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Loudoun County to Albemarle County, private conservation has protected over 127,000 acres of forest land, 110,000 acres of farmland, 960 miles of stream banks, several important Civil War battlefields, habitat for rare and endangered species and other resources that might otherwise be lost forever.
How does Virginia do it? The state actually spends little inoney buying land outright for conservation or purchasing owners’ development rights.
In Virginia, land conservation succeeds because of an excellent incentive for landowners who want to preserve their own property-the Virginia Land Preservation Tax Credit. This program allows landowners who donate a conservation easement-giving up development rights and protecting their land forever-to claim a significant state income tax credit. Any unused credits can be transferred or sold, making this incentive valuable for landowners who, like many farmers, may be rich in land but poor in cash.
All Virginians owe a debt of gratitude to Del. William J. Howell (R-Stafford), the Speaker of the House of Delegates, for his sponsorship of the law which authorized the transfer of the tax credits.
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