines the benefits of land conservation for the environment, local economy, and quality of life. It encourages community support through volunteer assistance and membership in the Land Trust.

1. The Importance of Land
Conservation
Michele d’Hemecourt
The LandTrust for Central NC
704-647-0302
michele@landtrustcnc.org

2. DAVIE
IREDELL
DAVIDSON
RANDOLPH
ROWAN
CABARRUS
STANLY
MONTGOMERY
RICHMOND
ANSON
…working with private & public landowners
to protect special natural areas, family farms,
& rural landscapes of the central Piedmont…

3. What is a Land Trust?
 Land trusts are local,
state or regional
nonprofit organizations
directly involved in
protecting land for its
natural, recreational,
scenic, historical or
productive value.

5. Properties by the Numbers
 Total of 121 conservation properties
 80 conservation easement
 14 EEP easements
 27 fee simple properties
 16,447 acres protected
 2,943 acres owned in fee

6. “I recognize the right and duty of
this generation to develop and use
out natural resources, but I do
not recognize the right to waste
them, or to rob by wasteful use,
the generations that come after
us.”
President Theodore Roosevelt, 1900

7. History of the land trust
movement
First land trust :
Trustees of Reservations, MA (1891)
First N.C. land trust
Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy (1974)
2005 N.C. land trusts
23 private non profit organizations
2 Statewide
11 > 3 counties, 7 1-3 counties, 3 less than 1
Umbrella Organizations
State Level – Conservation Trust for NC
National Level – Land Trust Alliance

8. Methods of Land
Conservation
• Donation of Conservation
Easement
• Purchase of Development
Rights
• Donation/Purchase of Fee
Simple Interest
• Assists

9. Conservation Easements
 voluntary agreement
between a landowner & a
qualified conservation
organization
 In perpetuity
 Bundle of Rights – Certain
of those rights are given up
(development, subdivision,
etc.)

10. “For Conservation Purposes”
1. Public outdoor recreation & education
2. Protection of a significant habitat or
ecosystem
3. Preservation of a historic property
4. Preservation of open space
 Pursuant to a clearly delineated gov’t
policy & will yield “significant public
benefit”
 For scenic enjoyment of the general public
& will yield “significant public benefit”

11. Process
1. _____ Initial contact with landowner & Site Visit.
2. _____ Determine whether the property fits in with the
LandTrust’s mission, goals, and long-term plans. Is property
potentially acceptable as a conservation property?
3. _____ Advise the landowner to retain legal counsel and work
with their accountant / tax advisor.
4. _____ Any potential management issues? Evaluate the risks and
benefits of the property.
5. _____ Bring the easement to the appropriate Committee (Priority,
Two Rivers, or Uwharrie)
6. _____ Obtain and review title information. Is property owned
outright or accompanied by a mortgage?
7. _____ Review boundary surveys or legal descriptions
8. _____ Draft the easement
9. _____ Appraisal
10. _____ Clear title insurance and determine title insurance
needs
11. _____ Baseline documentation
12. _____ Obtain Board approval
13. _____ Finalize the easement
14. _____ Set a closing date
15. _____ Sign and Record the easement

12. Tax benefits
 Estate Tax Benefits
 Federal Income Tax Deduction
 State Income Tax Credit

13. Why is Land
Conservation Important?

14. NC agriculture and forestry is a vital part
of our state’s economy
 400 year tradition
 Agriculture & Forest # 1 & and # 2
industries by cash receipt = > $60 billion
(Tourism is #3 at approximately $15 billion)
 Average farmer is 56 years old and total <
2% population
 20% of work force (1 out of 5)
 25% of our economy is dependent on natural
resources

19. Economics of Conservation
 Ecosystems and urban forests offer significant value to
communities. Salisbury's tree canopy affects both our
quality of life and our pocketbook. Catawba College's 189-
acre ecological preserve is a case in point. It is not only a
valuable educational resource; it also saves the city of
Salisbury money by helping to purify the air and water.
The total stormwater savings for the city is $3,479,301,
according to an American Forests analysis. In addition,
the preserve improves our air quality. In fact, the analysis
estimates that the preserve removes annually 641 pounds
of carbon monoxide, 6,573 pounds of ozone, 1,122 pounds
of nitrogen dioxide, 4,809 pounds of particulate matter and
2,084 pounds of sulfur dioxide, for a total dollar value of
$35,343.
(Excerpted from an article by Dr. John Wear)

20. Major Environmental Issues in NC
 Growth / Sprawl
 Pollution – Air and Water Quality
 Global Warming
 Loss of Open Space / Farmlands / Forests

21. Rowan County
North Carolina
A county committed to
excellence!

22. C ooleemee
C leveland
S pencer
E ast S pencer
S alisbury
G ranite Q uarry
F aith
C hina G rove
L andis R ockwell
K annapolis
G old H ill

25. Where does Rowan County Stand?
 There are 3,142 counties in the United States
 Rowan County is raked 18th WORST in Ozone
Air Quality in the entire United States
 3,124 out of 3,142

30. What is Sprawl?

38. Statesville High Point
Mooresville
Kannapolis Lexington
Salisbury
Concord
Charlotte

39. What can you do for the LandTrust?
1. Offer to help. Land trusts are notoriously
under staffed and cover broad areas.
2. Join you’re the LandTrust.
- $35 per individual
- $50 per family
- This entitles you to invitations to
annual meetings, outings, and a guaranteed
subscription to newsletters so you can keep
up with land trust activities.

40. Saving the places you love

41. Kannapolis Lands Project

43. Two Rivers Preserve
The Blount Farm South Yadkin Wildlife Refuge Lomax Farm
Fox Farm Pickler’s Bluff Davis Buffer
Crowther Property The Point Bittinger Farm

44. Two Rivers Preserve
µ Davie County
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Rowan County Bittinger Acquisition
Legend
Protected Land
Alcoa Property
Bittinger Property

45. Cooleemee Plantation

46. Catawba College Ecological Preserve

47. Catawba College Ecological Preserve

48. Eagle Point Park

49. Gold Hill Rail Trail

50. Pisgah Covered Bridge

51. Michael Braun House

52. Clarke Creek Blue Heron Rookery

53. John Bunyan Green Farm

54. Dunn’s Mountain

55. The Knox Farm