Land Protection Program

NCNR’s Land Protection Program began in the early 1990’s and has grown throughout the years. Rapid development in northwestern North Carolina and southwestern Virginia has increased the need for permanent protection of open space. We work with interested landowners who wish to voluntarily protect their land. Through our Land Protection Program, NCNR has helped to protect over 4,500 acres – for a total of 28.7 miles along the river and its tributaries – and is currently working on many additional projects in the New River Basin.

NCNR’s Land Protection Program assists landowners in assessing the financial and environmental benefits of conservation easements and conservation-oriented development strategies. These voluntary conservation strategies protect the land’s significant natural resources for future generations while allowing the landowner a sustainable economic return. NCNR works with each interested landowner to determine the best conservation option and to implement that option. Conservation options include conservation easements, bargain sales, donations, fee-simple purchases, and a combination of these options.

Conservation easements are intended to preserve property in a natural and undeveloped condition. Because these provide a public benefit of undeveloped land and water quality protection, there are significant tax incentives for landowners who donate conservation easements to NCNR. NCNR can also seek funding to purchase conservation easements from interested landowners. These financial incentives help landowners leave a legacy of their property for future generations.

NCNR’s Land Protection Program is an essential component of the Five Year River Protection Plan, to be funded by the Rapid Need campaign. Our goal is to protect 5,000 acres of significant lands in the New River Basin by 2008. Our strategy for protection is outright purchasing of critical land for protecting important wildlife habitat, rare and endangered species, and cornerstones of biodiversity. We also help farmers understand and use conservation easements to pass their family lands to their heirs with tax benefits and to preserve working farmland for future generations.

For additional information on how you can protect your land along the New River, please contact the NCNR office. We also welcome donations to help us accomplish this important work.

Conservation Options l Criteria l Tax Benefits l Protected Lands