Dear , With a new year and a new Congress, we need your help to make the enhanced tax incentive for conservation easement donations permanent. Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) will soon introduce legislation to do just that. Our survey proved the powerful effect of the incentive, showing that land trusts put nearly 535,000 more acres into easements in the first two years after its enactment than in the previous two. But now we need to do more. Help us take action today by asking your elected officials to become original co-sponsors of this legislation that supports a vital tool for conservation success. We are also pleased to announce that the Land Trust Alliance has created a $500,000 Conservation Defense Fund and has recruited seven major law firms to provide pro bono services, such as research and amicus briefs, to the Alliance in major precedent-setting cases. We will continue to develop this valuable program that helps strengthen conservation permanence. Rand Wentworth President, Land Trust Alliance

ECONOMY RESOURCES

New Resources Webpage Helps Land Trusts Weather the Economic Climate Knowing that these are challenging times for land trusts, we have created a new webpage with advice and resources for coping with the recession. Ranging from articles in Saving Land, finance publications, discussions with peers, and resources from other nonprofits, this page offers you practical information on cutting costs, raising money and finding creative opportunities to save land. Two great new resources just added: 20 Cost-cutting Ideas and Emergency Funding Sources for Nonprofits (Fieldstone Alliance), and “Insights to Foundation Giving in an Economic Downturn” (Institute for Conservation Leadership).

POLICY

Take a Stand for Land: Recruit Cosponsors for New Easement Incentive Legislation Unless Congress acts, the tax incentive for conservation easements will expire at the end of 2009! Please call your Members of Congress today and ask them to become original cosponsors of legislation making the easement incentive permanent. They can be listed alongside the lead sponsors when this legislation is introduced, but only if they call Congressman Mike Thompson (D-CA) or Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) in the next few weeks. Even if your Representative cosponsored last year they have to sign on again in the new Congress. They won't just do it automatically – they need to be asked to do it – by you! Learn more about the incentive and how you can help. Back to Top

CONSERVATION DEFENSE

Answers to Questions about Conservation Defense Insurance As the Alliance has explored the possibility of a conservation defense insurance program, we have received comments from more than 150 land trusts and dozens more insurance experts, attorneys, business leaders and land trust leaders, which have helped shape the revisions to the original feasibility report. Almost everyone has indicated interest in participating in the program and expressed support for continued investigation of the feasibility of such a program by the Alliance. Along the way, land trusts have also asked many excellent questions. See the FAQs

Law Firms Offer Pro Bono Help in Conservation Defense Seven national law firms have agreed to provide the Alliance with pro bono legal services for research and precedent-setting cases on emerging conservation issues of national importance. Their donated time – totaling up to 300 hours – is a critical piece in the start-up of the Conservation Defense Fund, established by the Alliance and funded with $500,000 by two generous and visionary donors. Note: The Fund is not a loan or grant program for land trusts, and is not a replacement for individual trusts maintaining an endowment, reserve or legal defense fund. More

Sonoma Land Trust Successfully Defends Easement The Sonoma Land Trust recently successfully negotiated a settlement that upholds an agricultural conservation easement on the 528-acre Lower Ranch near San Pablo Bay in California, ending a four-year legal dispute with the landowner. Several years ago, the landowners began pumping mud from their nearby dredging operations onto the conserved agricultural land, with future plans to significantly increase dredge material deposits. After lengthy but unsuccessful discussions with the landowners, the land trust filed suit in 2006 to enforce the terms of its agricultural conservation easement. More Back to Top

TRAININGS

Can’t Get Away for Training? Fly on the Web Save time and money with our new suite of online trainings! Enjoy the same quality instructors and materials featured at regional conferences and Rally – at your desk. Reserve your spot today for one or more of these sessions in March: 90 min. Workshops | Cost: $50 per connection Easement Monitoring - Jane Ellen Hamilton The Board's Role in Tough Economic Times - Marc Smiley  Recent Changes to IRS Form 990 - Konrad Liegel and Cordelia A. Glenn Grabiak Curriculum Topics In-depth (Four live Web presentations with instructor feedback on your land trust's policy or procedure) | Cost: Alliance Members* and partners $150 Funding Easement Stewardship - Brenda Lind

Valuation of Conservation Easements - Appraiser Certificate Course Offered by the Appraisal Institute, this course is designed to provide general certified appraisers who know the basics in approaches to value, with more advanced valuation training. It is being taught in six locations across the country: March 23 – Milwaukee, WI April 13 – Baltimore, MD April 20 – Honolulu, HI May 18 – Boston, MA July 20 – Casper, WY August 31 – Portland, OR This program was developed in conjunction with the Alliance, the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers, and the American Society of Appraisers. More Back to Top

ALLIANCE NEWS

New Communications Director at the Alliance Roberta (Bobbie) Faul-Zeitler has been appointed Director of Communications at the Land Trust Alliance, with responsibility for managing all aspects of public relations, marketing, brand management, online and print communications. Bobbie has directed communications and public affairs at leading Washington D.C. institutions, including the Corcoran Gallery & College of Art and the Smithsonian’s National Air & Space Museum. She also twice built a Washington-based practice as a strategic adviser and public relations consultant with environmental and agricultural nonprofits, including American Farmland Trust and The Nature Conservancy. More

Keep An Eye Out! Saving Land Magazine Coming in Envelope Your next issue of Saving Land will be arriving shortly in an envelope – with a special gift enclosed. The “Natural States of America” map was produced by the National Geographic Society and NatureServe to complement their new LandScope America website – bringing together maps, data, photos and stories about America’s natural places and open spaces to inspire conservation. Don’t miss the Winter 2009 issue, which offers timely strategies for coping with the recession. If you don't already receive Saving Land, join the Land Trust Alliance at the $35 level or above to receive four issues of the information-packed magazine per year. Back to Top

eNews is edited and produced by Francesca Dalleo, Communications Specialist at the Alliance.

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IN THIS ISSUE

>> New Resources Webpage Helps Land Trusts Weather the Economic Climate >> Take a Stand for Land: Recruit Cosponsors for New Easement Incentive Legislation >> Answers to Questions about Conservation Defense Insurance >> Law Firms Offer Pro Bono Help in Conservation Defense >> Sonoma Land Trust Successfully Defends Easement >> Can’t Get Away for Training? Fly on the Web >> Valuation of Conservation Easements - Appraiser Certificate Course >> New Communications Director at the Alliance >> Keep An Eye Out! Saving Land Magazine Coming in Envelope

UPCOMING EVENTS Rally 2009 | October 11-14 | Portland, OR >>Call For Presentations due February 16 >>Regional Conferences Midwest: March 12-14 MADISON, WI >> Northeast: April 29-30 NEW POINT, NY >> Southeast: March 25-26 AUBURN, AL >> >>Online Trainings Easement Monitoring: March 4 The Board's Role in Tough Economic Times: March 18 Recent Changes to the IRS Form 990: March 23 Funding Easement Stewardship: March 6-April 3 ONLINE  TRAINING INFORMATION >> EVENTS CALENDAR >>

Rally Speaker in the News Former Rally speaker Chuck Leavell launches new environmental news network More >>

land trust speaks out for conservation Learn about Vermont Land Trust's “Conservation Can’t Wait” campaign, created in response to public funding crisis, including a video series on YouTube. More >>