SPRING 1999 PRACTICUM NORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA CONSERVANCY

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SPRING 1999PRACTICUMNORTHCENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA
CONSERVANCY

• VERONICA L. BUTTARI

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OBJECTIVES

• Give a description of the Northcentral
  Pennsylvania Conservancy outlining its purposes
  and goals.
• Give a description of my practical experience at
  the conservancy.
• Provide additional information about conservation
  grants.

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What is the Northcentral Pennsylvania
Conservancy???

• The Northcentral Pennsylvania Conservancy is a
  private, non-profit organization that is
  dedicated to protecting, enhancing and utilizing
  the natural and historic environment of
  Northcentral, PA for the well being of present
  and future generations.

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COVERAGE AREA FOR THE CONSERVANCY

• The coverage area of the Conservancy includes 13
  counties in the Northcentral Pennsylvania region.

• Potter
• Clinton
• Centre
• Tioga
• Lycoming
• Union
• Snyder
• Northumberland
• Montour
• Columbia
• Bradford

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COVERAGE AREA FOR THE CONSERVANCY
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A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CONSERVANCY...

• 1989- Group of citizens organized and their
  mission was to make private landowners aware of
  what they could do to preserve their own land for
  future generations.
• 1990- The conservancy incorporated
• 1991- The conservancy adds a full time
  professional staff
• 1998- Satellite office at PPL Montour Preserve,
  in Montour County opens

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FOUR OBJECTIVES

• The conservancy has FOUR OBJECTIVES in its
  mission to protect and preserve lands of special
  natural and historic value.

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FIRST OBJECTIVE

• 1) The Conservancy is dedicated to providing
  long-term stewardship of natural and historic
  resources through conservation and preservation
  of forests, waterways, wildlife habitat,
  agricultural lands and significant historic sites
  and structures.

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SECOND OBJECTIVE

• 2) The Conservancy works to protect and enhance
  scenic natural beauty and cultural landmarks.

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THIRD OBJECTIVES

• 3) The Conservancy protects this regions
  resources through the acquisition and management
  of real property and interests in real property,
  public education and non-partisan government
  involvement

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FOURTH OBJECTIVE

• 4) The Conservancy encourages and develops
  working relationships between private and public
  interests.

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SOME WAYS THAT THE CONSERVANCY PROTECTS LAND...

• CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
• GIFTS OR MEMORIALS
• BARGAIN SALE OR OUTRIGHT PURCHASE
• CONSERVATION BUYERS AND SELLERS
• EXCHANGES
• PLANNED SENSITIVE DEVELOPMENT
• REVOLVING FUND FOR LONG TERM AND STEWARDSHIP

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What is a conservation easement?

• A legal agreement between a landowner and a
  conservancy that restricts the type and amount of
  development that can occur on a property.

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SOME FACTS ABOUT EASEMENTS

• Each easement is designed to that particular
  property and landowners wishes.
• The landowner conveys the right to enforce those
  restrictions to a qualified conservation
  recipient.
• Easements will not affect the landowners ability
  to sell the property or to pass it onto a family
  member or friend.

• The conservation easement assures that any future
  owner will have to respect the conservation value
  of the property.
• Future owners will only be able to develop the
  property to the extent that the easement allows.

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Services provided by the Conservancy can save
money

• The organization can often protect land at a cost
  far below its market value.
• The tax laws provide the Conservancy with
  opportunities to reduce or eliminate estate
  taxes, receive a charitable deduction for income
  tax purposes or avoid capital gains tax on
  appreciated property.

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CONSERVANCY PROJECTS

• To date, the Conservancys efforts have resulted
  in the preservation of over 2,168 acres of
  private land in Northcentral Pennsylvania
• In 1998 the Conservancy protected an additional
  205 acres

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Other Projects

• In 1998 the conservancy purchased 4,200 acres of
  land in Clinton County.
• In 1998 the Conservancy sold 71 acres of wetlands
  to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

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Practical Experience

• Description of my internship at the Northcentral
  Pennsylvania Conservancy

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THANK YOU

• Renee Carey- Executive Director at the
  Conservancy
• Dr. Zimmerman
• Dr. Newman