Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust
...h new to our area, land trusts such as the Sagebrush Steppe Regional Land Trust, Inc., (SSRLT) have been around over 100 years. More than 1200 independent land trusts, found in every state in the U.S., are working with willing and eager landowners to protect such things as wildlife habitat, farmland, and open spaces. The SSRLT was founded in 2004 by an independent cross section of Idaho citizens committed to working privately with local landowners towards common conservation goals. We believe that protecting important wildlife habitat and maintaining traditional agricultural operations are complimentary uses of the land. And we can make it happen. [What we do] The SSRLT works with landowners interested in ensuring that their land remains open and undeveloped. Although the land trust can purchase or accept property, the preferred method of preservation is by conservation easement. Since the land trust is a non-profit organization, donations of property or easements may reduce the landowner’s estate, income or property taxes (check with an accountant). And the land trust, as an independent organization, has the flexibility to work with individual landowners, tailoring the terms of each easement to the landowner and property. [What is an easement?] A conservation easement is a legal agreement between the property owner and the land trust which can be used to limit certain uses, such as development, forever. The landowner is assured the land will never be divided up and developed while the land trust furthers its conservation goals. It’s a win-win situation. [Conservation Easement Benefits] *Open spaces and wildlife habitat are preserved forever *Land remains on the tax rolls *Land owners can continue farming & ranching the land *Future owners are bound by the easement’s terms *Can significantly lower estate taxes *Can provide income and property tax benefits *Written to adapt to particular land and owner needs [We need you] DO YOU… *Value Southeast Idaho’s open spaces, wildlife, and recreation opportunities? *Believe these resources should be preserved? *Hav...