|
Land Conservation Funding
“It shall be the Commonwealth’s policy to protect
its atmosphere, lands and waters from pollution, impairment
or destruction for the benefit, enjoyment and general
welfare of the people of the Commonwealth.” Article
XI, Constitution of Virginia
Experts predict that if current trends continue, over
the next 25 years Virginia will develop an area equal
to that developed since the Commonwealth was settled by
Europeans. The rate of loss is accelerating and is now
more than two times faster than our population growth.
Vitally important resources like prime farmlands are being
lost at the greatest rate, with forestland loss close
behind.
Virginians have said repeatedly in surveys, polls and
by voting, that they are willing to invest in the protection
of the lands of the Commonwealth. But the Commonwealth
has failed to provide dedicated funding to protect our
resource lands for future generations.
Virginia has excellent programs to facilitate land conservation,
including the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, the Virginia
Land Conservation Foundation and the Office of Farmland
Preservation. Unfortunately, since 2000, very little funding
has been allocated to these programs despite an increased
desire and need for land conservation efforts. Virginia
has agreed to permanently protect 20% the Chesapeake Bay
watershed, but has made no real progress towards funding
this important commitment.
Nationally, states provide an average of sixty percent
(60%) of the funding for purchase of development rights
programs, recognizing that many localities do not have
the ability to raise local revenues for this purpose.
Nine localities in Virginia have adopted purchase of development
rights programs (PDR) and many others are examining ways
to save their rural areas. Only two of these programs
have dedicated funding, three are unfunded and the others
rely on annual appropriations.
Virginia also has an innovative land preservation tax
credit program. This program encourages private conservation
action by allowing taxpayers who make gifts of land or
conservation easements to reduce state income liability
and transfer unused credits to other taxpayers.
Virginia should fully fund its land conservation programs.
- Provide funding to localities with Purchase of Development
Rights programs. Virginia’s Agricultural Vitality Program
recently released a model to help localities develop
programs to protect the land base that is needed for
healthy rural economies that rely on agriculture and
forestry.
- Matching grants to nonprofits, Soil and Water Conservation
Districts, and localities. The Virginia Land Conservation
Foundation leverages private, local and federal investment
by paying up to 50% of the cost of land conservation
projects. A portion of the VLCF’s funds are directed
to the Virginia Outdoors Foundation to provide for the
donation and acquisition of open space easements.
- Public land acquisition. While occasional funding
has been made available through general obligation bonds,
Virginia has never provided an adequate revenue stream
for natural resources agencies to meet an increasing
population’s needs for recreational opportunities. Funding
is needed to take advantage of current opportunities
to buy land for wildlife management areas, state forests,
parks and natural areas.
- The land preservation tax credit is also an important
tool that should remain part of Virginia’s land conservation
toolbox.
For more information, contact:
Nikki Rovner, The Nature Conservancy in Virginia, nrovner@tnc.org
804-644-1682
Mary Heinricht, Ag Prospects, maryheinricht@earthlink.net
540-825-5418
|
