Monmouth Conservation Foundation

“Monmouth conservation foundation (mcf) is dedicated to upholding its legal and community obligations to stewards, inperpetuity, easements it accepts or acquires in perpetuity as part of its mission to preserve land and natural resources for the benefit of all. Mcf holds a variety of easements, including, scenic viewshed, conservation, agricultural, etc. (referred to herein, collectively, as easements). Each is tailored to protect the properties. Unique features, reflect the owners wishes and fulfill mcfs mission to protect natural resources. Mcf is committed to managing, defending and enforcing the terms of each easement on a consistent basis. The mcf easement on a consistent basis. The mcf easement monitoring policy (policy) conforms to all requirments of law, the land trust alliance (lta) standards and practices , and all other mcf policies. The purpose of this document is to memorialize procedures for easement monitoring and guide related practices. This policy is applicable and necessary for all mcf held easements. Mcf staff shall adhere to and implement this policy and comply with the specified procedures expect in the event of extraordinary or unforeseeable circumstances. Staff shall revisit this policy and its management on an annual basis to determine whether they should be amended to reflect changing lta standards and practices or to otherwise revise its contents. The mcf board shall approve all changes to the policy. Annual monitoring is critical for meeting mcf's obligation to ensure compliance with the lta national accreditation commission standards and practices and each easement held by mcf. The annual recording of property conditions supplements and baseline documentation created at easement inception. Annual monitoring provides an opportunity to interact with landowners, enhance relationships, and to inspect the lands, improvements and, land use activities. I. Frequency of annual monitoring - mcf monitors each of its easements on an annual basis within 12 months allowed or otherwise , in the eased properties, to ensure that lands are being used and cared for in accordance with the terms of the easements and to identify any easements violations or encroachments as soon as possible. In certain circumstances , monitoring maybe conducted more frequently in order to identify any actions that may violate the terms of the easement as soon as possible, and thus reduce mcf's time and expense necessary to correct a violation. Ii. Monitoring team - easements monitoring, conducted by mcf staff, provides necessary continuity, better easement interpretation, proactive relations with land owners and long term organizational accountability. In extraordinary circumstances, volunteers or contract monitors may assist with monitoring mcf easements. Members of mcfs easements monitoring committee, a sub-committee of mcfs acquisition committee created to assist staff monitoring are also invited to attend monitioring visits. Iii. Training - prior to commencing monitoring , the monitor team is informed of the importance of the monitoring process, its relation to mcfs overall easement management program and how to conduct the monitioring in a safe and professional manner. Mcf used the training curriculum and handbook developed by the vermont land trust to train its monitoring team. Iv. Annual monitoring notification - once a monitoring visit is established, mcf notifies the landowner with a timeframe for the monitoring visit by letter, email or phone. Landowners are invited to contact the office should they wish to participate and/or to schedule a specific date and time. An easement questionnaire is shared with the landowner for completion prior to the visit, which supplements the annual easements monitoring visit and encourages a dialogue between mcf and land owner prior to visit. A compeleted questionnaire enables mcf to track changes to the property that might otherwise be overlooked at the time of the visit. The landowner may use th”

“The foundation has an implemented policy that does not recognize gifted conservations easements or development rights as valued by donors.”

“Fundraising expenses 186,482.”

“Fundraising expenses 186,482.”