Majority in House Backs Land Conservation Incentive Bill

June 15, 2011

By Heart of the Lakes

GRAND LEDGE, MI (June, 15 2011) –Michigan congressmen/women are showing great support for the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, H.R. 1964, a bill that is critical for the protection of millions of acres of the nation’s agricultural lands, forests, and natural areas, including hundreds of thousands in Michigan, that support the economy, health and cultural fabric of our communities. H.R. 1964 makes permanent an incentive that is due to expire at the end of this year and that allows modest-income landowners to receive significant tax deductions for donating conservation easements that permanently protect important natural or historic resources on their lands. To date, with the exception of only Justin Amash (MI-District 3) and Tim Walberg (MI-District 7), every Michigan congressman/woman has signed on as co-sponsors of the bill.

“Heart of the Lakes Center for Land Conservation Policy is thrilled and grateful that most Michigan congressmen/women are stepping up for our community to make this important conservation tool permanent,” said Executive Director Rachel Kuntzsch. “They have each seen firsthand the dramatic impact that the incentive has had in helping landowners permanently conserve farmlands and wildlife habitat in Michigan and across the nation. We strongly encourage Justin Amash (MI-03) and Tim Walberg (MI-07) to support this important bill in order to have 100% support from Michigan leaders to get the bill passed.”

When donating a conservation easement, landowners maintain ownership and management of their land and can pass the land on to their heirs, but forego their rights to develop the land in the future. This bill allows farmers and other landowners of modest means to deduct a larger share of their income over a longer period of time, which will make it possible for more families to afford to conserve their land. A survey shows that this incentive boosts the land saved by conservation easements by a third – to over one million acres per year in the country.

A remarkable 251 Representatives from 47 states have signed on as original co-sponsors of the bill, including the Chairman, Michigan’s Dave Camp (R-Midland), the Ranking Democrat, Michigan’s Sander Levin (D-MI), and majorities of both parties on the House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over tax measures. A broad coalition of sportsmen, outdoors enthusiasts, farmers, ranchers and national conservation groups are working together to make this incentive permanent in the 112th Congress.

Land Trust Alliance President Rand Wentworth praised the work of the Michigan congressmen/women: “In this era of partisanship and discord, it is encouraging to see leaders join together and push to enact a bill that a majority of Congress already supports.” He added: “Their efforts to make this important conservation tool permanent are welcomed by the nation’s 1,700 land trusts, their two million supporters, and the countless local communities seeking to protect the clean air and water, scenic landscapes, recreational places, and wildlife habitat that are central to their lives.”

The enhanced tax incentive allows working family farmers, ranchers and forest owners, to deduct up to 100% of their income for as many as 16 years in order to deduct the full value of their generous gift. First passed in 2006 and extended twice, this incentive is set to expire on December 31, 2011.The Conservation Easement Incentive Act will make this valuable conservation tool permanent.

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