News from the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy

Protect land, receive new federal tax incentives

Eastern Shore landowners who protect their land by donating a conservation easement are now eligible for improved tax benefits, after legislation was recently approved by the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

“This is incredible news for the Eastern Shore,” said Meredith Lathbury, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy’s director of land conservation. “It has never been more financially beneficial to donate a conservation easement and forever protect your farm, woods, or other fragile land from development.”

The expanded Federal income tax deduction will allow those who protect their land from Jan. 1, 2006 and to Dec. 31, 2007, to deduct up to 50 percent of their adjusted gross income, deduct 100 percent of their adjusted gross income if most of it stemmed from farming or forestry, and continuing these deductions for up to 16 years.

“We are so excited that Congress has finally made it possible for working farmers to protect their land with donated conservation easements,” said Rob Etgen, ESLC’s executive director.

Landowners who donate a conservation easement – a contract between the landowners and an organization, such as ESLC, that forever protects their land from development – have done so for many reasons, including; wanting to see a working farm continue to grow crops instead of houses, providing a sense of family history and tradition for their children and grandchildren, and being determined to protect the Eastern Shore’s fleeting and unique beauty.

To find out if you are eligible for these benefits, contact Sandra Edwards (410-827-9756, ext. 163) if your land is located in Cecil, Kent or Queen Anne’s Counties, or Meredith Lathbury (410-827-9756, ext. 167) if your land is located in Talbot, Caroline or Dorchester Counties.

For more detailed information on the new federal tax incentives, visit the Maryland Environmental Trust’s web site at http://www.dnr.state.md.us/met/taxbenefits.html.

Back to News