Land Conservation
Conserving land with the River Parkway Trust
The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust has worked with 18 conservation-minded landowners along the river corridor to protect 2,864 acres of wildlife habitat, river access, recreation lands, historic or education sites, scenic vistas, and working farms and ranches. Some land transactions can be complex and the River Parkway Trust has partnered with many public agencies as well as other non-profit organizations to collaboratively plan and fund large projects. Some of our partners have included the San Joaquin River Conservancy, California Wildlife Conservation Board, The Trust for Public Land, Sierra Foothill Conservancy, American Farmland Trust, Resources Legacy Fund, and the David and Lucille Packard Foundation.
Land Transactions
We work with landowners that have expressed an interest in selling or donating their land for conservation purposes. In the early planning process of a transaction, we sit down with the landowner and their tax and legal advisors to structure a transaction best suited for protecting the property and meeting the financial needs of the landowner.
Conservation Easements
A conservation easement is a voluntary and legal land protection agreement between a landowner and a land trust that protects the natural, scenic, the agricultural or historic integrity of the land. By donating or selling an agricultural conservation easement to a land trust, landowners enter into an agreement that limits the uses of their land to farming and ranching activities while retaining ownership of the land and the right to continue farming and ranching as they always have. Again, the River Parkway Trust works with the landowner and their tax and legal advisors to structure the conservation easement.
An Accredited Land Trust
The San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust has achieved land trust accreditation from the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (www.landtrustaccreditation.org). The Land Trust Accreditation Commission, based in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., awards the accreditation seal to community institutions that meet national quality standards for protecting important natural places and working lands forever.
Member of the Land Trust Alliance (www.lta.org) and California Council of Land Trusts (www.calandtrusts.org)
The River Parkway Trust is a member, of the Land Trust Alliance, a national conservation group of land trusts that works to save the places people love by strengthening conservation throughout America. The River Parkway Trust It also a member of the California Council of Land Trusts. The National and California support organizations provide ongoing training, program services, and information to land trusts and landowners in order to increase the pace and quality of conservation.
For more information about conserving land with the River Parkway Trust, please contact Executive Director Sharon Weaver.
For more information about conserving land with the River Parkway Trust, please contact Executive Director Sharon Weaver.