Most of the nation’s endangered, threatened and species of concern depend in large part on private and nonfederal lands for survival. Fortunately, there are many ways that landowners can participate in conservation partnerships and incentives. They can help protect wildlife habitat while also allowing for productive agricultural and recreational activities, such as hunting, fishing, ranching and farming.
Most states offer property tax credits or exemptions for land that is dedicated to conservation, such as wetlands, older forest, undeveloped shoreline, and agricultural and scenic lands. These state programs are a key tool for encouraging landowner participation in conservation.
In addition, state wildlife agencies, local governments, counties and towns can offer voluntary conservation easements for properties they wish to protect. These agreements are negotiated between the landowner and a public agency, and may also allow for some level of hunting or other recreation. Read more https://www.illinoisrealestatebuyersinc.com/we-buy-houses-zion-il/
The purchase of land and easements by government agencies is an essential tool for conservation, but this type of acquisition also often has a cost. This is especially true for very large or very remote tracts of wildlife habitat. In these cases, the costs may be offset by other government funds or by private contributions from individuals, companies and foundations.
A number of state and local conservation agencies have a specialized real estate division that acquires land that is either in fee title or an easement. This division works with agencies within the department of environmental protection, including parks and forests and fish and wildlife, to determine which lands should be preserved. In some cases, the program can acquire land at below market value.
Buying property for wildlife conservation is not only a way to preserve the natural and cultural values of a place, but can be an excellent financial investment. Depending on the location of a property, and its natural, historic and agricultural values, it is often possible to negotiate for a purchase price that will be significantly less than full market value.
There are two primary reasons to consider purchasing a property with an existing conservation easement: 1) the property will be available for sale at a lower price, and 2) the easement can qualify for federal and sometimes state income tax benefits. It is important to carefully review the easement with your broker before you make an offer, as each conservation easement has different restrictions.
In areas where land purchase is not an option, organizations like World Land Trust and others work to protect wildlife habitat through a variety of other methods. These can include buying out oil and gas rights in Utah, purchasing grazing permits for ranchers to keep grizzly bears from being killed in Wyoming, or bidding against logging companies to prevent clear-cutting of a wildlife habitat in Montana.
Hayden Outdoors is proud to support local conservation efforts in Colorado and Kansas through a percentage of every closing. We believe that this is an important step in ensuring the availability of healthy and sustainable wildlife habitat, and the return on this effort is seen in greater migration and breeding rates, regenerative habitat and clean water supplies.