1. Complete the Land Preservation Information Form (1-2 weeks)
2. Site visit within 30 days of receiving completed form
   1. View property
   2. Discuss conservation goals
   3. Discuss stewardship funding
   4. Discuss landowner goals and WVLT’s mission
   5. Stewardship funding overview
3. Title Report and subordination of interest in property (1-3 months)
4. Survey (1-3 months)
5. Baseline document report (30 days)
6. Appraisal (2-4 weeks)
7. Drafting of the easement (30-60 days)
8. Easement approval process (30-60 day)
9. Easement closing (30 days from approval)
10. Recording of easement (30 days from closing)
11. Completion of land preservation

In addition to health and food benefits, conserving land increases property values near greenbelts, saves tax dollars by encouraging more efficient development, and reduces the need for expensive water filtration facilities. Study after study has demonstrated the tremendous economic benefits of land conservation.

Learn more about the economic and tax benefits of saving land! [ Download PDF ]

There are also significant tax benefits available to donors of land or conservation easements. Below is a summary of some of these benefits along with examples of how they work.

Federal Tax Benefits
There are two main kinds of federal tax benefits available to conservation donors: federal income tax benefits and federal estate tax benefits.

Federal Income Tax Benefits

Donors of land and conservation easements may claim an income tax deduction under RS170 of the Internal Revenue Code. The exact amount of tax savings depends on several factors:
How long the donor has owned the property. Benefits are generally greater if owned for more than one year.

• How the donor has used the property i.e. residence, investment or agricultural.
• The income of the donor; the higher ones income the more one will save on taxes.
• The value of the donated property; the more valuable the property, the bigger the deduction.

Federal Estate Tax Benefits
A donor may also save substantially on estate taxes if he or she donates a conservation easement. Under § 2031(c) of the Code, up to $500,000 may be excluded from one’s taxable estate if he or she had donated a qualifying easement. As with the income tax benefits, the larger the value of the donated easement, the bigger the deduction.

Conserving land and preserving a family legacy

Monroe County, W.Va. — In 2014, a landowner in Monroe County protected a 600-acre family farm under conservation easements held by the West Virginia Land Trust. The property, which has been owned by the family since the late 1700s, was vulnerable to development due to its location along a scenic highway. The West Virginia Land Trust and members of the family worked together to develop easements that reflected a common vision to protect not only scenic and agricultural values, but also numerous freshwater springs and high quality waters flowing through the property– including nearly two miles of Second Creek, a renowned trout stream.

The easements ensure that a family legacy is preserved and that the scenic and natural qualities of this working landscape are passed along to future generations.