Why Protect Land?

Faced with intensifying development pressures, the Florida Parishes region is rapidly losing its natural and agricultural assets.  The opportunity to save what makes the Florida Parishes unique is swiftly disappearing.

As stewards of these treasured resources, landowners can serve an important role.  We must act today to forever preserve our natural and agricultural heritage, for ourselves and our children.

How Can Land Be Protected?

As a non-profit organization, the Land Trust for Southeast Louisiana works with individual landowners to protect natural assets on their property.  LTSL accomplishes this through land donations, conservation easements, and purchases.

A Conservation Easement is a permanent legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust that limits use of the land in order to protect its conservation values.  The landowner can continue to own and use the land, sell it, or pass it on to heirs.  Easements need not require public access.  Donating a permanent conservation easement can result in significant tax benefits through reduced income or estate taxes.

A Land Donation releases the landowner from the responsibility of managing the land and may provide substantial income tax deductions and estate tax benefits.  Also the donation can be set up to allow the landowner to continue to live on the land or receive a life income.

A Bargain Sale is the sale of land to a land trust for less than its fair market value, making the deal more affordable for the land trust.  A bargain sale helps the landowner reduce capital gains taxes and obtain a charitable income tax deduction based on the difference between the land’s fair market value and its sale price.