| Conservation and Stewardship Tools
Conservation and stewardship tools are non-regulatory and frequently incentive-based. These programs offer a range of opportunities for landowners to conserve, steward, manage, and restore land. Conservation tools include property tax reduction programs, land trust conservation options, and conservation payment programs. Stewardship tools include those that offer technical assistance, educational opportunities, and cost-share arrangements. Brief descriptions of tools are included below. For additional information go to summary links at right.
Conservation Tools
Current Use Taxation: County Open Space and Timber Land programs provide incentives that help landowners voluntarily conserve open space lands and/or manage for timber resources. Landowners can receive property tax reductions for preserving resource lands such as shorelines, wildlife habitat, and areas adjacent to wetlands. Tax deductions are also available for landowners who implement forest stewardship plans on their managed timberlands. Similar programs are available for Agricultural Land. Some counties have adopted Public Benefit Rating System programs, which offer a range of property tax reductions (e.g. 50 to 90 percent) depending on the number of natural resource features present on a particular parcel of land.
Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program: Conservation Districts provide an opportunity for landowners to receive payments for enrolling streamside land under 10 or 15-year federal contracts. The goal of this program is to establish riparian vegetation on marginal pasture or agricultural lands adjacent to spawning habitat for salmon species listed under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Up to 100 percent cost sharing is also available for tree and shrub planting.
Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS): Under the Wetland Reserve or Farm and Ranchland Protection Programs, landowners can place eligible lands in a permanent or 30-year easement and receive financial compensation. Restoration cost-share agreements that pay up to 75 % of costs are also available. Two Wildlife and Environmental Quality Incentives Programs offer similar technical and financial assistance to landowners. A Conservation Security Program provides payments to farmers who implement conservation measures.
Land Trust Tools: Land trusts are non-profit groups that can accept land with exceptional habitat value through donations or sales. Land trusts facilitate conservation easements, which can be used by landowners who want to permanently preserve the natural character of their land but maintain ownership. The easement permanently limits land uses in order to protect conservation values. For example, in a conservation easement a landowner may permanently reduce the number of homes that can be built on a property. Or, an easement may prohibit or limit timber harvesting to preserve a forest for wildlife habitat. The extent and nature of restrictions are based on the conservation values of the land, and the conservation goals of the landowner in combination with the goals of the land trust. Landowners utilizing land trust tools may also qualify for local and federal tax deductions.
Stewardship Tools
Cost Share: Cost share means that a government agency, nonprofit group, or other organization agrees to pay for a certain percentage of a stewardship project undertaken by a private landowner. Example cost share projects include restoring wildlife habitat and planting native plants along streams and wetlands. Grants: A variety of federal, state, and local grant programs are available for private land stewardship. Forest Stewardship Tools: A variety of forest stewardship tools are available, ranging from coached forest stewardship education, to technical assistance, cost share, timber easement purchase, and culvert replacement programs. Photo information: Davis Farm Conservation Easement, Mason County, by Gary Parrott.
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