CSF Holds Briefing On Conservation Easement Incentive Act

July 15, 2009 (Washington, DC) - The Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus and the Land Trust Alliance hosted the third breakfast briefing of the 111th Congress today, encouraging members of Congress to support the Conservation Easement Incentive Act, H.R. 1831.
CSC members Rep. Mike Thompson and Rep. Eric Cantor are lead sponsors of H.R. 1831, which would make permanent and expiring tax incentives for the donation of conservation easements. So far 139 members of the House have signed on as co-sponsors.
"This bill provides voluntary, tax incentive-based donations of future development rights to ensure that farm and ranch families can continue to work their land, sell hunting leases and provide wildlife habitat for future generations," said Rep. Thompson.
Incentives for private landowners to manage their land for open space and wildlife are an important tool for the conservation community to achieve a number of wildlife management and other conservation objectives.
This incentive was instituted in 2006 and the 2008 Farm Bill renewed the incentive through December 2009, but with the conservation easement set to expire, family farmers, ranchers, and other landowners might miss out on the significant tax benefit for donating a conservation easement on their property.
"Unless we act soon, this valuable incentive for landowners to protect fish and wildlife communities will expire and it will be more difficult to preserve places to hunt and fish," said CSC Chair Rep. Dan Boren.
CSF and many other sportsmen's groups, including Safari Club International, a sponsor of the breakfast briefing, have been working diligently to garner support for this valuable legislation that protects fish and wildlife habitat and ensures the future of hunting and fishing across the country.
"SCI is proud to work CSF and the Congressional Sportsmen's Caucus to ensure passage of this much needed conservation legislation," said Kevin Anderson, President-Elect of Safari Club International.