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Category Archives: Conservation Easements

Bill Introduced to make Conservation Easement Tax Incentives Permanent

By jwatson | Published: February 3, 2015

John Watson/Fay Ranches.  Introduced yesterday, the Conservation Easement Incentive Act is a Congressional bill that would make the Conservation Easement tax incentive permanent.   By way of background, for the fourth time in recent history, enhanced tax incentives for conservation easements have expired making it very difficult to incentivize land owners to conserve their conservation and  Read more…

Also posted in Agriculture, Biodiversity, colorado land, Conservation Banking, Farmland, Fay Ranches, Forestland, Historical Preservation, Land Investment, Oklahoma, Ranches, Ranching, Recreational Land, Republic Ranches, Soil, Texas, Timberland, U.S. Farmland, Water, Water rights, Wyoming | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Business of Open Space: What’s Next (Stephen J. Small)

By jwatson | Published: May 8, 2014

This is the latest in the Preserving Family Lands series of Boston-based tax attorney Stephen J. Small.  Before going into private practice, Small was an attorney-advisor I the Office of Chief Counsel of the IRS in Washington D.C., where he wrote the federal income tax regulations on conservation easements. “What’s Next” is geared to land  Read more…

Also posted in Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation Banking, Farmland, Historical Preservation, Land Investment, Ranches, Timberland, U.S. Farmland, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Tax Breaks Tied to “Rich American’s Land” Challenged by IRS and Lawmakers

By jwatson | Published: December 2, 2013

(Bloomberg)  An interesting article was released today, “IRS Scours Breaks Tied to Rich American’s Land”, citing that the IRS is litigating dozens of conservation easements.  As for future easements the article also discusses legislation proposing new limits to charitable conservation deductions. An expanded benefit for conservation easements expires on Dec. 31, Congress last extended the  Read more…

Also posted in Land Investment | Leave a comment

The Carbon Offset Market continues to Gain Traction as a Landowner Conservation Finance Tool

By jwatson | Published: April 16, 2013

The California Carbon Offset Market is starting to move.  Just last month, The Land Investor reported the completion of a 500,000 Tonne Carbon Offset Sale by The Forestland Group to Royal Dutch Shell. Today Blue Source and The National Audubon Society announced the registration of the Beidler Improved Forest Management Project.   A legally binding conservation  Read more…

Also posted in Biodiversity, carbon markets, ecosystem services, Land Investment, Timberland | Leave a comment

Ranchland, Farmland and Timberland Management For Biodiversity will also Boost and Diversify Revenues for the Long Haul

By jwatson | Published: September 14, 2012

Following is an excellent article, The Practical Side of Biodiversity, by David Pratt, ranch management consultant, that does a good job of explaining in a ranching context how economics and management for biodiversity are interconnected.  For the economics of the ranch operation to be maximized for the long haul the property must be managed  in a  Read more…

Also posted in Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation Banking, Farmland, Land Investment, Ranches, Ranching, Soil, Timberland, U.S. Farmland, Wetland Banking | Leave a comment

What’s the Cross Between a Tree Hugger and a Capitalist?

By jwatson | Published: August 24, 2012

  What’s the Cross Between a Tree Hugger and a Capitalist? Answer:  an investor in sustainable forests. Following is an article, Go Hug a Forest, written by Ellie Winninghoff, a seasoned analyst, researcher and journalist specializing in socially responsible, ethical, green and positive impact investment. Ellie is a friend whose work I have followed for  Read more…

Also posted in Agriculture, Biodiversity, Conservation Banking, Land Investment, Timberland, Wetland Banking | Leave a comment

H.R. 1831 Will Continue Conservation Momentum with Landowner Incentives

By jwatson | Published: May 25, 2011

Conservation easements are market based incentives to landowners who permanently retire development rights to protect significant natural resources.  Presently landowners who donate a conservation easement are allowed to deduct the fair market value of the easement from taxable adjustable gross income, which deductions are subject to a cap at 50% of income, except farmers and  Read more…

Also posted in Biodiversity | Leave a comment

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