Land Conservation Assistance

Whether your property is one acre or 100 acres,

we encourage you to help preserve the Taunton River watershed.

Here are some of the many actions that landowners can take:

• Learn how your property provides habitat for the birds, animals, and plants that make the Taunton River watershed special.

• Keep a photo album of the plants and animals you observe on your land. If your camera records date and time, use this feature.

• Find out about tax benefits for conserving your land. In 2006 and 2007, the federal charitable deduction for donating a conservation restriction has been increased. Qualified farm owners may deduct up to 100% of their taxable income over 15 years; non-farm owners may deduct up to 50% of their AGI over 15 years - for a permanent restriction on conserved land.

• Talk to a conservation expert about how to manage your land to protect wildlife or water supplies. If your land is near a public water supply, municipal water departments may be eligible for state grants to protect the watershed land.

• Businesses can also benefit from conservation tax incentives. For the first time, in 2006 and 2007, farm businesses can take the same deduction as individual farm owners for preserving farmland.

• Farmers can receive federal and state grants to return fields to wetlands, create buffers for wildlife, and protect river front areas. For more information, contact your Conservation District or the NRCS/USDA.

To learn more,

please contact any of the following conservation professionals:

Wildlands Trust of SE Massachusetts:

Phone: (781) 934-9018

Gabriela Silva

Scott MacFaden

Email: gsilva@wildlandstrust.org

The Trustees of Reservations

Phone: (508) 636-7501

Anthony Cucchi

Email: acucchi@ttor.org

The Nature Conservancy - Plymouth Office

Phone: (508) 732-0300

Robb Johnson

 Email: rjohnson@tnc.org

 Or, email the Taunton River Watershed Campaign at campaign@savethetaunton.org

and we will refer your request to campaign members