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Land trusts
are local, state or regional nonprofit organizations directly involved
in protecting land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historical,
and/or productive value. Land trusts are not "trusts"
in the legal sense, and may also be called "conservancies,"
"foundations," or any number of other names descriptive
of their purpose. There are more than 1,200 in the United States
and in fact the oldest land trust has existed for more than 100
years. Most are private, nonprofit corporations.
What Do Land Trusts Accomplish?
Land trusts are distinguished by their firsthand involvement in
land transactions and management. Land trusts typically:
- Purchase
or accept donations of land or of conservation easements (permanent,
binding agreements that restrict the uses of land to protect its
conservation resources).
- Manage their
own land and land owned by others or advise landowners on how
to preserve their land
- Cooperate
with government agencies by acquiring or managing land, researching
open space needs and priorities, and assisting in the development
of open space plans.
- Collaborate
with other nonprofit organizations and sometimes with developers.
Local
Community Focus
As development pressure is mounting to unprecedented levels and
challenges to Sarasota County's master plan and zoning continue,
formation of a local land trust offers an opportunity for community
members to take action to conserve those lands that make Sarasota
County such a special place. Sarasota Conservation Foundation will
provide an additional tool for compatible and appropriate development.
We will work to maintain the character and environmental function
of Sarasota's bays, beaches and barrier islands including Sarasota's
working waterfront with the public access it provides.
Local
Community Support
Most land trusts depend on volunteer leadership and support even
if they also have professional staff. Locally, Sarasota Conservation
Foundation has the potential to bring together a wide range of people,
all whom care about special lands in the County. Interested parties
include boaters, rowers, people who fish, waterfront landowners,
garden clubs, fitness oriented groups, children's recreation programs,
artists, conservation-minded citizens, municipalities, developers,
and many more.
Advantages
of Land Trusts
Land trusts have many advantages as a vehicle for protecting land.
They can hold and manage land and other assets as a corporation.
Because they are private organizations, land trusts can be more
flexible and creative than public agencies, and can generally act
more quickly than government agencies. They are able to negotiate
with landowners discreetly and quickly.
Their nonprofit
status brings them a variety of tax benefits. Donations of land,
conservation easements or money may qualify for income, estate or
gift tax savings. Properly structured land trusts are exempt from
federal income taxes and sometimes from local property and real
estate transfer taxes. Nonprofit status is also an advantage in
raising funds.
As community-based
organizations, land trusts draw on community resources, including
volunteer time and skills. Their community orientation is also helpful
in selecting and negotiating transactions. They are familiar with
the land in the area and often have the trust and confidence of
local landowners who may not want to work with public agencies or
entities from outside the community.
We wish to thank
the Land Trust Alliance who provided critical information and text
for the preparation of this document; especially, from their publication
Starting a Land Trust: A Guide to Forming a Land Conservation
Organization.
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