Enhanced Incentive for Conservation Easements Sees Overwhelming Support

Grand Ledge, MI –Today, Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy and its national partner, the Land Trust Alliance, announced that over 300 U.S. Representatives, including 13 of 15 Michigan representatives, are signed on as co-­‐sponsors of the Conservation Easement Incentive Act (H.R. 1964), which would make the enhanced incentive for conservation easements permanent.

Landowners can voluntarily retire the development rights on their land by donating a conservation easement to a land conservancy – keeping farm and forest lands in productive use, protecting important fish and wildlife habitat, and conserving essential parts of Michigan’s scenic and historic heritage. Since the incentive expired at the end of 2011, landowners with modest incomes now receive little tax benefit from restricting what may be their family’s most valuable asset. By allowing donors to deduct a larger portion of their income over a longer period of time, H.R. 1964 will help Michigan farmers and forest owners afford to conserve their land. H.R. 1964 has more co-­‐sponsors than any other tax bills that have been introduced.

Heart of the Lakes Executive Director, Rachel Kuntzsch is pleased to see the amount of support that H.R. 1964 has in Michigan “Heart of the Lakes and its member conservancies are thrilled that almost all of Michigan’s representatives want to make this important conservation tool permanent,” said Kuntzsch. “We know the dramatic impact the incentive has had in helping landowners permanently conserve farms, forests, and wildlife habitat in Michigan. Our lawmakers recognize the economic contribution these lands make to our state and communities. We look forward to working with our Congressional Delegation to get this important legislation passed.”