Legacy Land Conservancy

Legacy Land Conservancy recently received good news from their conservation partner, Ducks Unlimited.  DU has received funding from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act program to support Legacy’s Indiana bat protection project!  This project needs just $7300 more for completion.

This highly documented Indiana bat nesting site is 168 acres of privately owned land in Jackson County.  In addition to this endangered species, the land supports other threatened plants and animals, and is part of the head waters of the River Raisin.   Individual donations to this project will be matched 1:1 by a generous donor.  To make a donation, please click here.  We’re almost there…please help protect this special place…forever.

Michigan Senate Passes Conservation Easement by Will Legislation

In mid-April, the Michigan State Senate passed SB 113 “Authorize Tax Break for Conservation Easement Donation in Will.” Many people wishing to conserve their land choose to place a conservation easement in their will so that the land will pass into conservation when he/she passes away. However, under current Michigan property law when land is transferred at the time of the landowner’s death property taxes are “uncap,” i.e. land transfers by will are taxed at a higher rate. Senate Bill 113 sponsored by Senator Mike Green (R-Mayville) would exempt conservation easements by will, trust, or intestate succession from the uncapping of property taxes. The bill now moves to the Michigan House Committee on Tax Policy. If you feel strongly about SB 113 please call or write your Michigan Representative.

Michigan Attorney General Protects Natural Resources Trust Fund

In late April, Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette issued Opinion No. 7270  to weigh in on the debate on using the Michigan Natural Resource Trust Fund for harbor dredging. Schuette ruled out using Trust Fund resources for dredging, saying “the voters enshrined the Trust Fund in our Constitution for a very specific purpose: to preserve and protect Michigan’s bountiful resources for generations to come. The message is straightforward — hands off the Trust Fund.” Legislation is still pending in the Michigan Senate that would open the Trust Fund up for dredging.

Michigan State Land Plan Open for Public Comment

Last year the Michigan State Legislature enacted and Governor Snyder signed into law PA 240. The act capped the amount of land the state of Michigan is allowed to own until the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) develops a strategic state landownership and management plan. Recently, Michigan DNR released a draft of the plan and opened it up for public comment. Email your comments to DNRlandplan@michigan.gov by April 30^th to voice your views on the state lands plan.

Mighty Good has signed on to provide coffee at Legacy’s An Evening Under the Strawberry Moon Gala Dinner on June 13^th.  In addition, Mighty Good will be introducing a featured Legacy Land Conservancy coffee this spring.  It will be sourced from Hacienda Santa Emilia, a 3^rd generation farm in El Salvador.  To read more about this partnership, please click here.

Please join us to celebrate another successful year of working to protect this place we love.

 It will be a night to remember: Chef Brandon Johns of the farm-to-table Grange Restaurant and Bar will craft exquisite appetizers. Award-winning Zingerman’s Roadhouse chef-farmer Alex Young will cook regional favorites using fresh-picked produce from southeast Michigan’s best farms.  Chelsea Alehouse and Sandhill Crane Vineyards will supply locally fashioned libations. Sweet Heather Ann will lay out a table of delectable desserts. To top it all off,  Mighty Good Coffee and Tea Haus will serve additional refreshments.

Reservations Required. Limited Seating!

A special thanks to our corporate sponsors: 

Detroit Free Press has a great article on the long legacy of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) and the current debate around the Michigan State Legislature’s attempts to divert funding from the MNRTF. You can find the article here. 

US Senators Introduce Federal Legislation to Permanently Extend Conservation Tax Incentives 

Senator Max Baucus (D-MT) and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) introduced legislation in March to the U.S. Senate that would permanently extend a tax relief program for modest income landowners who donate their land for conservation. The Rural Heritage Conservation Extension Act of 2013 would allow taxpayers to deduct up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income (AGI) for conservation easement donations and carry forward unused deductions for up to 15 years. Farmers and ranchers would be able to deduct up to 100 percent of their AGI. In particular, Sen. Baucus’ sponsorship of the legislation highlights the great work of conservancies across the country. In 2005, Senator Baucus believed that conservation easements should not be tax deductible, but through outreach and education conservation organizations helped win the Senator’s support.  Contact your US Senators to voice your opinion about this legislation.

“Fruit” is the final installment in a four-part series of articles written by Ann Arbor Community Farm’s Kat Oshman, detailing the relationship between the Community Farm and Legacy Land Conservancy. To learn more about the farm’s operations and conservation easement with Legacy, click here.

Photo by John Lloyd

“Flower” is the third installment in a four-part series of articles written by Ann Arbor Community Farm’s Kat Oshman, detailing the relationship between the Community Farm and Legacy Land Conservancy. To learn more about the farm’s operations and conservation easement with Legacy, click here.

“Stem” is the second installment in a four-part series of articles written by Ann Arbor Community Farm’s Kat Oshman detailing the relationship between the Community Farm and Legacy Land Conservancy. To learn more about the farm’s operations and conservation easement with Legacy, check out the second article.

Michigan State Senator Tom Casperson (R-Escanaba) introduced two bills that would allow funding from Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund to be used for non-land protection purposes. Senate Bill 214 would divert Trust Fund resources to maintaining road infrastructure for the timber and mining industry and for harbor dredging and S.B. 0164 would appropriate $30 million from the Trust Fund for waterways dredging. Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund is a constitutionally protected program that funds state acquisition and development of recreation land, municipal parks, and trail systems.  If you feel strongly about S.B 214 and S.B 0164 please contact your Michigan State Senator.

State Senate bill threatens biodiversity and could put more than 4 million acres of state forest land at risk of disease and tree-killing pests. To read more please click here.