1. What is a Land Trust?
Land Trusts are conservation organizations that own land and/or hold interests in land, such as conservation easements, as part of their efforts to protect, enhance or restore natural areas, heritage features or agricultural lands. Land trusts work with landowners to take direct action in permanently protecting lands for conservation. Most land trusts are locally or regionally based with volunteer leadership and strong community links. The HNC became Ontario’s first land trust in 1961, with the purchase of our Spooky Hollow Nature Sanctuary.
2. Do I have to donate all of my property?
You can donate a portion of your property, such as the natural lands, and retain agricultural land, and/or land around buildings on the property. Donating a portion of your land to the HLT will help relieve the burden of liability associated with owning land.
3. What are the financial benefits of donating land to the HLT?
Donations of land or conservation easements can provide significant tax advantages. A third party, unbiased appraiser determines the value of the donation and the HLT, through the Hamilton Naturalists’ Club, issues a charitable receipt for this value. Donating land or conservation easements through Environment Canada’s Ecological Gifts Program provides enhanced tax savings that can be used against 100% of your total annual income over five years plus the year of the donation. Environment Canada’s Ecogifts program certified organizations like the HNC to act as recipients of ecological gifts.
4. Will you accept any property?
The HLT has developed criteria to evaluate the potential of accepting properties. The criteria includes determining the environmental significance of the property, its long-term stewardship costs and its potential threats.
5. What is a conservation easement?
Also called a conservation agreement, it provides the landowner with the flexibility of retaining ownership and use of the land while protecting significant features. Conservation easements are legal documents by which the landowner voluntarily places restrictions on specific activities on the property. The easement runs on title and is tailored to fit the interests of the landowners and the features being protected so that all future landowners are bound by your conditions.
6. The part of my property I’m thinking of donating, does not have any road access. Would you still be interested in it?
The HLT is interested in considering properties with no road access and already has a nature sanctuary that is landlocked. We can come up with creative solutions to gain access to the property, such as by making agreements with neighbouring landowners.
7. Will my property become a nature sanctuary?
Yes, all properties that the HLT secures become nature sanctuaries.
8. Can I be sure my property would be protected forever?
The Hamilton Naturalists’ Club has been protecting land for 50 years and will continue to protect and care for all lands that it acquires. The Club also has a policy that it will not sell or transfer properties.
9 . If I want to discuss this with someone, what is the next step?
The HLT would be happy to arrange a meeting and a site visit of your property. Please contact Jen Baker, Land Trust Coordinator, at land@hamiltonnature.org or 905-381-0329 to make arrangements.
