New River Land Trust

“Part III, Line 4a: Each year the New River Land Trust, in partnership with the Virginia Outdoors Foundation, other state and federal government agencies, and other conservation organizations, works with landowners from Elliston in Montgomery County west to Cox' chapel in Grayson County to save large tracts of land and family farms in the New River region. A conservation easement is a voluntary agreement by a landowner that protects his or her land from intensive development in perpetuity. Conservation easements protect working forest lands and vital regional water resources for human, wildlife, and aquatic species. The landowner continues to own the farmland or forest and can pursue all traditional uses of the land, such as agricultural and timbering. In exchange for protecting the land's conservation values, the owner receives generous state and federal tax incentives. In 2014, the New Rier Land Trust helped 6 landowners place a little more than 1000 acres under conservation easements. These easements included important open space lands in Grayson County, scenic agricultural/forest land in Giles County, a Montgomery County farm producing local foods, and forest land that protects water resources in Floyd County. All these easements and the over 229 other easements the land trust has facilitated since 2002 contribute to preserving the rural landscape and heritage of the New River region. Also, in 2014, the New River Land Trust continued to partner with local governments, regional organizations, and other stake holders in strategic planning to identify critical lands and resources for targeted conservation outreach and education. These efforts included a risk assessment for conversion to non-rural uses for properties of 50 acres and larger in our eight county service area. This work was funded by the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) and built on a prior green infrastructure and priority conservation lands project also funded by VDOF. In 2015, the maps and database will be shared with county governments and stakeholders to further refine focus area for targeted landowner conservation outreach and education. This project continues the land trust's efforts to provide information and services to rural counties to help balance growth and development with conservation of regionally and locally important rural lands and resources. Since 2002, the New River Land Trust has worked with more than 236 landowners to voluntarily place almost 49,000 acres of farms, forests, open spaces, and historic places in conservation easements. This protected area includes over 25 miles along the New River, one of the fourteen American Heritage rivers in the country and the only one in Virginia. The New River and its surrounding Appalachian Mountain landscape are defining features of the area.”

“Form 990 is prepared by the bookkeeper/accountant, with the input and support of the executive director and the office administrative staff. Once a draft version is substantially completed, it is submitted to the Finance Committee and then all board members for their comments. These are discussed and incorporated and then the final 990 is prepared by the accountant and submitted to the president for signature.”

“Board member and staff orientation sessions (both initial and annual) are devoted to explaining circumstances which might give rise to conflicts of interest. A conflict of interest disclosure form is in place which must be signed by all board and staff members. The conflict of interest policy is submitted anew each year to the board and staff with the goal of board members' self-monitoring. The executive director and other board members are mindful of circumstances that might give rise to future conflicts of interest and are invited to bring these to the board's attention. Questions about potential conflicts of interest are brought to the Land Trust Alliance and also discussed by the executive director with members of VAULT (Virginia United Land Trusts), another exempt organization of which the NRLT is a member.”

“All such documents are available on request. Plans are being made to post these on the website for the convenience of board members and other interested parties when future NRLT financial resources permit. The Form 990 will also be posted for the public on our website in the future. It is currently made available on request.”

“Annual sw support/internet 609. 0. 609. 0. Repairs penalties easement 389. 0. 389. 0. Grant applications 30. 0. 0. 30. Public outreach & education 1457. 1093. 29. 335. Special events 10130. 10130. 0. 0. Grant expenses 6154. 6154. 0. 0. Fundraising 1065. 0. 200. 865. Rounding prior year depreciation 1110. 1110. 0. 0.”