January 18, 2005

 

VERONA, VA – The Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council will present a conservation easement workshop entitled, “What’s the Difference Between A Purchased and A Donated Easement?” at 7 p.m., Tuesday, January 25, at the Smith Conference Center at Lord Fairfax Community College in Middletown, VA.

This is a free educational opportunity for elected officials and staff, landowners, and all who are interested in preserving the Valley’s agricultural lands and open space.

 Program topics and presenters include:  What is a donated conservation easement? Participants will learn about the tax benefits from donating a conservation easement and about a VA program that allows you to sell tax credits.  What is a purchased conservation easement? Participants will learn about the programs available to purchase conservation easements.  What is a local Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program? Participants will learn what other communities have done to establish a PDR program and how localities can encourage the donation of conservation easements.

This workshop will feature presentations by Faye Cooper of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, Howard Kittell of the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation, and Wingate Mackay-Smith of the Clarke County Conservation Easement Authority. The presenters will also be available for questions and answers. A reception with refreshments will follow.

Representatives from the Shenandoah RC&D Council, Valley Conservation Council, Lord Fairfax Soil & Water Conservation District, Conservation Partners, and Potomac Conservancy will be on hand with informational materials about their various easement programs and to answer questions. This event is co-sponsored by the Community Consensus Coalition.

The Shenandoah Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Program is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the Shenandoah Valley’s environmental and economic vitality.  The Council, led by grass-roots volunteers, receive technical assistance from the United States Department of Agriculture-Natural Resources Conservation Service to support its efforts..

The Shenandoah RC&D Area includes the following:  the counties of Augusta, Clarke, Frederick, Page, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren; and the cities of Harrisonburg, Staunton, Waynesboro, and Winchester.  The Shenandoah RC&D Council sets area goals and objectives, and brings together partners, technical assistance and financial resources to complete projects that will meet its goals and objectives.

 

For more information contact:  Joan Comanor, Shenandoah RC&D Council Chairwoman, (540) 459-5209; Jim Lawrence, Co-Chair, (540) 667-0761; or Kathy Holm, Coordinator, (540) 248-3321.