PRESERVE YOUR LAND

Sycamore Land Trust is always moved by the passion and generosity of landowners who work with us to protect their property for forever. We would love to have the opportunity to speak with you about your land and your desire to preserve it.

Land protection priorities

Sycamore focuses on preserving and restoring important natural areas in in southern Indiana, especially along Beanblossom Creek in Monroe and Brown Counties, and adding on to our most significant nature preserves. We are also interested in accepting gifts of agricultural land, which Sycamore can protect and continue to farm for income that will support our ongoing work. We must carefully evaluate each potential preservation project, and consider factors including:

• will it add on to an important Sycamore nature preserve, or is it in a priority area such as our Beanblossom Creek Conservation Area;
• does it contain important natural habitat for native wildlife and plants, especially rare and threatened species, or have excellent potential for restoration;
• is it large enough that its conservation values will likely remain intact despite possible future changes in adjoining land use; and
• can it be efficiently cared for by Sycamore for forever, and will not require resources that would be more effectively used elsewhere.

Sycamore must be very selective in its land protection projects. Acquiring a new nature preserve is just the beginning. Monitoring and managing the land under our care forever is a serious commitment that costs Sycamore significant time and money every year. By carefully selecting land protection projects, Sycamore ensures that we are using our resources as effectively as possible for nature and the public good. All land protection transactions must be approved by Sycamore’s board of directors before completion.

How Sycamore can protect land

Sycamore Land Trust can accept donations of land, and can purchase land for full fair-market value. Landowners can also assist us with a bargain sale donation, which is selling land for less than its appraised value. As with full donations of land, bargain sale donations can have tax benefits as charitable gifts.

Sycamore can also accept donations of conservation easements. Conservation easements create permanent restrictions on the use of a property to protect its conservation values. Sycamore monitors enforces the restrictions of the conservation easement, but we do not own title to the land. Conservation easements are more complicated both upfront and long-term for Sycamore, and we have to consider these additional time and financial costs when evaluating a potential conservation easement project..

Estate gifts: Talk to Sycamore first

If you are considering giving land to Sycamore through a will or other estate plans, it is important that you talk with us before finalizing those plans to ensure that your wishes can be fulfilled. Sycamore has to carefully evaluate all of our land protection opportunities, including estate gifts and other donations. Conservation easements, due to their complexity, should be donated during a landowner’s lifetime.

Reminder: Get professional advice

Sycamore Land Trust will be glad to discuss any of the above options with you to help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of each, and what might be a good fit for you and Sycamore. However, you should seek advice from your attorney, estate planner, accountant, or other professional before making any final decisions. Sycamore wants to help as much as we are able, but we are not allowed to give legal or tax advice.

Please contact us

Please contact Land Preservation Director Tom Swinford at 812-336-5382 ext. 106 or tom@sycamorelandtrust.org, to discuss your land and your intentions for the future, and how Sycamore might be able to work with you to preserve it for future generations.

Top photo: Tony and Patti Pizzo, donors of the Pizzo Preserve