FAQs
Q: What is Whatcom Land Trust?
A: Whatcom Land Trust is a nonprofit organization. We work with local landowners to help protect the natural values and resources of their property. We use a variety of flexible tools to meet a landowners goals. As a qualified nonprofit organization, Whatcom Land Trust accepts gifts of easements for conservation purposes.
Q: How is Whatcom Land Trust making a difference in the community?
A: Since 1884, Whatcom Land Trust has preserved over 11,000 acres of land in every corner in the county. Through many transactions “easements, multi-agency collaborations, grant-based acquisitions, and property donations“ WLT has helped to preserve Whatcom County’s most beautiful and sensitive lands.
Q: Is WLT a government agency?
A: No, Whatcom Land Trust is a board-governed nonprofit organization. WLT is recognized as a community-based land trust with a significant record of land conservation. Our collaborative efforts have been identified both regionally and on the national level as prime examples of how to achieve significant conservation. We work only through voluntary conservation, not governmental regulations, to help protect our natural resources. We rely on private contributions, not your tax dollars, to support our operation.
Q: Who runs Whatcom Land Trust, and how?
A: Whatcom Land Trust is guided by a 15-member volunteer board of directors who share a love of Whatcom County and a strong ethic of public service. We also benefit from the wisdom of an advisory board with a wide range of conservation, education, and legal expertise. With a small staff our accomplishments have been achieved largely through the donated services of volunteers on a variety of committees.
Q: Does Whatcom Land Trust take property off the tax rolls?
A: The vast majority of the land protected by the Whatcom Land Trust remains on the tax rolls. WLT helps preserve property in several different ways and some of those ways may have an effect on taxes.
* We help property owners preserve their privately-held land with conservation easements. The creation of the easement may affect the assessed value of the property and the tax paid by the landowner.
* We acquire properties and protect them for conservation purposes. For some of these properties, we apply for tax exemption under a state law specifically designed to encourage the protection of environmentally important land.
* We help preserve unique properties as parkland. Like all publicly-owned land, these properties do not generate tax revenue. They do, however, provide a valuable resource enjoyed by all.
Q: How can I get involved?
A: Whatcom Land Trust is a grassroots organization in every sense of the word. Whatcom County residents become our conservation easement donors and supporters. We rely on supporters to provide the largest portion of our operating budget. Many of our supporters volunteer as well, providing a variety of services from restoration work to public outreach.
Q: Does “conserving” land mean giving up individual rights and/or land ownership?
A: Whatcom Land Trust accepts gifts of conservation easements from land owners. Property owners retain the ownership and use of their property, but may give up development rights, timber rights or other types of land-use rights. An easement allows a property owner to continue to own their land, use it in sustainable and agreed-upon ways, and sell it or pass the land down to heirs. The easement simply ensures that the natural qualities and resources bestowed by the land will be protected forever.
Q: What is a conservation easement?
A: A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement between a property owner and a land trust or other conservation organization, in which the land owner donates to the land trust specific property rights in exchange for the land trust’s promise to protect the conservation values of the property forever. The land owner retains ownership of the land with the ability to sell it or pass it on to heirs, and may receive an income tax benefit from the easement donation.
Q: How does a conservation easement work?
A: Each easement is unique to the site and the owner’s personal wishes. A single feature can be preserved, development can be limited or the entire landscape may be conserved. For example, one might give up the right to build additional residences while retaining the right to grow crops. Future owners will be bound by the terms of the easement. The land trust is responsible for ensuring that the terms of the easement are honored.
Q: What kind of property qualifies for a conservation easement?
A: Any property with conservation value can be protected by an easement. This includes forests, wetlands, farms, wildlife habitat, beaches, scenic areas, recreational land, historic areas and property with educational, scientific, or cultural value.
Q: Does a conservation easement allow public access?
A: Land owners who grant easements are not required to open their property to the public. Some landowners choose to give the public limited access rights for activities such as fishing or hiking. WLT does not make these decisions.
Q: How long does a conservation easement last?
A: A conservation easement lasts in perpetuity. Title to the land may change, but the easement remains.
Q: Are there any tax benefits to a conservation easement?
A: When a landowner donates an easement, the IRS considers the donation a charitable gift, and this may reduce one’s federal taxes. Additionally, property taxes may be reduced depending on how the value of the land is altered by the donation.
Q: Who do I contact to discuss an easement with Whatcom Land Trust?
A: We will be glad to respond to queries or concerns. Please contact us at 360-650-9470, or visit our Contact US page.