Land Protection Tools

Mahoosuc Land Trust

Mahoosuc Land Trust offers landowners several ways to permanently protect important values of their property. The land trust is committed to working with private landowners to develop long-term conservation plans for their property. We are especially interested in conserving parcels that feature scenic views, high-value woodland and farmland, as well as access to rivers, lakes, mountain tops and recreational land. We use our “land protection guidelines” to evaluate potential new projects.

Conservation Easements

A conservation easement is an agreement between the land trust and a family or individual, that limits the use of the land. Conservation easements are flexible, but permanent agreements, that enable the donor to continue to own, live on and manage (farm or cut timber) their land. It can be sold or passed on to heirs. The conditions of the easement remain on the land when it is sold.

Donation of conservation easements may result in significant estate and income saving for the donor.

Conservation easements may be donated, sold or donated by will to the land trust.

Donation of Land

The land trust will accept gifts of land in fee. The land must meet the requirements of the “land protection guidelines”. Donation of land can result in tax benefits to the donor and may take on several forms:

Donation of land to be held by the land trust for its conservation values

Donation of land to be resold with a conservation easement

Donation of land without conservation value to be resold to support
    other conservation projects or the land trust.

Donation of a remainder interest
                       m    In this case, the landowner donates the property during
                              his or her lifetime and continues to live on and use the
                              land. When the donor (or specified beneficiary) dies or
                              releases that interest, the land trust will have full title to
                              the property.

For more information about conservation easement and donating land to the Mahoosuc Land Trust, call the land trust office at 207-824-3806.