Bad Links?
Other glitches?
Notify Webmaster

Updated guide outlines conservation incentives for landowners

Because more than 90 percent of land in Georgia is privately owned, the conservation efforts of individual landowners are critical to protecting natural resources. From Adopt-a-Stream to the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program, Georgia landowners have an abundance of options for helping to protect the state's land, water and wildlife. The Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Resources Division has published an updated and expanded Landowner's Guide to Conservation Incentives to help explain various conservation programs. The free booklet has been compiled through the WRD's Georgia Natural Heritage Program.

"Basically, it gives property owners a feel for the different programs and directs them to the appropriate agency for initiation," said WRD ecologist Shan Cammack, who helped compile the guide. "For people who have an interest in improving their natural resources for wildlife, this book should have just about anything offered in Georgia."

The booklet describes ways to conserve land and water and to enhance wildlife habitats through a variety of conservation options, such as cost-share programs, tax incentives, technical assistance and recognition programs. The unique format allows landowners to easily compare many incentives, including Conservation Easements, Conservation Reserve Program, Farm-A-Syst, Forest Stewardship, Habitat Conservation Plan, Wetland Reserve Program, Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program and others.

The guide also contains directories of contact information for the various state agencies associated with each program.

Each program listing explains the benefits to the landowner, the cost of participation and the type of covenant required. Eligibility requirements for participants are also explained. For example, eligible landowners can receive annual rent payments and technical assistance for restoring vegetation on farmland through the Farm Service Agency's Conservation Reserve Program.

The Landowner's Guide to Conservation Incentives is available on-line at www.georgiawildlife.com and can be accessed under the Nongame Animals and Plants section's listing of conservation incentives. Also available on-line is a guide to establishing a conservation easement, a flexible tool that allows the landowner to continue to own the property while making a binding agreement to protect it in perpetuity from certain types of development. Conservation easements allow a tax break on state and federal income taxes as well as ad valorem taxes.

Hard copies of the landowner's guide are also available in local county offices of the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Locations of NRCS offices can be found at www.ga.nrcs.usda.gov.

Copies can also be obtained by writing to the Georgia Natural Heritage Program office at 2117 U.S. Highway 278 SE, Social Circle, Ga., 30025.