Land Protection Options
[If you have lived in Anoka County within the last few years you may have noticed some changes. Many of the forests and fields we have come to know and enjoy have been leveled for roads, houses or golf courses. If you own land and feel strongly about protecting the natural resources on your land, you can. There are several land protection options available to landowners. Some options can reduce your tax burden and others can provide fair market value for your land while protecting it. Review the land protection options to the right and if you have further questions please call Josh Williams. Much of this information comes from the booklet "Land Protection Options: A Handbook for Minnesota Landowners", produced by The Nature Conservancy, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the Minnesota Land Trust. ACD has copies of this book available upon request at no cost. ]
We are fortunate to have many exceptional natural resources in Anoka County. Several habitats are protected in public ownership through wildlife management areas, parks and research areas, such as Carlos Avery WMA, Bunker Hills Regional Park and Cedar Creek Natural History Area. However, much of the areas native habitats are in private ownership. Habitat management often changes with each owner of a property, for good and bad. However, for many landowners who have quality natural resources there is often a strong desire to protect and maintain the quality the resource. Fortunately, there are several options available to landowners interested in protecting these important resources for every generation. Landowners can permanently protect their property while retaining ownership or by transferring ownership to a nonprofit organization or government conservation agency.
Transfer of Land
Land can be transferred through donation or purchase to a government agency or conservation organization willing to manage the property for permanent protection. Nonprofit groups and state agencies may acquire a property if the agency can manage the resource for the benefit of the area. Sites are also considered when there are locally, regionally or state significant resources. Or, if the site contains resources important to the community and the agency can maintain those resources valued by the community.
Conservation Easements
A conservation easement is a legally binding agreement that places permanent limits on the use and development of a property. Easements can be used in many circumstances to meet several needs. The easement can be established to protect required open space in subdivisions and new developments. Conservation easements are commonly used by individual landowners to place permanent protection on their property to prevent development and habitat degradation regardless of future ownership. When enrolling land into a conservation easement landowners retain all ownership and associated obligations other than those restricted by the easement. Since the landowner retains ownership he/she is still responsible for property taxes. However, since development is restricted on the site there is often a dramatic reduction in property value and thus the associated taxes. The reduction in appraised value is a way for heirs to keep land in the family by reducing estate taxes down to an affordable sum.
