RCCA is not a land trust. We are a non-profit organization that exclusively serves the needs of our county, promoting agricultural and other appropriate conservation easements.
There are many potential land trusts for an easement donor to consider. The best choice is often determined by the characteristics of the land and the purpose of the easement. The Virginia Outdoors Foundation (VOF) is the largest holder of easements in Rappahannock and in Virginia. Also represented are the Department of Forestry (DOF), the Land Trust of Virginia (LTV), and the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC).
For each land trust, the process of the donation is similar. The landowner should determine what conservation values he or she thinks qualify for an easement donation. Conservation easements can be donated for one (or more) of four purposes:
1. Outdoor Recreation for the General Public
2. Natural Fish, Wildlife, and/or Plant Habitat
3. Open Space Farmland, Forestland, and/or Scenic Land.
4. Historic Preservation
RCCA can help to identify these resources, potential opportunities for financial assistance, and compatible land trusts. If the landowner is interested after reviewing information on perpetual conservation easements, he or she should consult with family, legal advisers, and tax experts to determine the potential costs and benefits.
A qualified easement donation will require an appraisal, attorney fees, recordation fees, and most land trusts will require some form of stewardship payment. The financial benefits often more than make up for these costs, but it may take some time. If the ballpark figures are acceptable to the landowner, he or she should contact the land trust and schedule a visit to the property.
The landowner (and attorney) will work with the land trust to negotiate the specific terms of the easement, usually based on an easement template provided by the land trust. For large parcels, the landowner may opt to retain some rights to develop or subdivide. Once the terms of the agreement are settled, the appraiser will determine the value of the donation by subtracting the value of the land after the donation (with the easement) from the value of the land before the donation (with development rights).
After the easement is recorded, the donor is eligible to receive and transfer tax credits and file for tax deductions. The links below provide more details that are specific to each land trust. If you have any questions or need some help getting started, feel free to contact RCCA at info@rccava.org or 540-987-9118.
Piedmont Environmental Council
Virginia Department of Forestry
To have your land trust listed here, contact RCCA.