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Gift of Conservation Easements
Donation of an easement brings a package of benefits that
potentially includes a federal income tax deduction,
reductions in both federal and state estate taxes, a state income tax credit, and
occasionally a property tax savings. Provided that the land has natural conservation
value, there are virtually no geographic
constraints on donated easements.
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner (the grantor)
and a conservation organization or public agency (the grantee or holder). The
agreement separates the rights to exercise more intensive uses -- such as
construction, subdivision, and mining -- from other rights of ownership. These
“development rights” are then transferred to the grantee through the
conservation easement deed. The grantee agrees to hold, but not use, the
development rights and to ensure that they are not used by anyone else;
effectively, the development rights are extinguished. Conservation easements are
granted in perpetuity and apply to the land regardless of who may own it in the
future.
The Pension
Protection Act of 2006 could help you maximize your tax deductions while
supporting NEFF and its mission.
For more information about conservation easements see our Questions and
Answers for Landowners page
If you want to give NEFF a conservation easement contact:
Whit Beals
Director of Land Protection
P.O. Box 1346
Littleton, MA 01460
Tel. 978 952-6856
wbeals@newenglandforestry.org
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Board of Directors
