| May 17, 2006 |
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Dear Friend,
We’re celebrating two impressive victories in land conservation this month, with the passage of tax credit legislation in New York and Georgia.
Here in Washington the final version of the tax reconciliation bill does NOT contain conservation or other charities provisions. LTA is hard at work and it’s still very possible that Congress will enact expanded incentives soon as part of a second tax bill. Please learn more and take action.
I’ve just returned from the inaugural meeting of Land Trust Accreditation Commission, which is off to a great start. Read more about this and other news in this issue.
Rand Wentworth
President, Land Trust Alliance
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Photo courtesy Georgia Land Trust |
In the last month, New York and Georgia enacted new tax credits for conservation easements! New York’s innovative program is a credit against property taxes, which provides an annual benefit to all landowners with easement-protected land (both original donors and future landowners).
Georgia’s new income tax credit provides individuals with up to $250,000 in benefits. A special thanks to these forward-thinking state governments, and all the land trusts and partners that helped make this possible!
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Extended deadline Friday, May 19 - Please make sure your organization responds! The census is the only source of information of national scope that tells the powerful story of land conservation in the United States.
Your hard work counts, so make sure it's counted! More Information |
 Director Tammara Van Ryn and Commission Chair Larry Kueter presided over the inaugural meeting of the Land Trust Accreditation Commission last week. All 13 commissioners were in attendance along with LTA President Rand Wentworth and Laura DiBetta, the recently hired program coordinator.
During the meeting, the Commission established its workplan for 2006-2007 in preparation for becoming fully operational in 2008. Please see the website for more details and the Commission’s new contact info.
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A new column in Exchange, LTA’s quarterly journal of land conservation, addresses the relevance of advocacy to the land conservation movement in general, and to land trusts in particular. Read the column on “Why We Need Grassroots Lobbying” online, or look for it in the Spring issue of Exchange which arrives in your mailbox soon.
Also, don’t miss the new “Lobbying 101” section of LTA’s website.
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TechSoup has begun a Recycled Computer Initiative (RCI). Their pilot program is currently featuring high-quality, refurbished IBM Windows Notebook Systems at a low cost - only $417.
TechSoup also offers nonprofits a one-stop resource for technology needs by providing free information, resources, support and access to donated and discounted technology products. Always check TechSoup Stock before buying software!
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Photo courtesy Otsego Land Trust |
An innovative project, by 14 Cornell graduate students and visiting lecturer Ole M. Amundsen III, has won national recognition from the American Institute of Certified Planners and provided the Otsego Land Trust with a conservation plan to focus its land protection efforts and meet its goal of conserving 10,000 acres by the year 2010.
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Read the complete article
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The Land Trust Alliance promotes voluntary land conservation and strengthens the land trust movement by providing the leadership, information, skills and resources land trusts need to conserve land for the benefit of communities and natural systems. | |
