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Announcements

Save the Date: Tax Benefits and Appraisals of Conservation Projects

  • Thursday, November 6th
  • Falmouth, Maine

The Maine Land Trust Network is thrilled to announce that this fall nationally recognized expert on private land protection options and strategies, Boston tax attorney Stephen J. Small, Esq., is coming to Maine for a workshop on Tax Benefits & Appraisals of Conservation Projects. This will be a slightly abbreviated version of the Standards & Practices Curriculum course and will cover Practices 10A and 10B. Check back in September for more information and registration details.

Maine Land Trust Excellence Program Announced

Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Land Trust Alliance are pleased to announce the Maine Land Trust Excellence Program. This competitive grants program will provide support for land trusts preparing to apply for accreditation with the Land Trust Accreditation Commission. The 1st deadline for applications is June 16, 2008. Additional deadlines will be set for 2009 and 2010. View program details and download application here. If you would like more information contact Megan Shore or call (207) 729-7366.

Land for Maine’s Future Announces New Round of Conservation and Farmland Protection Funding

With passage of the new land bond in November 2007, the Land for Maine’s Future Board has issued a new call for land conservation proposals. The deadline for applications is April 1, 2008. After careful evaluation, the Board will select project finalists at its July 2008 meeting. The LMF program has released an updated edition of its “Proposal Workbook”. All prospective applicants are strongly encouraged to read the workbook thoroughly as some provisions of the program were changed in recent legislation. The Workbook is now available at http://www.maine.gov/spo/lmf/publications/. Copies can also be obtained from the LMF office by calling (207) 287-1485.

Land Trust News

Supporting Traditional Economic Interests

Many Maine land trusts conserve properties that feed the local economy and sustain traditional ways of life. Unlike residential development, which can carry a high cost in long-term services, farmland, forest land, working waterfronts and recreational lands all provide an ongoing source of local revenue, and benefit many businesses. [read more]

Approaching Accreditation

In 2004 the Land Trust Alliance commissioned a group of land trust leaders to study the best way to ensure long-term public confidence in land trusts. The result of that process was the development of a voluntary accreditation program for land trusts. Since then, the Land Trust Accreditation Commission formed and developed an accreditation program which is currently being tested in advance of a 2008 public launch. [read more]

Featured Conservation Story

Downeast Lakes Land Trust plans for Wabassus Lake forestland

The Downeast Lakes Land Trust (DLLT) has announced plans to purchase 6,644 acres of forestland around Wabassus Lake in central Washington County. The current owner, Timbervest, LLC, is a private investor group that bought the land to keep it from being developed or closed to public access, and has offered the property to DLLT at substantially below its market value. DLLT intends to transfer a conservation easement on the property to the State of Maine, to practice sustainable forestry on its woodlands, and to keep it open to the public forever, with guaranteed access for hiking, canoeing, camping, fishing, hunting, snowmobiling, and other recreation. DLLT Executive Director Mark Berry credits residents of Grand Lake Stream and the surrounding area for providing the vision and energy that established the Land Trust and sustains it seven years later: “The Farm Cove Community Forest exists because local people recognized the need to work together to preserve our livelihood and quality of life. The Wabassus Lake Project will succeed because that cooperative spirit still drives us. Local residents and people with strong connections to this area continue to give their time and money, knowing their efforts will be appreciated by future generations.”

Photo by DLLT/Lighthawk