Partly in response to abuses of the popular tax credit program, the Colorado Legislature in 2008 passed House Bill 1353, increasing the amount of oversight for conservation easements. The bill established the Conservation Easement Oversight Commission and requires any land trust in Colorado to be certified if they hold conservation easements using state tax credits.

Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Mackie was gratified that the State of Colorado recognized the quality of the conservation work being done in the Upper Arkansas Valley. “Now land owners have one more measure of the professionalism of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas”, he said.

The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas is a non-profit, membership based organization that protects important natural, agricultural, and historical lands and water resources in Chaffee, Lake and Fremont counties to enhance the quality of life for people in the Valley. The Land Trust currently protects over 2,000 acres in the Upper Arkansas by working with land owners in the establishment of conservation easements.

The Land Trust completed its application for certification in September 2009 and was certified in December by the Oversight Commission, a nine-member panel.

Hollis Glenn, Conservation Easement Program Manager for the Division of Real Estate, said that he was impressed by the level of professionalism exhibited by LTUA. “It is encouraging to see qualified land trusts that reside in a local community continue to bring important conservation efforts to their part of the state.”

The State Certification program was designed to use no tax money. As part of the comprehensive application, the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas paid a $7,600 application fee.

“This is just another confirmation of all the hard work carried out by the board of directors, staff, and volunteers of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. We continue to make great strides in the Valley to protect important natural, agricultural, scenic, and historical lands for all the area residents and visitors,” said Mackie in a prepared statement.

The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas is currently negotiating with land owners on several projects that they hope to complete in 2010. If you are interested in learning more about conservation easements or making a donation, contact the Land Trust at 719-539-7700.