A chronological review of the Working Lands Trust; Where have we been and where are we going
In 2009 & 10 the Forest Education and Conservation Foundation efforts: In 2009 FECF received a grant from the NC Agriculture Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund to develop educational tools for private forest landowners regarding working forest conservation easements.
Three tools were developed in cooperation with a number of forest conservation entities in the state over a two year period. These tools are: 1. WORKING FOREST CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA (an eleven page handout brochure explaining the pros and cons of working forest conservation easements and how they work.) 2. WHAT IS A WORKING FOREST CONSERVATION EASEMENT? (a DVD explaining working forest conservation easements and some of the pros and cons, and includes interview with landowners, a land trust executive and a conservation easement attorney.) 3. WORKING FOREST CONSERVATION EASEMENTS IN NORTH CAROLINA (a comprehensive guide for natural resource professionals and forest landowners actively pursuing working forest conservation easements in the state.) These tools can be viewed on the NCFA website http://www.ncforestry.org/landowners/ or contacting the NCFA communications director.
In 2012 and 13 the Forest and Eucation Foundation efforts included: In August 2011, MCIEAST partnered with the Forest Education and Conservation Foundation (FECF) through North Carolina State University, to explore the need, interest and market for working forest conservation easements, in North Carolina and throughout the Southern region. FECF then built on input and data secured through the phase one of the process, to explore programming, mechanisms and organizational structures that might have the potential to increase the utilization and completion of working forest conservation easements on privately held forestlands, especially in the MCIEAST footprint.
For the initial phase, FECF researched and analyzed existing research, interviews and surveys of woodland owners; and conducted follow up communications with selected landowners to confirm that current views were consistent with the data. Based on input secured in phase one, FECF determined there is a critical mass of private landowners in North Carolina and we anticipate throughout the South that expressed significant levels of discomfort with existing land conservation groups, which were often seen as judgmental Non productive conversations (museum type management) rigid in their approaches to managing forestlands for habitat and species protection rather than in sustainable economic benefit.
As a result, we saw the need for an organizational structure during phase two with a mission focused on protecting working farms and forests and have: 1. developed proposed organizational documents to accomplish the assigned missions; 2. developed a preliminary fundraising plan; and 3. conducted initial meetings with key landowners to test the model.
The Working Lands Trust application as a 501c3 was submitted and approved in 2013 14. This was with considerable political support No longer working under the auspices of the FECF, the WLT is an independent organization with an independent board. 1. What does this mean? Is does not mean that we are financially independent yet. It does mean that we have a responsibility to begin to stand up and walk on our own. Phase three is proposed to set the stage for the development of a specialized working lands trust through an aggressive educational and outreach program for landowners; meet with key landowners regarding conservation agreements; build cooperative partnerships; leverage funding opportunities; and launch a campaign to secure working forest and farm conservation agreements, with geographic focus on the MCIEAST footprint.
2016/2017 Conservation Easements on 1,245 acres funded by Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and NC Dept. of Agriculture
Ward Farm 213 Acres Bertie Co. Adjoins Weyerhaeuser lands and Cashie River
Tadlock Farm 184 Acres Bertie Co. Adjoins NCWRC Game Lands and Cashie River
Hubers Farm 386 Acres Hyde Co. Adjoins Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
McAden Farm 462 Acres Hyde Co. Adjoins Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
So, how did we get here? 1. Bob Slocum convinced Steve Henson and Bob Schaefer to provide efforts in the early going toward a land trust 2. Dept of Ag and Commissioner Troxler have been there with an incredible amount of support 3. Military support for a working lands trust 4. NCSU and NRCS with state and federal conservation programs 5. Continuous enquiries from conservation easement holders for working lands, including forestry
NOW WHAT? We have engaged an Executive Director William Hamilton MF in Forestry from NCSU Working for Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy since 2005 as the Farmland program Director Completed over $30MM of conservation easements Completed 13 USDA NRCS Federal Farm and Ranch Protection easements Completed 25 conservation easements We are engaging in these easements as you just saw Who benefits from these efforts? We will need financial support