ECCA News and Articles

  • Enhanced Easement Incentive will expire at the end of this year
      While Congress continues to debate a payroll tax cut extension, it appears that the enhanced easement incentive will expire at the end of this year. Landowners and land trusts for whom the enhanced deduction is essential should do whatever they can to ensure their easements are recorded by December 31.
  • Over 4.5 Million in funding for The Natural Resources Conservation Service in 2012
      The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) just received $4,589,047 in Farm and Ranchland Protection Program (FRPP) funds for federal fiscal year 2012 in Virginia.  This is almost twice as much funding as last year!  The NRCS will use this money to assist Virginia’s land conservation community in the purchase of conservation easements on private lands.
  • 100,000 acres may be leased in region for gas, oil exploration
    A Texas-based company is trying to lease 100,000 acres in the Fredericksburg region to drill for oil and gas.  Shore Exploration and Production Corp. is paying landowners in Caroline, Essex, King George and Westmoreland counties a one-time rental fee of $15 per acre for the chance to get on their property and dig for natural resources.  Read more here.
  • Warner: Protect Virginia's River - OP Ed from the Richmond Times Dispatch
    Virginia is blessed with rivers that are an integral part of our history, economy and culture — rivers like the Shenandoah, where as a boy I spent long summer days fishing and swimming. It was there I learned the rhythms of the seasons, the value of clean water, and the amazing natural beauty of our commonwealth. Read entire opinion from 2/11/2011 Richmond Times Dispatch http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/feb/11/TDOPIN02-warner-protect-virginias-rivers-ar-834873/
  • Biscuit Run - Article from http://www.readthehook.com/
     
  • Eastern Box Turtle: Disappearing Gems of the Forest
    The Eastern box turtle, Terrapene carolina carolina , is probably the most commonly known turtle to anyone raised in the east.  Common as they seem to be, scientists claim that they are declining, and that the turtles we now see are ghost representatives of the species….they are all older adults.  Why they are disappearing and what can you do to help save them?   Landowners of large blocks of forest are in the best position to ensure persistence of the species. But, first, let’s learn a little about the animal.
  • Purchase of Development Rights: Another Option for Conservation Minded Landowners
    Many landowners are familiar with conservation easements, a vehicle for preserving land in perpetuity, but they may not be aware of another option: selling the development rights to their property. As a result of donating a conservation easement on their property, a landowner may realize a federal tax deduction for their charitable contribution, state tax credits (which can be used or sold in Virginia), lower estate taxes and sometimes lower real estate taxes.
  • Determining the Value of Your Conservation Easement
    What affects the value of your conservation easement and the tax benefits it might generate?
  • Overview of the Potential Financial Benefits of Conservation Easements in Virginia
    A conservation easement is an enforceable land preservation agreement between a landowner and an easement holder, which may be a governmental body or a qualified charity. The primary purpose of a conservation easement is to protect agricultural land, timber resources, historical sites, and other valuable natural resources such as wildlife habitat, clean water, clean air, or scenic open space by restricting real estate development, commercial and industrial uses, and certain other activities. The decision to place a conservation easement on property is strictly voluntary and the restrictions are forever binding on both the present and future landowners.
  • The Franklins of Upper Essex County, Virginia
    Robert Dameron Franklin, the son of Bob and Mabel Franklin has been a farmer and a lover of the land, all his life.  His love of the land and his appreciation for its bounty, is evident from the moment he begins talking about it and the myriad of reasons why he feels it is worthy of protection.  For as much as he loves the land it is equally evident that it is his love for his family that inspired him to begin looking into the idea of preserving the land as it is, for present and future generations. While he was out duck hunting with Peter Bance, a few years ago, the topic of conservation easements came up.  Peter talked about his family’s actions to permanently protect Wheatland.  Two and a half years later, the Franklin family has preserved over 684 acres on their farms, while a neighbor has protected another 125 acres.