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Goal 1.
Ensure that existing funding programs and incentives for land conservation
are maintained at current levels and increase with time.
(Within each goal, issues are listed in order
of priority.)
Knowles-Nelson Stewardship
Fund Read more »
GWC will work to ensure that the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund
is reauthorized at a strong funding level. We will promote and celebrate
the Stewardship Fund’s accomplishments and will lobby to thwart
attacks.
GWC Capacity Grant
In order to avoid cuts to our DNR grant we will cultivate supporters
in the legislature and work closely with the DNR to track potential
changes to our grants. We will also partner with other non-profits
who receive DNR grants and create a watchdog strategy during budget
sessions.
Conservation easements
If any legislation adversely affecting conservation easements arises
in the Wisconsin legislature, Gathering Waters will take a lead
role in opposing it. On the other hand, if favorable conservation
easement legislation is introduced, we will take a lead role in
supporting it.
Goal 2.
Promote new funding and incentives for private land conservation.
Working Lands Initiative
– Purchase of Development Rights & Tax Incentives
Read more »
Gathering Waters will promote the development of a statewide Purchase
of Development Rights program to purchase easements on keystone
farms and forests. In addition, the State should consider tax credits
and capital gains exemptions to protect farmland.
Conservation Tax Incentives
Gathering waters supports the creation of a capital gains tax exemption
for land conservation transactions. This would exempt sales of land
or conservation easements from Wisconsin capital gains tax, if the
property is sold to an NCO or a government entity for conservation
purposes.
We also will suggest passage of a conservation tax credit which
would encourage voluntary contributions of conservation easements
and land with significant conservation value.
Managed Forest Law- Grants
program
Gathering Waters supports a Managed Forest Law grants program and
would like to see land trusts included on the granting board. Such
a program would to be funded through the fees from individuals who
chose to close their MFL land to public access. The funds would
be available for use by counties and municipalities or land trusts
to purchase land for public access.
Forest Legacy
This was proposed by Governor Doyle in his Conserve Wisconsin agenda.
Gathering Waters Conservancy supports the creation of a State Forest
Legacy program to buy easements on working forest lands.
Property Tax Assessment
Gathering Waters will work with the Department of Revenue to further
clarify the assessor’s manual and to provide additional information
for assessors about conservation easements. We will also offer continued
education to assessors through trainings.
Goal 3.
Work with agencies to ensure that programs are favorable to land
trusts and landowners in Wisconsin.
Conservation Program Implementation
GWC works with agencies to implement specific programs to benefit
Wisconsin land conservation and serves as a liaison between these
agencies and land trusts. We will continue to serve on advisory
committees for agency programs and respond to questions from agency
representatives and the land trust community. Committees on which
we serve include:
- Stewardship Advisory Council
- WI Working Lands Initiative – PDR Implementation team
- DNR Environmental Advisory Group
- Forest Stewardship Advisory Committee
- Statewide Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation
Plan Advisory Committee
- DNR Landowner Incentive Program Advisory Team
- St. Croix Conservation Collaboration
- WI Coastal Management Program Coastal &
Estuarine Land Conservation Plan Advisory Committee
- Wildlife Action Plan Implementation
Goal 4.
Encourage land conservation support at all levels of government.
County and Local Level
GWC serves as a resource for land trusts and local units of government.
We will track and share information about land conservation programs
at the local level.
Federal Level
GWC assists the Land Trust Alliance as they promote federal reforms,
tax incentives, the Farm Bill, and a national accreditation program.
We mobilize the Wisconsin land trust community to advocate for these
programs.
Other issues that GWC
is tracking and will act on if appropriate:
- Conservation easement registry
- Park districts
- Use-value taxation
- Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR)
- Property tax exemptions for land trusts
- Public Trust doctrine
- Managed Forest Law
- Smart Growth
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