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America’s open spaces and green places, increasingly threatened by sprawl and development. Land Trusts are nonprofit, voluntary organizations that work with landowners to conserve land and its resources. Land Trusts work with landowners to protect the ecological, agricultural, scenic, historic, or recreational qualities of land. Land Trusts assist landowners in selection of protection strategies such as conservation easements, land donations, various types of land sales, and estate planning. Local, regional and national lands trusts, staffed by volunteers or just a few employees, are helping communities save America’s land heritage without relying exclusively on the deep pockets of government. Land Trusts follow strict state and federal guidelines to organize and operate as non-profit, tax-exempt, charitable corporations to provide tax benefits to donors. Federal policy recognized that conservation of natural sites benefits the public. To support that activity, income tax deductions are allowed for the value of property or easements donated to a Land Trust, provided the donation is granted in perpetuity and to a qualified organization (such as The Escondido Creek Conservancy). Tax guidelines also allow the reduction of the inheritance tax obligation of estates, after donation of a qualified conservation easement.
Many Land Trusts operate in San Diego County today. Most were formed in the last 20 years. The Escondido Creek Conservancy offers residents of San Diego County an opportunity to become involved in protection of the significant amount of intact native ecosystem found in the Escondido Creek watershed and along the creek as it passes through private lands. Volunteers representing a wide range of interests and expertise are needed to supply the energy, skills, community contacts, and commitment necessary to protect land in the Escondido Creek watershed. |
