Settlement to Change Complexion
of Land Conservation in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, WV — The West Virginia Land Trust (Land Trust) has been awarded $4,050,000 to launch a five year initiative to protect up to 20,000 thousand acres of forested and riparian areas in southern West Virginia. The initiative is funded by a settlement of a citizen enforcement action against Alpha Natural Resources subsidiaries that prosecuted violations of the Clean Water Act. Appalachian Mountain Advocates brought the enforcement action and negotiated the settlement on behalf of the Sierra Club, the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, and Coal River Mountain Watch. The Land Trust will use these funds in the watersheds impacted by the violations, namely the Kanawha and Guyandotte River watersheds. Additionally, the Land Trust was awarded $500,000 in 2011 from Clean Water Act enforcement actions brought by Appalachian Mountain Advocates.
A unique feature of this initiative is the collaboration with the West Virginia University College of Law and its new Land Use and Sustainable Development Clinic (also funded by more than $4,250,000 from actions brought by Appalachian Mountain Advocates to enforce the Clean Water Act) to provide law students with the practical experience in the field of land use planning and land conservation matters. That clinic will educate future generations on conservation law and its application in our state.
“We have been a very small organization for many years, operating on a very lean budget. Over the years we have protected historic farms, natural woodlands, riparian areas and mature forests; and all because of the passion of the property owners who made these donations, and the hard work of our dedicated board members,” says Terrell Ellis, Executive Director. “These funds have the opportunity to change the complexion of the land conservation movement in West Virginia. We will now have the resources to compensate land owners, help cover the costs associated with closing easements and collaboratively partner with other conservation organizations across the state to prioritize conservation efforts,” Ellis continued.
The Land Trust has a rich history of protecting special places in West Virginia through the use of voluntary conservation easements which protect and preserve land according to the land owners’ wishes in perpetuity. A conservation easement is a voluntary contract between a landowner and a land trust (or other qualified agency) in which the owner places permanent restrictions on the future uses of some or all of their property to protect scenic, wildlife, or agricultural resources. The property owner dictates the details of the agreement to assure that their vision for the property is maintained. It is then the responsibility of the land trust to maintain, monitor, and if necessary defend the easement.
Founded in 1995, The West Virginia Land Trust, through education, outreach, and voluntary conservation easements, works to help West Virginians protect their special places, forever. Unfortunately, there are many more special places left unprotected and open to unwanted development. Protecting farmlands, forests, urban green spaces, watersheds and other natural areas takes imagination, commitment, knowledge and a collaborative approach. For more information on the West Virginia Land Trust call 304-346-7788 or email wvlt@te-associates.com.
