Land Trust of Jackson Hole
Our local Land Trust is a non-profit conservation alliance land trust organization serving to protect land in Jackson Hole. The Jackson Hole Land Trust has worked diligently since 1980 to preserve attractive views of the open space and undeveloped land in the Jackson area. To date the diligent work of the Land Trust has established permanent protection of over 15,000 acres of land. Most of the protected conservation land in Jackson Hole is larger Ranch properties in the area.
The Land Trust Alliance has also protected twenty-five miles of creeks and streams that are home to native trout. This Conservation organization has also protected over 4,200 acres of moose winter range, 200 acres of elk calving ground, and close to 1000 acres of mule dear winter range. The Jackson Hole Land Trust has also assisted the preservation of bald eagles by conserving more than 2,300 acres of their nesting and winter habitat.
There are many excellent tax benefits acquired by qualified donators of conservation easements, which are offered by the internal revenue code. Land Conservation donators receive two kinds of major tax benefits. The first are direct write-offs on income taxes and the second are estate-planning benefits. All benefits derived are determined by the current real estate appraisal value of the property. Other benefits of donating an easement include the accumulation of permanent protection over their conservation land without having to forfeit ownership.
The Land Trust of Jackson must enforce and manage its Conservation every year. The Trust inspects all protected property to make sure the protection rule guidelines and owners honor requisites. Very few violations occur in compliance with the Land Trust Alliance's standards and practices. The alliance has organized a donation benefit fund in effort to retain legal assistance to defend against violations of conservation easements.
The Conservation Buyer Program is responsible for locating the right conservation property for buyers interested in protecting their land from future development. Most buyers donate the land to the Jackson Hole Land Trust within one year of the purchase to protect their land and to be entitled to any tax deductions of up to 50% of their adjusted gross income. The Conservation Buyers Program has established permanent protection of over 3,200 acres of land through Jackson Hole Land Trust conservation easements. A good local Real Estate Broker can assist buyers by directing them to these properties.
Property qualifications for Protection by a Jackson Hole Land Trust Conservation Easement
A property's value for protection is thoroughly investigated to determine whether the property is appropriate for protection by a conservation easement. Some of the qualification factors include the land being an endangered wildlife habitat or migration route or an active ranch. One of the greatest needs is to protect land visible from major highways and rivers that are used by the public. Many of these lands are found within Grand Teton National Park or the National Forest. Other factors include protection of key rivers and streams or property development protection that precludes obstructing scenic views.
Private fundraising efforts made by the Land Trust are being formed in order to purchase conservation easements for the remaining 25,000 acres of unprotected ranch land in Jackson Hole. The Campaign for fundraising started in April of 1999 as a result of rising concern about the major development occurring upon Jackson Hole's remaining open spaces. This kind of major development has occurred in most western resort towns in the Rocky Mountain regions. The Land Trusts fundraising efforts protected the Southern portion of the Hansen Ranch in August of 2001, protecting 181 acres of ranch land. Another purchase of the Valley Springs Wildlife Refuge and Public Park happened in December of 2001, protecting 47 acres of open land.
The Jackson Hole Land Trusts owns some conservation easements for lands that encourage public access. These conservation properties include: Emily's pond, The Wilson Wetlands Trail, the Hardeman North Property and the Poison Creek.
Read the "Jackson Hole Land Trust Easment Grows" Article
