Palmetto Conservation provides technical assistance to landowners and conservation groups in preserving significant parcels of land. Our involvement deals with two primary types of assistance, conservation easements and tax credits:
Want to preserve your land, consider a conservation easement: What is a conservation easement?
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a qualified conservation organization or government agency. It permanently limits a property's uses in order to protect its conservation values.
Advantages of conservation easements
- They leave the property in the ownership of the landowner, who may continue to live on it, sell it, or pass it on to heirs.
- They can significantly lower estate taxes-sometimes making the difference between heirs being able to keep land in the family and the need to sell it. In addition, easements can provide the landowner with income tax and, in many cases, property tax benefits.
- They are flexible, and can be written to meet the particular needs of the landowner while protecting the property's resources.
- They are permanent, remaining in force when the land changes hands. A land trust or government agency ensures the restrictions are followed.
How conservation easements work
when you own land, you also "own" many rights associated with it. These rights may include the right to harvest timber, build structures, and grow crops. When you donate a conservation easement to a land trust or government agency, you permanently give up some of those rights.
WE CAN HELP
We can help draft detailed legal agreements that outlines the rights and restrictions on the owner's use of the property and the responsibilities of the landowner and the land trust or government agency that holds the easement.
If you would like assistance with an easement or simply would like to receive more information, email kdriggers@palmettoconservation.org.
SOUTH ALSO PROVIDES TAX CREDITS FOR CONSERVATION EASEMENTS. LET US HELP YOU. |
