I'm getting ready to write an article on conservation easements and such. Is anyone familiar with these? If you aren't sure what I mean, here are some examples...

• Transferrable Development Rights
• Conservation Easements
• Timber/Forest Banking
• Riparian Buffer Easements
• Legacy Farmland Easements

All of the above, and more are programs sponsored by either the Federal Government, County Extension offices, or private groups like Ducks unlimited. They are ways to ensure that they don't end up paving the ENTIRE country. Usually, the landowner agrees to only use his land in a certain manner, or agrees to refrain from certain activity, such as subdividing or developing on the property, and in return the government gives either a one time payment, a recurring payment, or both. Here in Rural Maryland, some people have been able to take advantage of programs like this to drastically reduce the cost of land, and it could work especially well for homesteader types who only want to keep the land in it's natural state, and in certain cases it allows for ensuring that it will remain this way in perpetuity.

I'm looking for first hand accounts from folks who have undergone one of these processes, I personally have tried it in a couple of cases, with limited success. I'd like to know what others have experienced, especially in different parts of the country.

Before you unleash your flame throwers, I *AM NOT* some government lackey who wants to take your land away. I'm a stockbroker, the only work I've ever done for the government was as a U.S. Army Ranger. I'm not advocating any of the above programs, only looking for others experiences with them, for an article that may or may not appear in Countryside or some similar magazine.

If you're still not sure what I'm talking about, I apologize, it is a fairly arcane subject, feel free to email me and I'll try to explain it better.

Cheers,

Chuck in MD

-- chuck in MD (woah@mission4me.com), December 12, 2001

Answers

Having been the unwilling host to Texas Cougars that the Federal Government thought was a brilliant way to "save" the Florida panther, I say bah and humbug to all the organizations that try and save the land. Homesteaders and ranchers and farmers are the best stewards of the land that there are. Enviromental groups were right in there with the Governement. These cougars ate our cattle, cats and dogs and stalked people. Now the Florida government and the enviromental groups have devalued my land by land use. My 60 acres can no longer be divided among my 3 children. It can no longer be cut up in smaller than 40 acre tracts. So they have devalued my land, put in place a program (CARL) which has a imminate domain clause for endangered species. They are now mating the Florida cougar with the Texas cougar, ( enginering an endangered species.) ergo they can steal my land... yeah I am ticked.. You can get "in bed" with these people but count me out. Not mad at you tho Mark :)

-- Lynnda (venus@zeelink.net), December 12, 2001.

Chuck.......I can send you a bunch of photos taken of a Riparian Buffer Easements failure. The farmer is a friend of mine who signed up for the program some years back along the Sauk Creek here in Michigan. He faithfully kept a wonderful buffer zone and last year they came along and cut it all down to "dig out" the creek. Seems the county drain commissioner had some extra "improvement" money to burn and decided he could "improve" it for canoe use. Funny thing, he left the snags that the canoe people had complained of. His case and mine are hopeful soon to go before a task force here looking at the abuse of power of drain commissioners. Personally I would never take a dime from the government or any other organization who would try and tell me what to do with my land.

-- diane (gardiacaprines@yahoo.com), December 12, 2001.

Thank you for info.

-- Daring (dar8010@webtv.com), December 12, 2001.

Chuck...so sorry I got your name wrong in my haste to reply. In my research (to help get the cougars removed) I ran across an account of ranchers in Texas who were approached by Fish and Game officials. They were asked if they would allow falcons,pergriene (sp)I think, unto their land. Being good stewards of the land they agreed. Their land where then promtly "taken" from them under the endangered species act! It is a shame that the people who can most help endanged species and protect the land are the ones who are harassed and pay the price by groups on a quest to control.

-- Lynnda (venusovenus@hotmail.com), December 14, 2001.

Forgot to add....Hope you find a good way to make income off the land, other than one of the uses restricting your land. I sent you a personal email with an idea, which I have not used but plan on researching more into. Best regards....Lynnda

-- Lynnda (venusovenus@hotmail.com), December 14, 2001.

There may be good programs but I have had three experences. One after a tornado blew down 60 acres the forestry people offered a plan where they would pay 60 percent of the cost of planting pines. Then I found that I would have to spray the pines and the land with herbacides that would kill everything but pines. Yea sure I get my water I drink out of a spring so I told them thanks but no thanks. Two They came out about two years ago with a plan to plant trees along the sides of the large creek behind the house. Well since there are already trees really did not see the problem. Then the fine print you can't let live stock drink out of the creek you have to drill wells or put in ponds. I thought for a moment and asked and herbacides o yes you have to spray for two or three years. I again said no thanks I don't spray herbacides now why would I spray all the ground for 150 feet back from both sides of the creek. Three. Close to us there is a cave that has an endagered bat and some blind fish in it. They forced the farmers that had been farming it for generations to sell it and the idiots all amateurs went out there and mixed up herbacides and sprayed all the land several hundred acres and killed everything so they could plant prairie grass. Stuff that will not even live here. They almost poisoned them selves. No don't want to waste my time and don't want my farm a chemical dump. Just my opinion.

-- David (bluewaterfarm@mindspring.com), December 17, 2001.