Oak Heritage Conservancy: Conservation Options

What is a Land Trust?
A land trust is a nonprofit organization, which actively works to conserve land. They typically assist or
undertake direct land transactions—primarily the acceptance of donations of land and conservation
easements.

Oak Heritage Conservancy : Protection Areas
Jefferson, Jennings, Ripley, Scott, Washington, Clark, Switzerland, Dearborn, & Ohio counties.

Oak Heritage Conservancy : Conservation Options

Donation of Land
A donation of land for conservation purposes is truly one of the finest legacies a person can leave to future
generations. In today’s growing world, land is being developed extremely fast here in Southern Indiana.
Donating your land to Oak Heritage Conservancy can ensure an open green space, for future generations to
see. A donation of land can release you from the responsibility of managing your land and can also provide
substantial income tax deductions and estate tax benefits (while avoiding any capital gains taxes that would
have resulted from selling the property). Additionally, you can also donate land in a will. Therefore, lessoning
the tax burdens on your heirs and ensuring permanent protection for many generations to come.

Conservation Easement
A conservation easement is a legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust. This unique
agreement allows you and your family to continue to own and use the land and to sell it or pass it on to heirs.
When you donate a conservation easement to OHC, you give up some of the rights associated with the land.
For example, you might give up the right to build additional structures, while retaining the right to farm or
pasture the land. But the great thing about a conservation easement is, it can be individually tailored, really
to whatever you would like (as long as it has a conservation value). Also, future owners will be bound by the
easement's terms. Therefore, OHC will be responsible for educating the new landowner about the agreement
and enforcing its terms for many years to come.

Another great advantage of a conservation easement is the tax benefits. Usually, as long as federal tax code
requirements have been met, it can qualify as a tax-deductible charitable donation. Plus, in many instances it
will result in property tax savings.

Conservation easements offer great flexibility and perhaps most important, a conservation easement can be
essential for passing land on to the next generation. By removing the land's development potential, the
easement lowers its market value, which in turn lowers estate taxes. Whether the easement is donated during
your life or by will, it can make a critical difference in the heirs' ability to keep the land intact.

Visit www.lta.org to learn more about conserving your land.