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MULTI-TOWN MEETING & Community Conservation
Forum
Leura Hill Eastman Performing Arts Center
Fryeburg Maine
May 11, 2013
Presented by the Upper Saco Valley Land Trust
Who Are We and Who are You?
• Bartlett, Jackson, Harts Location, North
Conway
• Conway, Albany, Center Conway
• South Conway, Eaton, Madison
• Chatham, Fryeburg, Brownfield, Denmark
Housekeeping…
WELCOME
Agenda• 8:30: Introduction: William Abbott and Tom Gross, USVLT
• 8:45 AM: Presentations
– Keynote Address: Promoting Conservation and Economic Growth
on a Regional Scale: Rob Riley, President, Northern Forest Center
– Highlights of the Natural Resources Inventory & Next Steps:
William Abbott, Executive Director, Upper Saco Valley Land Trust
– Presentation of the Build-out Analysis for Conway NH: Forrest Bell,
Principal, FB Environmental Associates
• 9:50 AM: Format for Breakout Groups: Forrest Bell
• 10:00 AM: Break & Refreshments
• 10:20 AM: Breakout sessions
• 11:45 AM: Report Back from breakout groups
• 12:15 PM: Wrap up, next steps (Tom Gross)
• Preaching to the choir
• Coals to Newcastle
• Samovars to Tula
• Ice to Eskimos
What is a Land Trust?
A private, non-profit organization that works with
private landowners and public entities to
voluntarily preserve, in perpetuity, the lands and
waters that define, nourish and sustain human
and natural communities.
- Tom Henderson,
USVLT Boardmember
Examples…
• International:
• National:
• Statewide: (1891)
• Regional:
• Local:
Acceleration of growth…
• Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests:
– 1974: 7,189 acres (fee ownership only)
– 1984: 16,184 acres (fee ownership only)
– 1994: 24,584 acres (total acreage including CEs)
– 2012: 180,779 acres (incl. transfers/ partnerships)
• Nationwide:
– 300 new local and regional trusts were formed in the
period from 1998 to 2003 alone, with the last LTA
Census counting 1,723 operating in the United States (LTA 2005 and 2010 censuses)
Toolkit• Essential tools
– Conservation easements
– Fee acquisition
• Raising funds vs. donations (501(c)(3))
• Land Trusts also serve their communities by
– Running farms
– Restoring habitat
– Building trails
– Teaching environmental
education programs
Conservation Easements: common misconceptions – The fee title of the
land is still held
privately; property is
NOT taken off of local
tax rolls
– Current Use/ Tree
Growth laws not
affected by easements
– Public access issues
typically still under
control of landowner
– If land IS owned in fee by 501(c)(3) that elects
not to pay tax, studies have shown that tax
revenues from neighboring properties increase
beyond the lost revenue value
Conservation Easements:
typical prohibitions
• Subdivision
• Development
• Commercial and industrial activities
(except agricultural- or forestry-related)
• Mining/ excavating
• Filling/ dredging/ disturbance of wetlands
• Disposal of waste/ dumping
Upper Saco Valley Land Trust
“Our mission is to preserve the
ecological systems and cultural values of the Upper Saco River Valley. We will provide for the well-being and availability of land for farming, forestry, recreation, scientific study, and education, as well as for land remaining in its natural state, benefiting natural and human communities.”
= Preserving Land for Community Benefit
12 years old; 45 projects; 7,347 acres to date (!)
Now: Reactive Proactive
Community benefits…
• Open Space…
• Protection of public trust resources
– Water quality
– Air quality
– Rare plants, animals & natural communities
• Enhanced quality of life
• Increased recreational opportunities
• Resilience of local food supplies
• Economic benefits, incl. increased property values
Upper Saco Valley Land Trust
“Our mission is to preserve the
ecological systems and cultural values of the Upper Saco River Valley. We will provide for the well-being and availability of land for farming, forestry, recreation, scientific study, and education, as well as for land remaining in its natural state, benefiting natural and human communities.”
= Preserving Land for Community Benefit
12 years old; 45 projects; 7,347 acres to date (!)
Now: Reactive Proactive
Strategic Conservation Plan
• Phase I: Natural Resource Inventory
– Water resources
– Forestry resources
– Natural communities/ biological resources
– Agricultural resources
• Phase II: Community engagement
– Scenic/ cultural/ human resources
– “can’t be counted”
Next up…
• Phase II: Community
engagement
– Scenic/ cultural/ human
resources
– “Can’t be counted”
– YOUR input/ involvement
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