Burnet workshop provides landowners with information on conservation easements

BURNET, TEXAS - The Hill Country Conservancy, in partnership with the Hill Country Alliance, is hosting a landowner workshop from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, April 20, 2018, at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service office, 607 N. Vandeveer, Burnet, TX 78611. This workshop will focus on conservation easements—a tool available to help landowners steward and protect their land investment and family legacy for the long term.

Conservation easements are one of the most flexible and effective means to protect private property. A conservation easement is a voluntary legal agreement that ensures a property will be conserved according to the landowner’s wishes. No public access is required. This agreement is negotiated between the landowner and the land trust organization which is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the terms of the conservation easement agreement.

Many landowners are concerned about conserving those special natural features on their family-owned property while maintaining the productivity of their land. Landowners face the challenge of increasing tax burdens associated with land ownership, including the potential impact of estate taxes on their heirs. This seminar is designed to introduce landowners, farmers, ranchers, land managers, financial advisors, realtors and the public to the tools and resources available to help them deal with the issues inherent in passing family land on to future generations.

Workshop topics include: The Case for Conservation, Land Stewardship, The Landowner Story, Conservation Easement Basics and Financial Considerations, The Land Trust Role in the Conservation Easement Process, Landowner Resources: Tools for Conservation Easement Transactions and Discussion with Conservation Easement Donors.

The workshop cost is $15 per person or $20 per couple which includes lunch and a networking reception following the workshop. Registration begins at 9:30; walk-ins are welcome and pre-registration is advised to ensure your seat. Register online: http://hillcountryalliance.org/conservationeasementworkshop

Hill Country Conservancy and the Hill Country Alliance are hosting this workshop in conjunction with Hill Country Land Trust, Plateau Land and Wildlife Management, Blair Wildlife Consulting, Texas Agricultural Land Trust, and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service.