Press Release:

Congressman Mark Meadows has signed on as a co-sponsor of the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, H.R. 2807, a bill that is critical for the protection of millions of acres of the nation’s rural lands, including farm and ranchland and natural areas that support the economy, health and cultural fabric of our community. H.R. 2807 makes permanent an incentive that is due to expire at the end of this year that allows modest-income landowners to receive significant tax deductions for donating conservation easements that permanently protect important natural or historic resources on their lands.

“LTLT is pleased that Congressman Meadows is stepping up for Western North Carolina to make this important conservation tool permanent,” said Paul Carlson, LTLT Executive Director. “The incentive has had a dramatic impact in helping landowners protect water quality and permanently conserve working forests, farmlands, and wildlife habitat in LTLT’s project area.”

When donating a conservation easement, landowners maintain ownership and management of their land and can pass the land on to their heirs, but forego their rights to develop the land in the future. This bill allows farmers, ranchers and other landowners of modest means to deduct a larger share of their income over a longer period of time, which will make it possible for more families to afford to conserve their land. A survey shows that this incentive boosts the land saved by conservation easements by a third – to over one million acres per year.

A remarkable 149 representatives and 15 senators with strong representation from both parties have already lent their support to this bill. A broad coalition of sportsmen, outdoors enthusiasts, farmers, ranchers and national conservation groups are working together to make this incentive permanent in the 113^th Congress.

Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth praised the work of Congressman Meadows. “In this era of partisanship and discord, it is encouraging to see leaders join together and push to enact a bill that a majority of Congress already supports.” He added: “Their efforts to make this important conservation tool permanent are welcomed by the nation’s 1,700 land trusts, their two million supporters, and the countless local communities seeking to protect the clean air and water, scenic landscapes, recreational places, and wildlife habitat that are central to their lives.”

The enhanced tax incentive allows working family farmers, ranchers and forest owners, to deduct up to 100% of their income for as many as 16 years in order to deduct the full value of their generous gift. First passed in 2006 and extended three times, this incentive is set to expire on December 31, 2013. The Conservation Easement Incentive Act will make this valuable conservation tool permanent.