Would you consider adopting a conserved property, for all time? A one-time donation is a gift to the future, guaranteeing its special role in conservation, forever.
Last October, land trusts in Canada added a new element –a very sound element – to their Standards and Practices. We must now have a dedicated contingency fund, equal to 10% of the appraised value at the time acquired, of all of our property and easement holdings.
The Thousand Islands Watershed Land Trust has had a dedicated conservation fund for several years – but not equal to the 10% value of the revised Standards and Practices. We report the total asset value of our properties annually, on-line in our financial audits. By this year end, we will hold approximately $3,500,000 in property, for the nearly 1,700 acres now owned and in conservation easements. This means $350,000 needed in the dedicated fund. With funds we have and with gifts promised, we’re almost halfway there.
What are these funds for? It leads back to 4ever – the forever we’ve committed to as a land trust, to the land and easement donors, to the Ecogifts program of Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Revenue Canada. Invested, this fund will keep pace with inflation. Future generations of land trust members and Board will be able to deal with intrusions on the integrity of properties, emergencies of property management or for whatever unforeseen situations. This fund is the bedrock upon which future generations of land trust Directors can build, secure in the capacity to deal with the unforeseen.
But today and this coming year, perhaps our biggest challenge is not just to conserve new lands, but to forever protect that which we have already dedicated to conservation. And, there will be new lands added in years to come.
Would you consider adopting a conserved property, for all time? A one-time donation is a gift to its future, guaranteeing its special role in conservation, forever. Perhaps you, your friends, your business might adopt one of TIWLT’s special places. Their 10% fund values range from $3,000 to $100,000, and everywhere in between… but actually, the $100,000 property is already spoken for. Contact us, we’d be very pleased to have a conservation conversation with you.
