Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust

“1.pre-monitoring process: (a)landowner notification. The landowner will be notified of the monitor's intent to visit the property at least two weeks prior to the planned visit date. Notification may occur through a letter, e-mail or phone call. The landowner reserves the right to withhold permission for the visit on the suggested day, as long as another mutually agreeable date is scheduled in a timely manner. The means through which notification is given and permission granted will be documented in the monitoring report. (b)questions to ask landowner. When seeking permission, the monitor will ask the landowner about his or her activities on the property since the last monitoring visit. This information can assist the monitor in preparing for the visit. (c)document review. The monitor will review the following documents in order to prepare for the visit and will take copies of such documents to the site: (1)deed of conservation easement (2)baseline report; and (3)monitoring reports for the preceding 3 years where appropriate. (d)monitoring checklist. The monitor will also bring the following to the property: (1)current driving directions to the site and landowner contact information; (2)maps on which areas of change or concern can be located and marked; (3)camera and media card with adequate memory; (4)blank monitoring report; (5)any records of violation(s) and responsive actions; (6)measuring tape or measuring wheel+ marking tape; (7)first aid kit. (e)the monitor may also bring: (1)gps unit with pre-loaded maps of the property; (2)compass; and (3)monitoring vest and/or hat if hunting may occur on the site. 2.monitoring process. Each site has its own appropriate monitoring process based on size, reserved rights, access and other factors, but in general the monitor will walk the boundaries of the property and will visit each photo-station on the bdr photo map + will locate and examine all areas set aside for either protection (such as protective buffers) or for new structures allowed by the easement. Monitor shall look for signs of disturbances that might indicate the exercise of a reserved right or a violation, and investigate as appropriate. (a)number of visits. All properties will be monitored at least once per year. More frequent monitoring visits may be necessary because of the following factors: (1)change of ownership; (2)the exercise of significant reserved right(s); (3)suspicion of violation; (4)violations identified; (5)remedies in process in response to a violation; and (6)other causes for concern. (b)documentation of change. Notes and photographs shall be taken if any changes are observed since the last monitoring visit, and the location documented either on a printed map or by gps with the greatest possible accuracy. (c)potential violations. If a potential violation is observed, the executive director shall be notified immediately and given all relevant documentation and information. The monitor shall not address the problem on-site with the landowner. 3.post-monitoring process. All monitoring reports and any associated photographs will be completed, labeled and printed within two weeks of the site visit. The report must be signed by the monitor and the executive director. One copy will be sent to the landowner with a post-monitoring letter and the other filed in the project file. The post-monitoring letter will acknowledge the date of the visit and indicate whether any problems or changes were noted; the letter will not indicate that no violations were found. Only the executive director or land protection committee can declare a violation and determine the appropriate course of action to be taken; accordingly, the letter shall not be sent until after such determination is made. 4.violations. See the lbct easement enforcement policy. 5. Monitor qualifications. The organization's monitors, both staff and volunteer (including board members), will work under the direct supervision of the executive director. Each monitor”

“Conservation easements donated to the organization are recorded at a zero value in the statement of financial position, the statement of activities and the statement of functional expenses. Conservation easements that are purchased are recorded at a zero value in the statement of financial position and are shown as an expense in the statement of activities and statement of functional expenses. The funding source that enables the purchase of these easements is shown as a revenue in the statement of activities, resulting in a net zero effect on net assets. The organization believes that tracking the value of conservation easements under management is useful to gauge the significance of the ongoing responsibility to monitor these easements. Accordingly, for purposes of footnote disclosure only, conservation easements received by the organization are disclosed at the value paid to acquire the conservation easement or the estimated value of the development rights relinquished under the easement, that is, the amount of the reduction in fair market value (as defined in irs regulations) resulting from the easement at the date it is recorded. This value is generally established through qualified appraisals that are performed at or near the recording date. Where such an appraisal is not available, management makes its best estimate of the value based on relevant facts and circumstances. Values are not updated, as they represent the historical cost at the date the easements were granted.”

“In february 2016, the organization entered into an agreement with lowcountry land trust and audubon south carolina to administer $1.5 million in mitigation funds from berkeley county, south carolina (the "county"). The funds are related to the county's landscape mitigation plan on behalf of volvo north america. The funds are restricted to funding the protection and restoration of certain mitigation properties.”